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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:18:20 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:18:20 -0700 |
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diff --git a/25665-h/25665-h.htm b/25665-h/25665-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..14cec7c --- /dev/null +++ b/25665-h/25665-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,28538 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Popular Adventure Tales, by Captain Mayne Reid. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; + text-indent: 1.25em; margin-bottom: .75em; } + + .noindent {text-indent: 0em;} + +/* all headings centered */ + h1 {text-align: center; clear: both; } + h2 {text-align: center; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; clear: both; } + h3 {text-align: center; clear: both; } + h4 {text-align: center; clear: both; } + +div.trans-note {border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; + background-color: #DDE; color: #000; font-size: 85%; + margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em; text-align: center;} + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + .tdl {padding-left: 2em; font-size: 85%;} + +/* LISTS */ + ul { position: relative; width: 80%; margin-left: 5%; + list-style-type: none;} + + li { margin-top: 0.25em; line-height: 1.2em; } + +span.ralign { position: absolute; right: 0; top: auto; } + + body{margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; } + + .pagenum { position: absolute; left: 2%; font-size: 75%; + text-align: right; } /* page numbers */ + + .blockquot{margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 12%;} + + .g {letter-spacing: 0.5em;} + + .first {font-size: 300%; float: left; padding: 0.1em; + clear: left; line-height: 70%;} + + .totoc {position: absolute; right: 2%; font-size: 75%; text-align: right;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .cap {font-size: 85%; text-align: center;} + + .cap2 {font-size: 200%; text-align: center;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold; font-size: 85%;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + ins.corr {text-decoration: none; border-bottom: thin dotted red;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Popular Adventure Tales, by Mayne Reid + +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: Popular Adventure Tales + +Author: Mayne Reid + +Release Date: June 1, 2008 [EBook #25665] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POPULAR ADVENTURE TALES *** + + + + +Produced by Malcolm Farmer, Marcia Brooks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1"></a></span></p> +<h1>POPULAR ADVENTURE TALES</h1> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2"></a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 349px;"> +<img src="images/illus-002.jpg" width="349" height="500" alt="THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS ON THE RED RIVER." title="THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS ON THE RED RIVER." /> +<span class="caption">THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS ON THE RED RIVER.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3"></a></span></p> + + + + +<h2>Popular Adventure Tales</h2> + +<h4>COMPRISING</h4> + +<big> +<span style="margin-left: 2em;"><i>THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS</i></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 4em;"><span class="smcap">or, The Boy Hunters in the North</span></span><br /> +<br /><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 8em;"><i>THE FOREST EXILES</i></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 10em;"><span class="smcap">or, Adventures Amid the Wilds of the Amazon</span></span><br /> +<br /><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 14em;"><i>THE BUSH-BOYS</i></span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 16em;" class="smcap">or, Adventures in the Wilds of Southern Africa</span><br /> +</big> +<br /><br /> +<h3>By</h3> + +<h2>CAPTAIN MAYNE REID</h2> + +<h4><span class="smcap">Author of</span><br /> +“<i>The Rifle Rangers</i>” “<i>The Wood Rangers</i>”<br /> +<i>&c., &c.</i></h4> + +<h3><i>ILLUSTRATED</i></h3> + + +<br /><br /> +<div class="center"> +LONDON<br /> +SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & CO.<br /> +GLASGOW: THOMAS D. MORISON<br /> +</div> + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">5</a></span></p> + + +<p>Captain Mayne Reid was born at Ballyroney, County Down, +on the 4th April, 1818, and was the son of the Rev. Thomas +Mayne Reid. Mayne Reid was educated with a view to the +Church, but finding his inclinations opposed to this calling, he +emigrated to America and arrived in New Orleans on January, +1840. After a varied career as plantation over-seer, school-master, +and actor, with a number of expeditions in connection +with hunting and Indian warfare, he settled down in 1843 as a +journalist in Philadelphia, where he made the acquaintance of +Edgar Allan Poe.</p> + +<p>Leaving Philadelphia in 1846, he spent the summer at Newport, +Rhode Island, as the correspondent of the <i>New York Herald</i>, +and in December of the same year, having obtained a commission +as second lieutenant in the 1st New York Volunteers, he sailed +for Vera Cruz to take part in the Mexican war. He behaved +with conspicuous gallantry in many engagements, and was +severely wounded and disabled at the storming of Chapultepec +on the 13th September, 1847.</p> + +<p>Returning to the United States in the spring of 1848, he +resumed literary work. But in June, 1849, he sailed for +Europe in order to take part in the revolutionary movements +going on in Hungary and Bavaria, arriving however too late, he +turned his attention again to literature, and in London in 1850, +published his first novel “The Rifle Rangers,” in two volumes. +Between this date and his death, he produced a large number +of volumes, which indeed no one else was capable of writing, +for in them are avowedly embodied the observations and +experiences of his own extraordinary career.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6"></a></span></p> + +<p>Unfortunate building and journalistic speculation and enterprises +involved him in financial failure, so he returned to New +York in October, 1867. There he founded and conducted <i>The +Onward Magazine</i>, but owing to recurring bad effects of his old +Mexican wound, he had to abandon work for sometime and go +into the hospital, on leaving which he returned to England in +1870. During the later years of his life he resided at Ross in +Herefordshire where he died on the 22nd October, 1883, and was +buried in Kensal Green Cemetery.</p> + +<p>Mayne Reid wrote in all thirty-five works, chiefly books of +adventure and travel. As in the case of all authors, the books +vary much in merit, but most of them are of a high order in +their own department of literature. Many of them have been +extraordinary popular and have become standard works. Reid +has not been surpassed by any other writer in combining at one +and the same time, the features of thrilling adventure and great +instruction in the fields of natural history. Many of the works +have been translated into Continental languages and are as +highly esteemed among the French and Germans as at home.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><a name="toc" id="toc"></a> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">7</a></span></p> + +<div class="cap2"><span class="smcap">The Young Voyageurs</span></div> +<br /> +<div class="cap">OR</div> +<br /> +<div class="cap">BOY HUNTERS IN THE NORTH.</div> +<br /><br /> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="TOC1" width="70%"> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER I</i></td><td align='right'>PAGE</td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE FUR COUNTRIES</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_13">13</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER II</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_16">16</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER III</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE TRUMPETER SWAN AND THE BALD EAGLE</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER IV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A SWAN-HUNT BY TORCHLIGHT</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER V</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>“CAST AWAY”</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER VI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A BRIDGE OF BUCKSKIN</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_37">37</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER VII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>DECOYING THE ANTELOPES</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER VIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>“A PARTRIDGE DANCE”</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_45">45</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER IX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>BASIL AND THE BISON-BULL</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_48">48</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER X</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THREE CURIOUS TREES</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_52">52</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>HOW TO BUILD A BARK CANOE</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_56">56</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE CHAIN OF LAKES</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_59">59</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>WAPITI, WOLVES, AND WOLVERENE</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_62">62</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XIV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A PAIR OF DEEP DIVERS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A GRAND SUNDAY DINNER</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XVI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE MARMOTS OF AMERICA</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_79">79</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XVII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE BLAIREAU, THE “TAWNIES,” AND THE “LEOPARDS”</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_82">82</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XVIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>AN ODD SORT OF DECOY-DUCK</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_86">86</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XIX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE SHRIKE AND THE HUMMING-BIRDS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_91">91</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE FISH-HAWK</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_94">94</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE OSPREY AND HIS TYRANT</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_97">97</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE VOYAGE INTERRUPTED</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_102">102</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>FISHING UNDER THE ICE</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXIV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>AN ODD ALARM</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_107">107</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>ENCOUNTER WITH A MOOSE</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_113">113</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXVI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>LIFE IN A LOG-HUT</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_117">117</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXVII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>TRAVELLING ON SNOW-SHOES</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_121">121</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXVIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE BARREN GROUNDS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_125">125</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXIX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE ROCK-TRIPE</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_130">130</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE POLAR HARE AND THE GREAT SNOWY OWL</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_133">133</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE JUMPING MOUSE AND THE ERMINE</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_138">138</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE ARCTIC FOX AND WHITE WOLF</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_140">140</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE JERFALCON AND THE WHITE GROUSE</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_145">145</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXIV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE HARE, THE LYNX, AND THE GOLDEN EAGLE</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_147">147</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE “ALARM BIRD” AND THE CARIBOU</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_151">151</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXVI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A BATTLE WITH WOLVES</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_155">155</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXVII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>END OF THE “VOYAGE”</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td></tr> +</table> +<br /> +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<br /> + + +<div class="cap2"><span class="smcap">The Forest Exiles</span>,</div> +<br /> +<div class="cap">OR</div> +<br /> +<div class="cap">ADVENTURES AMID THE WILDS OF THE AMAZON</div> +<br /><br /> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="TOC2" width="70%"> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER I</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE BIGGEST WOOD IN THE WORLD</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_162">162</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER II</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE REFUGEES</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_164">164</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER III</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE POISON-TREES</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_169">169</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER IV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE SUPPER OF GUAPO</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_173">173</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER V</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE PUNA</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER VI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE WILD BULL OF THE PUNA</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_179">179</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER VII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE “VAQUERO”</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_181">181</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER VIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>LLAMAS, ALPACOS, VICUÑAS, AND GUANACOS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_184">184</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER IX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A VICUÑA HUNT</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER X</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>CAPTURING A CONDOR</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_189">189</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE PERILS OF A PERUVIAN ROAD</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_191">191</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>ENCOUNTER UPON A CLIFF</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_194">194</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE LONE CROSS IN THE FOREST</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_197">197</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XIV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE DESERTED MISSION</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_201">201</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE GUACO AND THE CORAL SNAKE</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_203">203</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XVI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE PALM-WOODS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_207">207</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XVII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A HOUSE OF PALMS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_209">209</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XVIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>TRACKING THE TAPIR</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_212">212</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XIX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE POISONED ARROWS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_216">216</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE MILK-TREE</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_221">221</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE CANNIBAL FISH AND THE GYMNOTUS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_224">224</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE CINCHONA-TREES</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_227">227</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A PAIR OF SLOW GOERS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_231">231</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXIV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE BARK-HUNTERS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_233">233</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE PUMA AND THE GREAT ANT-BEAR</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_236">236</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXVI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>ATTACK OF THE WHITE ANTS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_239">239</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXVII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE ANT-LION</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_242">242</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXVIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE TATOU-POYOU AND THE DEER CARCASS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_246">246</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXIX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>AN ARMADILLO HUNT</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_248">248</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE OCELOT</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_251">251</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A FAMILY OF JAGUARS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_255">255</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE RAFT</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_259">259</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE GUARDIAN BROTHER</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_262">262</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXIV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE VAMPIRE</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_265">265</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE MARIMONDAS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_269">269</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXVI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE MONKEY MOTHER</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_274">274</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXVII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>AN UNEXPECTED GUEST</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_276">276</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXVIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE CROCODILE AND CAPIVARAS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_279">279</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXIX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>FIGHT OF THE JAGUAR AND CROCODILE</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_282">282</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XL</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>ADVENTURE WITH AN ANACONDA</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_284">284</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XLI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A BATCH OF CURIOUS TREES</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_288">288</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XLII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE FOREST FESTIVAL</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_291">291</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XLIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>ACRES OF EGGS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_295">295</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XLIV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A FIGHT BETWEEN TWO VERY SCALY CREATURES</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_298">298</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XLV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A PAIR OF VALIANT VULTURES</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_301">301</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XLVI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE “GAPO”</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_304">304</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XLVII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE ARAGUATOES</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_306">306</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XLVIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>BRIDGING AN IGARIPÉ</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_308">308</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XLIX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE MANATI</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_311">311</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER L</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE CLOSING CHAPTER</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_314">314</a></td></tr> +</table> +<br /> +<hr style="width: 35%;" /> +<br /> + + +<div class="cap2"><span class="smcap">The Bush-Boys,</span></div> +<br /> +<div class="cap">OR</div> +<br /> +<div class="cap">ADVENTURES IN THE WILDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA.</div> +<br /><br /> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="TOC3" width="70%"> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER I</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE BOERS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_317">317</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER II</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE KRAAL</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_319">319</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER III</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE SPRING-HAAN</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_322">322</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER IV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A TALK ABOUT LOCUSTS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_325">325</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER V</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE LOCUST-FLIGHT</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_329">329</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER VI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>“INSPANN AND TREK!”</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_333">333</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER VII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>WATER! WATER!</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_335">335</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER VIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE FATE OF THE HERD</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_339">339</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER IX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A LION COUCHANT</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_341">341</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER X</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE LION IN THE TRAP</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_345">345</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE DEATH OF THE LION</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_348">348</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE TRAVELLERS BENIGHTED</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_351">351</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE TREK-BOKEN</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_354">354</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XIV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>SPOORING FOR A SPRING</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_359">359</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE TERRIBLE TSETSE</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_361">361</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XVI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE LONG-HORNED RHINOCEROS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_364">364</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XVII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A HEAVY COMBAT</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_367">367</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XVIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE DEATH OF THE ELEPHANT</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_371"><ins class="my corr" title="changed from 471">371</ins></a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XIX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>TURNED HUNTERS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_375">375</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>JERKING AN ELEPHANT</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_377">377</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE HIDEOUS HYENA</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_379">379</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>STALKING THE OUREBI</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_382">382</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>LITTLE JAN'S ADVENTURE</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_388">388</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXIV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A HOUSE AMONG THE TREE-TOPS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_390">390</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE BATTLE OF THE WILD PEACOCKS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_393">393</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXVI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>UPON THE SPOOR</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_397">397</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXVII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A ROGUE ELEPHANT</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_400">400</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXVIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE MISSING HUNTER, AND THE WILDEBEESTS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_405">405</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXIX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE ANT-EATER OF AFRICA</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_409">409</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>HANS CHASED BY THE WILDEBEEST</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_411">411</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>BESIEGED BY THE BULL</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_414">414</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A HELPLESS BEAST</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_416">416</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE ELEPHANT'S SLEEPING ROOM</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_420">420</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXIV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>MAKING THE ELEPHANT'S BED</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_423">423</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE WILD ASSES OF AFRICA</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_425">425</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXVI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>PLANNING THE CAPTURE OF THE QUAGGAS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_429">429</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXVII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE PIT-TRAP</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_433">433</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXVIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>DRIVING IN THE ELAND</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_436">436</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XXXIX</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>A WILD RIDE ON QUAGGA-BACK</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_439">439</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XL</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE GUN-TRAP</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_444">444</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XLI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE WEAVER-BIRDS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_447">447</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XLII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE SPITTING-SNAKE</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_450">450</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XLIII</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE SERPENT-EATER</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_452">452</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XLIV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>TOTTY AND THE CHACMAS</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_456">456</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XLV</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>THE WILD HOUNDS AND THE HARTEBEEST</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_460">460</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><i>CHAPTER XLVI</i></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tdl'>CONCLUSION</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_465">465</a></td></tr> +</table> + + +<div class="trans-note"><p>Transcriber's Note: Obvious printer errors, (missing accents, missing +letters, etc) including punctuation, have been silently corrected.</p> + +<p>All other inconsistencies including archaic spellings have been left as +they were in the original.</p> + +<p>Added a List of Illustrations.</p></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS:</h2> + +<ul> +<li>THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS ON THE RED RIVER.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_2">Frontispiece</a></span></li> +<li>THE TRUMPETER SWAN AND THE BALD EAGLE.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></span></li> +<li>BASIL AND THE BISON-BULL.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_50">50</a></span></li> +<li>THE WAPITI AND THE WOLVERENE.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_67">67</a></span></li> +<li>THE BLAIREAU AND THE MARMOTS<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_84">84</a></span></li> +<li>THE OSPREY AND WHITE-HEADED EAGLE.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></span></li> +<li>BASIL AND THE MOOSE BULL.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_116">116</a></span></li> +<li>THE WOLVES AND THE PEMMICAN BAGS.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_129">129</a></span></li> +<li>THE LYNX AND THE GOLDEN EAGLE.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_150">150</a></span></li> +<li>THE FLIGHT OF THE REFUGEES.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_167">167</a></span></li> +<li>GUAPO'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE BULLS.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_196">196</a></span></li> +<li>GUAPO AND THE 'NIMBLE PETERS.'<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_230">230</a></span></li> +<li>THE ESCAPE OF THE ARMADILLO.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_250">250</a></span></li> +<li>THE VAMPIRE BAT.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_266">266</a></span></li> +<li>ADVENTURE WITH AN ANACONDA.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_287">287</a></span></li> +<li>THE SHOWER OF LOCUSTS.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_332">332</a></span></li> +<li>THE LION IN A FIX.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_350">350</a></span></li> +<li>A DEADLY ENCOUNTER.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_370">370</a></span></li> +<li>HENDRIK DECOYING THE OUREBIS.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_386">386</a></span></li> +<li>SWARTBOY IN A PREDICAMENT.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_404">404</a></span></li> +<li>HANS BESIEGED BY A WILDEBEEST.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_417">417</a></span></li> +<li>THE QUAGGA AND THE HYENA.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_432">432</a></span></li> +<li>HENDRICK BLINDING THE QUAGGA.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_443">443</a></span></li> +<li>TOTTY IN TROUBLE.<span class="ralign"><a href="#Page_459">459</a></span></li> +</ul> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1>Popular Adventure Tales.</h1> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">13</a></span></p> + +<div class="cap2">THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS</div> +<br /> +<div class="cap">OR</div> +<br /> +<div class="cap">BOY HUNTERS IN THE NORTH.</div> +<br /><br /> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE FUR COUNTRIES</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">B</span>oy reader, you have heard of the Hudson's Bay Company? +Ten to one you have worn a piece of fur which it has provided +for you; if not, your pretty little sister has—in her muff, or her boa, or +as a trimming for her winter dress. Would you like to know something +of the country whence come these furs?—of the animals whose backs +have been stripped to obtain them? As I feel certain that you and +I are old friends, I make bold to answer for you—yes. Come, then! +let us journey together to the “Fur Countries;” let us cross them +from south to north.</p> + +<p>A vast journey it will be. It will cost us many thousand miles of +travel. We shall find neither railway-train, nor steamboat, nor stagecoach, +to carry us on our way. We shall not even have the help of a +horse. For us no hotel shall spread its luxurious board; no road-side +inn shall hang out its inviting sign and “clean beds;” no roof of any +kind shall offer us its hospitable shelter. Our table shall be a rock, a +log, or the earth itself; our lodging a tent; and our bed the skin of a +wild beast. Such are the best accommodations we can expect upon our +journey. Are you still ready to undertake it? Does the prospect +not deter you?</p> + +<p>No—I hear you exclaim—I shall be satisfied with the table—what +care I for mahogany? With the lodging—I can tent like an Arab. +With the bed—fling feathers to the wind!</p> + +<p>Enough, brave boy! you shall go with me to the wild regions of +the “North-west,” to the far “fur countries” of America. But, first—a +word about the land through which we are going to travel.</p> + +<p>Take down your atlas. Bend your eye upon the map of North +America. Note two large islands—one upon the right side, Newfoundland; +another upon the left, Vancouver. Draw a line from one +to the other; it will nearly bisect the continent. North of that line +you behold a vast territory. How vast? You may take your scissors, +and clip fifty Englands out of it! There are lakes there in which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">14</a></span> +you might <i>drown</i> England, or make an island of it! Now, you may +form some idea of the vastness of that region known as the “fur +countries.”</p> + +<p>Will you believe me, when I tell you that all this immense tract is +a wilderness—a howling wilderness, if you like a poetical name? It +is even so. From north to south, from ocean to ocean—throughout +all that vast domain, there is neither town nor village—hardly anything +that can be dignified with the name of “settlement.” The only +signs of civilisation to be seen are the “forts,” or trading posts of the +Hudson's Bay Company; and these “signs” are few and far—hundreds +of miles—between.</p> + +<p>For inhabitants, the country has less than ten thousand white men, +the <i>employés</i> of the Company; and its native people are Indians of +many tribes, living far apart, few in numbers, subsisting by the chase, +and half starving for at least a third part of every year! In truth, +the territory can hardly be called “inhabited.” There is not a man +to every ten miles; and in many parts of it you may travel hundreds +of miles without seeing a face, red, white, or black!</p> + +<p>The physical aspect is, therefore, entirely wild. It is very different +in different parts of the territory. One tract is peculiar. It has been +long known as the “Barren Grounds.” It is a tract of vast extent. +It lies north-west from the shores of Hudson's Bay, extending nearly +to the Mackenzie River. Its rocks are <i>primitive</i>. It is a land of hills +and valleys—of deep dark lakes and sharp-running streams. It is a +woodless region. No timber is found there that deserves the name. +No trees but glandular dwarf birches, willows, and black spruce, small +and stunted. Even these only grow in isolated valleys. More generally +the surface is covered with coarse sand—the <i>debris</i> of granite or +quartz-rock—upon which no vegetable, save the lichen or the moss, +can find life and nourishment.</p> + +<p>In one respect these “Barren Grounds” are unlike the deserts of +Africa: they are well watered. In almost every valley there is a +lake; and though many of these are land-locked, yet do they contain +fish of several species. Sometimes these lakes communicate with each +other by means of rapid and turbulent streams passing through +narrow gorges; and lines of those connected lakes form the great +rivers of the district.</p> + +<p>Such is a large portion of the Hudson's Bay territory. Most of the +extensive peninsula of Labrador partakes of a similar character; and +there are other like tracts west of the Rocky Mountain range in the +“Russian possessions.”</p> + +<p>Yet these “Barren Grounds” have their denizens. Nature has +formed animals that delight to dwell there, and that are never found +in more fertile regions. Two ruminating creatures find sustenance +upon the mosses and lichens that cover their cold rocks: they are the +caribou (reindeer) and the musk-ox. These, in their turn, become the +food and subsistence of preying creatures. The wolf, in all its +varieties of grey, black, white, pied, and dusky, follows upon their +trail. The “brown bear”—a large species, nearly resembling the +“grizzly”—is found only in the Barren Grounds; and the great +“Polar bear” comes within their borders, but the latter is a dweller +upon their shores alone, and finds his food among the finny tribes of +the seas that surround them. In marshy ponds, existing here and +there, the musk-rat builds his house, like that of his larger cousin, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">15</a></span> +beaver. Upon the water sedge he finds subsistence; but his natural +enemy, the wolverene, skulks in the same neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>The “Polar hare” lives upon the leaves and twigs of the dwarf +birch-tree; and this, transformed into its own white flesh, becomes +the food of the Arctic fox. The herbage, sparse though it be, does +not grow in vain. The seeds fall to the earth, but they are not +suffered to decay. They are gathered by the little lemmings and +meadow-mice, who, in their turn, become the prey of two species of +<i>mustelidæ</i>, the ermine and vison weasels. Have the fish of the lakes +no enemy? Yes—a terrible one in the Canada otter. The mink-weasel, +too, pursues them; and in summer, the osprey, the great +pelican, the cormorant, and the white-headed eagle.</p> + +<p>These are the <i>fauna</i> of the Barren Grounds. Man rarely ventures +within their boundaries. The wretched creatures who find a living +there are the Esquimaux on their coasts, and a few Chippewa Indians +in the interior, who hunt the caribou, and are known as “caribou-eaters.” +Other Indians enter them only in summer, in search of +game, or journeying from point to point; and so perilous are these +journeyings, that numbers frequently perish by the way. There are +no white men in the Barren Grounds. The “Company” has no +commerce there. No fort is established in them: so scarce are the +fur-bearing animals of these parts, their skins would not repay the +expense of a “trading post.”</p> + +<p>Far different are the “wooded tracts” of the fur countries. These +lie mostly in the southern and central regions of the Hudson's Bay +territory. There are found the valuable beaver and the wolverene +that preys upon it. There dwells the American hare with its enemy +the Canada lynx. There are the squirrels, and the beautiful martens +(sables) that hunt them from tree to tree. There are found the foxes +of every variety, the red, the cross, and the rare and highly-prized +silver-fox, whose shining skin sells for its weight in gold! There, too, +the black bear yields its fine coat to adorn the winter carriage, the +holsters of the dragoon, and the shako of the grenadier. There the +fur-bearing animals exist in greatest plenty, and many others whose +skins are valuable in commerce, as the moose, the wapiti, and the +wood-bison.</p> + +<p>But there is also a “prairie” district in the fur countries. The great +table prairies of North America, that slope eastward from the Rocky +Mountains, also extend northward into the Hudson's Bay territory. +They gradually grow narrower, however, as you proceed farther north, +until, on reaching the latitude of the Great Slave Lake, they end altogether. +This “prairie-land” has its peculiar animals. Upon it roams +the buffalo, the prong-horned antelope, and the mule-deer. There, +too, may be seen the “barking wolf” and the “swift fox.” It is the +favourite home of the marmots, and the gauffres or sand-rats; and +there, too, the noblest of animals, the horse, runs wild.</p> + +<p>West of this prairie tract is a region of far different aspect—the +region of the Rocky Mountains. This stupendous chain, sometimes +called the Andes of North America, continues throughout the fur +countries from their southern limits to the shores of the Arctic Sea. +Some of its peaks overlook the waters of that sea itself, towering up +near the coast. Many of these, even in southern latitudes, carry the +“eternal snow.” This “mountain-chain” is, in places, of great +breadth. Deep valleys lie in its embrace, many of which have never<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">16</a></span> +been visited by man. Some are desolate and dreary; others are +oäses of vegetation, which fascinate the traveller whose fortune it has +been, after toiling among naked rocks, to gaze upon their smiling +fertility.</p> + +<p>These lovely wilds are the favourite home of many strange animals. +The argali, or mountain-sheep, with his huge curving horns, is seen +there; and the shaggy wild goat bounds along the steepest cliffs. +The black bear wanders through the wooded ravines; and his fiercer +congener, the “grizzly”—the most dreaded of all American animals—drags +his huge body along the rocky declivities.</p> + +<p>Having crossed the mountains, the fur countries extend westward +to the Pacific. There you encounter barren plains, treeless and +waterless; rapid rivers, that foam through deep, rock-bound +channels; and a country altogether rougher in aspect, and more +mountainous, than that lying to the east of the great chain. A +warmer atmosphere prevails as you approach the Pacific, and in some +places forests of tall trees cover the earth. In these are found most +of the fur-bearing animals; and, on account of the greater warmth +of the climate, the true <i>felidæ</i>—the long-tailed cats—here wander +much farther north than upon the eastern side of the continent. +Even so far north as the forests of Oregon these appear in the forms +of the cougar and the ounce.</p> + +<p>But it is not our intention at present to cross the Rocky Mountains. +Our journey will lie altogether on the eastern side of that +great chain. It will extend from the frontiers of civilization to the +shores of the Arctic Sea. It is a long and perilous journey, boy +reader; but as we have made up our minds to it, let us waste no +more time in talking, but set forth at once. You are ready? Hurrah!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>here is a canoe upon the waters of Red River—Red River of the +north. It is near the source of the stream, but passing downward. +It is a small canoe, a frail structure of birch-bark, and contains only +four persons. They are all young—the eldest of them evidently not +over nineteen years of age, and the youngest about fifteen.</p> + +<p>The eldest is nearly full-grown, though his body and limbs have +not yet assumed the muscular development of manhood. His complexion +is dark, nearly olive. His hair is jet black, straight as an +Indian's, and long. His eyes are large and brilliant, and his features +prominent. His countenance expresses courage, and his well-set jaws +betoken firmness and resolution. He does not belie his looks, for he +possesses these qualifications in a high degree. There is a gravity in +his manner, somewhat rare in one so young; yet it is not the result +of a morose disposition, but a subdued temperament produced by +modesty, good sense, and much experience. Neither has it the air of +stupidity. No: you could easily tell that the mind of this youth, if +once roused, would exhibit both energy and alertness. His quiet +manner has a far different expression. It is an air of coolness and +confidence, which tells you he has met with dangers in the past, and +would not fear to encounter them again.</p> + +<p>It is an expression peculiar, I think, to the hunters of the “Far<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">17</a></span> +West,”—those men who dwell amidst dangers in the wild regions of +the great prairies. Their solitary mode of life begets this expression. +They are often for months without the company of a creature with +whom they may converse—months without beholding a human face. +They live alone with Nature, surrounded by her majestic forms. +These awe them into habits of silence. Such was in point of fact the +case with the youth whom we have been describing. He had hunted +much, though not as a professional hunter. With him the chase had +been followed merely as a pastime; but its pursuit had brought him +into situations of peril, and in contact with Nature in her wild +solitudes. Young as he was, he had journeyed over the grand +prairies, and through the pathless forests of the West. He had slain +the bear and the buffalo, the wild cat and the cougar. These experiences +had made their impression upon his mind, and stamped his +countenance with that air of gravity we have noticed.</p> + +<p>The second of the youths whom we shall describe is very different +in appearance. He is of blonde complexion, rather pale, with fair +silken hair that waves gently down his cheeks, and falls upon his +shoulders. He is far from robust. On the contrary, his form is thin +and delicate. It is not the delicacy of feebleness or ill-health, but +only a body of slighter build. The manner in which he handles his +oar shows that he possesses both health and strength, though neither +in such a high degree as the dark youth. His face expresses, perhaps, +a larger amount of intellect, and it is a countenance that would +strike you as more open and communicative. The eye is blue and +mild, and the brow is marked by the paleness of study and habits of +continued thought. These indications are no more than just, for the +fair-haired youth <i>is</i> a student, and one of no ordinary attainments. +Although only seventeen years of age, he is already well versed in the +natural sciences; and many a graduate of Oxford or Cambridge +would but ill compare with him. The former might excel in the +knowledge—if we can dignify it by that name—of the laws of +scansion, or in the composition of Greek idylls; but in all that constitutes +<i>real</i> knowledge he would prove but an idle theorist, a dreamy +imbecile, alongside our practical young scholar of the West.</p> + +<p>The third and youngest of the party—taking them as they sit from +stem to bow—differs in many respects from both those described. +He has neither the gravity of the first, nor yet the intellectuality of +the second. His face is round, and full, and ruddy. It is bright and +smiling in its expression. His eye dances merrily in his head, and +its glance falls upon everything. His lips are hardly ever at rest. +They are either engaged in making words—for he talks almost incessantly—or +else contracting and expanding with smiles and joyous +laughter. His cap is jauntily set, and his fine brown curls, hanging +against the rich roseate skin of his cheeks, give to his countenance +an expression of extreme health and boyish beauty. His merry laugh +and free air tell you he is not the boy for books. He is not much of +a hunter either. In fact, he is not particularly given to anything—one +of those easy natures who take the world as it comes, look upon +the bright side of everything, without getting sufficiently interested +to excel in anything.</p> + +<p>These three youths were dressed nearly alike. The eldest wore +the costume, as near as may be, of a backwoods hunter—a tunic-like +hunting-shirt, of dressed buckskin, leggings and mocassins of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">18</a></span> +same material, and all—shirt, leggings, and mocassins—handsomely +braided and embroidered with stained quills of the porcupine. The +cape of the shirt was tastefully fringed, and so was the skirt as well +as the seams of the mocassins. On his head was a hairy cap of +raccoon skin, and the tail of the animal, with its dark transverse bars, +hung down behind like the drooping plume of a helmet. Around his +shoulders were two leathern belts that crossed each other upon his +breast. One of these slung a bullet-pouch covered with a violet-green +skin that glittered splendidly in the sun. It was from the +head of the “wood-duck” the most beautiful bird of its tribe. By +the other strap was suspended a large crescent-shaped horn taken +from the head of an Opelousas bull, and carved with various ornamental +devices. Other smaller implements hung from the belts, +attached by leathern thongs: there was a picker, a wiper, and a steel +for striking fire with. A third belt—a broad stout one of alligator +leather—encircled the youth's waist. To this was fastened a holster, +and the shining butt of a pistol could be seen protruding out; a +hunting-knife of the kind denominated “bowie” hanging over the +left hip, completed his “arms and accoutrements.”</p> + +<p>The second of the youths was dressed, as already stated, in a somewhat +similar manner, though his accoutrements were not of so warlike +a character. Like the other, he had a powder-horn and pouch, +but instead of knife and pistol, a canvass bag or haversack hung from +his shoulder; and had you looked into it, you would have seen that +it was half filled with shells, pieces of rock, and rare plants, gathered +during the day—the diurnal storehouse of the geologist, the palæontologist, +and botanist—to be emptied for study and examination by +the night camp-fire. Instead of the 'coon-skin cap he wore a white +felt hat with broad leaf; and for leggings and mocassins he had +trousers of blue cottonade and laced buskins of tanned leather.</p> + +<p>The youngest of the three was dressed and accoutred much like the +eldest, except that his cap was of blue cloth—somewhat after the +fashion of the military forage cap. All three wore shirts of coloured +cotton, the best for journeying in these uninhabited regions, where +soap is scarce, and a laundress not to be had at any price.</p> + +<p>Though very unlike one another, these three youths were brothers. +I knew them well. I had seen them before—about two years before—and +though each had grown several inches taller since that time, +I had no difficulty in recognising them. Even though they were +now two thousand miles from where I had formerly encountered +them, I could not be mistaken as to their identity. Beyond a doubt +they were the same brave young adventurers whom I had met in the +swamps of Louisiana, and whose exploits I had witnessed upon the +prairies of Texas. They were the “Boy Hunters,”—Basil, Lucien, +François! I was right glad to renew acquaintance with them. Boy +reader, do you share my joy?</p> + +<p>But whither go they now? They are full two thousand miles from +their home in Louisiana. The Red River upon which their canoe +floats is not that Red River, whose blood-like waters sweep through +the swamps of the hot South—the home of the alligator and the gar. +No, it is a stream of a far different character, though also one of +great magnitude. Upon the banks of the former ripens the rice-plant, +and the sugar-cane waves its golden tassels high in the air. +There, too, flourishes the giant reed, the fan-palm, and the broad-leafed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">19</a></span> +magnolia, with its huge snow-white flowers. There the aspect +is Southern, and the heat tropical for most part of the year.</p> + +<p>All this is reversed on the Red River of the North. It is true that +on its banks sugar is also produced; but it is no longer from a plant +but a lordly tree—the great sugar-maple. There is rice too,—vast +fields of rice upon its marshy borders; but it is not the pearly grain of +the South. It is the wild rice, “the water oats,” the food of millions of +winged creatures, and thousands of human beings as well. Here, for +three-fourths of the year, the sun is feeble, and the aspect that of +winter. For months the cold waters are bound up in an icy embrace. +The earth is covered with thick snow, over which rise the needle-leafed +<i>coniferæ</i>—the pines, the cedars, the spruce, and the hemlock. +Very unlike each other are the countries watered by the two streams, +the Red River of the South and its namesake of the North.</p> + +<p>But whither go our Boy Hunters in their birch-bark canoe? The +river upon which they are <i>voyaging</i> runs due northward into the +great lake Winnipeg. They are floating with its current, and consequently +increasing the distance from their home. Whither go they?</p> + +<p>The answer leads us to some sad reflections. Our joy on again +beholding them is to be mingled with grief. When we last saw them +they had a father, but no mother. Now they have neither one nor +the other. The old Colonel, their father—the French <i>émigré</i>, the +<i>hunter naturalist</i>—is dead. He who had taught them all he knew; +who had taught them to ride, to swim, to dive deep rivers, to fling +the lasso, to climb tall trees, and scale steep cliffs, to bring down +birds upon the wing or beasts upon the run, with the arrow and +the unerring rifle; who had trained them to sleep in the open air, in +the dark forest, on the unsheltered prairie, along the white snow-wreath—anywhere—with +but a blanket or a buffalo robe for their +bed; who had taught them to live on the simplest food, and had +imparted to one of them a knowledge of science, of botany in particular, +that enabled them, in case of need, to draw sustenance, from +plants and trees, from roots and fruits, to find resources where +ignorant men would starve.</p> + +<p>He also had taught them to kindle a fire without flint, steel, or +detonating powder; to discover their direction without a compass, +from the rocks and the trees and the signs of the heavens; and in +addition to all, had taught them, as far as was then known, the +geography of that vast wilderness that stretches from the Mississippi +to the shores of the Pacific Ocean, and northward to the icy borders +of the Arctic Sea—he who had taught them all this, their father, was +no more; and his three sons, the “boy men,” of whom he was so +proud, and of whose accomplishments he was wont to boast, were +now orphans upon the wide world.</p> + +<p>But little more than a year after their return from their grand +expedition to the Texan prairies, the “old Colonel” had died. It +was one of the worst years of that scourge of the South—the yellow +fever—and to this dread pestilence he had fallen a victim.</p> + +<p>Hugot, the <i>ex-chasseur</i> and attached domestic, who was accustomed +to follow his master like a shadow, had also followed him into the +next world. It was not grief that killed Hugot, though he bore the +loss of his kind master sadly enough. But it was not grief that +killed Hugot. He was laid low by the same disease of which his +master had died—the yellow fever. A week had scarcely passed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">20</a></span> +after the death of the latter, before Hugot caught the disease, and +in a few days he was carried to the tomb and laid by the side of his +“old Colonel.”</p> + +<p>The Boy Hunters—Basil, Lucien, François—became orphans. They +knew of but one relation in the whole world, with whom their father +had kept up any correspondence. This relation was an uncle, and, +strange as it may seem, a Scotchman—a Highlander, who had +strayed to Corsica in early life, and had there married the Colonel's +sister. That uncle had afterwards emigrated to Canada, and had +become extensively engaged in the fur trade. He was now a superintendent +or “factor” of the Hudson's Bay Company, stationed at +one of their most remote posts near the shores of the Arctic Sea! +There is a romance in the history of some men wilder than any fiction +that could be imagined.</p> + +<p>I have not yet answered the question as to where our Boy Hunters +were journeying in their birch-bark canoe. By this time you will +have divined the answer. Certainly, you will say, they were on +their way to join their uncle in his remote home. For no other +object could they be travelling through the wild regions of the Red +River. That supposition is correct. To visit this Scotch uncle (they +had not seen him for years) was the object of their long, toilsome, +and perilous journey. After their father's death he had sent for +them. He had heard of their exploits upon the prairies; and, being +himself of an adventurous disposition, he was filled with admiration +for his young kinsmen, and desired very much to have them come +and live with him.</p> + +<p>Being now their guardian, he might command as much, but it +needed not any exercise of authority on his part to induce all three +of them to obey his summons. They had travelled through the +mighty forests of the Mississippi, and upon the summer prairies of +the South. These great features of the earth's surface were to them +familiar things, and they were no longer curious about them. But +there remained a vast country which they longed eagerly to explore. +They longed to look upon its shining lakes and crystal rivers; upon +its snow-clad hills and ice-bound streams; upon its huge mammalia—its +moose and its musk-oxen, its wapiti and its monster bears. This +was the very country to which they were now invited by their kinsman, +and cheerfully did they accept his invitation.</p> + +<p>Already had they made one-half the journey, though by far the +easier half. They had travelled up the Mississippi by steamboat as +far as the mouth of the St. Peter's. There they had commenced their +canoe voyage—in other words became “voyageurs”—for such is the +name given to those who travel by canoes through these wild territories. +Their favourite horses and the mule “Jeannette” had been +left behind. This was a necessity, as these creatures, however useful +upon the dry prairies of the South, where there are few or no lakes, +and where rivers only occur at long intervals, would be of little +service to the traveller in the Northern regions. Here the route is +crossed and intercepted by numerous rivers; and lakes of all sizes, +with tracts of inundated marsh, succeed one another continually. +Such, in fact, are the highways of the country, and the canoe the +travelling carriage; so that a journey from one point of the Hudson's +Bay territory to another is often a canoe voyage of thousands of +miles—equal to a “trip” across the Atlantic.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">21</a></span></p> + +<p>Following the usual custom, therefore, our Boy Hunters had become +voyageurs—“<i>Young Voyageurs</i>.” They had navigated the St. Peter's +in safety, almost to its head-waters. These interlock with the +sources of the Red River. By a “portage” of a few miles they had +crossed to the latter stream; and, having launched their canoe upon +its waters, were now floating downward and northward with its +current. But they had yet a long journey before them—nearly two +thousand miles! Many a river to be “run,” many a rapid to be +“shot,” many a lake to be crossed, and many a “portage” to be +passed, ere they could reach the end of that great <i>voyage</i>.</p> + +<p>Come, boy reader, shall we accompany them? Yes. The strange +scenes and wild adventures through which we must pass, may +lighten the toils, and perhaps repay us for the perils of the journey. +Think not of the toils. Roses grow only upon thorns. From toil we +learn to enjoy leisure. Regard not the perils. “From the nettle +danger we pluck the flower safety.” Security often springs from +peril. From such hard experiences great men have arisen. Come, +then, my young friend! mind neither toil nor peril, but with me to +the great wilderness of the North!</p> + +<p>Stay! We are to have another “<i>compagnon du voyage</i>.” There is a +fourth in the boat, a fourth “young voyageur.” Who is he? In +appearance he is as old as Basil, full as tall, and not unlike him in +“build.” But he is altogether of a different <i>colour</i>. He is fair-haired; +but his hair (unlike that of Lucien, which is also light-coloured) is +strong, crisp, and curly. It does not droop, but stands out over his +cheeks in a profusion of handsome ringlets. His complexion is of +that kind known as “fresh,” and the weather, to which it has +evidently been much exposed, has bronzed and rather enriched the +colour. The eyes are dark blue, and, strange to say, with <i>black</i> +brows and lashes! This is not common, though sometimes observed; +and, in the case of the youth we are describing, arose from a difference +of complexion on the part of his parents. He looked through +the eyes of his mother, while in other respects he was more like his +father, who was fair-haired and of a “fresh” colour.</p> + +<p>The youth, himself, might be termed handsome. Perhaps he did +not possess the youthful beauty of François, nor the bolder kind that +characterized the face of Basil. Perhaps he was of a coarser “make” +than any of his three companions. His intellect had been less cultivated +by education, and <i>education adds to the beauty of the face</i>. His life +had been a harder one—he had toiled more with his hands, and had +seen less of civilized society. Still many would have pronounced him +a handsome youth. His features were regular, and of clean outline. +His lips expressed good-nature as well as firmness. His eye beamed +with native intelligence, and his whole face bespoke a heart of true +and determined honesty—<i>that made it beautiful</i>.</p> + +<p>Perhaps a close scrutinizer of countenances might have detected +some resemblance—a family one—between him and his three companions. +If such there was, it was very slight; but there might have +been, from the relationship that existed between them and him. He +was their cousin—their full cousin—the only son of that uncle they +were now on their way to visit, and the messenger who had been sent +to bring them. Such was the fourth of “the young voyageurs.”</p> + +<p>His dress was not unlike that worn by Basil; but as he was seated +on the bow, and acting as pilot, and therefore more likely to feel the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">22</a></span> +cold, he wore over his hunting-shirt, a Canadian <i>capote</i> of white +woollen cloth, with its hood hanging down upon his shoulders.</p> + +<p>But there was still another “voyageur,” an old acquaintance, whom +you, boy reader, will no doubt remember. This was an animal, a +quadruped, who lay along the bottom of the canoe upon a buffalo's +hide. “From his size and colour—which was a tawny red—you might +have mistaken him for a panther—a cougar. His long black muzzle +and broad hanging ears gave him quite a different aspect, however, +and declared him to be a hound. He <i>was</i> one—a bloodhound, with +the cross of a mastiff—a powerful animal. It was the dog 'Marengo.'” +You remember Marengo?</p> + +<p>In the canoe there were other objects of interest. There were +blankets and buffalo robes; there was a small canvas tent folded up; +there were bags of provisions, and some cooking utensils; there was +a spade and an axe; there were rifles—three of them—and a double-barrelled +shot-gun; besides a fish-net, and many other articles, the +necessary equipments for such a journey.</p> + +<p>Loaded almost to the gunwale was that little canoe, yet lightly did +it float down the waters of the Red River of the North.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE TRUMPETER SWAN AND THE BALD EAGLE</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">I</span>t was the spring season, though late. The snow had entirely disappeared +from the hills, and the ice from the water, and the melting +of both had swollen the river, and rendered its current more rapid +than usual. Our young voyageurs needed not therefore to ply their +oars, except now and then to guide the canoe; for these little vessels +have no rudder, but are steered by the paddles. The skilful voyageurs +can shoot them to any point they please, simply by their dexterous +handling of the oars; and Basil, Lucien, and François, had had +sufficient practice both with “skiffs” and “dug-outs” to make good +oarsmen of all three. They had made many a canoe trip upon the +lower Mississippi and the bayous of Louisiana; besides their journey +up the St. Peter's had rendered them familiar with the management +of their birchen craft. An occasional stroke of the paddle kept them +in their course, and they floated on without effort.</p> + +<p>Norman—such was the name of their Canadian or Highland cousin—sat +in the bow and directed their course. This is the post of honour +in a canoe; and as he had more experience than any of them in this +sort of navigation, he was allowed habitually to occupy this post. +Lucien sat in the stern. He held in his hands a book and pencil; +and as the canoe glided onward, he was noting down his memoranda. +The trees upon the banks were in leaf—many of them in blossom—and +as the little craft verged near the shore, his keen eye followed +the configuration of the leaves, to discover any new species that might +appear.</p> + +<p>There is a rich vegetation upon the banks of the Red River; but +the <i>flora</i> is far different from that which appears upon the low <i>alluvion</i> +of Louisiana. It is Northern, but not Arctic. Oaks, elms, and +poplars, are seen mingling with birches, willows, and aspens. Several +species of indigenous fruit trees were observed by Lucien, among +which were crab-apple, raspberry, strawberry, and currant. There<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">23</a></span> +was also seen the fruit called by the voyageurs “le poire,” but which +in English phraseology is known as the “service-berry.” It grows +upon a small bush or shrub of six or eight feet high, with smooth +pinnate leaves. These pretty red berries are much esteemed and +eaten both by Indians and whites, who preserve them by drying, +and cook them in various ways.</p> + +<p>There was still another bush that fixed the attention of our young +botanist, as it appeared all along the banks, and was a <i>characteristic</i> +of the vegetation of the country. It was not over eight feet in +height, with spreading branches of a grey-colour. Its leaves were +three inches wide, and somewhat lobed like those of the oak. Of +course, at this early season, the fruit was not ripe upon it; but Lucien +knew the fruit well. When ripe it resembles very much a red cherry, +or, still more, a cranberry, having both the appearance and acrid +taste of the latter. Indeed, it is sometimes used as a substitute for +cranberries in the making of pies and tarts; and in many parts it is +called the “bush cranberry.”</p> + +<p>The name, however, by which it is known among the Indians of +Red River is “<i>anepeminan</i>” from “<i>nepen</i>,” summer, and “<i>minan</i>,” +berry. This has been corrupted by the fur-traders and voyageurs +into “Pembina;” hence, the name of a river which runs into the Red, +and also the name of the celebrated but unsuccessful settlement of +“Pembina,” formed by Lord Selkirk many years ago. Both took +their names from this berry that grows in abundance in the neighbourhood. +The botanical appellation of this curious shrub is +<i>Viburnum oxycoccos</i>; but there is another species of the viburnum, +which is also styled “oxycoccos.” The common “snowball bush” of +our garden is a plant of the same genus, and very like the “Pembina,” +both in leaf and flower. In fact, in a wild state they might be +regarded as the same; but it is well known that the flowers of the +snowball are sterile, and do not produce the beautiful bright crimson +berries of the “Pembina.”</p> + +<p>Lucien lectured upon these points to his companions as they floated +along. Norman listened with astonishment to his philosophic cousin, +who, although he had never been in this region before, knew more of +its plants and trees than he did himself. Basil also was interested in +the explanations given by his brother. On the contrary, François, +who cared but little for botanical studies, or studies of any sort, was +occupied differently. He sat near the middle of the canoe, double-barrel +in hand, eagerly watching for a shot. Many species of water-fowl +were upon the river, for it was now late in the spring, and the +wild geese and ducks had all arrived, and were passing northward +upon their annual migration. During the day François had got +several shots, and had “bagged” three wild geese, all of different +kinds, for there are many species of wild geese in America.</p> + +<p>He had also shot some ducks. But this did not satisfy him. There +was a bird upon the river that could not be approached. No matter +how the canoe was manœuvred, this shy creature always took flight +before François could get within range. For days he had been +endeavouring to kill one. Even upon the St. Peter's many of them +had been seen, sometimes in pairs, at other times in small flocks of +six or seven, but always shy and wary. The very difficulty of getting +a shot at them, along with the splendid character of the birds themselves, +had rendered François eager to obtain one. The bird itself<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">24</a></span> +was no other than the great wild swan—the king of aquatic +birds.</p> + +<p>“Come, brother!” said François, addressing Lucien, “bother your +viburnums and your oxycocks! Tell us something about these swans. +See! there goes another of them! What a splendid fellow he is! +I'd give something to have him within range of buckshot.”</p> + +<p>As François spoke he pointed down-stream to a great white bird +that was seen moving out from the bank. It was a swan, and one of +the very largest kind—“a trumpeter.”</p> + +<p>It had been feeding in a sedge of the wild rice, and no doubt the +sight of the canoe or the plash of the guiding oar had disturbed, and +given it the alarm. It shot out from the reeds with head erect and +wings slightly raised, offering to the eyes of the voyageurs a spectacle +of graceful and majestic bearing, that, among the feathered race at +least, is quite inimitable.</p> + +<p>A few strokes of its broad feet propelled it into the open water +near the middle of the stream, when, making a half wheel, it turned +head down the river, and swam with the current.</p> + +<p>At the point where it turned it was not two hundred yards ahead +of the canoe. Its apparent boldness in permitting them to come so +near without taking wing, led François to hope that they might get +still nearer; and, begging his companions to ply the paddles, he +seized hold of his double-barrel, and leaned forward in the canoe. +Basil also conceived a hope that a shot was to be had, for he took up +his rifle, and looked to the cock and cap. The others went steadily +and quietly to work at the oars. In a few moments the canoe cleft +the current at the rate of a galloping horse, and one would have +supposed that the swan must either at once take wing or be overtaken.</p> + +<p>Not so, however. The “trumpeter” knew his game better than +that. He had full confidence both in his strength and speed upon +the water. He was not going to undergo the trouble of a fly, until +the necessity arose for so doing; and, as it was, he seemed to be +satisfied that that necessity had not yet arrived. The swim cost +him much less muscular exertion than flying would have done, and +he judged that the current, here very swift, would carry him out of +reach of his pursuers.</p> + +<p>It soon began to appear that he judged rightly; and the voyageurs, +to their chagrin, saw that, instead of gaining upon him, as they had +expected, every moment widened the distance between him and the +canoe. The bird had an advantage over his pursuers. Three distinct +powers propelled him, while they had only two to rely upon. He +had the current in his favour—so had they. He had oars or paddles—his +feet; they had oars as well. He “carried sail,” while they +spread not a “rag.” The wind chanced to blow directly down-stream, +and the broad wings of the bird, held out from his body, and +half extended, caught the very pith of the breeze on their double +concave surfaces, and carried him through the water with the velocity +of an arrow. Do you think that he was not aware of this advantage +when he started in the race?</p> + +<p>Do you suppose that these birds do not <i>think</i>? I for one am +satisfied they do, and look upon every one who prates about the +<i>instinct</i> of these creatures as a philosopher of a very old school indeed. +Not only does the great swan think, but so does your parrot, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">25</a></span> +your piping bullfinch, and the little canary that hops on your thumb. +All think, and <i>reason</i>, and <i>judge</i>. Should it ever be your fortune to +witness the performance of those marvellous birds, exhibited by the +graceful Mdlle. Vandermeersch in the fashionable <i>salons</i> of Paris and +London, you will agree with me in the belief that the smallest of +them has a mind like yourself.</p> + +<p>Most certainly the swan, which our voyageurs were pursuing, +thought, and reasoned, and judged, and calculated his distance, and +resolved to keep on “the even tenor of his way,” without putting +himself to extra trouble by beating the air with his wings, and +lifting his heavy body—thirty pounds at least—up into the heavens. +His judgment proved sound; for, in less than ten minutes from the +commencement of the chase, he had gained a clear hundred yards +upon his pursuers, and continued to widen the distance. At intervals +he raised his beak higher than usual, and uttered his loud booming +note, which fell upon the ears of the voyageurs as though it had been +sent back in mockery and defiance.</p> + +<p>They would have given up the pursuit, had they not noticed that +a few hundred yards farther down the river made a sharp turn to +the right. The swan, on reaching this, would no longer have the +wind in his favour. This inspired them with fresh hopes. They +thought they would be able to overtake him after passing the bend, +and then, either get a shot at him, or force him into the air. The +latter was the more likely; and, although it would be no great +gratification to see him fly off, yet they had become so interested +in this singular chase that they desired to terminate it by putting +the trumpeter to some trouble. They bent, therefore, with fresh +energy to their oars, and pulled onward in the pursuit.</p> + +<p>First the swan, and after him the canoe, swung round the bend, +and entered the new “reach” of the river. The voyageurs at once +perceived that the bird now swam more slowly. He no longer +“carried sail,” as the wind was no longer in his favour. His wings +lay closely folded to his body, and he moved only by the aid of his +webbed feet and the current, which last happened to be sluggish, +as the river at this part spread over a wide expanse of level land. +The canoe was evidently catching up, and each stroke was bringing +the pursuers nearer to the pursued.</p> + +<p>After a few minutes' brisk pulling, the trumpeter had lost so +much ground that he was not two hundred yards in the advance, +and “dead ahead.” His body was no longer carried with the same +gracefulness, and the majestic curving of his neck had disappeared. +His bill protruded forward, and his thighs began to drag the water +in his wake. He was evidently on the threshold of flight. Both +François and Basil saw this, as they stood with their guns crossed +and ready.</p> + +<p>At this moment a shrill cry sounded over the water. It was the +scream of some wild creature, ending in a strange laugh, like the +laugh of a maniac!</p> + +<p>On both sides of the river there was a thick forest of tall trees +of the cotton-wood species. From this forest the strange cry had +proceeded, and from the right bank. Its echoes had hardly ceased, +when it was answered by a similar cry from the trees upon the left. +So like were the two, that it seemed as if some one of God's wild +creatures was mocking another. These cries were hideous enough<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">26</a></span> +to frighten any one not used to them. They had not that effect +upon our voyageurs, who knew their import. One and all of them +were familiar with the voice of the <i>white-headed eagle</i>!</p> + +<p>The trumpeter knew it as well as any of them, but on him it +produced a far different effect. His terror was apparent, and his +intention was all at once changed. Instead of rising into the air, as +he had premeditated, he suddenly lowered his head, and disappeared +under the water!</p> + +<p>Again was heard the wild scream and the maniac laugh; and the +next moment an eagle swept out from the timber, and, after a few +strokes of its broad wing, poised itself over the spot where the +trumpeter had gone down. The other, its mate, was seen crossing at +the same time from the opposite side.</p> + +<p>Presently the swan rose to the surface, but his head was hardly +out of the water when the eagle once more uttered its wild note, +and, half folding its wings, darted down from above. The swan +seemed to have expected this, for before the eagle could reach the +surface, he had gone under a second time, and the latter, though +passing with the velocity of an arrow, plunged his talons in the +water to no purpose. With a cry of disappointment the eagle +mounted back into the air, and commenced wheeling in circles over +the spot. It was now joined by its mate, and both kept round and +round watching for the reappearance of their intended victim.</p> + +<p>Again the swan came to the surface, but before either of the eagles +could swoop upon him he had for the third time disappeared. The +swan is but an indifferent diver; but under such circumstances he +was likely to do his best at it. But what could it avail him? He +must soon rise to the surface to take breath—each time at shorter +intervals. He would soon become fatigued and unable to dive with +sufficient celerity, and then his cruel enemies would be down upon +him with their terrible talons. Such is the usual result, unless the +swan takes to the air, which he sometimes does. In the present case +he had built his hopes upon a different means of escape. He contemplated +being able to conceal himself in a heavy sedge of bulrushes +that grew along the edge of the river, and towards these he was +evidently directing his course under the water.</p> + +<p>At each emersion he appeared some yards nearer them, until at +length he rose within a few feet of their margin, and diving again +was seen no more! He had crept in among the sedge, and no doubt +was lying with only his head, or part of it, above the water, his body +concealed by the broad leaves of the <i>nymphæ</i>, while the head itself +could not be distinguished among the white flowers that lay thickly +along the surface.</p> + +<p>The eagles now wheeled over the sedge, flapping the tops of the +bulrushes with their broad wings, and screaming with disappointed +rage. Keen as were their eyes they could not discover the hiding-place +of their victim. No doubt they would have searched for it a +long time, but the canoe—which they now appeared to notice for the +first time—had floated near; and, becoming aware of their own +danger, both mounted into the air again, and with a farewell scream +flew off, and alighted at some distance down the river.</p> + +<p>“A swan for supper!” shouted François, as he poised his gun for +the expected shot.</p> + +<p>The canoe was headed for the bulrushes near the point where the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">27</a></span> +trumpeter had been last seen; and a few strokes of the paddles +brought the little craft with a whizzing sound among the sedge. But +the culms of the rushes were so tall, and grew so closely together, +that the canoe-men, after entering, found to their chagrin they could +not see six feet around them. They dared not stand up, for this is +exceedingly dangerous in a birch canoe, where the greatest caution is +necessary to keep the vessel from careening over. Moreover, the sedge +was so thick, that it was with difficulty they could use their oars.</p> + +<p>They remained stationary for a time, surrounded by a wall of green +bulrush. They soon perceived that that would never do, and resolved +to push back into the open water. Meanwhile Marengo had been +sent into the sedge, and was now heard plunging and sweltering +about in search of the game. Marengo was not much of a water-dog +by nature, but he had been trained to almost every kind of hunting, +and his experience among the swamps of Louisiana had long since +relieved him of all dread for the water. His masters therefore had +no fear but that Marengo would “put up” the trumpeter.</p> + +<p>Marengo had been let loose a little too soon. Before the canoe +could be cleared of the entangling sedge, the dog was heard to utter +one of his loud growls, then followed a heavy plunge, there was a +confused fluttering of wings, and the great white bird rose majestically +into the air! Before either of the gunners could direct their +aim, he was beyond the range of shot, and both prudently reserved +their fire. Marengo having performed his part, swam back to the +canoe, and was lifted over the gunwale.</p> + +<p>The swan, after clearing the sedge, rose almost vertically into the +air. These birds usually fly at a great elevation—sometimes entirely +beyond the reach of sight. Unlike the wild geese and ducks, they +never alight upon land, but always upon the bosom of the water. It +was evidently the intention of this one to go far from the scene of his +late dangers, perhaps to the great lake Winnipeg itself.</p> + +<p>After attaining a height of several hundred yards, he flew forward +in a horizontal course, and followed the direction of the stream. His +flight was now regular, and his trumpet note could be heard at intervals, +as, with outstretched neck, he glided along the heavens. He +seemed to feel the pleasant sensations that every creature has after +an escape from danger, and no doubt he fancied himself secure. But +in this fancy he deceived himself. Better for him had he risen a few +hundred yards higher, or else had uttered his self-gradulation in a +more subdued tone; for it was heard and answered, and that response +was the maniac laugh of the white-headed eagle.</p> + +<p>At the same instant two of these birds—those already introduced—were +seen mounting into the air. They did not fly up vertically, as +the swan had done, but in spiral curves, wheeling and crossing each +other as they ascended. They were making for a point that would +intersect the flight of the swan should he keep on in his horizontal +course. This, however, he did not do. With an eye as quick as theirs, +he saw that he was “headed;” and, stretching his long neck upward, +he again pursued an almost vertical line.</p> + +<p>But he had to carry thirty pounds of flesh and bones, while the +largest of the eagles—the female bird—with a still broader spread of +wing, was a “light weight” of only seven. The result of this difference +was soon apparent. Before the trumpeter had got two hundred yards +higher, the female of the eagles was seen wheeling around him on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">28</a></span> +same level. The swan was now observed to double, fly downward, +and then upward again, while his mournful note echoed back to the +earth. But his efforts were in vain. After a series of contortions +and manœuvres, the eagle darted forward, with a quick toss threw +herself back-downward, and, striking upward, planted her talons in +the under part of the wing of her victim. The lacerated shaft fell +uselessly down; and the great white bird, no longer capable of flight, +came whistling through the air.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 350px;"> +<img src="images/illus-028.jpg" width="350" height="500" alt="THE TRUMPETER SWAN AND THE BALD EAGLE." title="THE TRUMPETER SWAN AND THE BALD EAGLE." /> +<span class="caption">THE TRUMPETER SWAN AND THE BALD EAGLE.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">29</a></span>But it was not allowed to drop directly to the earth; it would have +fallen on the bosom of the broad river, and that the eagles did not +wish, as it would have given them some trouble to get the heavy +carcass ashore. As soon as the male—who was lower in the air—saw +that his partner had struck the bird, he discontinued his upward +flight, and, poising himself on his spread tail, waited its descent. A +single instant was sufficient. The white object passed him still +fluttering; but the moment it was below his level he shot after it like +an arrow, and, clutching it in his talons, with an outward stroke sent +it whizzing in a diagonal direction. The next moment a crashing +was heard among the twigs, and a dull sound announced that the +swan had fallen upon the earth.</p> + +<p>The eagles were now seen sailing downward, and soon disappeared +among the tops of the trees.</p> + +<p>The canoe soon reached the bank; and François, accompanied by +Basil and Marengo, leaped ashore, and went in search of the birds. +They found the swan quite dead and lying upon its back as the eagles +had turned it. Its breast was torn open, and the crimson blood, with +which they had been gorging themselves, was spread in broad flakes +over its snowy plumage. The eagles themselves, scared by the dog +Marengo, had taken flight before the boys could get within shot of +them.</p> + +<p>As it was just the hour for a “noon halt” and a luncheon, the swan +was carried to the bank of the river, where a crackling fire was soon +kindled to roast him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<div class="cap">A SWAN-HUNT BY TORCHLIGHT</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span> few days brought our travellers to the settlement of Red River, +where they made but a very short stay; and, having procured a few +articles which they stood in need of, they resumed their journey, and +floated on towards Lake Winnipeg. The swans were seen in greater +numbers than ever. They were not less shy however, and François, +as before, in vain tried to get a shot at one.</p> + +<p>He was very desirous of bringing down one of these noble birds, +partly because the taste he had had of their flesh had given him a +liking for it; and partly because their shyness had greatly tantalized +him. One is always more eager to kill shy game, both on account of +the rarity of the thing, and the credit one gets for his expertness. +But the voyageurs had now got within less than twenty miles of +Lake Winnipeg, and François had not as yet shot a single swan. It +was not at all likely the eagles would help him to another. So there +would be no more roast swan for supper.</p> + +<p>Norman, seeing how eager François was to shoot one of these birds, +resolved to aid him by his advice.</p> + +<p>“Cousin Frank,” said he, one evening as they floated along, “you +wish very much to get a shot at the swans?”</p> + +<p>“I do,” replied François,—“I do; and if you can tell me how to +accomplish that business, I'll make you a present of this knife.” +Here François held up a very handsome clasp-knife that he carried +in his pouch.</p> + +<p>A knife in the fur countries is no insignificant affair. With a knife<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">30</a></span> +you may sometimes buy a horse, or a tent, or a whole carcass of beef, +or, what is stranger still, a wife! To the hunter in these wild +regions—perhaps a thousand miles from where knives are sold—such +a thing is of very great value indeed; but the knife which François +offered to his cousin was a particularly fine one, and the latter had +once expressed a wish to become the owner of it. He was not slow, +therefore, in accepting the conditions.</p> + +<p>“Well,” rejoined he, “you must consent to travel a few miles by +night, and I think I can promise you a shot at the trumpeters—perhaps +several.”</p> + +<p>“What say you, brothers?” asked François, appealing to Basil and +Lucien; “shall we have the sport? Say yes.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! I have no objection,” said Lucien.</p> + +<p>“Nor I,” added Basil. “On the contrary, I should like it above +all things. I wish very much to know what plan our cousin shall +adopt. I never heard of any mode of approaching these birds.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, then,” answered Norman, “I shall have the pleasure of +instructing you in a way that is in use in these parts among the +Indians, who hunt the swan for its skin and quills, which they trade +to us at the post. We can manage it to-night, I think,” continued +he, looking up at the sky: “there is no moon, and the sky is thick. +Yes, it will be dark enough.”</p> + +<p>“Is it necessary the night should be a dark one?” asked François.</p> + +<p>“The darker the better,” replied Norman. “To-night, if I am not +mistaken, will be as black as pitch. But we need to make some preparations. +It is near sundown, and we shall have just time to get +ready for the business. Let us get ashore, then, as quickly as +possible.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! certainly—let us land,” replied all three at once.</p> + +<p>The canoe was now turned to the shore; and when it had arrived +within a few feet of the land it was brought to a stop. Its keel was +not allowed to touch the bottom of the river, as that would have +injured the little craft. The greatest precaution is always observed +both in landing and embarking these vessels. The voyageurs first +get out and wade to the shore, one or two remaining to hold the +canoe in its place. The cargo, whatever it be, is then taken out and +landed; and after that the canoe itself is lifted out of the water, and +carried ashore, where it is set, bottom upward, to dry.</p> + +<p>The birch-bark canoe is so frail a structure, that, were it brought +rudely in contact either with the bottom or the bank, it would be +very much damaged, or might go to pieces altogether. Hence the +care with which it is handled. It is dangerous, also, to stand upright +in it, as it is so “crank” that it would easily turn over, and +spill both canoe-men and cargo into the water. The voyageurs, therefore, +when once they have got in, remain seated during the whole +passage, shifting about as little as they can help. When landed for +the night, the canoe is always taken out of the water as described. +The bark is of a somewhat spongy nature; and if left in the water +for a length of time, would become soaked and heavy, and would not +run so well. When kept all night, bottom upward, it drips and +becomes dryer and lighter. In the morning, at the commencement +of the day's journey, it sits higher upon the water than in the afternoon +and evening, and is at that time more easily paddled along.</p> + +<p>Our voyageurs, having got on shore, first kindled a fire to cook<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">31</a></span> +their supper. This they intended to despatch earlier than usual, so +as to give them the early part of the night for their swan hunt, which +they expected to finish before midnight. Lucien did the cooking, +while Norman, assisted by Basil and François, made his preparations +for the hunt. François, who was more interested in the result than +any of them, watched every movement of his cousin. Nothing +escaped him.</p> + +<p>Norman proceeded as follows:—</p> + +<p>He walked off into the woods, accompanied by François. After +going about an hundred yards or so, he stopped at the foot of a certain +tree. The tree was a birch—easily distinguished by its smooth, +silvery bark. By means of his sharp hunting-knife he “girdled” this +tree near the ground, and then higher up, so that the length between +the two “girdlings,” or circular cuttings, was about four feet. He +then made a longitudinal incision by drawing the point of his knife +from one circle to the other. This done he inserted the blade under +the bark, and peeled it off, as he would have taken the skin from a +buffalo. The tree was a foot in diameter, consequently the bark, +when stripped off and spread flat, was about three feet in width; for +you must remember that the circumference of a circle or a cylinder +is always about three times the length of its diameter, and therefore +a tree is three times as much “<i>round</i>” as it is “<i>through</i>.”</p> + +<p>They now returned to the camp-fire, taking along with them the +piece of bark that had been cut off. This was spread out, though not +quite flat, still leaving it somewhat curved. The convex side, that +which had lain towards the tree, was now blackened with pulverized +charcoal, which Norman had directed Basil to prepare for the purpose; +and to the bark at one end was fastened a stake or shaft. +Nothing more remained but to fix this stake in the canoe, in an upright +position near the bow, and in such a way that the bottom of +the piece of bark would be upon a level with the seats, with its +hollow side looking forward. It would thus form a screen, and prevent +those in the canoe from being seen by any creature that might +be ahead.</p> + +<p>When all this had been arranged, Norman shouldered the axe, +and again walked off into the woods. This time his object was to +obtain a quantity of “knots” of the pitch-pine (<i>Pinus rigida</i>), which +he knew would most likely be found in such a situation. The tree +was soon discovered, and pointed out to François, who accompanied +him as before. François saw that it was a tree of about fifty feet in +height, and a foot in diameter at its base. Its bark was thick, very +dark in the colour, and full of cracks or fissures. Its leaves, or +“needles,” were about three inches long, and grew in threes, each +three forming a little bunch, bound together at its base by a +brownish sheath.</p> + +<p>These bunches, in botanical language, are termed “fasciles.” +The cones were somewhat shorter than the leaves, nearly the shape +of eggs, and clustered together in threes and fours. François noticed +that the tree was thickly branched, and therefore there are many +knots in the wood. For this reason it is not much use as timber; but +on account of the resin which it contains, it is the best species for +firewood; and for that purpose it is used in all parts of the United +States, where it grows. Most of the <i>pine-wood</i> sold for fuel in the +large cities of America is the wood of this species.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">32</a></span></p> + +<p>François supposed that his companion was about to fell one of the +trees. He was mistaken, however; Norman had no such intention; +he had only stopped before one to examine it, and make sure that it +was the species he was in search of. He was soon satisfied of this, and +moved on, directing his eyes along the ground. Again he stopped; +but this time it was by a tree that had already fallen—blown down, +perhaps, by the wind. It was half decayed; but François could see +that it was one of the same species—the pitch-pine.</p> + +<p>This was the very thing Norman wanted, and plying his axe, he +soon knocked out a large quantity of the resinous knots. These he at +length collected, and putting them into a bag, returned with François +to the fire. He then announced that he had no further preparations +to make.</p> + +<p>All four now sat down to supper, which consisted of dry meat, with +biscuits and coffee; and, as their appetites were sharpened by their +water journey, they made a hearty meal of it.</p> + +<p>As soon as they had finished eating, the canoe was launched and +got ready. The screen of birch-bark was set up, by lashing its shaft +to the bottom timbers, and also to one of the seats. Immediately in +front of this, and out upon the bow, was placed the frying-pan; and +this having been secured by being tied at the handle, was filled with +dry pine-knots, ready to be kindled at a moment's notice. These +arrangements being made, the hunters only awaited the darkness to +set forth.</p> + +<p>In the progress of their hunt they would be carried still farther +down-stream; but as that was the direction in which they were +travelling, they would only be progressing on their journey, and thus +“killing two birds with one stone.” This was altogether a very +pleasant consideration; and having stowed everything snugly in the +canoe, they sat chatting agreeably and waiting for the arrival of +night.</p> + +<p>Night came at length, and, as Norman had predicted, it was as +“dark as pitch.” Stepping gently into the canoe, and seating themselves +in their respective places, they pushed out and commenced +floating down-stream. Norman sat near the bow, in order to attend +to his torch of pine-knots. François was next to him, holding his +double-barrel, loaded with buckshot, which is the same size as that +used for swans, and in England is even known as “swan-shot.”</p> + +<p>Next came Basil with his rifle. He sat near François, just by the +middle of the little vessel. Lucien, who was altogether a man of +peace principles, and but little of a shot compared with either of his +brothers, handled the oar—not to propel the canoe, but merely to +guide it. In this way the party floated on in silence.</p> + +<p>Norman soon kindled his torch, which now cast its red glare over +the surface of the river, extending its fiery radii even to the banks +on both sides of the stream. The trees that overhung the water +seemed tinged with vermilion, and the rippling wave sparkled like +liquid gold. The light only extended over a semicircle. From the +manner in which the torch was placed, its light did not fall upon the +other half of the circle, and this, by contrast, appeared even darker +than it would otherwise have done.</p> + +<p>The advantage of the plan which Norman had adopted was at once +apparent to all. Ahead of the canoe the whole river was plainly seen, +for a distance of several hundred yards. No object larger than a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">33</a></span> +cork could have floated on its surface, without being visible to those +in the vessel—much less the great white body of a trumpeter swan. +Astern of the canoe, on the other hand, all was pitchy darkness, and +any one looking at the vessel from a position ahead could have seen +nothing but the bright torch and the black uniform surface behind it.</p> + +<p>As I have already stated, the convex side of the bark was <i>towards</i> +the blaze, and the pan containing the torch being placed close into +the screen, none of the light could possibly fall upon the forms of +those within the canoe. They were therefore invisible to any creature +from the front, while they themselves could see everything before +them.</p> + +<p>Two questions yet remained unanswered. First—would our hunters +find any swans on the river? Second—if they should, would these +birds allow themselves to be approached near enough to be shot at? +The first question Norman, of course, could not answer. That was a +matter beyond his knowledge or control. The swans might or might +not appear, but it was to be hoped they would. It was likely enough. +Many had been seen on the preceding day, and why not then? To +the second question, the young Canadian gave a definite reply.</p> + +<p>He assured his cousins that, if met with, the birds would be easily +approached in this manner; he had often hunted them so. They +would either keep their place, and remain until the light came very +near them, or they would move towards it (as he had many times +known them to do), attracted by curiosity and the novelty of the +spectacle. He had hunted deer in the same manner; he had shot, he +said, hundreds of these animals upon the banks of rivers, where they +had come down to the water to drink, and stood gazing at the light.</p> + +<p>His cousins could well credit his statements. They themselves had +hunted deer by torchlight in the woods of Louisiana, where it is +termed “fire-hunting.” They had killed several in this way. The +creatures as if held by some fascination, would stand with head erect +looking at the torch carried by one of the party, while the other took +sight between their glancing eyes and fired the deadly bullet. Remembering +this, they could easily believe that the swans might act +in a similar manner.</p> + +<p>It was not long until they were convinced of it by actual experience. +As the canoe rounded a bend in the river, three large white +objects appeared in the “reach” before them. A single glance satisfied +all that they were swans, though in the deceptive glare of the +torch, they appeared even larger than swans. Their long upright +necks, however, convinced the party they could be nothing else, and +the canoe was headed directly for them.</p> + +<p>As our hunters approached, one of the birds was heard to utter +his strange trumpet note, and this he repeated at intervals as they +drew nearer.</p> + +<p>“I have heard that they sing before death,” muttered François to +Basil, who sat nearest him. “If so, I hope that's the song itself;” +and François laughed quietly at the joke he had perpetrated.</p> + +<p>Basil also laughed; and Lucien, who had overheard the remark, +could not refrain himself from joining in the laughter.</p> + +<p>“I fear not,” rejoined Basil; “there is hardly enough music in the +note to call it a song. They may live to 'blow their own trumpet' a +long while yet.”</p> + +<p>This remark called forth a fresh chorus of laughter, in which all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">34</a></span> +took part; but it was a very silent kind of laughter, that could not +have been heard ten yards off: it might have been termed “laughing +in a whisper.”</p> + +<p>It soon ended, however, as matters now became serious: they were +already within less than two hundred yards of the game, and the +greatest caution had to be observed. The gunners had arranged the +order of fire: Basil was to shoot first, taking steady aim with his rifle +at any one of the birds; while François should fire as soon as he heard +the report of his brother's gun, taking the remaining swans upon the +wing, with one or both barrels, as he best might.</p> + +<p>At length Basil deemed himself near enough, and, levelling his piece, +fired. The bird threw out its wings, and flattened down upon the +water, almost without a struggle. The other two were rising into the +air, when “crack! crack!” went the two barrels of François' piece, +and one of the swans fell back with a broken wing, and fluttered over +the surface of the stream. Basil's had been shot dead, and was taken +up easily; but the wounded bird was only captured after a long chase +with the canoe; and when overtaken, it struck so fiercely with its +remaining wing, that one of the blows inflicted a painful wound on +the wrist of François. Both, however, were at length got safely +aboard, and proved to be a male and female of the largest dimensions.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<div class="cap">“CAST AWAY”</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">O</span>f course, the reports of the guns must have frightened any other +swans that were near. It was not likely they would find any more +before going some distance farther down the river; so, having stowed +away in a safe place the two already killed, the hunters paddled +rapidly onward.</p> + +<p>They had hardly gone half-a-mile farther, when another flock of +swans was discovered. These were approached in a similar way, and +no less than three were obtained—François making a remarkable +shot, and killing with both barrels. A little farther down, one of the +“hoopers” was killed; and still farther on, another trumpeter; making +in all no less than seven swans that lay dead in the bottom of the +canoe!</p> + +<p>These seven great birds almost filled the little craft to the gunwales, +and you would think that our “torch-hunters” ought to have +been content with such a spoil; but the hunter is hard to satisfy +with game, and but too often inclined to “spill much more blood” +than is necessary to his wants. Our voyageurs, instead of desisting, +again set the canoe in motion, and continued the hunt.</p> + +<p>A short distance below the place where they had shot the last +swan, as they were rounding a bend in the river, a loud rushing +sounded in their ears, similar to that produced by a cascade or waterfall. +On first hearing it, they were startled and somewhat alarmed. +It might be a “fall,” thought they. Norman could not tell: he had +never travelled this route; he did not know whether there were falls +in the Red River or not, but he believed not. In his voyage to the +South, he had travelled by another route; that was, up the Winnipeg +River, and through Rainy Lake and the Lake of the Woods to +Lake Superior. This is the usual and well-known track followed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">35</a></span> +by the <i>employés</i> of the Hudson's Bay Company; and Norman had +travelled it.</p> + +<p>In this uncertainty the canoe was brought to a stop, and our +voyageurs remained listening. The noise made by the water was +not very distant, and sounded like the roaring of “rapids,” or the +rush of a “fall.” It was evidently one or the other; but, after listening +to it for a considerable time, all came to the conclusion that the +sound did not proceed from the Red River itself, but from some +stream that emptied into it upon the right. With this belief they +again put the canoe in motion, and glided slowly and cautiously +onward.</p> + +<p>Their conjecture proved to be correct. As they approached nearer, +they perceived that the noise appeared every moment more and more +to their right; and presently they saw, below them, a rapid current +sweeping into the Red River from the right bank. This was easily +distinguished by the white froth and bubbles that were carried along +upon its surface, and which had evidently been produced by some +fall over which the water had lately passed. The hunters now rowed +fearlessly forward, and in a few moments came opposite the <i>débouchure</i> +of the tributary stream, when a considerable cascade appeared to +their view, not thirty yards from the Red River itself. The water +foamed and dashed over a series of steps, and then swept rapidly on, +in a frothy current. They had entered this current, and were now +carried along with increased velocity, so that the oarsmen suspended +operations, and drew their paddles within the canoe.</p> + +<p>A flock of swans now drew their attention. It was the largest +flock they had yet seen, numbering nearly a score of these noble +birds,—a sight, as Norman informed them, that was exceedingly rare +even in the most favoured haunts of the swan. Rarely are more than +six or seven seen together, and oftener only two or three. A grand +<i>coup</i> was determined upon. Norman took up his own gun, and even +Lucien, who managed the stern oar, and guided the craft, also brought +his piece—a very small rifle—close to his hand, so that he might have +a shot as well as the others.</p> + +<p>The canoe was directed in such a manner that, by merely keeping +its head down the stream, it would float to the spot where the swans +were.</p> + +<p>In a short while they approached very near the great birds, and +our hunters could see them sitting on the water, with upraised necks, +gazing in wonder at the torch. Whether they sounded their strange +note was not known, for the “sough” of the waterfall still echoed in +the ears of the canoe-men, and they could not hear aught else.</p> + +<p>Basil and Norman fired first, and simultaneously; but the louder +detonations of François' double-barrel, and even the tiny crack of +Lucien's rifle, were heard almost the instant after. Three of the birds +were killed by the volley, while a fourth, evidently “winged,” was +seen to dive, and flutter down-stream. The others mounted into the +air, and disappeared in the darkness.</p> + +<p>During the time occupied in this manœuvre, the canoe, no longer +guided by Lucien's oar, had been caught by some eddy in the current, +and swept round stern-foremost. In this position the light no longer +shone upon the river ahead, but was thrown up-stream. All in a +downward direction was buried in deep darkness. Before the +voyageurs could bring the canoe back to its proper direction, a new<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">36</a></span> +sound fell upon their ears that caused some of them to utter a cry of +terror. It was the noise of rushing water, but not that which they +had already heard and passed. It was before them in the river itself. +Perhaps it was a cataract, and <i>they were sweeping rapidly to its +brink</i>!</p> + +<p>The voice of Norman was heard exclaiming, “Hold with your +oars!—the rapids!—the rapids!” At the same time he himself +was seen rising up and stretching forward for an oar. All was now +consternation; and the movements of the party naturally consequent +upon such a sudden panic shook the little craft until her +gunwales lipped the water. At the same time she had swung round, +until the light again showed the stream ahead, and a horrid +sight it was.</p> + +<p>Far as the eye could see, was a reach of foaming rapids. Dark +points of rocks, and huge black boulders, thickly scattered in the +channel, jutted above the surface; and around and against these, +the water frothed and hissed furiously. There was no cataract, it is +true—there is none such in Red River—but for all purposes of destruction +the rapids before them were equally dangerous and terrible +to the eyes of our voyageurs. They no longer thought of the swans. +The dead were permitted to float down unheeded, the wounded to +make its escape. Their only thought was to stop the canoe before it +should be carried upon the rapids.</p> + +<p>With this intent all had taken to the oars, but in spite of every +exertion they soon found that the light craft had got within the +influence of the strong current, and was sucked downward more +rapidly than ever. Their backward strokes were to no purpose.</p> + +<p>In a few seconds the canoe had passed over the first stage of the +rapids, and shot down with the velocity of an arrow. A huge boulder +lay directly in the middle of the channel, and against this the current +broke with fury, laving its sides in foaming masses. The canoe was +hurried to this point; and as the light was again turned up-stream, +none of the voyageurs could see this dangerous rock. But they could +not have shunned it then. The boat had escaped from their control, +and spun round at will. The rock once more came under the light, +but just as the canoe, with a heavy crash, was driven against it.</p> + +<p>For some moments the vessel, pressed by the current against the +rock, remained motionless, but her sides were stove in, and the water +was rushing through. The quick eye of Basil—cool in all crises of +extreme danger—perceived this at a glance. He saw that the canoe +was a wreck, and nothing remained but to save themselves as they +best might. Dropping the oar, and seizing his rifle, he called to his +companions to leap to the rock; and all together immediately sprang +over the gunwale. The dog Marengo followed after.</p> + +<p>The canoe, thus lightened, heeled round into the current, and swept +on. The next moment she struck another rock, and was carried over +on her beams. The water then rushed in—the white bodies of the +swans, with the robes, blankets, and implements, rose on the wave; +the blazing knots were spilled from the pan, and fell with a hissing +sound; and a few seconds after they were extinguished, and all was +darkness!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">37</a></span></p> + +<div class="cap">A BRIDGE OF BUCKSKIN</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he canoe was lost, and all it had contained, or nearly all. The +voyageurs had saved only their guns, knives, and the powder-horns +and pouches, that had been attached to their persons. One other +thing had been saved—an axe which Basil had flung upon the rock +as he stepped out of the sinking vessel. All the rest—robes, blankets, +swans, cooking utensils, bags of provisions, such as coffee, flour, and +dried meat—were lost—irrecoverably lost. These had either drifted +off upon the surface, or been carried under water and hidden among +the loose stones at the bottom. No matter where, they were lost; +and our voyageurs now stood on a small naked rock in the middle of +the stream, with nothing left but the clothes upon their backs, and +the arms in their hands. Such was their condition.</p> + +<p>There was something so sudden and awful in the mishap that had +befallen them, that for some minutes they stood upon the spot where +they had settled without moving or addressing a word to one another. +They gazed after the canoe. They knew that it was wrecked, although +they could see nothing either of it or its contents. Thick darkness +enveloped them, rendered more intense from the sudden extinction +of the torchlight. They saw nothing but the foam flickering along +the river; like the ghosts of the swans they had killed, and they +heard only the roaring of the water, that sounded in their ears with +a hoarse and melancholy wail.</p> + +<p>For a long time they stood impressed with the lamentable condition +into which the accident had plunged them; and a lamentable condition +it was, sure enough. They were on a small rock in the midst +of a rapid river. They were in the midst of a great wilderness too, +many long miles from a settlement. The nearest could only be +reached by travelling through pathless forests, and over numerous +and deep rivers. Impassable swamps, and lakes with marshy shores, +lay on the route, and barred the direct course, and all this journey +would have to be made on foot.</p> + +<p>But none of our young voyageurs were of that stamp to yield themselves +to despair. One and all of them had experienced perils before—greater +even than that in which they now stood. As soon, therefore, +as they became fully satisfied that their little vessel was wrecked, +and all its contents scattered, instead of despairing, their first thoughts +were how to make the best of their situation.</p> + +<p>For that night, at least, they were helpless. They could not leave +the rock. It was surrounded by rapids. Sharp, jagged points +peeped out of the water, and between these the current rushed with +impetuosity. In the darkness no human being could have crossed +to either shore in safety. To attempt it would have been madness, +and our voyageurs soon came to this conclusion. They had no +other choice than to remain where they were until the morning; so, +seating themselves upon the rock, they prepared to pass the night.</p> + +<p>They sat huddled close together. They could not lie down—there +was not room enough for that. They kept awake most of the night, +one or other of them, overcome by fatigue, occasionally nodding over +in a sort of half-sleep, but awaking again after a few minutes' uncomfortable +dreaming. They talked but little, as the noise of the +rushing rapids rendered conversation painful. To be heard, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">38</a></span> +were under the necessity of shouting to one another, like passengers +in an omnibus. It was cold, too. None of them had been much +wetted in escaping from the canoe; but they had saved neither +overcoat, blanket, nor buffalo-robe; and, although it was now late +in the spring, the nights near Lake Winnipeg, even at that season, +are chilly. They were above the latitude of 50°; and although in +England, which is on that parallel, it is not very cold of a spring +night, it must be remembered that the line of equal temperature—in +the language of meteorologists the “<i>isothermal line</i>,”—is of a much +lower latitude in America than in Europe.</p> + +<p>Our voyageurs were chilled to the very bones, and of course glad +to see the daylight glimmering through the tops of the trees that +grew upon the banks of the river. As soon as day broke, they began +to consider how they would reach those trees. Although swimming +a river of that width would have been to any of the four a mere +bagatelle, they saw that it was not to be so easy an affair. Had +they been upon either bank, they could have crossed to the other +without difficulty—as they would have chosen a place where the +water was comparatively still. On the rock they had no choice, as +the rapids extended on both sides above and below it. Between +the boulders the current rushed so impetuously, that had they +attempted to swim to either bank, they would have been carried +downward, and perhaps dashed with violence against one or other of +the sharp stones.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was light, they saw all this; not without feelings of +apprehension and uneasiness. Their whole attention was now occupied +with the one object—how they should get to the bank of the +river.</p> + +<p>The right bank was the more distant; but the passage in that +direction appeared the easier one. The current was not so swift, nor +yet did it seem so deep. They thought they might ford it, and Basil +made the attempt; but he soon got beyond his depth; and was +obliged, after being carried off his feet, to swim up under the lee of +the rock again.</p> + +<p>From the rock to the right bank was about an hundred yards' +distance. Here and there, at irregular intervals, sharp, jagged +stones rose above the surface, some of them projecting three feet or +more out of the water, and looking very much like upright tombstones. +Lucien had noticed these, and expressed the opinion that if +they only had a rope, they might fling it over one of these stones, +and then, holding it fast at the other end, might pass by that means +from one to the other.</p> + +<p>The suggestion was a good one, but where was the rope to come +from? All their ropes and cords—lassoes and all—had been swept +away in the wreck. Not a string remained, except those that +fastened their horns, flasks, and other accoutrements; and these +were only small thongs, and would be of no use for such a purpose. +It would require a rope strong enough to carry the weight of a man +impelled by a rapid current—in fact, a weight equal to that of +several men. They all set to thinking how this was to be obtained. +Each looked at the other, and scanned the straps and thongs that +were around their bodies.</p> + +<p>They were satisfied at a glance that these would not be sufficient +to make such a rope as was wanted. They did not give up the hope<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">39</a></span> +of being able to obtain one. They were all of them accustomed to +resort to strange expedients, and a sufficiently strange one now suggested +itself. Basil and Norman seemed to have thought of it at the +same time, for both at once unbuckled their straps, and commenced +pulling off their buckskin hunting-shirts. The others said nothing, +as they knew well what they were going to do with them—they +knew they intended cutting them into strips, and then twisting a +rope out of them.</p> + +<p>All four set to work together. Lucien and François held the shirts +taut, while Basil and Norman handled the knives, and in a few +minutes the rock was covered with strips of buckskin about two +inches wide, by a yard or so in length. These were next joined and +plaited together in such a manner that a rope was formed nearly +forty feet long. An eye was made at one end, and through this the +other end was reeved—so that a running noose was obtained, in the +same manner as the Mexicans and Indians make their lassoes. The +rope was now ready for use, and Basil was the very hand to use it; +for Basil knew how to fling a lasso as well as either Mexican or +Indian. He had practised it often, and had lassoed many a long-horned +bull upon the prairies of Opelousas and the Attakapas. To +Basil, therefore, the rope was given.</p> + +<p>He placed himself on the highest part of the rock, having first +coiled the new-made lasso, and hung the coil lightly over his left +arm. He then took the noose-end in his right hand, and commenced +winding it around his head. His companions had laid themselves +flat, so as not to be in the way of the noose as it circled about. After +a few turns the rope was launched forth, and a loud “hurrah!” from +François announced that the throw was successful.</p> + +<p>It was so in fact, as the noose was seen settling smoothly over the +jutting-stone, taking full hold upon it. A pull from Basil fixed it; +and in a few minutes it was made quite fast, without the slightest +danger of its slipping off. The other end was then carried round a +projecting point of the rock on which they stood, and knotted +firmly, so that the rope was quite taut, and stretched in a nearly +horizontal direction, about a foot above the surface of the water.</p> + +<p>The voyageurs now prepared to cross over. Their guns, pouches, +and flasks were carefully secured, so that the water could not +damage them. Then each took a piece of the buckskin thong, and +fastened it round his waist, leaving enough to form a running loop. +This loop was intended to embrace the rope, and run along it, as they +drew themselves forward by their hands.</p> + +<p>Basil passed over first. He was the oldest, and, as he asserted, it +was but right he should run the risk in testing the new-fashioned +bridge, of which he was the architect. It worked admirably, and +sustained the weight of his body, with the whole force of the current +acting upon it. Of course he was swept far down, and the rope was +stretched to its full tension, but he succeeded in handing himself +along, until he was able to touch the second rock, and clamber upon +it in safety. During the passage across he was watched by his companions +with emotions of no ordinary character, but as soon as he +had reached the opposite end of the rope all three uttered a loud and +simultaneous cheer. Lucien passed over next, and after him François. +Notwithstanding his danger, François laughed loudly all the time he +was in the water, while his brothers were not without some fears for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">40</a></span> +his safety. Marengo was next attached to the rope, and pulled +safely over.</p> + +<p>Norman was the last to cross upon the buckskin bridge, but, like +the others, he landed in safety; and the four, with the dog, now +stood upon the little isolated boulder where there was just room +enough to give them all a footing.</p> + +<p>A difficulty now presented itself, which they had not hitherto +thought of. Another reach of rapid current was to be crossed, before +they could safely trust themselves to enter the water. This they +knew before, but they had also noticed that there was another +jutting rock, upon which they might fling their rope. But the rope +itself was now the difficulty. It was fast at both ends, and how were +they to release it from the rock they had left? One of them could +easily cross over again and untie it, but how was he to get back to +the others? Here was a dilemma which had not presented itself +before, and they now saw themselves no better off than ever. The +rapid that remained to be crossed, was as dangerous as the one they +had succeeded in passing. There was no hope that they could swim +it in safety. They would certainly be swept with violence against +the rocks below. There was no chance, then, of their going an inch +farther—unless by some means similar to that they had just used, +and the rope was no longer at their service.</p> + +<p>For some time they all stood silent, each considering the matter in +his own way. How could they free the rope?</p> + +<p>“It cannot be done,” said one.</p> + +<p>“Impossible,” rejoined another. “We must make a second rope. +François's shirt still remains, and our leggings—we can use them.”</p> + +<p>This was the mode suggested by François and Norman, and Lucien +seemed to assent to it. They had already commenced untying their +leggings, when Basil uttered the ejaculation—</p> + +<p>“Stop!”</p> + +<p>“Well, what is it, brother?” asked Lucien.</p> + +<p>“I think I can free the rope at the other end. At all events, let +me try. It will not cost much, either in time or trouble.”</p> + +<p>“How do you mean to do it, brother?”</p> + +<p>“Sit close, all of you. Give me room—you shall see presently.”</p> + +<p>As directed by Basil, they all cowered closely down, so as to occupy +as little space as possible. Basil, having uncovered the lock of his +rifle—which had been carefully bound up in a piece of deer's bladder—placed +himself in a firm position, and appeared as if about to fire. +Such was his intention—for in a few moments he was seen to raise +the gun to his shoulder, and take aim. None of his companions +uttered a word. They had already guessed the object of this movement, +and sat silently awaiting the result.</p> + +<p>On the rock which they had left, the rope still bound fast passed +around one of the angles, in such a way that, from the point where +Basil stood, it offered a fair mark. It was at this Basil was aiming. +His object was to cut the thong with his bullet. He could not do it +with a single shot, as the thong was broader than the bullet, but he +had calculated that he might effect his purpose with several. If he +did not succeed in cutting it clean through, the ball flattening upon +the rock would, perhaps, tear the rope in such a manner that, by pulling +by the other end, they might detach it. Such were the calculations +and hopes of Basil.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">41</a></span></p> + +<p>A moment more and the crack of his rifle was heard. At the same +instant the dust rose up from the point at which he had aimed, and +several small fragments flew off into the water. Again was heard +François's “hurrah,” for François, as well as the others, had seen that +the rope had been hit at the right place, and now exhibited a mangled +appearance.</p> + +<p>While Basil was reloading, Norman took aim and fired. Norman +was a good shot, though perhaps not so good a one as Basil, for that +was no easy matter, as there were few such marksmen to be found +anywhere, not even among the professional trappers and hunters +themselves. But Norman was a fair shot, and this time hit his mark. +The thong was evidently better than half divided by the two bullets. +Seeing this, François took hold of the other end, and gave it a strong +jerk or two, but it was still too much for him, and he ceased pulling +and waited the effect of Basil's second shot.</p> + +<p>The later had now reloaded, and, taking deliberate aim again, fired. +The rope was still held taut upon the rock, for part of it dragged in +the current, the force of which kept pressing it hard downward. +Scarcely was the report heard, when the farther end of the thong flew +from its fastening, and, swept by the running water, was seen falling +into the lee of the boulder on which the party now stood. A third +time was heard the voice of François uttering one of his customary +“hurrahs.” The rope was now dragged up, and made ready for further +use. Basil again took hold of it; and, after coiling it as before, succeeded +in throwing the noose over the third rock, where it settled and +held fast. The other end was tied as before, and all passed safely to +the new station. Here, however, their labour ended. They found +that from this point to the shore the river was shallow, and fordable; +and, leaving the rope where it was, all four took the water, and waded +safely to the bank.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<div class="cap">DECOYING THE ANTELOPES</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">F</span>or the present, then, our voyageurs had escaped. They were safe +upon the river's bank; but when we consider the circumstances in +which they were placed, we shall perceive that they were far from +being pleasant ones. They were in the midst of a wilderness, without +either horse or boat to carry them out of it. They had lost everything +but their arms and their axe. The hunting-shirts of some of them, +as we have seen, were destroyed, and they would now suffer from the +severe cold that even in summer, as we have said, often reigns in +these latitudes. Not a vessel was left them for cooking with, and not +a morsel of meat or anything was left to be cooked. For their future +subsistence they would have to depend upon their guns, which, with +their ammunition, they had fortunately preserved.</p> + +<p>After reaching the shore, their first thoughts were about procuring +something to eat. They had now been a long time without food, and +all four were hungry enough. As if by one impulse, all cast their +eyes around, and looked upward among the branches of the trees, to +see if any animal could be discovered that might serve them for a +meal. Bird or quadruped, it mattered not, so that it was large enough +to give the four a breakfast. But neither one nor the other was to be +seen, although the woods around had a promising appearance. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">42</a></span> +trees were large, and as there was much underwood, consisting of +berry-bushes and plants with edible roots, our voyageurs did not +doubt that there would be found game in abundance. It was agreed, +then, that Lucien and François should remain on the spot and kindle +a fire, while Basil and Norman went off in search of something to be +cooked upon it.</p> + +<p>In less than an hour the latter returned, carrying an animal upon his +shoulders, which both the boys recognised as an old acquaintance—the +prong-horned antelope, so called from the single fork or prong +upon its horns. Norman called it “a goat,” and stated that this was +its name among the fur-traders, while the Canadian voyageurs give +it the title of “cabree.” Lucien, However, knew the animal well. He +knew it was not of the goat kind, but a true antelope, and the only +animal of that genus found in North America. Its habitat is the +prairie country, and at the present time it is not found farther east +than the prairies extend, not farther north either, as it is not a +creature that can bear extreme cold.</p> + +<p>In early times, however—that is nearly two centuries ago—it must +have ranged nearly to the Atlantic shores, as Father Hennipen in his +<i>Travels</i> speaks of “goats” being killed in the neighbourhood of +Niagara, meaning no other than the prong-horned antelopes. The +true wild goat of America is a very different animal, and is only +found in the remote regions of the Rocky Mountains.</p> + +<p>What Norman had shot, then, was an antelope; and the reason +why it is called “cabree” by the voyageurs, and “goat” by the fur-traders, +is partly from its colour resembling that of the common goat, +but more from the fact, that along the upper part of its neck there is +a standing mane, which does in truth give it somewhat the appearance +of the European goat. Another point of resemblance lies in the +fact, that the “prong-horns” emit the same disagreeable odour, which +is a well-known characteristic of the goat species. This proceeds +from two small glandular openings that lie at the angles of the jaws, +and appear spots of a blackish-brown colour.</p> + +<p>Both Lucien and François had shot antelopes. They had decoyed +them within range in their former expedition on the prairies, and had +seen wolves do the same. The Indians usually hunt them in this +manner, by holding up some bright-coloured flag, or other curious +object, which rarely fails to bring them within shot; but Norman +informed his cousins that the Indians of the Hudson's Bay Company +care little about the antelope, and rarely think it worth hunting. +Its skin is of little value to them, and they consider its flesh but indifferent +eating. But the chief reason why they take so little notice +of it is, because it is found in the same range, with the buffalo, the +moose, and the elk; and, as all these animals are more valuable to the +Indian hunter, he allows the antelope to go unmolested, unless when +he is hard pressed with hunger, and none of the others are to be had.</p> + +<p>While skinning the antelope for breakfast, Norman amused his +companions by relating how he had killed it. He said he had got +near enough to shoot it by practising a “dodge.” After travelling +through the woods for some half-mile or so, he had come out into a +country of “openings,” and saw that there was a large prairie beyond. +He saw that the woods extended no farther than about a mile from +the banks of the river, and that the whole country beyond was without +timber, except in scattered clumps. This is, in fact, true of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">43</a></span> +Red River country, particularly of its western part, from which the +great prairies stretch westward even to the “foot-hills” of the Rocky +Mountains.</p> + +<p>Well, then, after arriving at the openings, Norman espied a small +herd of antelopes, about ten or a dozen in all. He would rather they +had been something else, as elk or deer; for, like the Indians, he did +not much relish the “goat's” meat. He was too hungry, however, +to be nice, and so he set about trying to get within shot of the herd. +There was no cover, and he knew he could not approach near enough +without using some stratagem. He therefore laid himself flat upon +his back, and raised his heels as high as he could into the air. These +he kicked about in such a manner as soon to attract the attention of +the antelopes, that, curious to make out what it was, commenced running +round and round in circles, of which Norman himself was the +centre.</p> + +<p>The circles gradually became smaller and smaller, until the hunter +saw that his game was within range; when slyly rolling himself +round on one shoulder, he took aim at a buck, and fired. The buck +fell, and the rest of the herd bounded off like the wind. Norman +feeling hungry himself, and knowing that his companions were suffering +from the same cause, lost no time in looking for other game, but +shouldering the “goat,” carried it into camp.</p> + +<p>By this time Lucien and François had a fire kindled—a roaring fire +of “pine-knots”—and both were standing by it, smoking all over in +their wet leggings. They had got nearly dry when Norman returned, +and they proceeded to assist in butchering the antelope. The skin +was whipped off in a trice; and the venison, cut into steaks and ribs, +was soon spitted and sputtering cheerily in the blaze of the pine-knots. +Everything looked pleasant and promising, and it only wanted +the presence of Basil to make them all feel quite happy again. Basil, +however, did not make his appearance; and as they were all as +hungry as wolves, they could not wait for him, but set upon the +antelope-venison, and made each of them a hearty meal from it.</p> + +<p>As yet they had no apprehensions about Basil. They supposed he +had not met with any game, and was still travelling about in search +of it. Should he succeed in killing any, he would bring it in; and +should he not, he would return in proper time without it. It was still +early in the day.</p> + +<p>But several hours passed over and he did not come. It was an +unusual length of time for him to be absent, especially in strange +woods of which he knew nothing; moreover, he was in his shirt +sleeves, and the rest of his clothing had been dripping wet when he +set out. Under these circumstances would he remain so long, unless +something unpleasant had happened to him?</p> + +<p>This question the three began to ask one another. They began to +grow uneasy about their absent companion; and as the hours passed +on without his appearing, their uneasiness increased to serious alarm. +They at length resolved to go in search of him. They took different +directions, so that there would be a better chance of finding him. +Norman struck out into the woods, while Lucien and François, +followed by the dog Marengo, kept down the bank—thinking that +if Basil had got lost, he would make for the river to guide him, as +night approached. All were to return to the camp at nightfall +whether successful or not.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">44</a></span></p> + +<p>After several hours spent in traversing the woods and openings, +Norman came back. He had been unable to find any traces of their +missing companion. The others had got back before him. They +heard his story with sorrowing hearts, for neither had they fallen in +with the track of living creature. Basil was lost, beyond a doubt. +He would never have stayed so long, had not some accident happened +to him. Perhaps he was dead—killed by some wild animal—a +panther or a bear. Perhaps he had met with Indians, who had +carried him off, or put him to death on the spot. Such were the +painful conjectures of his companions.</p> + +<p>It was now night. All three sat mournfully over the fire, their +looks and gestures betokening the deep dejection they felt. Although +in need of repose, none of them attempted to go to sleep. At intervals +they discussed the probability of his return, and then they would +remain silent. Nothing could be done that night. They could only +await the morning light, when they would renew their search, and +scour the country in every direction.</p> + +<p>It was near midnight, and they were sitting silently around the +fire, when Marengo started to his feet, and uttered three or four loud +barks. The echoes of these had hardly died among the trees when a +shrill whistle was heard at some distance off in the woods.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah!” shouted François, leaping to his feet at the instant; +“that's Basil's whistle, I'll be bound. I'd know it a mile off. +Hurrah!”</p> + +<p>François' “hurrah!” rang through the woods, and the next +moment came back a loud “Hilloa!” which all recognised as the +voice of Basil.</p> + +<p>“Hilloa!” shouted the three by the fire.</p> + +<p>“Hilloa, my boys! all right!” replied the voice; and a few seconds +after, the tall upright form of Basil himself was seen advancing, +under the glare of the pine-knots. A shout of congratulation was again +raised; and all the party, preceded by Marengo, rushed out to +meet the new-comer. They soon returned, bringing Basil up to the +fire, when it was seen that he had not returned empty-handed. In +one hand he carried a bag of grouse, or “prairie hens,” while from +the muzzle of his shouldered rifle there hung something that was at +once recognised as a brace of buffalo tongues.</p> + +<p>“<i>Voilà</i>!” cried Basil, flinging down the bag, “how are you off for +supper? And here,” continued he, pointing to the tongues, “here's +a pair of tit-bits that'll make you lick your lips. Come! let us lose +no time in the cooking, for I'm hungry enough to eat either of them +raw.”</p> + +<p>Basil's request was instantly complied with. The fire was raked +up, spits were speedily procured, a tongue and one of the grouse +were roasted; and although Lucien, François, and Norman, had +already supped on the “goat's meat,” they set to upon the new viands +with fresh appetites. Basil was hungrier than any, for he had been +all the while fasting. It was not because he was without meat, but +because he knew that his comrades would be uneasy about him, and +he would not stop to cook it. Of meat he had enough, since he had +slain the two buffaloes to which the tongues had belonged; and these +same buffaloes, he now informed them, had been the cause of his long +absence.</p> + +<p>Of course, all were eager to know how the buffaloes could have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">45</a></span> +delayed him; and therefore, while they were discussing their savoury +supper, Basil narrated the details of his day's adventure.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A “PARTRIDGE DANCE.”</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“A</span>fter leaving here,” said Basil, “I struck off through the woods in +a line that led from the river, in a diagonal direction. I hadn't +walked more than three hundred yards, when I heard a drumming +sound, which I at first took to be thunder; but, after listening a +while, I knew it was not that, but the drumming of the ruffed grouse. +As soon as I could ascertain the direction of the sound, I hurried on +in that way; but for a long time I appeared to get no nearer it, so +greatly does this sound deceive one. I should think I walked a full +mile before I arrived at the place where the birds were, for there +were many of them. I then had a full view of them, as they went +through their singular performances.</p> + +<p>“There were, in all, about a score. They had selected a piece of +open and level ground, and over this they were running in a circle, +about twenty feet in diameter. They did not all run in the same +direction, but met and crossed each other, although they never +deviated much from the circumference of the circle, around which +the grass was worn quite bare, and a ring upon the turf looked baked +and black. When I first got near, they heard my foot among the +leaves, and I saw that one and all of them stopped running, and +squatted close down.</p> + +<p>“I halted, and hid myself behind a tree. After remaining quiet a +minute or so, the birds began to stretch up their necks, and then all +rose together to their feet, and commenced running round the ring +as before. I knew they were performing what is called the +'Partridge Dance;' and as I had never witnessed it I held back +awhile, and looked on. Even hungry as I was, and as I knew all of +you to be, so odd were the movements of these creatures, that I could +not resist watching them a while, before I sent my unwelcome +messenger into their 'ball-room.'</p> + +<p>“Now and then an old cock would separate from the pack, and +running out to some distance, would leap upon a rock that was +there; then, after dropping his wings, flirting with his spread tail, +erecting the ruff upon his neck, and throwing back his head, he +would swell and strut upon the rock, exhibiting himself like a +diminutive turkey-cock. After manœuvring in this way for a few +moments, he would commence flapping his wings in short quick +strokes, which grew more rapid as he proceeded, until a 'booming' +sound was produced, more like the rumble of distant thunder than +anything I can think of.</p> + +<p>“This appeared to be a challenge to the others; and then a second +would come out, and, after replying to it by putting himself through +a similar series of attitudes, the two would attack each other, and +fight with all the fury of a pair of game-cocks.”</p> + +<p>“I could have watched their manœuvres much longer,” continued +Basil, “but hunger got the better of me, and I made ready to fire. +Those that were 'dancing' moved so quickly round the ring that I +could not sight one of them. If I had had a shot gun, I might have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">46</a></span> +covered several, but with the rifle I could not hope for more than a +single bird; so, wanting to make sure of that, I waited until an old +cock mounted the rock, and got to 'drumming.' Then I sighted +him, and sent my bullet through his crop. I heard the loud whirr +of the pack as they rose up from the ring; and, marking them, I +saw that they all alighted only a couple of hundred yards off, upon +a large spruce-tree.</p> + +<p>“Hoping they would sit there until I could get another shot, I +loaded, as quickly as possible, and stepped forward. The course I +took brought me past the one I had killed, which I picked up, and +thrust hastily into my bag. Beyond this I had to pass over some +logs that lay along the ground, with level spaces between them. +What was my surprise in getting among these, to see two of the +cocks down upon the grass, and fighting so desperately that they +took no notice of my approach! At first I threw up my rifle, +intending to fire, but seeing that the birds were within a few feet of +me, I thought they might let me lay hold of them, which they, in +fact, did; for the next moment I had 'grabbed' both of them, and +cooled their bellicose spirits by wringing their heads off.</p> + +<p>“I now proceeded to the pack, that still kept the tree. When near +enough, I sheltered myself behind another tree; and taking aim at one, +I brought him tumbling to the ground. The others sat still. +Of course, I shot the one upon the lowest branch: I knew that, so +long as I did this, the others would sit until I might get the whole +of them; but that if I shot one of the upper ones, its fluttering down +through the branches would alarm the rest, and cause them to fly off. +I loaded and fired, and loaded and fired, until half-a-dozen of the +birds lay around the root of the tree.</p> + +<p>“I believe I could have killed the whole pack, but it just then +occurred to me that I was wasting our precious ammunition, and +that, considering the value of powder and shot to us just now, the +birds were hardly worth a load a-piece; so I left off cracking at +them. As I stepped forward to gather what I had killed, the rest +whirred away into the woods.</p> + +<p>“On reaching the tree where they had perched, I was very much +surprised to find a raw-hide rope neatly coiled up, and hanging from +one of the lower branches. I knew that somebody must have placed +it there, and I looked round to see what “sign” there was besides. +My eye fell upon the cinders of an old fire near the foot of the tree; +and I could tell that some Indians had made their camp by it. It +must have been a good while ago, as the ashes were beaten into the +ground by the rain, and, moreover, some young plants were springing +up through them. I concluded, therefore, that whoever had camped +there had hung the rope upon the tree, and on leaving the place had +forgotten it.</p> + +<p>“I took the rope down to examine it: it was no other than a lasso, +full fifty feet long, with an iron ring neatly whipped into the loop-end; +and, on trying it with a pull, I saw it was in the best condition. +Of course, I was not likely to leave such a prize behind me. I had +grown, as you may all conceive, to have a very great regard for a +rope, considering that one had just saved all our lives; so I resolved +on bringing the lasso with me. In order to carry it the more conveniently, +I coiled it, and then hung the coil across my shoulders like +a belt. I next packed my game into the bag, which they filled chock<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">47</a></span> +up to the mouth, and was turning to come back to camp, when my +eye fell upon an object that caused me suddenly to change my +intention.</p> + +<p>“I was near the edge of the woods, and through the trunks I could +see a large open space beyond, where there were no trees, or only one +here and there. In the middle of this opening there was a cloud of +dust, and in the thick of it I could see two great dark animals in +motion. They were running about, and now and then coming +together with a sudden rush; and every time they did so, I could +hear a loud thump, like the stroke of a sledge-hammer. The sun was +shining upon the yellow dust-cloud, and the animals appeared from +this circumstance to be of immense size—much larger than they really +were. Had I not known what kind of creatures were before me, I +should have believed that the mammoths were still in existence. But +I knew well what they were: I had seen many before, carrying on +just such a game. I knew they were buffalo bulls, engaged in one of +their terrible battles.</p> + +<p>“Here Basil's narrative was interrupted by a singular incident. +Indeed, it had been interrupted more than once by strange noises +that were heard at some distance off in the woods. These noises were +not all alike: at one time they resembled the barking of a cur dog; +at another, they might have been mistaken for the gurglings of a +person who was being hanged; and then would follow a shriek so +dreadful that for some time the woods would echo with its dismal +sound! After the shriek a laugh would be heard, but a miserable +“haw-haw-haw!” unlike the laugh of a sane person.</p> + +<p>“All these strange voices were calculated to inspire terror, and so +have they many a time, with travellers not accustomed to the solitary +woods of America. But our young voyageurs were not at all alarmed +by them. They knew from what sort of a creature they proceeded; +they knew they were the varying notes of the great horned-owl; and +as they had seen and heard many a one before, they paid no heed to +this individual.</p> + +<p>“While Basil was going on with his relation, the bird had been +several times seen to glide past, and circle around upon his noiseless +pinions. So easy was his flight, that the slightest inclining of his +spread tail, or the bending of his broad wing, seemed sufficient to +turn and carry him in any direction. Nothing could be more graceful +than his flight, which was not unlike that of the eagle, while he +was but little inferior in size to one of these noble birds.</p> + +<p>“What interrupted Basil was, that the owl had alighted upon a +branch not twenty feet from where they were all sitting round the +fire, by the blaze of which they now had a full view of this singular +creature. The moment it alighted, it commenced uttering its hideous +and unmusical cries, at the same time going through such a variety +of contortions, both with its head and body, as to cause the whole +party a fit of laughter. It was, in fact, an odd and interesting sight +to witness its grotesque movements, as it turned first its body, and +then its head around, without moving the shoulders, while its great +honey-coloured eyes glared in the light of the fire. At the end of +every attitude and utterance, it would snap its bill with such violence, +that the cracking of the mandibles upon each other might have been +heard to the distance of several hundred yards.</p> + +<p>“This was too much for François' patience to bear, and he immediately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">48</a></span> +crept to his gun. He had got hold of the piece, and +cocked it; but, just as he was about to take aim, the owl dropped +silently down from the branch, and, gliding gently forward, thrust +out its feathered leg, and lifted one of the grouse in its talons. The +latter had been lying upon the top of a fallen tree not six feet from +the fire! The owl, after clutching it, rose into the air; and the next +moment would have been lost in darkness, but the crack of François' +rifle put a sudden stop to its flight, and with the grouse still clinging +to its claws it fell fluttering to the earth. Marengo jumped forward +to seize it; but Marengo little knew the sort of creature he had to +deal with.”</p> + +<p>It happened to be only “winged,” and as soon as the dog came near, +it threw itself upon its back, and struck at him with its talons so +wickedly, that he was fain to approach it with more caution. It cost +Marengo a considerable fight before he succeeded in getting his jaws +over it. During the contest it continually snapped its bill, while its +great goggle eyes kept alternately and quickly opening and closing, +and the feathers being erected all over its body, gave it the appearance +of being twice its real size. Marengo at length succeeded in +“crunching” it—although not until he was well scratched about the +snout—and its useless carcass having been thrown upon the ground, +the dog continued to worry and chew at it, while Basil went on with +his narration.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">BASIL AND THE BISON-BULL.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“A</span>s soon as I saw the buffaloes,” continued Basil, “my first thought +was to get near, and have a shot at them. <i>They</i> were worth a charge +of powder and lead, and I reflected that if I could kill but one of +them, it would ensure us against hunger for a couple of weeks to +come. So I hung my game-bag to the branch of a tree, and set about +approaching them. I saw that the wind was in my favour, and there +was no danger of their scenting me. But there was no cover near +them—the ground was as level as a table, and there was not a score +of trees upon as many acres. It was no use crawling up, and I did +not attempt it, but walked straight forward, treading lightly as I +went. In five minutes, I found myself within good shooting range. +Neither of the bulls had noticed me. They were too busy with one +another, and in all my life I never saw two creatures fighting in such +earnest. They were foaming at the mouth, and the steam poured out +of their nostrils incessantly.”</p> + +<p>At times, they would back from each other like a pair of rams, and +then rush together head-foremost, until their skulls cracked with the +terrible collision. One would have fancied that they would break +them at every fresh encounter, but I knew the thickness of a buffalo's +skull before that time. I remember having fired a musket at one +that stood fronting me not more than six feet distant, when, to my +surprise, the bullet flattened and fell to the ground before the nose of +the buffalo! The creature was not less astonished than myself, as +up to that time it had not seen me.</p> + +<p>“Well,” continued Basil after a pause, “I did not stop long to watch +the battle of the bison-bulls. I was not curious about that. I had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">49</a></span> +seen such many a time. I was thinking about the meat; and I +paused just long enough to select the one that appeared to have the +most fat upon his flanks, when I drew up my rifle and fired. I aimed +for the heart, and my aim was a true one, for the animal came to its +knees along with the crack. Just at that moment the other was +charging upon it, and, to my surprise, it continued to run on, until +striking the wounded one full butt upon the forehead, it knocked the +latter right over upon its side; where, after giving half-a-dozen kicks, +it lay quite dead.</p> + +<p>“The remaining bull had dashed some paces beyond the spot, and +now turned round again to renew his attack. On seeing his antagonist +stretched out and motionless, he seemed to be as much +astonished as I was. At first, no doubt, he fancied himself the author +of a grand <i>coup</i>, for it was plain that up to this time he had neither +noticed my presence, nor the report of the rifle. The bellowing +noise that both were making had drowned the latter; and the dust, +together with the long shaggy tufts that hung over his eyes, had +prevented him from seeing anything more than his rival, with whom +he was engaged.</p> + +<p>“Now that the other was no longer able to stand before him, and +thinking it was himself that had done the deed, he tossed up his +head and snorted in triumph. At this moment, the matted hair was +thrown back from his eyes, and the dust having somewhat settled +away, he sighted me, where I stood reloading my gun. I fancied he +would take off before I could finish, and I made all the haste in my +power—so much so that I dropped the box of caps at my feet. I +had taken one out, however, and hurriedly adjusted it, thinking to +myself, as I did so, that the box might lie where it was until I had +finished the job.</p> + +<p>“I brought the piece to my shoulder, when, to my surprise, the bull, +instead of running away, as I had expected, set his head, and +uttering one of his terrible bellows, came rushing towards me. I +fired, but the shot was a random one, and though it hit him in the +snout, it did not in the least disable him. Instead of keeping him +off, it only seemed to irritate him the more, and his fury was now at +its height.</p> + +<p>“I had no time to load again. He was within a few feet of me when +I fired, and it was with difficulty that, by leaping to one side, I +avoided his horns; but I did so, and he passed me with such violence +that I felt the ground shake under his heavy tread.</p> + +<p>“He wheeled immediately, and made at me a second time. I knew +that if he once touched me I was gone. His horns were set, and his +eyes glared with a terrible earnestness. I rushed towards the body +of the buffalo that lay near, hoping that this might assist me in avoiding +the onset. It did so, for, as he dashed forward over it, he became +entangled among the limbs, and again charged without striking me. +He turned, however, as quick as thought, and again rushed bellowing +upon me. There was a tree near at hand. I had noticed it before, +but I could not tell whether I should have time to reach it. I +was now somewhat nearer it, and, fearing that I might not be able +to dodge the furious brute any longer upon the ground, I struck out +for the tree.</p> + +<p>“You may be sure I did my best at running. I heard the bull +coming after, but before he could overtake me, I had got to the root<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">50</a></span> +of the tree. It was my intention, at first, only to take shelter behind +the trunk; but when I had got there, I noticed that there were some +low branches, and catching one of these I swung myself up among +them.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 350px;"> +<img src="images/illus-050.jpg" width="350" height="500" alt="BASIL AND THE BISON-BULL." title="BASIL AND THE BISON-BULL." /> +<span class="caption">BASIL AND THE BISON-BULL.</span> +</div> + +<p>“The bull passed under me with a rush—almost touching my feet +as I hung by the branch—but I was soon safely lodged in a fork, and +out of his reach.</p> + +<p>“My next thought was to load my gun, and fire at him from my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">51</a></span> +perch, and, with this intention, I commenced loading. I had no fear +but that he would give me an opportunity, for he kept round the +tree, and at times attacked the trunk, butting and goring it with +his horns, and all the while bellowing furiously. The tree was a +small one, and it shook so, that I began to fear it might break down. +I therefore made all the haste I could to get in the load, expecting +soon to put an end to his attacks.</p> + +<p>“I succeeded at length in ramming down the bullet, and was just +turning the gun to put on a cap, when I recollected that the cap-box +was still lying on the ground where it had fallen! The sudden +attack of the animal had prevented me from taking it up. My caps +were all within that box, and my gun, loaded though it was, was as +useless in my hands as a bar of iron. To get at the caps would be +quite impossible. I dared not descend from the tree. The infuriated +bull still kept pacing under it, now going round and round, and +occasionally stopping for a moment and looking angrily up.</p> + +<p>“My situation was anything but a pleasant one. I began to fear +that I might not be permitted to escape at all. The bull seemed to +be most pertinacious in vengeance. I could have shot him in the +back, or the neck, or where I liked, if I had only one cap. He was +within three feet of the muzzle of my rifle; but what of that when I +could not get the gun to go off? After a while I thought of making +some tinder paper, and then trying to 'touch off' the piece with +it, but a far better plan at that moment came into my head. While +I was fumbling about my bullet-pouch to get at my flint and steel, +of course my fingers came into contact with the lasso, which was still +hanging around my shoulders. It was this that suggested my plan, +which was no other than to <i>lasso the bull, and tie him to the tree</i>!</p> + +<p>“I lost no time in carrying it into execution. I uncoiled the rope, +and first made one end fast to the trunk. The other was the loop-end, +and reeving it through the ring, I held it in my right hand while +I leaned over and watched my opportunity. It was not long before +a good one offered. The bull still continued his angry demonstrations +below, and passed round and round. It was no new thing for me to +fling a lasso, and at the first pitch I had the satisfaction of seeing the +noose pass over the bison's head, and settle in a proper position +behind his horns. I then gave it a twitch, so as to tighten it, and +after that I ran the rope over a branch, and thus getting 'a purchase' +upon it, I pulled it with all my might.</p> + +<p>“As soon as the bull felt the strange cravat around his neck, he +began to plunge and 'rout' with violence, and at length ran furiously +out from the tree. But he soon came to the end of his tether; and +the quick jerk, which caused the tree itself to crack, brought him to +his haunches, while the noose tightening on his throat was fast +strangling him. But for the thick matted hair it would have done +so, but this saved him, and he continued to sprawl and struggle at +the end of the rope. The tree kept on cracking, and as I began to +fear that it might give way and precipitate me to the ground, I +thought it better to slip down. I ran direct to where I had dropped +the caps; and, having got hold of the box, I soon had one upon my +gun. I then stole cautiously back, and while the bison was hanging +himself as fast as he could, I brought his struggles to a period by +sending a bullet through his ribs.</p> + +<p>“As it was quite night when I had finished the business, of course I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">52</a></span> +could not stay to butcher the bulls. I knew that you would be +wondering what kept me, so I cut out the tongues, and coming by +the place where I had left the grouse, brought them along. I left a +'scare-wolf' over both the bulls, however, and I guess we'll find them +all right in the morning.”</p> + +<p>Basil having finished the narration of his day's adventures, fresh +fuel was heaped on the embers, and a huge fire was built—one that +would last until morning. This was necessary, as none of them had +now either blankets or bedding. Basil himself and Norman were +even in their shirt-sleeves, and of course their only chance for +keeping warmth in their bodies would be to keep up a roaring fire +all the night. This they did, and all four laying themselves close +together, slept soundly enough.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THREE CURIOUS TREES.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">N</span>ext morning they were awake at an early hour. There was still +enough of the tongues and grouse left, along with some ribs of the +antelope, to breakfast the party; and then all four set out to bring +the flesh of Basil's buffaloes into camp. This they accomplished, +after making several journeys. It was their intention to dry the +meat over the fire, so that it might keep for future use. For this +purpose the flesh was removed from the bones, and after being cut +into thin slices and strips, was hung up on poles at some distance +from the blaze. Nothing more could be done, but wait until it +became sufficiently parched by the heat.</p> + +<p>While this process was going on our voyageurs collected around +the fire, and entered into a consultation about what was best to be +done. At first they thought of going back to the Red River settlement, +and obtaining another canoe, as well as a fresh stock of provisions +and implements. But they all believed that getting back +would be a toilsome and difficult matter. There was a large lake and +several extensive marshes on the route, and these would have to be +got round, making the journey a very long one indeed. It would +take them days to perform it on foot, and nothing is more discouraging +on a journey than to be forced by some accident to what is +called “taking the back-track.”</p> + +<p>All of them acknowledged this, but what else could they do? It is +true there was a post of the Hudson's Bay Company at the northern +end of Lake Winnipeg. This post was called Norway House. How +were they to reach that afoot? To walk around the borders of the +lake would be a distance of more than four hundred miles. There +would be numerous rivers to cross, as well as swamps and pathless +forests to be threaded. Such a journey would occupy a month or +more, and at Norway House they would still be as it were only at the +beginning of the great journey on which they had set out. Moreover, +Norway House lay entirely out of their way. Cumberland House—another +trading-post upon the River Saskatchewan—was the next +point where they had intended to rest themselves, after leaving the Red +River settlements. To reach Cumberland House <i>afoot</i> would be equally +difficult, as it, too, lay at the distance of hundreds of miles, with lakes, +and rivers, and marshes, intervening. What, then, could they do?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">53</a></span></p> + +<p>“Let us <i>not</i> go back,” cried François, ever ready with a bold advice: +“let us make a boat, and keep on, say I.”</p> + +<p>“Ha! François,” rejoined Basil, “it's easy to say 'make a boat;' +how is that to be done, I pray?”</p> + +<p>“Why, what's to hinder us to hew a log, and make a dug-out? We +have still got the axe, and two hatchets left.”</p> + +<p>Norman asked what François meant by a dug-out. The phrase +was new to him.</p> + +<p>“A canoe,” replied François, “hollowed out of a tree. They are +sometimes called 'dug-outs' on the Mississippi, especially when they +are roughly made. One of them, I think, would carry all four of us +well enough. Don't you think so, Luce?”</p> + +<p>“Why, yes,” answered the student; “a large one might: but I fear +there are no trees about here of sufficient size. We are not among +the great timber of the Mississippi bottom, you must remember.”</p> + +<p>“How large a tree would it require?” asked Norman, who knew +but little of this kind of craft.</p> + +<p>“Three feet in diameter, at least,” replied Lucien; “and it should +be of that thickness for a length of nearly twenty feet. A less one +would not carry four of us.”</p> + +<p>“Then I am sure enough,” responded Norman, “that we won't find +such timber here. I have seen no tree of that size either yesterday, +or while we were out this morning.”</p> + +<p>“Nor I,” added Basil.</p> + +<p>“I don't believe there's one,” said Lucien.</p> + +<p>“If we were in Louisiana,” rejoined François, “I could find fifty +canoe-trees by walking as many yards. Why I never saw such insignificant +timber as this here.”</p> + +<p>“You'll see smaller timber than this Cousin Frank, before we reach +the end of our voyage.”</p> + +<p>This remark was made by Norman, who knew that, as they proceeded +northward, the trees would be found decreasing in size until +they would appear like garden shrubbery.</p> + +<p>“But come,” continued he, “if we can't build a craft to carry us +from <i>one</i> tree, perhaps we can do it out of <i>three</i>.”</p> + +<p>“With three!” echoed François. “I should like to see a canoe +made from three trees! Is it a raft you mean, Cousin Norman?”</p> + +<p>“No,” responded the other; “a canoe, and one that will serve us for +the rest of our voyage.”</p> + +<p>All three—Basil, Lucien, and François—looked to their cousin for +an explanation.</p> + +<p>“You would rather not go back up the river?” he inquired, glancing +from one to the other.</p> + +<p>“We wish to go on—all of us,” answered Basil, speaking for his +brothers as well.</p> + +<p>“Very well,” assented the young fur-trader; “I think it is better +as you wish it. Out of these trees I can build a boat that will carry +us. It will take us some days to do it, and some time to find the +timber, but I am tolerably certain it is to be found in these woods. +To do the job properly I want three kinds; two of them I can see +from where I sit; the third I expect will be got in the hills we saw +this morning.”</p> + +<p>As Norman spoke he pointed to two trees that grew among many +others not far from the spot. These trees were of very different<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">54</a></span> +kinds, as was easily told by their leaves and bark. The nearer and +more conspicuous of them at once excited the curiosity of the three +Southerners. Lucien recognised it from its botanical description. +Even Basil and François, though they had never seen it, as it is not +to be found in the hot clime of Louisiana, knew it from the accounts +given of it by travellers. The tree was the celebrated “canoe-birch,” +or as Lucien named it, “paper-birch,” celebrated as the tree out of +whose bark those beautiful canoes are made that carry thousands of +Indians over the interior lakes and rivers of North America; out of +whose bark whole tribes of these people fashion their bowls, their +pails, and their baskets; with which they cover their tents, and from +which they even make their soup-kettles and boiling-pots! This, +then, was the canoe birch-tree, so much talked of, and so valuable to +the poor Indians who inhabit the cold regions where it grows.</p> + +<p>Our young Southerners contemplated the tree with feelings of +interest and curiosity. They saw that it was about sixty feet high, +and somewhat more than a foot in diameter. Its leaves were nearly +cordate, or heart-shaped, and of a very dark-green colour; but that +which rendered it most conspicuous among the other trees of the +forest was the shining white or silver-coloured bark that covered its +trunk, and its numerous slender branches. This bark is only white +externally. When you have cut through the epidermis you find it of +a reddish tinge, very thick, and capable of being divided into several +layers. The wood of the tree makes excellent fuel, and is also often used +for articles of furniture. It has a close, shining grain, and is strong +enough for ordinary implements; but if exposed to the weather will +decay rapidly.</p> + +<p>The “canoe-birch” is not the only species of these trees found in +North America. The genus <i>Betula</i> (so called from the Celtic word +<i>batu</i>, which means birch) has at least half-a-dozen other known representatives +in these parts. There is the “white birch,” a worthless +tree of some twenty feet in height, and less than six inches diameter. +The bark of this species is useless, and its wood, which is soft and +white, is unfit even for fuel. It grows, however, in the poorest soil. +Next there is a species called the “cherry-birch,” so named from the +resemblance of its bark to the common cherry-tree. It is also called +“sweet birch,” because its young twigs, when crushed, give out a +pleasant aromatic odour. Sometimes the name of “black birch,” is +given to this species. It is a tree of fifty or sixty feet in height, and +its wood is much used in cabinet-work, as it is close-grained, of a +beautiful reddish colour, and susceptible of a high polish.</p> + +<p>The information regarding the birches of America was given by +Lucien to his brothers, not at that time, but shortly afterward, when +the three were engaged in felling one of these trees. Just then +other matters occupied them, and they had only glanced, first at the +canoe-birch and then at the other tree which Norman had pointed +out. The latter was of a different genus. It belonged to the order +<i>Coniferæ</i>, or cone-bearing trees, as was evident from the cone-shaped +fruits that hung upon its branches, as well as from its needle-like +evergreen leaves.</p> + +<p>The cone-bearing trees of America are divided by botanists into +three great sub-orders—the <i>Pines</i>, the <i>Cypresses</i> and the <i>Yews</i>. Each +of these includes several genera. By the “pine tribe” is meant all +those trees known commonly by the names pine, spruce, fir, and larch:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">55</a></span> +while the <i>Cupressinæ</i>, or cypress tribe, are the cypress proper, the +cedars, the arbor-vitæ, and the junipers. The yew tribe has fewer +genera or species; but the trees in America known as yews and hemlocks—of +which there are several varieties—belong to it.</p> + +<p>The pines cannot be termed trees of the tropics, yet do they grow +in southern and warm countries. In the Carolinas, tar and turpentine, +products of the pine, are two staple articles of exportation; and +even under the equator itself, the high mountains are covered with +pine-forests. But the pine is more especially the tree of a northern +<i>sylva</i>. As you approach the Arctic circle, it becomes the characteristic +tree. Then it appears in extensive forests, lending their picturesque +shelter to the snowy desolation of the earth. One species of +pine is the very last tree that disappears as the traveller, in approaching +the pole, takes his leave of the limits of vegetation. This species +is the “white spruce” the very one which, along with the birch-tree, +had been pointed out by Norman to his companions.</p> + +<p>It was a tree not over thirty or forty feet high, with a trunk of less +than a foot in thickness, and of a brownish colour. Its leaves or +“needles” were about an inch in length, very slender and acute, and +of a bluish green tint. The cones upon it, which at that season were +young were of a pale green. When ripe, however, they become rusty-brown, +and are nearly two inches in length.</p> + +<p>What use Norman would make of this tree in building his canoe, +neither Basil nor François knew. Lucien only guessed at it. François +asked the question, by saying that he supposed the “timbers” were +to come out of it.</p> + +<p>“No,” said Norman, “for that I want still another sort. If I can't +find that sort, however, I can manage to do without it, but not so +well.”</p> + +<p>“What other sort?” demanded François.</p> + +<p>“I want some cedar-wood,” replied the other.</p> + +<p>“Ah! that's for the timbers,” said François; “I am sure of it. +The cedar-wood is lighter than any other, and, I dare say, would +answer admirably for ribs and other timbers.”</p> + +<p>“You are right this time, Frank—it is considered the best for that +purpose.”</p> + +<p>“You think there are cedar-trees on the hills we saw this morning?” +said François, addressing his Canadian cousin.</p> + +<p>“I think so. I noticed something like them.”</p> + +<p>“And I, too, observed a dark foliage,” said Lucien, “which looked +like the cedar. If anywhere in this neighbourhood, we shall find +them there. They usually grow upon rocky, sterile hills, such as +those appear to be—that is their proper situation.”</p> + +<p>“The question,” remarked Basil, “ought to be settled at once. +We have made up our mind to the building of a canoe, and I think +we should lose no time in getting ready the materials. Suppose we +all set out for the hills.”</p> + +<p>“Agreed—agreed!” shouted the others with one voice; and then +shouldering their guns, and taking the axe along, all four set out for +the hills. On reaching these, the object of their search was at once +discovered. The tops of all the hills—dry, barren ridges they were—were +covered with a thick grove of the red cedar. The trees were +easily distinguished by the numerous branches spreading horizontally, +and thickly covered with short dark green needles, giving them that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">56</a></span> +sombre, shady appearance, that makes them the favourite haunt of +many species of owls. Their beautiful reddish wood was well known +to all the party, as it is to almost every one in the civilized world. +Everybody who has seen or used a black-lead pencil must know what +the wood of the red cedar is like—for it is in this the black-lead is +usually incased. In all parts of America, where this tree grows in +plenty, it is employed for posts and fence-rails, as it is one of the +most durable woods in existence. It is a great favourite also for +kindling fires, as it catches quickly, and blazes up in a few seconds, +so as to ignite the heavier logs of other timbers, such as the oak and +the pine.</p> + +<p>“Now,” said Norman, after examining a few of the cedar-trees, +“we have here all that's wanted to make our canoe. We need lose +no more time, but go to work at once.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” replied the three brothers, “we are ready to assist +you,—tell us what to do.”</p> + +<p>“In the first place,” said the other, “I think we had better change +our camp to this spot, as I see all the different kinds of trees here, +and much better ones than those near the river. There,” continued +he, pointing to a piece of moist ground in the valley,—“there are +some splendid birches, and there beside them is plenty of the <i>épinette</i>” +(so the voyageurs term the white spruce). “It will save us many +journeys if we go back and bring our meat to this place at once.”</p> + +<p>To this they all of course agreed, and started back to their first +camp. They soon returned with the meat and other things, and +having chosen a clean spot under a large-spreading cedar-tree, they +kindled a new fire and made their camp by it—that is, they strung +up the provisions, hung their horns and pouches upon the branches +around, and rested their guns against the trees. They had no tent +to pitch, but that is not necessary to constitute a camp. In the +phraseology of the American hunter, wherever you kindle your fire +or spend the night is a “camp.”</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">HOW TO BUILD A BARK CANOE.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">N</span>orman expected that they would be able to finish the canoe in +about a week. Of course, the sooner the better, and no time was +lost in setting about it. The ribs or “timbers” were the first thing +to be fashioned, and a number of straight branches of cedar were +cut, out of which they were to be made. These branches were cleared +of twigs, and rendered of an equal thickness at both ends. They +were then flattened with the knife; and, by means of a little sweating +in the ashes, were bent so as to bear some resemblance in shape to +the wooden ox-yokes commonly used in America, or indeed to the +letter U.</p> + +<p>The ribs when thus bent were not all of the same width. On the +contrary, those which were intended to be placed near the middle or +gangway of the vessel, were about two feet across from side to side, +while the space between the sides of the others was gradually less +in each fresh pair, according as their position was to be near to the +stem and stern. When the whole of them had been forced into the +proper shape, they were placed, one inside the other after the manner<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">57</a></span> +of dishes, and then all were firmly lashed together, and left to dry. +When the lashing should be removed, they would hold to the +form thus given them, and would be ready for fastening to the +kelson.</p> + +<p>While Norman was occupied with the timbers the others were not +idle. Basil had cut down several of the largest and straightest +birches, and Lucien employed himself in carefully removing the bark +and cleansing it of nodules and other inequalities. The broad sheets +were suspended by a smoke fire, so as completely to dry up the sap, +and render it tough and elastic. François had his part to play, and +that was to collect the resinous gum which was distilled in plenty +from the trunks of the épinette or spruce-trees.</p> + +<p>This gum is a species of pitch, and is one of the most necessary +materials in the making of a bark canoe. It is used for “paying” +the seams, as well as any cracks that may show themselves in the +bark itself; and without it, or some similar substance, it would be +difficult to make one of these little vessels water-tight. But that is +not the only thing for which the épinette is valued in canoe-building; +far from it. This tree produces another indispensable material; its +long fibrous roots when split, form the twine-like threads by which +the pieces of bark are sewed to each other and fastened to the timbers. +These threads are as strong as the best cords of hemp, and are +known among the Indians by the name of “watap.”</p> + +<p>In a country, therefore, where hemp and flax cannot be readily +procured, the “watap” is of great value. You may say that deer are +plenty, and that thongs of buckskin would serve the same purpose. +This, however, is not the case. The buckskin would never do for +such a use. The moment it becomes wet it is liable to stretch, so +that the seams would open and the canoe get filled with water. The watap, +wet or dry, does not yield, and has therefore been found to be +the best thing of all others for this purpose.</p> + +<p>The only parts now wanted were the gunwale and the bottom. +The former was easily obtained. Two long poles, each twenty feet +in length, were bent somewhat like a pair of bows, and then placed +with their convex sides towards each other, and firmly lashed together +at the ends. This was the gunwale. The bottom was the most +difficult part of all. For that a solid plank was required, and they +had no saw. The axe and the hatchet, however, were called into +requisition, and a log was soon hewn and thinned down to the +proper dimensions. It was sharpened off at the ends, so as to run to +a very acute angle, both at the stem and stern.</p> + +<p>When the bottom was considered sufficiently polished, and modelled +to the right shape, the most difficult part of the undertaking was +supposed to be accomplished. A few long poles were cut and +trimmed flat. These were to be laid longitudinally between the +ribs and the bark, somewhat after the fashion of laths in the roofing +of a house. Their use was to prevent the bark from splitting. The +materials were now all obtained complete, and, with a few days' +smoking and drying, would be ready for putting together.</p> + +<p>While waiting for the timbers to dry, paddles were made, and +Norman, with the help of the others, prepared what he jokingly +called his “dock,” and also his “ship-yard.” This was neither more +nor less than a long mound of earth—not unlike a new-made grave, +only three times the length of one, or even longer. It was flat upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">58</a></span> +the top, and graded with earth so as to be quite level and free from +inequalities.</p> + +<p>At length all the materials were considered quite ready for use, +and Norman went to work to put them together.</p> + +<p>His first operation was to untie the bundle of timbers, and separate +them. They were found to have taken the exact form into which +they had been bent, and the thongs being no longer necessary to +keep them in place, were removed. The timbers themselves were +next placed upon the bottom or kelson, those with the widest bottoms +being nearer to “midships,” while those with the narrower bend were +set towards the narrower ends of the plank. Thus placed, they were +all firmly lashed with strong cords of watap, by means of holes pierced +in the bottom plank.</p> + +<p>Fortunately Lucien happened to have a pocket-knife, in which +there was a good awl or piercer, that enabled them to make these +holes—else the matter would have been a much more difficult one, +as an awl is one of the most essential tools in the construction of a +bark canoe. Of course it took Norman a considerable time to set all +the ribs in their proper places, and fasten them securely; but he was +ably assisted by François, who waited upon him with much diligence, +handing him now the awl, and then the watap, whenever he required +them.</p> + +<p>Norman's next operation was the laying of his kelson “in dock.” +The timbers being attached to it, it was lifted up on the earthen +mound, where it reached quite from end to end. Half-a-dozen large +heavy stones were then placed upon it, so that, pressed down by these +upon the even surface of the mould, it was rendered quite firm; and, +moreover, was of such a height from the ground that the young shipwright +could work upon it without too much bending and kneeling.</p> + +<p>The gunwale, already prepared, was next placed so as to touch the +ends of the ribs all round, and these ends were adjusted to it with +great nicety, and firmly joined. Strong cross-pieces were fixed, which +were designed, not only to keep the gunwale from spreading or contracting, +but afterwards to serve as seats.</p> + +<p>Of course the gunwale formed the complete mouth, or upper edge +of the canoe. It was several feet longer than the bottom plank, and, +when in place, projected beyond the ribs at both ends. From each +end of the bottom plank, therefore, to the corresponding end of the +gunwale, a straight piece of wood was stretched, and fastened. One +of these pieces would form the stem or cutwater, while the other +would become the stern of the craft. The long poles were next laid +longitudinally upon the ribs outside, and lashed in their places; and +this done, the skeleton was completed, ready for the bark.</p> + +<p>The latter had been already cut to the proper dimensions and +shape. It consisted of oblong pieces—each piece being a regular +parallelogram, as it had been stripped from the tree. These were +laid upon the ribs longitudinally, and then sewed to the edge of the +bottom plank, and also to the gunwale. The bark itself was in such +broad pieces that two of them were sufficient to cover half a side, so +that but one seam was required lengthwise, in addition to the +fastenings at the top and bottom. Two lengths of the bark also +reached cleverly from stem to stern, and thus required only one +transverse seam on each side. There was an advantage in this +arrangement, for where the birch-bark can only be obtained in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">59</a></span> +small flakes, a great number of seams is a necessary consequence, and +then it is extremely difficult to keep the canoe from leaking. Thanks +to the fine birch-trees, that grew in abundance around, our boat-builders +had procured the very best bark.</p> + +<p>The canoe was now completed all but the “paying,” and that +would not take long to do. The gum of the épinette had to be boiled, +and mixed with a little grease, so as to form a species of wax. For +this the fat already obtained from the buffaloes was the very thing; +and a small tin cup which Basil had saved from the wreck (it had +been strung to his bullet-pouch), enabled them to melt the gum, and +apply it hot. In less than an hour the thing was done. Every +crack and awl-hole was payed, and the canoe was pronounced +“water-tight,” and, as François added, with a laugh, “seaworthy.”</p> + +<p>A small pond was near, at the bottom of the hill: François espied +it.</p> + +<p>“Come, boys,” cried he, “a launch! a launch!”</p> + +<p>This was agreed to by all. The great stones were taken out. +Basil and Norman, going one to the stem the other to the stern, +lifted the canoe from the “dock,” and, raising it upon their shoulders, +carried it down to the pond. The next moment it was pushed into +the water, where it floated like a cork. A loud cheer was given, in +which even Marengo joined; and a salute was then fired—a full +broadside—from the four guns. François, to complete the thing, +seized one of the paddles, and leaping into the canoe, shot the little +craft out upon the bosom of the pond, cheering all the while like one +frantic.</p> + +<p>After amusing himself for some minutes, he paddled back to the +shore, when they all looked eagerly into the canoe, and perceived to +their gratification that not as much as a drop of water had leaked +during the “trip.” Thanks and congratulations now greeted Norman +from every side; and, taking their vessel from the water, the young +voyageurs returned to their camp, to regale themselves with a grand +dinner, which Lucien had cooked for the occasion.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE CHAIN OF LAKES</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">O</span>ur young voyageurs now prepared to resume their journey. While +Norman was engaged in building his canoe, with his assistant, +François, the others had not been idle. Basil was, of course, the +hunter of the party; and, in addition to the small game, such as +hares, geese, and grouse, he had killed three caribou, of the large +variety known as “woodland caribou.” These are a species of the +reindeer of which I have more to say hereafter. Lucien had attended +to the drying of their flesh; and there was enough of it still left, as +our voyageurs believed, to supply their wants until they should reach +Cumberland House, where they would, of course, procure a fresh +stock of provisions. The skins of the caribou had also been scraped +and dressed by Lucien—who understood the process well—and these, +with the skin of the antelope, were sufficient to make a pair of +hunting-shirts for Basil and Norman, who, it will be remembered, +had lost theirs by cutting them up.</p> + +<p>Next morning the canoe was launched upon the river—below the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">60</a></span> +rapids—and the dried meat, with their other matters, snugly stowed +in the stern. Then the young voyageurs got in, and, seating themselves +in their places, seized hold of the paddles. The next moment +the canoe shot out into the stream; and a triumphant cheer from the +crew announced that they had recommenced their journey. They found +to their delight that the little vessel behaved admirably—shooting +through the water like an arrow, and leaking not water enough, as +François expressed it, “to drown a mosquito.”</p> + +<p>They had all taken their seats in the order which had been agreed +upon for the day. Norman was “bowsman,” and, of course, sat in +the bow. This, among the regular Canadian voyageurs, is esteemed +the post of honour, and the bowsman is usually styled “Captain” +by the rest of the crew. It is also the post that requires the greatest +amount of skill on the part of its occupant, particularly where there +are rapids or shoals to be avoided. The post of “steersman” is also +one of honour and importance; and both steersman and bowsman +receive higher wages than the other voyageurs who pass under the +name of “middlemen.” The steersman sits in the stern, and that +place was now occupied by Lucien, who had proved himself an excellent +steersman. Basil and François were, of course, the “middlemen,” +and plied the paddles.</p> + +<p>This was the arrangement made for the day; but although on other +days the programme was to be changed, so as to relieve Basil and +François, on all occasions when there were rapids or other difficulties +to be encountered they were to return to this order. Norman, of +course, understood canoe navigation better than his Southern cousins; +and therefore, by universal assent, he was acknowledged “the +Captain,” and François always addressed him as such. Lucien's +claim to the post of second honour was admitted to be just, as he had +proved himself capable of filling it to the satisfaction of all. Marengo +had no post, but lay quietly upon the buffalo skin between Lucien's +legs, and listened to the conversation without joining in it, or in any +way interfering in the working of the vessel.</p> + +<p>In a few hours our voyageurs had passed through the low marshy +country that lies around the mouth of the Red River, and the white +expanse of the great Lake Winnipeg opened before them, stretching +northward far beyond the range of their vision. Norman knew the +lake, having crossed it before, but its aspect somewhat disappointed +the Southern travellers. Instead of a vast dark lake which they had +expected to see, they looked upon a whitish muddy sheet, that presented +but few attractive points to the eye, either in the hue of its +water or the scenery of its shores.</p> + +<p>These, so far as they could see them, were low, and apparently +marshy; and this is, in fact, the character of the southern shores of +Winnipeg. On its east and north, however, the country is of a different +character. There the geological formation is what is termed +<i>primitive</i>. The rocks consist of granite, sienite, gneiss, &c.; and, as is +always the case where such rocks are found, the country is hilly and +rugged. On the western shores a <i>secondary</i> formation exists. This is +<i>stratified limestone</i>—the same as that which forms the bed of many of +the great prairies of America; and, indeed, the Lake Winnipeg lies +between this secondary formation and the primitive, which bounds it +on the east. Along its western shores extends the flat limestone +country, partly wooded and partly prairie land, running from that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">61</a></span> +point for hundreds of miles up to the very foot of the Rocky Mountains, +where the primitive rocks again make their appearance in the +rugged peaks of that stupendous chain.</p> + +<p>Lake Winnipeg is nearly three hundred miles in length, but it is +very narrow—being in its widest reach not over fifty miles, and in +many places only fifteen miles from shore to shore. It trends nearly +due north and south, leaning a little north-west and south-east, and +receives many large rivers, as the Red, the Saskatchewan, and the +Winnipeg. The waters of these are again carried out of it by other +rivers that run from the lake, and empty into the Hudson's Bay. +There is a belief among the hunters and voyageurs that this lake has +its tides like the ocean. Such, however, is not the case. There is at +times a rise and overflow of its waters, but it is not periodical, and is +supposed to be occasioned by strong winds forcing the waters towards +a particular shore.</p> + +<p>Lake Winnipeg is remarkable, as being in the very centre of the +North American continent, and may be called the centre of the <i>canoe +navigation</i>. From this point it is possible to travel <i>by water</i> to Hudson's +Bay on the north-east, to the Atlantic Ocean on the east, to the +Gulf of Mexico on the south, to the Pacific on the west, and to the +Polar Sea on the north and north-west. Considering that some of +these distances are upwards of three thousand miles, it will be perceived +that Lake Winnipeg holds a singular position upon the continent. +All the routes mentioned can be made without any great +“portage,” and even a choice of route is often to be had upon those +different lines of communication.</p> + +<p>These were points of information communicated by Norman as the +canoe was paddled along the shore; for Norman, although troubling +himself but little about the causes of things, possessed a good practical +knowledge of things as they actually were. He was tolerably +well acquainted with the routes, their portages, and distances. +Some of them he had travelled over in company with his father, +and of others he had heard the accounts given by the voyageurs, +traders, and trappers. Norman knew that Lake Winnipeg was +muddy—he did not care to inquire the cause. He knew that there +was a hilly country on its eastern and a low level land on its +western shores, but it never occurred to him to speculate on this geological +difference.</p> + +<p>It was the naturalist, Lucien, who threw out some hints on this +part of the subject, and further added his opinion, that the lake came +to be there in consequence of the wearing away of the rocks at the +junction of the stratified with the primitive formation, thus creating +an excavation in the surface, which in time became filled with +water and formed the lake. This cause he also assigned for the existence +of a remarkable “chain of lakes” that extends almost from the +Arctic Sea to the frontiers of Canada. The most noted of these are +Martin, Great Slave, Athabasca, Wollaston, Deer, Lake Winnipeg and +the Lake of the Woods.</p> + +<p>Lucien further informed his companions, that where primitive +rocks form the surface of a country, that surface will be found to +exhibit great diversity of aspect. There will be numerous lakes and +swamps, rugged steep hills with deep valleys between, short streams +with many falls and rapids. These are the characteristics of a primitive +surface. On the other hand, where secondary rocks prevail the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">62</a></span> +surface is usually a series of plains, often high, dry, and treeless, as is +the case upon the great American prairies.</p> + +<p>Upon such topics did Lucien instruct his companions, as they +paddled their canoe around the edge of the lake. They had turned +the head of their little vessel westward—as it was their design to +keep along the western border of the lake until they should reach the +mouth of the Saskatchewan. They kept at a short distance from the +shore, usually steering from point to point, and in this way making +their route as direct as possible. It would have been still more direct +had they struck out into the open lake, and kept up its middle; but +this would have been a dangerous course to pursue.</p> + +<p>There are often high winds upon Lake Winnipeg, that spring up +suddenly; and at such times the waves, if not mountains high, at +least arrive at the height of houses. Among such billows the little craft +would have been in danger of being swamped, and our voyageurs of +going to the bottom. They, therefore, wisely resolved not to risk such +an accident, but to “hug the shore,” though it made their voyage longer. +Each night they would land at some convenient place, kindle their +fire, cook their supper, and dry their canoe for the next day's journey.</p> + +<p>According to this arrangement, a little before sunset of the first +day they came to land and made their camp. The canoe was unloaded, +carefully lifted out of the water, and then set bottom upward to drip +and dry. A fire was kindled, some of the dry meat cooked, and all +four sat down and began to eat, as only hungry travellers can.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<div class="cap">WAPITI, WOLVES, AND WOLVERENE</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he spot where our voyageurs had landed was at the bottom of a +small bay. The country back from the lake was level and clear of +timber. Here and there, nearer the shore, however, its surface was +prettily interspersed with small clumps of willows, that formed little +copse-like thickets of deep green. Beside one of these thickets, +within a hundred yards of the beach, the fire had been kindled, on a +spot of ground that commanded a view of the plain for miles back.</p> + +<p>“Look yonder!” cried François, who had finished eating, and risen +to his feet. “What are these, captain?” François pointed to some +objects that appeared at a great distance off upon the plain.</p> + +<p>The “captain” rose up, placed his hand so as to shade his eyes from +the sun, and, after looking for a second or two in the direction indicated, +replied to the other's question by simply saying—</p> + +<p>“Wapiti.”</p> + +<p>“I'm no wiser than before I asked the question,” said François. +“Pray, enlighten me as to what a wapiti may be!”</p> + +<p>“Why, red deer; or elk, if you like.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! elk—now I understand you. I thought they were elk, but +they're so far off I wasn't sure.”</p> + +<p>Lucien at this moment rose up, and looking through a small telescope, +which he carried, confirmed the statement of the “captain,” +and pronounced it to be a herd of elk.</p> + +<p>“Come, Luce,” demanded François, “tell us what you know of the +elk. It will pass the time. Norman says it's no use going after them +out there in the open ground, as they'd shy off before one could<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">63</a></span> +get within shot. You see there is not a bush within half-a-mile of +them.”</p> + +<p>“If we wait,” interrupted Norman, “I should not wonder but we +may have them among the bushes before long. They appear to be +grazing this way. I warrant you, they'll come to the lake to drink +before nightfall.”</p> + +<p>“Very well then: the philosopher can tell us all about them before +that.”</p> + +<p>Lucien, thus appealed to, began:—</p> + +<p>“There are few animals that have so many names as this. It is +called in different districts, or by different authors, <i>elk</i>, <i>round-horned +elk</i>, <i>American elk</i>, <i>stag</i>, <i>red deer</i>, <i>grey moose</i>, <i>le biche</i>, <i>wapiti</i> and +<i>wewaskish</i>.</p> + +<p>“You may ask, Why so many names? I shall tell you. It is called +'elk' because it was supposed by the early colonists to be the same as +the elk of Europe. Its name of 'grey moose' is a hunter appellation, +to distinguish it from the real moose, which the same hunters know +as the 'black moose.' 'Round-horned elk' is also a hunter name. +'Wewaskish,' or 'waskesse,' is an Indian name for the animal. 'Stag' +comes from the European deer so called, because this species somewhat +resembles the stag; and 'red deer' is a name used by the Hudson +Bay traders. 'Le biche' is another synonyme of French authors.</p> + +<p>“Of all these names I think that of 'wapiti,' which our cousin has +given, the best. The names of 'elk,' 'stag,' and 'red deer,' lead to +confusion, as there are other species to which they properly belong, +all of which are entirely different from the wapiti. I believe that +this last name is now used by the best-informed naturalists.</p> + +<p>“In my opinion,” continued Lucien, “the wapiti is the noblest of +all the deer kind. It possesses the fine form of the European stag, +while it is nearly a third larger and stronger. It has all the grace of +limb and motion that belongs to the common deer, while its towering +horns give it a most majestic and imposing appearance. Its colour +during the summer is of a reddish brown, hence the name red deer; +but, indeed, the reddish tint upon the wapiti is deeper and richer +than that of its European cousin.</p> + +<p>“The wapiti, like other deer, brings forth its fawns in the spring. +They are usually a male and female, for two is the number it produces. +The males only have horns; and they must be several years old before +the antlers become full and branching. They fall every year, but not +until February or March, and then the new ones grow out in a +month or six weeks. During the summer the horns remain soft and +tender to the touch. They are covered at this time with a soft membrane, +that looks like greyish velvet, and they are then said to be 'in +the velvet.' There are nerves and blood-vessels running through this +membrane, and a blow upon the horns at this season gives great pain +to the animal. When the autumn arrives the velvet peels off, and +they become as hard as bone.</p> + +<p>“They would need to be, for this is the 'rutting' season, and the +bucks fight furious battles with each other, clashing their horns +together, as if they would break them to pieces. Very often a pair +of bucks, while thus contending, 'lock' their antlers, and being unable +to draw them apart, remain head to head, until both die with hunger, +or fall a prey to the prowling wolves. This is true not only of the +elk, but also of the reindeer, the moose, and many other species of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">64</a></span> +deer. Hundreds of pairs of horns have been found thus 'locked,' +and the solitary hunter has often surprised the deer in this unpleasant +predicament.</p> + +<p>“The wapiti utters a whistling sound, that can be heard far off, and +often guides the hunter to the right spot. In the rutting season the +bucks make other noises, which somewhat resemble the braying of an +ass, and are equally disagreeable to listen to.</p> + +<p>“The wapiti travel about in small herds, rarely exceeding fifty, but +often of only six or seven. Where they are not much hunted they are +easily approached, but otherwise they are shy enough. The bucks, +when wounded and brought to bay, become dangerous assailants; +much more so than those of the common deer. Hunters have sometimes +escaped with difficulty from their horns and hoofs, with the +latter of which they can inflict very severe blows. They are hunted +in the same way as other deer; but the Indians capture many of them +in the water, when they discover them crossing lakes or rivers. They +are excellent swimmers, and can make their way over the arm of a +lake or across the widest river.</p> + +<p>“They feed upon grass, and sometimes on the young shoots of willows +and poplar trees. They are especially fond of a species of wild rose +which grows in the countries they frequent.</p> + +<p>“The wapiti at one time ranged over a large part of the continent of +North America. Its range is now restricted by the spread of the +settlements. It is still found in most of the Northern parts of the +United States, but only in remote mountainous districts and even +there it is a rare animal. In Canada it is more common; and it roams +across the continent to the shores of the Pacific. It it not an animal +of the tropical countries, as it is not found in Mexico proper. On the +other hand, wapiti do not go farther north than about the fifty-seventh +parallel of latitude, and then they are not in their favourite +habitat, which is properly the temperate zone.”</p> + +<p>Lucien was interrupted by an exclamation from Basil, who stood up +looking out upon the prairie. They all saw that he had been observing +the wapiti.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” cried they.</p> + +<p>“Look yonder!” replied Basil, pointing in the direction of the herd. +“Something disturbs them. Give me your glass, Luce.”</p> + +<p>Lucien handed the telescope to his brother, who, drawing it to the +proper focus, pointed it towards the deer. The rest watched them, +with the naked eye. They could see that there was some trouble +among the animals. There were only six in the herd, and even at the +distance our voyageurs could tell that they were all bucks, for it was +the season when the does secrete themselves in the woods and thickets +to bring forth their young. They were running to and fro upon the +prairie, and doubling about as if playing, or rather as if some creature +was chasing them. With the naked eye, however, nothing could be +seen upon the ground but the bucks themselves, and all the others +looked to Basil, who held the glass, for an explanation of their odd +manœuvres.</p> + +<p>“There are wolves at them,” said Basil, after regarding them for a +second or two.</p> + +<p>“That's odd,” rejoined Norman. “Wolves don't often attack full-grown +wapiti, except when wounded or crippled somehow. They +must be precious hungry. What sort of wolves are they?”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">65</a></span></p> + +<p>To you, boy reader, this question may seem strange. You, perhaps, +think that a wolf is a wolf, and there is but one kind. Such, however, +is not the exact truth. In America there are two distinct species or +wolves, and of these two species there are many varieties, which differ +so much in colour and other respects, that some authors have classed +them as so many distinct species instead of considering them mere +varieties. Whether they may be species or not is still a question +among naturalists; but certain it is that <i>two</i> well-defined species do +exist, which differ in size, form, colour, and habits.</p> + +<p>These are the <i>large</i> or <i>common wolf</i>, and the barking or prairie wolf. +The first species is the American representative of the common wolf +of Europe; and although an animal of similar nature and habits, it +differs very much from the latter in form and appearance. It is, therefore, +not the <i>same</i>, as hitherto supposed. This American wolf is found +in greater or less numbers throughout the whole continent; but in +the Northern regions it is very common, and is seen in at least five +different varieties, known by the characteristic names of <i>black</i>, <i>pied</i>, +<i>white</i>, <i>dusky</i>, and <i>grey</i> wolves. Of these the grey is the most numerous +kind; but as I shall have occasion to speak of the large wolves hearafter, +I shall say no more of them at present, but direct your attention +to the second and very different species, the <i>prairie wolves</i>.</p> + +<p>These are a full third smaller than the common kind. They are +swifter, and go in larger packs. They bring forth their young in +burrows on the open plain, and not among the woods, like the other +species. They are the most cunning of American animals, not excepting +their kindred the foxes. They cannot be trapped by any contrivance, +but by singular manœuvres often themselves decoy the over-curious +antelope to approach too near them. When a gun is fired +upon the prairies they may be seen starting up on all sides, and +running for the spot in hopes of coming in for a share of the game. +Should an animal—deer, antelope, or buffalo—be wounded, and escape +the hunter, it is not likely to escape them also. They will set after it, +and run it down if <i>the wound has been a mortal one</i>.</p> + +<p>On the other hand, if the wound has been only slight, and is not +likely in the end to cripple the animal, the wolves will not stir from—the +spot. This extraordinary sagacity often tells the hunter whether +it is worth his while to follow the game he has shot at; but in any +case he is likely to arrive late, if the wolves set out before him, as a +dozen of them will devour the largest deer in a few minutes' time. +The prairie wolves as well as the others follow the herds of buffaloes, +and attack the gravid cows and calves when separated from the rest. +Frequently they sustain a contest with the bulls, when the latter are +old or wounded, but on such occasions many of them get killed before +the old bull becomes their prey.</p> + +<p>They resemble the common grey wolf in colour, but there are +varieties in this respect, though not so great as among the larger +species. Their voice is entirely different, and consists of three +distinct barks, ending in a prolonged howl. Hence the specific and +usual name “barking wolf.” They are found only in the Western or +prairie half of the continent, and thence west to the Pacific. Their +Northern range is limited to the fifty-fifth parallel of latitude—but +they are met with southward throughout Mexico, where they are +common enough, and known by the name of “coyoté.”</p> + +<p>Their skins are an article of trade with the Hudson's Bay Company.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">66</a></span> +The fur is of about the same quality with that of other wolves, and +consists of long hairs, with a thick wool at the base. In commerce +they are termed “cased wolves,” because their skins, on being removed, +are not split open as with the large wolf-skins, but are stript +off after the manner of rabbits, and then turned inside out, or “cased,” +as it is termed.</p> + +<p>“Prairie wolves!” said Basil, in answer to the question put by his +cousin.</p> + +<p>“There must be something the matter with one of the bucks, then,” +remarked Norman, “or else there's a good big pack of the wolves, and +they expect to tire one down. I believe they sometimes do try it that +way.”</p> + +<p>“There appears to be a large pack,” answered Basil, still looking +through the glass; “fifty at least—See! they have separated one of +the bucks from the herd—it's running this way!”</p> + +<p>Basil's companions had noticed this as soon as himself, and all four +now leaped to their guns. The wapiti was plainly coming towards +them, and they could now distinguish the wolves following upon his +heels, strung out over the prairie like a pack of hounds. When first +started, the buck was a full half-mile distant, but in less than a +minute's time he came breasting forward until the boys could see his +sparkling eyes and the play of his proud flanks. He was a noble +animal to look at. His horns were full grown, but still “in the velvet,” +and as he ran with his snout thrown forward, his antlers lay along +both sides of his neck until their tips touched his shoulders.</p> + +<p>He continued on in a direct line until he was within less than an +hundred paces of the camp; but, perceiving the smoke of the fire, and +the figures crouching around it, he swerved suddenly from his course, +and darted into the thicket of willows, where he was for the moment +hidden from view. The wolves—fifty of them at least—had followed +him up to this point; and as he entered the thicket several had been +close upon his heels. The boys expected to see the wolves rush in +after him—as there appeared to be no impediment to their doing so—but, +to the astonishment of all, the latter came to a sudden halt, and +then went sneaking back—some of them even running off as if terrified!</p> + +<p>At first the hunters attributed this strange conduct to their own +presence, and the smoke of the camp; but a moment's reflection convinced +them that this could not be the reason of it, as they were all +well acquainted with the nature of the prairie wolf, and had never +witnessed a similar exhibition before.</p> + +<p>They had no time to think of the wolves just then. The buck was +the main attraction, and, calling to each other to surround the +thicket, all four started in different directions. In a couple of +minutes they had placed themselves at nearly equal distances around +the copse, and stood watching eagerly for the reappearance of the +wapiti.</p> + +<p>The willows covered about an acre of ground, but they were +tolerably think and full-leaved, and the buck could not be seen from +any side. Wherever he was, he was evidently at a stand-still, for not +a rustle could be heard among the leaves, nor were any of the tall +stalks seen to move.</p> + +<p>Marengo was now sent in. This would soon start him, and all four +stood with guns cocked and ready. But before the dog had made +three lengths of himself into the thicket, a loud snort was heard,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">67</a></span> +followed by a struggle and the stamping of hoofs, and the next +moment the wapiti came crashing through the bushes. A shot was +fired—it was the crack of Lucien's small rifle—but it had missed, for +the buck was seen passing onward and outward. All ran round to +the side he had taken, and had a full view of the animal as he +bounded off. Instead of running free as before, he now leaped +heavily forward, and what was their astonishment on seeing that he +<i>carried another animal upon his back</i>!</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 347px;"> +<img src="images/illus-067.jpg" width="347" height="500" alt="THE WAPITI AND THE WOLVERENE." title="THE WAPITI AND THE WOLVERENE." /> +<span class="caption">THE WAPITI AND THE WOLVERENE.</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">68</a></span>The hunters could hardly believe their eyes, but there it was, sure +enough, a brown shaggy mass, lying flat along the shoulders of the +wapiti, and clutching it with large spreading claws. François cried +out, “A panther!” and Basil at first believed it to be a bear, but it +was hardly large enough for that. Norman, however, who had lived +more in those parts where the animal is found, knew it at once to be +the dreaded “wolverene.” Its head could not be seen, as that was +hid behind the shoulder of the wapiti, whose throat it was engaged +in tearing. But its short legs and broad paws, its bushy tail and +long shaggy hair, together with its round-arching back and dark-brown +colour, were all familiar marks to the young fur-trader; and +he at once pronounced it a “wolverene.”</p> + +<p>When first seen, both it and the wapiti were beyond the reach of +their rifles; and the hunters, surprised by such an unexpected +apparition, had suddenly halted. François and Basil were about to +renew the pursuit, but were prevented by Norman, who counselled +them to remain where they were.</p> + +<p>“They won't go far,” said he; “let us watch them a bit. See! the +buck takes the water!”</p> + +<p>The wapiti, on leaving the willows, had run straight out in the +first direction that offered, which happened to be in a line parallel +with the edge of the lake. His eye, however, soon caught sight of +the water, and, doubling suddenly round, he made directly towards +it, evidently with the intention of plunging in. He had hopes, no +doubt, that by this means he might rid himself of the terrible +creature that was clinging to his shoulders, and tearing his throat to +pieces.</p> + +<p>A few bounds brought him to the shore. There was no beach at +the spot. The bank—a limestone bluff—rose steeply from the water's +edge to a height of eight feet, and the lake under it was several +fathoms in depth. The buck did not hesitate, but sprang outward +and downwards. A heavy plash followed, and for some seconds +both wapiti and wolverene were lost under the water. They rose to +the surface, just as the boys reached the bank, but they came up +<i>separately</i>. The dip had proved a cooler to the fierce wolverene; and +while the wapiti was seen to strike boldly out into the lake and +swim off, the latter—evidently out of his element—kept plunging +about clumsily, and struggling to get back to the shore.</p> + +<p>Their position upon the cliff above gave the hunters an excellent +opportunity with their rifles, and both Basil and Norman sent their +bullets into the wolverene's back. François also emptied his double-barrelled +gun at the same object, and the shaggy brute sank dead to +the bottom of the lake. Strange to say, not one of the party had +thought of firing at the buck. This persecution by so many enemies +had won for him their sympathy, and they would now have suffered +him to go free, but the prospect of fresh venison for supper overcame +their commiseration, and the moment the wolverene was despatched +all set about securing the deer.</p> + +<p>Their guns were reloaded, and, scattering along the shore, they +prepared to await his return. But the buck, seeing there was nothing +but death in his rear, swam on, keeping almost in a direct line out +into the lake. It was evident to all that he could not swim across +the lake, as its farther shore was not even visible. He must either +return to where they were, or drown; and knowing this to be his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">69</a></span> +only alternative, they stood still and watched his motions. When he +had got about half-a-mile from the shore, to the surprise of all, he +was seen to rise higher and higher above the surface, and then all at +once stop, with half of his body clear out of the water! He had come +upon a shoal, and, knowing the advantage of it, seemed determined +to remain there.</p> + +<p>Basil and Norman ran to the canoe, and in a few minutes the little +craft was launched, and shooting through the water. The buck now +saw that it was likely to be all up with him, and, instead of attempting +to swim farther, he faced round, and set his antlers forward in a +threatening attitude. But his pursuers did not give him the chance +to make a rush. When within fifty yards or so, Norman, who used +the paddles, stopped and steadied the canoe, and the next moment +the crack of Basil's rifle echoed over the lake, and the wapiti fell upon +the water, where, after struggling a moment, he lay dead.</p> + +<p>The canoe was paddled up, and his antlers being made fast to the +stern, he was towed back to the shore, and carried into camp. What +now surprised our voyageurs was, their finding that the wapiti had +been wounded before encountering either the wolves, wolverene, or +themselves. An arrow-head, with a short piece of the shaft, was +sticking in one of his thighs. The Indians, then, had been after him, +and very lately too, as the wound showed. It was not a mortal +wound, had the arrow-head been removed; but of course, as it was, +it would have proved his death in the long run. This explained why +the wolves had assailed an animal, that otherwise, from his great +size and strength, would have defied them.</p> + +<p>The wolverene, moreover, rarely attacks game so large as the +wapiti; but the latter had, no doubt, chanced upon the lair of his +fierce enemy, who could not resist such a tempting opportunity of +getting a meal. The wolves had seen the wolverene as they approached +the thicket, and that accounted for their strange behaviour +in the pursuit. These creatures are as great cowards as they are +tyrants, and their dread of a wolverene is equal to that with which +they themselves often inspire the wounded deer.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A PAIR OF DEEP DIVERS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he wapiti was carefully skinned, and the skin spread out to dry. +Since their mishap our voyageurs had been very short of clothing. +The three skins of the woodland caribou had made only a pair of +jackets, instead of full hunting-shirts, and even these were pinched +fits. For beds and bed-clothes they had nothing but the hides of +buffaloes, and these, although good as far as they went, were only +enough for two. Lucien, the most delicate of the party, appropriated +one, as the others insisted upon his so doing. François had the other.</p> + +<p>As for Basil and Norman, they were forced each night to lie upon +the naked earth, and but for the large fires which they kept blazing +all the night, they would have suffered severely from cold. Indeed, +they did suffer quite enough; for some of the nights were so cold, +that it was impossible to sleep by the largest fire without one-half of +their bodies feeling chilled. The usual practice with travellers in the +West is to lie with their feet to the fire, while the head is at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">70</a></span> +greatest distance from it. This is considered the best mode, for so +long as the feet are warm, the rest of the body will not suffer badly; +but, on the contrary, if the feet are allowed to get cold, no matter +what state the other parts be in, it is impossible to sleep with comfort.</p> + +<p>Of course our young voyageurs followed the well-known practice +of the country, and lay with their feet to the fire in such a manner +that, when all were placed, their bodies formed four radii of a circle, +of which the fire was the centre. Marengo usually lay beside Basil, +whom he looked upon as his proper master.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding a bed of grass and leaves which they each night +spread for themselves, they were sadly in want of blankets, and +therefore the skin of the wapiti, which was a very fine one, would be +a welcome addition to their stock of bedding. They resolved, therefore, +to remain one day where they had killed it, so that the skin +might be dried and receive a partial dressing. Moreover, they +intended to “jerk” some of the meat—although elk-venison is not +considered very palatable where other meat can be had. It is without +juice, and resembles dry short-grained beef more than venison. For +this reason it is looked upon by both Indians and white hunters as +inferior to buffalo, moose, caribou, or even the common deer. One +peculiarity of the flesh of this animal is, that the fat becomes hard +the moment it is taken off the fire. It freezes upon the lips like suet, +and clings around the teeth of a person eating it, which is not the +case with that of other species of deer.</p> + +<p>The skin of the wapiti, however, is held in high esteem among the +Indians. It is thinner than that of the moose, but makes a much +better article of leather. When dressed in the Indian fashion—that +is to say, soaked in a lather composed of the brains and fat of the +animal itself, and then washed, dried, scraped, and smoked—it +becomes as soft and pliable as a kid-glove, and will wash and dry +without stiffening like chamois leather. That is a great advantage +which it has, in the eyes of the Indians, over the skins of other species +of deer, as the moose and caribou—for the leather made from these, +after a wetting, becomes harsh and rigid and requires a great deal of +rubbing to render it soft again.</p> + +<p>Lucien knew how to dress the elk-hide, and could make leather out +of it as well as any Indian squaw in the country. But travelling as +they were, there was not a good opportunity for that; so they were +content to give it such a dressing as the circumstances might allow. +It was spread out on a frame of willow-poles, and set up in front of +the fire, to be scraped at intervals and cleared of the fatty matter, as +well as the numerous parasites that at this season adhere to the +skins of the wapiti.</p> + +<p>While Lucien was framing the skin, Basil and Norman occupied +themselves in cutting the choice pieces of the meat into thin slices +and hanging them up before the fire. This job being finished, all sat +down to watch Lucien currying his hide.</p> + +<p>“Ho, boys!” cried François, starting up as if something had +occurred to him; “what about the wolverene? It's a splendid skin—why +not get it too?”</p> + +<p>“True enough,” replied Norman, “we had forgotten that. But +the beast's gone to the bottom—how can we get at him?”</p> + +<p>“Why, fish him up, to be sure,” said François. “Let's splice one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">71</a></span> +of these willow-poles to my ram rod, and I'll screw it into him, and +draw him to the surface in a jiffy. Come!”</p> + +<p>“We must get the canoe round, then,” said Norman. “The bank's +too steep for us to reach him without it.”</p> + +<p>“Of course,” assented François, at the same time going towards +the willows; “get you the canoe into the water, while I cut the +sapling.”</p> + +<p>“Stay!” cried Basil, “I'll show you a shorter method. Marengo!”</p> + +<p>As Basil said this, he rose to his feet, and walked down to the bluff +where they had shot the wolverene. All of them followed him as +well as Marengo, who bounded triumphantly from side to side, +knowing he was wanted for some important enterprise.</p> + +<p>“Do you expect the dog to fetch him out?” inquired Norman.</p> + +<p>“No,” replied Basil; “only to help.”</p> + +<p>“How?”</p> + +<p>“Wait a moment—you shall see.”</p> + +<p>Basil flung down his 'coon-skin cap, and stripped off his caribou +jacket, then his striped cotton shirt, then his under-shirt of fawn +skin, and, lastly, his trousers, leggings, and mocassins. He was now +as naked as Adam.</p> + +<p>“I'll show you, cousin,” said he, addressing himself to Norman, +“how we take the water down there on the Mississippi.”</p> + +<p>So saying, he stepped forward to the edge of the bluff; and having +carefully noted the spot where the wolverene had gone down, turned +to the dog, and simply said,—</p> + +<p>“Ho! Marengo! <i>Chez moi</i>!”</p> + +<p>The dog answered with a whimper, and a look of intelligence +which showed that he understood his master's wish.</p> + +<p>Basil again pointed to the lake, raised his arms over his head, +placing his palms close together, launched himself out into the air, +and shot down head-foremost into the water.</p> + +<p>Marengo, uttering a loud bay, sprang after so quickly that the +plunges were almost simultaneous, and both master and dog were +for some time hidden from view. The latter rose first, but it was +a long time before Basil came to the surface—so long that Norman +and the others were beginning to feel uneasy, and to regard the +water with some anxiety. At length, however, a spot was seen to +bubble, several yards from where he had gone down, and the black +head of Basil appeared above the surface. It was seen that he held +something in his teeth, and was pushing a heavy body before him, +which they saw was the wolverene.</p> + +<p>Marengo, who swam near, now seized hold of the object, and +pulled it away from his master, who, calling to the dog to follow, +struck out towards a point where the bank was low and shelving. +In a few minutes Basil reached a landing-place, and shortly after +Marengo arrived towing the wolverene, which was speedily pulled +out upon the bank, and carried, or rather dragged, by Norman and +François to the camp. Lucien brought Basil's clothes, and all four +once more assembled around the blazing fire.</p> + +<p>There is not a more hideous-looking animal in America than the +wolverene. His thick body and short stout legs, his shaggy coat and +bushy tail, but, above all, his long curving claws and dog-like jaws, +gave him a formidable appearance. His gait is low and skulking, +and his look bold and vicious. He walks somewhat like a bear, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">72</a></span> +his tracks are often mistaken for those of that animal. Indians and +hunters, however, know the difference well. His hind feet are +plantigrade, that is, they rest upon the ground from heel to toe; and +his back curves like the segment of a circle. He is fierce and extremely +voracious—quite as much so as the “glutton,” of which he is +the American representative.</p> + +<p>No animal is more destructive to the small game, and he will also +attack and devour the larger kinds when he can get hold of them; +but as he is somewhat slow, he can only seize most of them by +stratagem. It is a common belief that he lies in wait upon trees and +rocks to seize the deer passing beneath. It has been also asserted +that he places moss, such as these animals feed upon under his perch, +in order to entice them within reach; and it has been still further +asserted, that the arctic foxes assist him in his plans, by hunting the +deer towards the spot where he lies in wait, thus acting as his jackals.</p> + +<p>These assertions have been made more particularly about his +European cousin, the “glutton,” about whom other stories are told +equally strange—one of them, that he eats until scarce able to walk, +and then draws his body through a narrow space between two trees, +in order to relieve himself and get ready for a fresh meal. Buffon +and others have given credence to these tales upon the authority of +one “Olaus Magnus,” whose name, from the circumstance, might +be translated “great fibber.” There is no doubt, however, that the +glutton is one of the most sagacious of animals, and so, too, is the +wolverene. The latter gives proof of this by many of his habits; +one in particular fully illustrates his cunning. It is this.</p> + +<p>The marten trappers of the Hudson Bay territory set their traps +in the snow, often extending over a line of fifty miles. These traps +are constructed out of pieces of wood found near the spot, and are +baited with the heads of partridges, or pieces of venison, of which +the marten is very fond. As soon as the marten seizes the bait, a +trigger is touched, and a heavy piece of wood falling upon the +animal, crushes or holds it fast. Now the wolverene <i>enters the trap +from behind</i>, tears the back out of it before touching the bait, and +thus avoids the falling log! Moreover, he will follow the tracks of +the trapper from one to another, until he has destroyed the whole +line.</p> + +<p>Should a marten happen to have been before him, and got caught +in the trap, he rarely ever eats it, as he is not fond of its flesh. But +he is not satisfied to leave it as he finds it. He usually digs it from +under the log, tears it to pieces, and then buries it under the snow. +The foxes, who are well aware of this habit, and who themselves +greedily eat the marten, are frequently seen following him upon such +excursions. They are not strong enough to take the log from off the +trapped animal, but from their keen scent can soon find it where the +other has buried it in the snow. In this way, instead of their being +providers for the wolverene, the reverse is the true story. Notwithstanding, +the wolverene will eat <i>them</i> too, whenever he can get his +claws upon them; but as they are much swifter than he, this seldom +happens.</p> + +<p>The foxes, however, are themselves taken in traps, or more commonly +shot by guns set for the purpose, with the bait attached by a +string to the trigger. Often the wolverene, finding the foxes dead or +wounded, makes a meal of them before the hunter comes along to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">73</a></span> +examine his traps and guns. The wolverene kills many of the foxes +while young, and sometimes on finding their burrow, widens it with +his strong claws, and eats the whole family in their nests. Even +young wolves sometimes become his prey. He lives, in fact, on very +bad terms with both foxes and wolves, and often robs the latter of +a fat deer which they may have just killed, and are preparing to +dine upon. The beaver, however, is his favourite food, and but that +these creatures can escape him by taking to the water—in which +element he is not at all at home—he would soon exterminate their +whole race. His great strength and acute scent enable him to overcome +almost every wild creature of the forest or prairie. He is even +said to be a full match for either the panther or the black bear.</p> + +<p>The wolverene lives in clefts of rock, or in hollow trees, where such +are to be found; but he is equally an inhabitant of the forest and the +prairie. He is found in fertile districts, as well as in the most remote +deserts. His range is extensive, but he is properly a denizen of the +cold and snowy regions. In the southern parts of the United States +he is no longer known, though it is certain that he once lived there +when those countries were inhabited by the beaver. North of latitude +40° he ranges perhaps to the pole itself, as traces of him have been +found as far as man has yet penetrated.</p> + +<p>He is a solitary creature, and, like most predatory animals, a +nocturnal prowler. The female brings forth two, sometimes three +and four, at a birth. The cubs are of a cream colour, and only when +full grown acquire that dark brown hue, which in the extreme of +winter often passes into black. The fur is not unlike that of the bear +but is shorter-haired, and of less value than a bear-skin. Notwithstanding, +it is an article of trade with the Hudson's Bay Company, +who procure many thousands of the skins annually.</p> + +<p>The Canadian voyageurs call the wolverene “carcajou;” while +among the Orkney and Scotch servants of the Hudson's Bay Company +he is oftener known as the “quickhatch.” It is supposed that both, +these names are corruptions of the Cree word <i>okee-coo-haw-gew</i> (the +name of the wolverene among the Indians of that tribe). Many +words from the same language have been adopted by both voyageurs +and traders.</p> + +<p>Those points in the natural history of the wolverene, that might be +called <i>scientific</i>, were imparted by Lucien, while Norman furnished +the information about its habits. Norman knew the animal as one +of the most common in the “trade”; and in addition to what we have +recorded, also related many adventures and stories current among the +voyageurs, in which this creature figures in quite as fanciful a manner +as he does in the works either of Olaus Magnus, or Count de Buffon.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A GRAND SUNDAY DINNER.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span>fter remaining a day at their first camp on the lake, our voyageurs +continued their journey. Their course lay a little to the west of +north, as the edge of the lake trended in that direction. Their usual +plan, as already stated, was to keep out in the lake far enough to +shun the numerous indentations of the shore, yet not so far as to +endanger their little craft when the wind was high. At night they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">74</a></span> +always landed, either upon some point or on an island. Sometimes +the wind blew “dead ahead,” and then their day's journey would be +only a few miles. When the wind was favourable they made good +progress, using the skin of the wapiti for a sail. On one of these +days they reckoned a distance of over forty miles from camp to +camp.</p> + +<p>It was their custom always to lie by on Sunday, for our young +voyageurs were Christians. They had done so on their former +expedition across the Southern prairies, and they had found the +practice to their advantage in a physical as well as a moral sense. +They required the rest thus obtained; besides, a general cleaning up +is necessary, at least, once every week. Sunday was also a day of +feasting with them. They had more time to devote to culinary +operations, and the <i>cuisine</i> of that day was always the most varied of +the week. Any extra delicacy obtained by the rifle on previous days, +was usually reserved for the Sunday's dinner.</p> + +<p>On the first Sunday after entering Lake Winnipeg the “camp” +chanced to be upon an island. It was a small island, of only a few +acres in extent. It lay near the shore, and was well wooded over its +whole surface with trees of many different kinds. Indeed, islands in +a large lake usually have a great variety of trees, as the seeds of all +those sorts that grow around the shores are carried thither by the +waves, or in the crops of the numerous birds that flit over its waters. +But as the island in question lay in a lake, whose shores exhibited +such a varied geology, it was natural the vegetation of the island +itself should be varied. And, in truth, it was so.</p> + +<p>Among the low bushes and shrubs there were rose and wild raspberry; +there were apple and plum trees, and whole thickets of the +“Pembina.” There is, in fact, no part of the world where a greater +variety of wild fruit has been found indigenous than upon the banks +of the Red River of the North, and this variety extended to the little +island where our voyageurs had encamped.</p> + +<p>The camp had been placed under a beautiful tree—the tacamahac, +or balsam poplar. This is one of the finest trees of America, and one +of those that extend farthest north into the cold countries. In +favourable situations it attains a height of one hundred and fifty feet, +with a proportionate thickness of trunk; but it is oftener only fifty +or eighty feet high. Its leaves are oval, and, when young, of a rich +yellowish colour, which changes to a bright green. The buds are +very large, yellow, and covered with a varnish, which exhales a +delightful fragrance, and gives to the tree its specific name.</p> + +<p>It was near sunset on the afternoon of Saturday, the travellers had +just finished their repast, and were reclining around a fire of red +cedar, whose delicate smoke curled up among the pale green leaves of +the poplars. The fragrant smell of the burning wood, mixed with the +aromatic odour of the balsam-tree, filled the air with a sweet perfume, +and, almost without knowing why, our voyageurs felt a sense +of pleasure stealing over them. The woods of the little island were +not without their voices.</p> + +<p>The scream of the jay was heard, and his bright azure wing +appeared now and then among the foliage. The scarlet plumage of +the cardinal grosbeak flashed under the beams of the setting sun; +and the trumpet-note of the ivory-billed woodpecker was heard near +the centre of the island. An osprey was circling in the air, with his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">75</a></span> +eye bent on the water below, watching for his finny prey; and a pair +of bald eagles were winging their way towards the adjacent mainland. +Half-a-dozen turkey vultures were wheeling above the beach, where +some object, fish or carrion, had been thrown up by the waves.</p> + +<p>For some time the party remained silent, each contemplating the +scene with feelings of pleasure. François, as usual, first broke the +silence.</p> + +<p>“I say, cook, what's for dinner to-morrow?”</p> + +<p>It was to Lucien this speech was addressed. He was regarded as +the <i>maitre de cuisine</i>.</p> + +<p>“Roast or boiled—which would you prefer?” asked the cook, with +a significant smile.</p> + +<p>“Ha! ha! ha!” laughed François; “boiled, indeed! a pretty boil +we could have in a tin cup, holding less than a pint. I wish we <i>could</i> +have a boiled joint and a bowl of soup. I'd give something for it. +I'm precious tired of this everlasting dry roast.”</p> + +<p>“You shall have both,” rejoined Lucien, “for to-morrow's dinner. +I promise you both the soup and the joint.”</p> + +<p>Again François laughed increduously.</p> + +<p>“Do you mean to make soup in your shoe, Luce?”</p> + +<p>“No; but I shall make it in this.”</p> + +<p>And Lucien held up a vessel somewhat like a water-pail, which the +day before he had himself made out of birch-bark.</p> + +<p>“Well,” replied François, “I know you have got a vessel that holds +water, but cold water ain't soup; and if you can boil water in that +vessel, I'll believe you to be a conjuror. I know you can do some +curious things with your chemical mixtures; but that you can't do, +I'm sure. Why, man, the bottom would be burned out of your +bucket before the water got blood-warm. Soup, indeed!”</p> + +<p>“Never mind, Frank, you shall see. You're only like the rest of +mankind—incredulous about everything they can't comprehend. If +you'll take your hook and line, and catch some fish, I promise to give +you a dinner to-morrow, with all the regular courses—soup, fish, +boiled, roast, and dessert, too! I'm satisfied I can do all that.”</p> + +<p>“<i>Parbleu</i>! brother, you should have been cook to Lucullus. Well, +I'll catch the fish for you.”</p> + +<p>So saying, François took a fish-hook and line out of his pouch, and +fixing a large grasshopper upon the hook, stepped forward to the edge +of the water, and cast it in. The float was soon seen to bob and then +sink, and François jerked his hook ashore with a small and very +pretty fish upon it of a silver hue, with which the lake and the waters +running into it abound. Lucien told him it was a fish of the genus +<i>Hyodon</i>. He also advised him to bait with a worm, and let his bait +sink to the bottom, and he might catch a sturgeon, which would be a +larger fish.</p> + +<p>“How do you know there are sturgeon in the lake?” inquired +François.</p> + +<p>“I am pretty sure of that,” answered the naturalist; “the sturgeon +is found all round the world in the northern temperate zone—both in +its seas and fresh waters; although, when you go farther south into +the warmer climate, no sturgeons exist. I am sure there are some +here, perhaps more than one species. Sink your bait for the sturgeon +is a toothless fish, and feeds upon soft substances at the bottom.”</p> + +<p>François followed the advice of his brother, and in a few minutes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">76</a></span> +he had a “nibble,” and drew up and landed a very large fish, full +three feet in length. Lucien at once pronounced it a sturgeon, but of +a species he had not before seen. It was the <i>Acipenser carbonarius</i>, a +curious sort of fish found in these waters. It did not look like a fish +that would be pleasant eating; therefore François again took to bobbing +for the silver fish which, though small, he knew to be excellent +when broiled.</p> + +<p>“Come,” said Basil, “I must furnish my quota to this famous dinner +that is to be. Let me see what there is on the island in the way of +game;” and shouldering his rifle, he walked off among the trees.</p> + +<p>“And I,” said Norman, “am not going to eat the produce of other +people's labour without contributing my share.”</p> + +<p>So the young trader took up his gun and went off in a different +direction.</p> + +<p>“Good!” exclaimed Lucien, “we are likely to have plenty of meat +for the dinner. I must see about the vegetables;” and taking with +him his new-made vessel, Lucien sauntered off along the shore of the +islet. François alone remained by the camp and continued his fishing. +Let us follow the plant-hunter, and learn a lesson of practical botany.</p> + +<p>Lucien had not gone far, when he came to what appeared to be a +mere sedge growing in the water. The stalks or culms of this sedge were +full eight feet high, with smooth leaves, an inch broad, nearly a yard +in length, and of a light green colour. At the top of each stalk was +a large panicle of seeds, somewhat resembling a head of oats. The +plant itself was the famous wild rice so much prized by the Indians +as an article of food, and also the favourite of many wild birds +especially the reed-bird or rice-bunting. The grain of the zizania was +not yet ripe, but the ears were tolerably well filled, and Lucien saw +that it would do for his purpose. He therefore waded in, and stripped +off into his vessel as much as he wanted.</p> + +<p>“I am safe for rice-soup, at all events,” soliloquised he, “but I think +I can do still better;” and he continued on around the shore, and +shortly after struck into some heavy timber that grew in a damp, +rich soil. He had walked about an hundred yards farther, when he +was seen to stoop and examine some object on the ground.</p> + +<p>“It ought to be found here,” he muttered to himself; “this is the +very soil for it—yes, here we have it!”</p> + +<p>The object over which he was stooping was a plant, but its leaves +appeared shrivelled, or rather quite withered away. The upper part +of a bulbous root, however, was just visible above the surface. It +was a bulb of the wild leek. The leaves, when young, are about six +inches in length, of a flat shape and often three inches broad; but, +strange to say, they shrivel or die off very early in the season—even +before the plant flowers, and then it is difficult to find the bulb.</p> + +<p>Lucien, however, had sharp eyes for such things; and in a short +while he had rooted out several bulbs as large as pigeons' eggs, and +deposited them in his birchen vessel. He now turned to go back to +camp, satisfied with what he had obtained. He had the rice to give +consistency to his soup, and the leek roots to flavour it with. That +would be enough.</p> + +<p>As he was walking over a piece of boggy ground his eye was +attracted to a singular plant, whose tall stem rose high above the +grass. It was full eight feet in height, and at its top there was an +umbel of conspicuous white flowers. Its leaves were large, lobed, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">77</a></span> +toothed, and the stem itself was over an inch in diameter, with +furrows running longitudinally. Lucien had never seen the plant +before, although he had often heard accounts of it, and he at once +recognised it from its botanical description. It was the celebrated +“cow parsnip.” Its stem was jointed and hollow, and Lucien had +heard that the Indians called it in their language “flute stem,” as +they often used it to make their rude musical instruments from, and +also a sort of whistle or “call,” by which they were enabled to imitate +and decoy several kinds of deer. But there was another use to which +the plant was put, of which the naturalist was not aware. Norman +who had been wandering about, came up at this moment, and seeing +Lucien standing by the plant, uttered a joyful “Hulloh!”</p> + +<p>“Well,” inquired Lucien, “what pleases you, coz?”</p> + +<p>“Why, the flute-stem, of course. You talked of making a soup. +It will help you, I fancy.”</p> + +<p>“How?” demanded Lucien.</p> + +<p>“Why, the young stems are good eating, and the roots, if you will; +but the young shoots are better. Both Indians and voyageurs eat +them in soup, and are fond of them. It's a famous thing, I assure +you.”</p> + +<p>“Let us gather some, then,” said Lucien; and the cousins commenced +cutting off such stems as were still young and tender. As +soon as they had obtained enough, they took their way back to the +camp. Basil had already arrived with a fine <i>prairie hen</i> which he had +shot, and Sandy had brought back a squirrel; so that, with François's +fish, of which a sufficient number had been caught, Lucien was likely +to be able to keep his promise about the dinner.</p> + +<p>François, however, could not yet comprehend how the soup was to +be boiled in a wooden pot; and, indeed, Basil was unable to guess. +Norman, however, knew well enough, for he had travelled through +the country of the Assinoboil Indians, who take their name from this +very thing. He had also witnessed the operation performed by Crees, +Chippewas, and even voyageurs, where metal or earthen pots could +not be obtained.</p> + +<p>On the next day the mystery was cleared up to Basil and François. +Lucien first collected a number of stones—about as large as paving-stones. +He chose such as were hard and smooth. These he flung +into the cinders, where they soon became red-hot. The water and +meat were now put into the bark pot, and then one stone after +another,—each being taken out as it got cooled,—until the water +came to a fierce boil. The rice and other ingredients were added at +the proper time, and in a short while an excellent soup was made. +So much, then, for the soup, and the boiled dishes with vegetables. +The roast, of course, was easily made ready upon green-wood spits, +and the “game” was cooked in a similar way. The fish were broiled +upon the red cinders, and eaten, as is usual, after the soup. There +were no puddings or pies, though, no doubt, Lucien could have made +such had they been wanted.</p> + +<p>In their place there was an excellent service of fruit. There were +strawberries and raspberries, one sort of which found wild in this +region is of a most delicious flavour. There were gooseberries and +currants; but the most delicious fruit, and that which François liked +best, was a small berry of a dark blue colour, not unlike the huckleberry, +but much sweeter and of higher flavour. It grows on a low<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">78</a></span> +bush or shrub with ovate leaves; and this bush when it blossoms is +so covered with beautiful white flowers, that neither leaves nor +branches can be seen. There are no less than four varieties of it +known, two of which attain to the height of twenty feet or more. +The French Canadians call it “le poire,” but in most parts of America +it is known as the “service-berry,” although several other names are +given to it in different districts. Lucien informed his companions, +while they were crushing its sweet purplish fruit between their teeth, +that its botanical name is <i>Amelanchier</i>.</p> + +<p>“Now,” remarked François, “if we only had a cup of coffee and a +glass of wine, we might say that we had dined in fashionable style.”</p> + +<p>“I think,” replied Lucien, “we are better without the wine, and +as for the other I cannot give you that, but I fancy I can provide you +with a cup of tea if you only allow me a little time.”</p> + +<p>“Tea!” screamed François; “why, there's not a leaf of tea nearer +than China; and for the sugar, not a grain within hundreds of miles!”</p> + +<p>“Come, Frank,” said Lucien, “nature has not been so ungenerous +here, even in such luxuries as tea and sugar. Look yonder! You +see those large trees with the dark-coloured trunks. What are they?”</p> + +<p>“Sugar-maples,” replied François.</p> + +<p>“Well,” said Lucien, “I think even at this late season we might +contrive to extract sap enough from them to sweeten a cup of tea. +You may try, while I go in search of the tea-plant.”</p> + +<p>“Upon my word, Luce, you are equal to a wholesale grocery. +Very well. Come, Basil, we'll tap the maples; let the captain go +with Luce.”</p> + +<p>The boys, separating into pairs, walked off, in different directions. +Lucien and his companion soon lighted upon the object of their search +in the same wet bottom where they had procured the <i>Heracleum</i>. It +was a branching shrub, not over two feet in height, with small leaves +of a deep green colour above, but whitish and woolly underneath. It +is a plant well known throughout most of the Hudson's Bay territory +by the name of “Labrador tea-plant;” and is so called because the +Canadian voyageurs, and other travellers through these northern +districts, often drink it as tea. It is one of the <i>Ericaceæ</i>, or heath +tribe, of the genus <i>Ledum</i>—though it is not a true heath, as, strange +to say, no true heath is found upon the continent of America.</p> + +<p>There are two kinds of it known,—the “narrow-leafed” and “broad-leafed” +and the former makes the best tea. But the pretty white +flowers of the plant are better for the purpose than the leaves of either +variety; and these it was that were now gathered by Lucien and +Norman. They require to be dried before the decoction is made; but +this can be done in a short time over a fire; and so in a short time it +was done, Norman having parched them upon heated stones.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Basil and François had obtained the sugar-water, and +Lucien having washed his soup-kettle clean, and once more made his +boiling stones red-hot, prepared the beverage; and then it was served +out in the tin cup, and all partook of it. Norman had drunk the +Labrador tea before, and was rather fond of it, but his Southern +cousins did not much relish it. Its peculiar flavour, which somewhat +resembles rhubarb, was not at all to the liking of François. All, however, +admitted that it produced a cheering effect upon their spirits; +and, after drinking it, they felt in that peculiarly happy state of mind +which one experiences after a cup of the real “Bohea.”</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">79</a></span></p> + +<div class="cap">THE MARMOTS OF AMERICA.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">F</span>rom such a luxurious dinner you may suppose that our young +voyageurs lived in prime style. But it was not always so. They had +their fasts as well as feasts. Sometimes for days they had nothing to +eat but the jerked deer-meat. No bread—no beer—no coffee, nothing +but water—dry venison and water. Of course, this is food enough +for a hungry man; but it can hardly be called luxurious living. +Now and then a wild duck, or a goose, or perhaps a young swan, was +shot; and this change in their diet was very agreeable. Fish were +caught only upon occasions, for often these capricious creatures refused +François' bait, however temptingly offered.</p> + +<p>After three weeks' coasting the Lake, they reached the Saskatchewan, +and turning up that stream, now travelled in a due westerly +direction. At the Grand Rapids, near the mouth of this river, they +were obliged to make a portage of no less than three miles, but the +magnificent view of these “Rapids” fully repaid them for the toil +they underwent in passing them.</p> + +<p>The Saskatchewan is one of the largest rivers in America, being full +1600 miles in length, from its source in the Rocky Mountains to its +<i>débouchure</i>, under the name of the “Nelson River,” in Hudson's Bay. +For some distance above Lake Winnipeg, the country upon its banks +is well wooded. Farther up, the river runs through dry sandy prairies +that extend westward to the foot-hills of the Rocky Mountains. Many +of these prairies may be properly called “deserts.” They contain lakes +as salt as the ocean itself, and vast tracts—hundreds of square miles +in extent—where not a drop of water is to be met with. But the +route of our voyageurs did not lie over these prairies. It was their +intention, after reaching Cumberland House, to turn again in a +northerly direction.</p> + +<p>One evening, when within two days' journey of the Fort, they had +encamped upon the bank of the Saskatchewan. They had chosen a +beautiful spot for their camp, where the country, swelling into rounded +hills, was prettily interspersed with bushy copses of <i>Amelanchiers</i>, and +<i>Rosa blanda</i> whose pale red flowers were conspicuous among the green +leaves, and filled the air with a sweet fragrance, that was wafted to +our voyageurs upon the sunny breeze. The ground was covered with +a grassy sward enamelled by the pink flowers of the <i>Cleome</i>, and the +deeper red blossoms of the beautiful wind-flower.</p> + +<p>Upon that day our travellers had not succeeded in killing any game, +and their dinner was likely to consist of nothing better than dry +venison scorched over the coals. As they had been travelling all the +morning against a sharp current, and, of course, had taken turn about +at the paddles, they all felt fatigued, and none of them was inclined +to go in search of game. They had flung themselves down around +the fire, and were waiting until the venison should be broiled for +dinner.</p> + +<p>The camp had been placed at the foot of a tolerably steep hill, that +rose near the banks of the river. There was another and higher hill +facing it, the whole front of which could be seen by our travellers as +they sat around their fire. While glancing their eyes along its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">80</a></span> +declivity, they noticed a number of small protuberances or mounds +standing within a few feet of each other. Each of them was about a +foot in height, and of the form of a truncated cone—that is, a cone +with its top cut off, or beaten down.</p> + +<p>“What are they?” inquired François.</p> + +<p>“I fancy,” answered Lucien, “they are marmot-houses.”</p> + +<p>“They are,” affirmed Norman; “there are plenty of them in this +country.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! marmots!” said François. “Prairie-dogs, you mean?—the +same we met with on the Southern prairies?”</p> + +<p>“I think not,” replied Norman: “I think the prairie-dogs are a +different sort. Are they not, cousin Luce?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, yes,” answered the naturalist; “these must be a different +species. There are too few of them to be the houses of prairie-dogs. +The 'dogs' live in large settlements, many hundreds of them in one +place; besides, their domes are somewhat different in appearance +from these. The mounds of the prairie-dogs have a hole in the top or +on one side. These, you see, have not. The hole is in the ground +beside them, and the hill is in front, made by the earth taken out of +the burrow, just as you have seen it at the entrance of a rat's hole. +They are marmots, I have no doubt, but of a different species from +the prairie-dog marmots.”</p> + +<p>“Are there not many kinds of marmots in America? I have heard +so,” said François.</p> + +<p>This question was of course addressed to Lucien.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” answered he. “The <i>fauna</i> of North America is peculiarly +rich in species of these singular animals. There are thirteen kinds of +them, well known to naturalists; and there are even some varieties +in these thirteen kinds that might almost be considered distinct species. +I have no doubt, moreover, there are yet other species which have not +been described. Perhaps, altogether, there are not less than twenty +different kinds of marmots in North America. As only one or two +species are found in the settled territories of the United States, it was +supposed, until lately, that there were no others. Latterly the naturalists +of North America have been very active in their researches, and +no genus of animals has rewarded them so well as the marmots—unless, +perhaps, it may be the squirrels. Almost every year a new +species of one or the other of these has been found—mostly inhabiting +the vast wilderness territories that lie between the Mississippi +and the Pacific Ocean.</p> + +<p>“These little animals seem to form a link between the squirrels and +rabbits. On the side of the squirrels they very naturally join on, +if I may use the expression, to the ground-squirrel, and some of them, +differ but little in their habits from many of the latter. Other +species, again, are more allied to the rabbits, and less like the +squirrels; and there are two or three kinds that I should say—using +a Yankee expression—have a 'sprinkling' of the rat in them. Some, +as the ground-hog, or wood-chuck of the United States, are as large +as rabbits, while others, as the leopard-marmot, are not bigger than +Norway rats.</p> + +<p>“Some species have cheek-pouches, in which they can carry a large +quantity of seeds, nuts, and roots, when they wish to hoard them up +for future use. These are the spermophiles, and some species of +these have more capacious pouches than others. Their food differs<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">81</a></span> +somewhat, perhaps according to the circumstances in which they +may be placed. In all cases it is vegetable. Some, as the prairie-dogs, +live upon grasses, while others subsist chiefly upon seeds, +berries, and leaves.</p> + +<p>“It was long supposed that the marmots, like the squirrels, laid up +stores against the winter. I believe this is not the case with any of +the different species. I know for certain that most of them pass the +winter in a state of torpidity, and of course require no provisions, as +they eat nothing during that season. In this we observe one of those +cases in which Nature so beautifully adapts a creature to its circumstances. +In the countries where many of the marmots are found, so +severe are the winters, and so barren the soil, that it would be +impossible for these creatures to get a morsel of food for many long +months.</p> + +<p>“During this period, therefore, Nature suspends her functions, by +putting them into a deep, and, for aught we know to the contrary, a +pleasant sleep. It is only when the snow melts, under the vernal +sun, and the green blades of grass and the spring flowers array +themselves on the surface of the earth, that the little marmots make +their appearance again. Then the warm air, penetrating into their +subterranean abodes, admonishes them to awake from their protracted +slumber, and come forth to the enjoyment of their summer +life. These animals may be said, therefore, to have no winter. +Their life is altogether a season of summer and sunshine.”</p> + +<p>“Some of the marmots,” continued Lucien, “live in large communities, +as the prairie dogs; others, in smaller tribes, while still +other species lead a solitary life, going only in pairs, or at most in +families. Nearly all of them are burrowing animals, though there +are one or two species that are satisfied with a cleft in the rock, +or a hole among loose stones for their nests. Some of them are tree-climbers, +but it is supposed they only ascend trees in search of food, +as they do not make their dwellings there. Many of the species are +very prolific, the females bringing forth eight, and even ten young +at a birth.</p> + +<p>“The marmots are extremely shy and watchful creatures. Before +going to feed, they usually reconnoitre the ground from the tops +of their little mounds. Some species do not have such mounds, +and for this purpose ascend any little hillock that may be near. +Nearly all have the curious habit of placing sentries to watch while +the rest are feeding. These sentries station themselves on some +commanding point, and when they see an enemy approaching give +warning to the others by a peculiar cry. In several of the species +this cry resembles the syllables 'seek-seek' repeated with a hiss. +Others bark like 'toy-dogs,' while still other kinds utter a whistling +noise, from which one species derives its trivial name of 'whistler' +among the traders, and is the 'siffleur' of the Canadian voyageurs.</p> + +<p>“The 'whistler's' call of alarm can be heard at a great distance; +and when uttered by the sentinel is repeated by all the others as far +as the troop extends.</p> + +<p>“The marmots are eaten both by Indians and white hunters. Sometimes +they are captured by pouring water into their burrows; but +this method only succeeds in early spring, when the animals awake +out of their torpid state, and the ground is still frozen hard enough +to prevent the water from filtering away. They are sometimes shot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">82</a></span> +with guns; but, unless killed upon the spot, they will escape to +their burrows, and tumble in before the hunter can lay his hands +upon them.”</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE BLAIREAU, THE “TAWNIES,” AND THE “LEOPARDS.”</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">P</span>erhaps Lucien would have carried his account of the marmots still +farther—for he had not told half what he knew of their habits—but +he was at that moment interrupted by the marmots themselves. +Several of them appeared at the mouths of their holes; and, after +looking out and reconnoitring for some moments, became bolder, and +ran up to the tops of their mounds, and began to scatter along the +little beaten paths that led from one to the other. In a short while +as many as a dozen could be seen moving about, jerking their tails, +and at intervals uttering their seek-seek.</p> + +<p>Our voyageurs saw that there were two kinds of them, entirely +different in colour, size, and other respects. The larger ones were of +a greyish yellow above, with an orange tint upon the throat and +belly. These were the “tawny marmots,” called sometimes “ground-squirrels,” +and by the voyageurs, “siffleurs,” or “whistlers.”</p> + +<p>The other species seen were the most beautiful of all the marmots. +They were very little smaller than the tawny marmots; but their +tails were larger and more slender, which rendered their appearance +more graceful. Their chief beauty, however, lay in their colours and +markings. They were striped from the nose to the rump with bands +of yellow and chocolate colour, which alternated with each other, +while the chocolate bands were themselves variegated by rows of +yellow spots regularly placed. These markings gave the animals +that peculiar appearance so well known as characterising the skin of +the leopard, hence the name of these little creatures was “leopard +marmots.”</p> + +<p>It was plain from their actions that both kinds were “at home” +among the mounds, and that both had their burrows there. This +was the fact, and Norman told his companion that the two kinds are +always found together, not living in the same houses, but only as +neighbours in the same “settlement.” The burrows of the “leopard” +have much smaller entrances than those of their “tawny kin,” and +run down perpendicularly to a greater depth before branching off in +a horizontal direction. A straight stick may be thrust down one of +these full five feet before reaching an “elbow.”</p> + +<p>The holes of the tawny marmots, on the contrary, branch off near +the surface, and are not so deep under ground. This guides us to the +explanation of a singular fact—which is, that the “tawnies” make +their appearance three weeks earlier in spring than the “leopards,” +in consequence of the heat of the sun reaching them sooner, and +waking them out of their torpid sleep.</p> + +<p>While these explanations were passing among the boys, the +marmots had come out, to the number of a score, and were carrying +on their gambols along the declivity of the hill. They were at too +great a distance to heed the movements of the travellers by the camp +fire. Besides, a considerable valley lay between them and the camp, +which, as they believed, rendered their position secure. They were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">83</a></span> +not at such a distance but that many of their movements could be +clearly made out by the boys, who after a while noticed that several +furious battles were being fought among them. It was not the +“tawnies” against the others, but the males of each kind in single +combats with one another.</p> + +<p>They fought like little cats, exhibiting the highest degree of +boldness and fury; but it was noticed that in these conflicts the +leopards were far more active and spiteful than their kinsmen. In +observing them through his glass Lucien noticed that they frequently +seized each other by the tails, and he further noticed that several of +them had their tails much shorter than the rest. Norman said that +these had been bitten off in their battles; and, moreover, that it +was a rare thing to find among the males, or “bucks,” as he called +them, one that had a perfect tail!</p> + +<p>While these observations were being made, the attention of our +party was attracted to a strange animal that was seen slowly crawling +around the hill. It was a creature about as big as an ordinary +setter dog, but much thicker in the body, shorter in the legs, and +shaggier in the coat. Its head was flat, and its ears short and +rounded. Its hair was long, rough, and of a mottled hoary grey +colour, but dark-brown upon the legs and tail. The latter, though +covered with long hair, was short, and carried upright; and upon +the broad feet of the animal could be seen long and strong curving +claws. Its snout was sharp as that of a greyhound—though not so +prettily formed—and a white stripe, passing from its very tip over +the crown, and bordered by two darker bands, gave a singular +expression to the animal's countenance.</p> + +<p>It was altogether, both in form and feature, a strange and vicious-looking +creature. Norman recognised it at once as the “blaireau,” +or American badger. The others had never seen such a creature +before—as it is not an inhabitant of the South, nor of any part of the +settled portion of the United States.</p> + +<p>The badger when first seen was creeping along with its belly +almost dragging the ground, and its long snout projected horizontally +in the direction of the marmot “village.” It was evidently meditating +a surprise of the inhabitants. Now and then it would stop, +like a pointer dog when close to a partridge, reconnoitre a moment, +and then go on again. Its design appeared to be to get between the +marmots and their burrows, intercept some of them, and get a hold of +them without the trouble of digging them up—although that would be +no great affair to it, for so strong are its fore-arms and claws that in +loose soil it can make its way under the ground as fast as a mole.</p> + +<p>Slowly and cautiously it stole along, its hind-feet resting all their +length upon the ground, its hideous snout thrown forward, and its +eyes glaring with a voracious and hungry expression. It had got +within fifty paces of the marmots, and would, no doubt, have succeeded +in cutting off the retreat of some of them, but at that moment +a burrowing owl that had been perched upon one of the mounds, +rose up, and commenced hovering in circles above the intruder. +This drew the attention of the marmot sentries to their well-known +enemy, and their warning cry was followed by a general scamper of +both tawnies and leopards towards their respective burrows.</p> + +<p>The blaireau, seeing that further concealment was no longer of any +use, raised himself higher upon his limbs, and sprang forward in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">84</a></span> +pursuit. He was too late, however, as the marmots had all got into +their holes, and their angry “seek-seek” was heard proceeding from +various quarters out of the bowels of the earth. The blaireau only +hesitated long enough to select one of the burrows into which he was +sure a marmot had entered; and then, setting himself to his work, +he commenced throwing out the mould like a terrier. In a few +seconds he was half buried, and his hind-quarters and tail alone +remained above ground.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 344px;"> +<img src="images/illus-084.jpg" width="344" height="500" alt="THE BLAIREAU AND THE MARMOTS" title="THE BLAIREAU AND THE MARMOTS" /> +<span class="caption">THE BLAIREAU AND THE MARMOTS</span></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">85</a></span>He would soon have disappeared entirely, but at that moment the +boys, directed and headed by Norman, ran up the hill, and, seizing +him by the tail, endeavoured to jerk him back. That, however, was +a task which they could not accomplish, for first one and then +another, and then Basil and Norman—who were both strong boys—pulled +with all their might, and could not move him. Norman +cautioned them against letting him go, as in a moment's time he +would burrow beyond their reach. So they held on until François +had got his gun ready. This the latter soon did, and a load of small +shot was fired into the blaireau's hips, which, although it did not +quite kill him, caused him to back out of the hole, and brought him +into the clutches of Marengo.</p> + +<p>A desperate struggle ensued, which ended by the bloodhound +doubling his vast black muzzle upon the throat of the blaireau, and +choking him to death in less than a dozen seconds; and then his +hide—the only part which was deemed of any value—was taken off +and carried to the camp. The carcass was left upon the face +of the hill, and the red shining object was soon espied by the buzzards +and turkey vultures, so that in a few minutes' time several +of these filthy birds were seen hovering around, and alighting upon +the hill.</p> + +<p>But this was no new sight to our young voyageurs, and soon +ceased to be noticed by them. Another bird, of a different kind, for +a short time engaged their attention. It was a large hawk, which +Lucien, as soon as he saw it, pronounced to be one of the kind known +as buzzards. Of these there are several species in North America, +but it is not to be supposed that there is any resemblance between +them and the buzzards just mentioned as having alighted by the +carcass of the blaireau. The latter, commonly called “turkey +buzzards,” are true vultures, and feed mostly, though not exclusively, +on carrion; while the “hawk buzzards” have all the appearance and +general habits of the rest of the falcon tribe.</p> + +<p>The one in question, Lucien said, was the “marsh-hawk,” sometimes +also called the “hen-harrier.” Norman stated that it was +known among the Indians of these parts as the “snake-bird,” because +it preys upon a species of small green snake that is common on the +plains of the Saskatchewan, and of which it is fonder than of any +other food.</p> + +<p>The voyageurs were not long in having evidence of the appropriateness +of the Indian appellation; for these people, like other savages, +have the good habit of giving names that express some quality or +characteristic of the thing itself. The bird in question was on the +wing, and from its movements evidently searching for game. It +sailed in easy circlings near the surface, <i>quartering</i> the ground like +a pointer dog. It flew so lightly that its wings were not seen to +move, and throughout all its wheelings and turnings it appeared to +be carried onwards or upwards by the power of mere volition.</p> + +<p>Once or twice its course brought it directly over the camp, and +François had got hold of his gun, with the intention of bringing it +down, but on each occasion it perceived his motions; and, soaring +up like a paper-kite until out of reach, it passed over the camp, and +then sank down again upon the other side, and continued its +“quarterings” as before. For nearly half-an-hour it went on +manœvring in this way, when all at once it was seen to make a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">86</a></span> +sudden turning in the air as it fixed its eyes upon some object in the +grass.</p> + +<p>The next moment it glided diagonally towards the earth, and +poising itself for a moment above the surface, rose again with a small +green-coloured snake struggling in its talons. After ascending to +some height, it directed its flight towards a clump of trees, and was +soon lost to the view of our travellers.</p> + +<p>Lucien now pointed out to his companions a characteristic of the +hawk and buzzard tribe, by which these birds can always be distinguished +from the true falcon. That peculiarity lay in the manner +of seizing their prey. The former skim forward upon it sideways—that +is, in a horizontal or diagonal direction, and pick it up in +passing; while the true falcons—as the merlin, the peregrine, the +gerfalcon, and the great eagle-falcons—shoot down upon their prey +<i>perpendicularly</i> like an arrow, or a piece of falling lead.</p> + +<p>He pointed out, moreover, how the structure of the different kinds +of preying birds, such as the size and form of the wings and tail, as +well as other parts, were in each kind adapted to its peculiar mode +of pursuing its prey; and then there arose a discussion as to whether +this adaption should be considered a <i>cause</i>, or an <i>effect</i>. Lucien succeeded +in convincing his companions that the structure was the +effect and not the cause of the habit, for the young naturalist was a +firm believer in the changing and progressive system of nature.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">AN ODD SORT OF DECOY-DUCK.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>wo days after the adventure with the blaireau, the young voyageurs +arrived at Cumberland House—one of the most celebrated posts of +the Hudson's Bay Company. The chief factor, who resided there, +was a friend of Norman's father, and of course the youths were +received with the warmest hospitality, and entertained during their +stay in the best manner the place afforded. They did not make a +long stay, however, as they wished to complete their journey before +the winter should set in, when canoe-travelling would become impossible.</p> + +<p>During winter, not only the lakes, but the most rapid rivers of +these Northern regions, become frozen up, and remain so for many +months. Nearly the whole surface of the earth is buried under deep +snow, and travelling can only be done with snow-shoes, or with +sledges drawn by dogs. These are the modes practised by the +Indians, the Esquimaux, and the few white traders and trappers who +have occasion in winter to pass from one point to another of that icy +and desolate region.</p> + +<p>Travelling under such circumstances is not only difficult and +laborious, but is extremely perilous. Food cannot always be obtained—supplies +fall short, or become exhausted—game is scarce, or cannot +be found at all, as at that season many of the quadrupeds and most +of the birds have forsaken the country, and migrated to the South—and +whole parties of travellers—even Indians, who can eat anything +living or dead, roast or raw—often perish from hunger.</p> + +<p>Our travellers were well acquainted with these facts; and being +anxious, therefore, to get to the end of their journey before the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">87</a></span> +winter should come down upon them, made all haste to proceed. Of +course they obtained a new “outfit” at the Fort; but they took with +them only such articles as were absolutely necessary, as they had many +portages to make before they could reach the waters of the Mackenzie +River. As it required two of the party to carry the canoe, with a few +little things besides, all the baggage was comprised in such loads as +the others could manage; and of course that was not a great deal, +for François was but a lad, and Lucien was far from being in robust +health. A light axe, a few cooking utensils, with a small stock of +provisions, and of course their guns, formed the bulk of their loads.</p> + +<p>After leaving the Fort they kept for several days' journey up the +Saskatchewan. They then took leave of that river, and ascended a +small stream that emptied into it from the north. Making their first +portage over a “divide,” they reached another small stream that ran +in quite a different direction, emptying itself into one of the branches +of the Mississippi, or Churchill River. Following this in a north-westerly +course, and making numerous other portages, they reached +Lake La Crosse, and afterwards in succession, Lakes Clear, Buffalo, +and Methy.</p> + +<p>A long “portage” from the last-mentioned lake brought them to +the head of a stream known as the “Clear Water;” and launching +their canoe upon this, they floated down to its mouth, and entered the +main stream of the Elk, or Athabasca, one of the most beautiful +rivers of America. They were now in reality upon the waters of the +Mackenzie itself, for the Elk, after passing through the Athabasca +takes from thence the name of Slave River, and having traversed Great +Slave Lake, becomes the Mackenzie—under which name it continues +on to the Arctic Ocean.</p> + +<p>Having got, therefore, upon the main head-water of the stream +which they intended to traverse, they floated along in their canoe +with light hearts and high hopes. It is true they had yet fifteen +hundred miles to travel, but they believed that it was all down-hill +work now; and as they had still nearly two months of summer before +them, they doubted not being able to accomplish the voyage in good +time.</p> + +<p>On they floated down stream, feasting their eyes as they went—for +the scenery of the Elk valley is of a most picturesque and pleasing +character; and the broad bosom of the stream itself, studded with +wooded islands, looked to our travellers more like a continuation of +lakes than a running river. Now they glided along without using an +oar, borne onward by the current; then they would take a spell at +the paddles, while the beautiful Canadian boat-song could be heard +as it came from the tiny craft, and the appropriate chorus “Row, +brothers, row!” echoed from the adjacent shores. No part of their +journey was more pleasant than while descending the romantic Elk.</p> + +<p>They found plenty of fresh provisions, both in the stream itself and +on its banks. They caught salmon in the water, and the silver-coloured +hyodon, known among the voyageurs by the name of +“Doré.” They shot both ducks and geese, and roast-duck or goose +had become an everyday dinner with them. Of the geese there +were several species. There were “snow-geese,” so called from their +beautiful white plumage; and “laughing geese,” that derive their +name from the circumstance that their call resembles the laugh of a +man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">88</a></span></p> + +<p>The Indians decoy these by striking their open hand repeatedly +over the mouth while uttering the syllable “wah.” They also saw +the “Brent goose,” a well-known species, and the “Canada goose,” +which is the <i>wild goose par excellence</i>. Another species resembling +the latter, called the “barnacle goose,” was seen by our travellers. +Besides these, Lucien informed them that there were several other +smaller kinds that inhabit the northern countries of America. These +valuable birds are objects of great interest to the people of the fur +countries for months in the year. Whole tribes of Indians look to +them as a means of support.</p> + +<p>With regard to ducks, there was one species which our travellers +had not yet met with, and for which they were every day upon the +look-out. This was the far-famed “canvass-back,” so justly celebrated +among the epicures of America. None of them had ever eaten of it, +as it is not known in Louisiana, but only upon the Atlantic coast of +the United States. Norman, however, had heard of its existence in +the Rocky Mountains—where it is said to breed—as well as in other +parts of the fur countries, and they were in hopes that they might +fall in with it upon the waters of the Athabasca.</p> + +<p>Lucien was, of course, well acquainted with its “biography,” and +could have recognised one at sight; and as they glided along he volunteered +to give his companions some information, not only about this +particular species, but about the whole genus of these interesting +birds.</p> + +<p>“The canvass-back,” began he, “is perhaps the most celebrated and +highly-prized of all the ducks, on account of the exquisite flavour of +its flesh—which is thought by some epicures to be superior to that of +all other birds. It is not a large duck—rarely weighing over three +pounds—and its plumage is far from equalling in beauty that of +many other species. It has a red or chestnut-coloured head, a shining +black breast, while the greater part of its body is of a greyish colour; +but upon close examination this grey is found to be produced by a +whitish ground minutely mottled with zig-zag black lines. I believe +it is this mottling, combined with the colour, which somewhat +resembles the appearance and texture of ship's canvass, that has +given the bird its trivial name; but there is some obscurity about the +origin of this.</p> + +<p>“Shooting the canvass-backs is a source of profit to hundreds of +gunners who live around the Chesapeake Bay, as these birds command +a high price in the markets of the American cities. Disputes +have arisen between the fowlers of different States around the Bay +about the right of shooting upon it; and vessels full of armed men—ready +to make war upon one another—have gone out on this account. +But the government of these States succeeded in settling the matter +peacefully, and to the satisfaction of all parties.”</p> + +<p>The canoe at this moment shot round a bend, and a long smooth +expanse of the river appeared before the eyes of our voyageurs. +They could see that upon one side another stream ran in, with a +very sluggish current; and around the mouth of this, and for a good +stretch below it, there appeared a green sedge-like water-grass, or +rushes. Near the border of this sedge, and in a part of it that was +thin, a flock of wild fowl was diving and feeding. They were small, +and evidently ducks; but the distance was yet too great for the +boys to make out to what species they belonged.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">89</a></span></p> + +<p>A single large swan—a trumpeter—was upon the water, between +the shore and the ducks, and was gradually making towards the +latter. François immediately loaded one of his barrels with swan, +or rather “buck” shot, and Basil looked to his rifle. The ducks were +not thought of—the trumpeter was to be the game. Lucien took out +his telescope, and commenced observing the flock. They had not +intended to use any precaution in approaching the birds, as they +were not extremely anxious about getting a shot, and were permitting +the canoe to glide gently towards them.</p> + +<p>An exclamation from Lucien, however, caused them to change +their tactics. He directed them suddenly to “hold water,” and stop the +canoe, at the same time telling them that the birds ahead were +the very sort about which they had been conversing—the “canvass-backs.” +He had no doubt of it, judging from their colour, size, and +peculiar movements.</p> + +<p>The announcement produced a new excitement. All four were +desirous not only of shooting, but of <i>eating</i>, a canvass-back; and +arrangements were set about to effect the former. It was known to +all that the canvass-backs are among the shyest of water-fowl, so +much so that it is difficult to approach them unless under cover. +While feeding, it is said, they keep sentinels on the look-out. Whether +this be true or not, it is certain that they never all dive together, +some always remaining above water, and apparently watching while +the others are under.</p> + +<p>A plan to get near them was necessary, and one was suggested by +Norman, which was to tie bushes around the sides of the canoe, so +as to hide both the vessel and those in it. This plan was at once +adopted—the canoe was paddled up to the bank—thick bushes were +cut, and tied along the gunwale; and then our voyageurs climbed +in, and laying themselves as low as possible, commenced paddling +gently downward in the direction of the ducks. The rifles were laid +aside, as they could be of little service with such game. François' +double-barrel was the arm upon which dependence was now placed; +and François himself leaned forward in the bow in order to be ready, +while the others attended to the guidance of the vessel. The buckshot +had been drawn out, and a smaller kind substituted. The +swan was no longer cared for or even thought of.</p> + +<p>In about a quarter of an hour's time, the canoe, gliding silently +along the edge of the sedge—which was the wild celery—came near +the place where the ducks were; and the boys, peeping through the +leafy screen, could now see the birds plainly. They saw that they +were not all canvass-backs, but that three distinct kinds of ducks +were feeding together. One sort was the canvass-backs themselves, +and a second kind very much resembled them, except that they were +a size smaller. These were the “red-heads” or “pochards.”</p> + +<p>The third species was different from either. They had also heads +of a reddish colour, but of a brighter red, and marked by a white +band that ran from the root of the bill over the crown. This mark +enabled Lucien at once to tell the species. They were widgeons; +but the most singular thing that was now observed by our voyageurs +was the terms upon which these three kinds of birds lived with each +other. It appeared that the widgeon obtained its food by a regular +system of robbery and plunder perpetrated upon the community of +the canvass-backs. The latter, as Lucien explained, feeds upon the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">90</a></span> +roots of the valisneria; but for these it is obliged to dive to the depth +of four or five feet, and also to spend some time at the bottom while +plucking them up. Now the widgeon is as fond of the “celery” as +the canvass-back, but the former is not a diver—in fact, never goes +under water except when washing itself or in play, and it has therefore +no means of procuring the desired roots. Mark, then, the plan +that it takes to effect this end.</p> + +<p>Seated as near as is safe to the canvass-back, it waits until the +latter makes his <i>somersault</i> and goes down. It (the widgeon) then +darts forward so as to be sufficiently close, and, pausing again, scans +the surface with eager eye. It can tell where the other is at work, as +the blades of the plant at which it is tugging are seen to move above +the water. These at length disappear, pulled down as the plant is +dragged from its root, and almost at the same instant the canvass-back +comes up holding the root between his mandibles.</p> + +<p>But the widgeon is ready for him. He has calculated the exact +spot where the other will rise; and, before the latter can open his +eyes or get them clear of the water, the widgeon darts forward, +snatches the luscious morsel from his bill, and makes off with it. +Conflicts sometimes ensue; but the widgeon, knowing himself to be +the lesser and weaker bird, never stands to give battle, but secures +his prize through his superior agility. On the other hand, the +canvass-back rarely attempts to follow him, as he knows that the +other is swifter upon the water than he. He only looks after his lost +root with an air of chagrin, and then, reflecting that there is “plenty +more where it came from,” kicks up its heels, and once more plunges +to the bottom.</p> + +<p>The red-head rarely interferes with either, as he is contented to +feed upon the leaves and stalks, at all times floating in plenty upon +the surface.</p> + +<p>As the canoe glided near, those on board watched these curious +manœuvres of the birds with feelings of interest. They saw, moreover, +that the “trumpeter” had arrived among them, and the ducks +seemed to take no notice of him. Lucien was struck with something +unusual in the appearance of the swan. Its plumage seemed ruffled +and on end, and it glided along in a stiff and unnatural manner. It +moved its neck neither to one side nor the other, but held its head +bent forward, until its bill almost touched the water, in the attitude +that these birds adopt when feeding upon something near the surface. +Lucien said nothing to his companions, as they were all silent, lest +they might frighten the ducks; but Basil and Norman had also +remarked the strange look and conduct of the trumpeter. François' +eyes were bent only upon the ducks, and he did not heed the other.</p> + +<p>As they came closer, first Lucien, and then Basil and Norman, saw +something else that puzzled them. Whenever the swan approached +any of the ducks, these were observed to disappear under the water. +At first, the boys thought that they merely dived to get out of his +way, but it was not exactly in the same manner as the others were +diving for the roots. Moreover, none of those that went down in the +neighbourhood of the swan were seen to come up again!</p> + +<p>There was something very odd in all this, and the three boys, +thinking so at the same time, were about to communicate their +thoughts to one another, when the double crack of François' gun +drove the thing, for a moment, out of their heads; and they all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">91</a></span> +looked over the bushes to see how many canvass-backs had been +killed. Several were seen dead or fluttering along the surface; but +no one counted them, for a strange, and even terrible, object now +presented itself to the astonished senses of all. If the conduct of the +swan had been odd before, it was now doubly so.</p> + +<p>Instead of flying off after the shot, as all expected it would do, it +was now seen to dance and plunge about on the water, uttering loud +screams, that resembled the human voice far more than any other +sounds! Then it rose as if pitched into the air, and fell on its back +some distance off; while in its place was seen a dark, round object +moving through the water, as if making for the bank, and uttering, +as it went, the same hideous human-like screams!</p> + +<p>This dark object was no other than the poll of a human being; +and the river shallowing towards the bank, it rose higher and higher +above the water, until the boys could distinguish the glistening +neck and naked shoulders of a red and brawny Indian! All was now +explained. The Indian had been duck-hunting, and had used the +stuffed skin of the swan as his disguise; and hence the puzzling +motions of the bird. He had not noticed the canoe—concealed as it +was—until the loud crack of François' gun had startled him from his +work.</p> + +<p>This, and the heads and white faces of the boys peeping over the +bushes, had frightened him, even more than he had them. Perhaps +they were the first white faces he had ever seen. But, whether or +not, sadly frightened he was; for, on reaching the bank, he did not +stop, but ran off into the woods, howling and yelling as if Old Nick +had been after him: and no doubt he believed that such was the case.</p> + +<p>The travellers picked up the swan-skin put of curiosity; and, in +addition to the ducks which François had killed, they found nearly a +score of these birds, which the Indian had dropped in his fright, and +that had afterwards risen to the surface. These were strung together, +and all had their necks broken.</p> + +<p>After getting them aboard, the canoe was cleared of the bushes; +and the paddles being once more called into service, the little craft +shot down stream like an arrow.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE SHRIKE AND THE HUMMING-BIRDS</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he picturesque scenery of the Elk appeared to be a favourite resort +with the feathered creation. Here our voyageurs saw many kinds of +birds; both those that migrate into the fur countries during summer, +and those that make their home there in the cold, dark days of +winter. Among the former were observed—the beautiful blue bird +of Wilson which, on account of its gentle and innocent habits, is quite +as much esteemed in America as the “robin” in England.</p> + +<p>Another favourite of the farmer and the homestead, the purple +martin, was seen gracefully wheeling through the air; while, among +the green leaves, fluttered many brilliant birds. The “cardinal grosbeak” +with his bright scarlet wings; the blue jay, noisy and chattering; +the rarer “crossbill” with its deep crimson colour; and many +others, equally bright and beautiful, enlivened the woods, either with +their voice or their gaudy plumage.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">92</a></span></p> + +<p>There was one bird, however, that had neither “fine feathers” nor +an agreeable voice, but that interested our travellers more than any +of the others. Its voice was unpleasant to the ear, and sounded more +like the grating of a rusty hinge than anything else they could think +of. The bird itself was not larger than a thrush, of a light grey colour +above, white underneath, and with blackish wings. Its bill resembled +that of the hawks, but its legs were more like those of the woodpecker +tribe; and it seemed, in fact, to be a cross between the two. +It was neither the colour of the bird, nor its form, nor yet its song, +that interested our travellers, but its singular habits; and these they +had a fine opportunity of observing at one of their “noon camps,” +where they had halted to rest and refresh themselves during the hot +mid-day hours. The place was on one of the little islets, which was +covered with underwood, with here and there some larger trees. The +underwood bushes were of various sorts; but close to the spot where +they had landed was a large thicket of honeysuckle, whose flowers +were in full bloom, and filled the air with their sweet perfume.</p> + +<p>While seated near these, François' quick eye detected the presence +of some very small birds moving among the blossoms. They were at +once pronounced to be humming-birds, and of that species known as +the “ruby-throats” so called, because a flake of a beautiful vinous +colour under the throat of the males exhibits, in the sun, all the +glancing glories of the ruby. The back, or upper parts, are of a +gilded green colour; and the little creature is the smallest bird that +migrates into the fur countries, with one exception, and that is a +bird of the same genus—the “cinnamon humming-bird.” The latter, +however, has been seen in the Northern regions, only on the western +side of the Rocky Mountains; but then it has been observed even as +far north as the bleak and inhospitable shores of Nootka Sound. +Mexico, and the tropical countries of America, are the favourite home +of the humming-birds; and it was, for a long time, supposed that the +“ruby-throats” were the only ones that migrated farther north than +the territory of Mexico itself. It is now known, that besides the +“cinnamon humming-bird,” two or three other species annually make +an excursion into higher latitudes.</p> + +<p>The “ruby-throats” not only travel into the fur countries, but +breed in numbers upon the Elk River, the very place where our +travellers now observed them.</p> + +<p>As they sat watching these little creatures, for there were several +of them skipping about and poising themselves opposite the flowers, +the attention of all was attracted to the movements of a far different +sort of bird. It was that one we have been speaking of. It was +seated upon a tree, not far from the honeysuckles; but every now and +then it would spring from its perch, dash forward, and after whirring +about for some moments among the humming-birds fly back to the +same tree.</p> + +<p>At first the boys watched these manœuvres without having their +curiosity excited. It was no new thing to see birds acting in this +manner. The jays, and many other birds of the fly-catching kind +have this habit, and nothing was thought of it at the moment. +Lucien, however, who had watched the bird more narrowly, presently +declared to the rest that it was catching the humming-birds, and +preying upon them—that each time it made a dash among the honeysuckles, +it carried off one in its claws, the smallness of the victim<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">93</a></span> +having prevented them at first from noticing this fact. They all now +watched it more closely than before, and were soon satisfied of the +truth of Lucien's assertion, as they saw it seize one of the ruby-throats +in the very act of entering the corolla of a flower.</p> + +<p>This excited the indignation of François, who immediately took up +his “double-barrel,” and proceeded towards the tree where the bird, +as before, had carried this last victim. The tree was a low one, of the +locust or <i>pseud-acacia</i> family, and covered all over with great thorny +spikes, like all trees of that tribe. François paid no attention to +this; but, keeping under shelter of the underwood, he crept forward +until within shot. Then raising his gun, he took aim, and pulling +trigger, brought the bird fluttering down through the branches. He +stepped forward and picked it up—not that he cared for such unworthy +game, but Lucien had called to him to do so, as the naturalist +wished to make an examination of the creature.</p> + +<p>He was about turning to go back to camp, when he chanced to +glance his eye up into the locust-tree. There it was riveted by a +sight which caused him to cry out with astonishment. His cry +brought the rest running up to the spot, and they were not less astonished +than he, when they saw the cause of it. I have said that +the branches of the tree were covered with long thorny spikes that +pointed in every direction; but one branch in particular occupied +their attention. Upon this there was about a dozen of these spikes +pointing upward, and upon each spike <i>was impaled a ruby-throat</i>!</p> + +<p>The little creatures were dead, of course, but they were neither torn +nor even much ruffled in their plumage. They were all placed back +upwards, and as neatly spitted upon the thorns as if they had been +put there by human hands. On looking more closely it was discovered +that other creatures as well as the humming-birds, had been +served in a similar manner. Several grasshoppers, spiders, and some +coleopterous insects were found, and upon another branch two small +meadow-mice had been treated to the same terrible death.</p> + +<p>To Basil, Norman, and François, the thing was quite inexplicable, +but Lucien understood well enough what it meant. All these +creatures, he informed them, were placed there by the bird which +François had shot, and which was no other than the “shrike” or +“butcher-bird”—a name by which it is more familiarly known, and +which it receives from the very habit they had just observed. Why +it follows such a practice Lucien could not tell, as naturalists are not +agreed upon this point. Some have asserted that it spits the spiders +and other insects for the purpose of attracting nearer the small birds +upon which it preys; but this cannot be true, for it preys mostly +upon birds that are not insect-eaters, as the finches: besides, it is itself +as fond of eating grasshoppers as anything else, and consumes large +quantities of these insects.</p> + +<p>The most probable explanation of the singular and apparently cruel +habit of the butcher-bird is, that it merely places its victims upon the +thorns, in order to keep them safe from ground-ants, rats, mice, +raccoons, foxes, and other preying creatures—just as a good cook +would hang up her meat or game in the larder to prevent the cats +from carrying it off. The thorny tree thus becomes the storehouse of +the shrike, where he hangs up his superfluous spoil for future use, +just as the crows, magpies and jays, make their secret deposits in +chinks of walls and the hollows of trees. It is no argument against<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">94</a></span> +this theory, that the shrike sometimes leaves these stores without +returning to them. The fox, and dog, as well as many other preying +creatures have the same habit.</p> + +<p>Wondering at what they had seen, the voyageurs returned to their +camp, and once more embarked on their journey.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE FISH-HAWK.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span> few days after, another incident occurred to our voyageurs, which +illustrated the habits of a very interesting bird, the “osprey,” or fish-hawk, +as it is more familiarly known in America.</p> + +<p>The osprey is a bird of the falcon tribe, and one of the largest of the +genus—measuring two feet from bill to tail, with an immense spread +of wing in proportion, being nearly six feet from tip to tip. It is of +a dark brown colour above, that colour peculiar to most of the hawk +tribe, while its lower parts are ashy white. Its legs and bill are blue, +and its eyes of a yellow orange. It is found in nearly all parts of +America, where there are waters containing fish, for on these it exclusively +feeds. It is more common on the sea-coast than in the +interior, although it also frequents the large lakes, and lives in the +central parts of the continent during summer, when these are no +longer frozen over. It is not often seen upon muddy rivers, as there +it would stand no chance of espying its victims in the water. It is a +migratory bird, seeking the South in winter, and especially the shores +of the Great Mexican Gulf, where large numbers are often seen fishing +together.</p> + +<p>In the spring season these birds move to the northward, and make +their appearance along the Atlantic coast of the continent, where they +diffuse joy into the hearts of the fishermen—because the latter know, +on seeing them, that they may soon expect the large shoals of herring, +shad, and other fish, for which they have been anxiously looking out. +So great favourites are they with the fisherman, that they would not +knowingly kill an osprey for a boat-load of fish, but regard these bold +fishing birds in the light of “professional brethren.” In this case the +old adage that “two of a trade never agree” is clearly contradicted.</p> + +<p>The farmer often takes up his gun to fire at the osprey—mistaking +it for the red-tailed buzzard or some other hawk, several species of +which at a distance it resembles—but, on discovering his mistake, +brings down his piece without pulling trigger, and lets the osprey fly +off unharmed. This singular conduct on the part of the farmer arises +from his knowledge of the fact, that the osprey will not only <i>not</i> kill +any of his ducks or hens, but that where he makes a settlement he +will drive off from the premises all the hawks, buzzards, and kites, +that would otherwise prey upon the poultry. With such protection, +therefore, the osprey is one of the securest birds in America. He +may breed in a tree over the farmer's or fisherman's door without the +slightest danger of being disturbed in his incubation.</p> + +<p>I say <i>his</i> incubation; but the male takes no part in this domestic +duty, further than to supply his loved mate with plenty of fish while +she does the hatching business. Of course, thus protected, the osprey +is not a rare bird. On the contrary, fish-hawks are more numerous +than perhaps any other species of the hawk tribe. Twenty or thirty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">95</a></span> +nests may be seen near each other in the same piece of woods, and as +many as three hundred have been counted on one little island. The +nests are built upon large trees—not always at the tops, as those of +rooks, but often in forks within twenty feet of the ground. They are +composed of large sticks, with stalks of corn, weeds, pieces of wet turf, +and then lined plentifully with dry sea-grass, or any other grass that +may be most convenient.</p> + +<p>The whole nest is big enough to make a load for a cart, and would +be heavy enough to give any horse a good pull. It can be seen, when +the woods are open, to an immense distance, and the more easily, as +the tree upon which it is built is always a “dead wood,” and therefore +without leaves to conceal it. Some say that the birds select a dead or +decaying tree for their nest. It is more probable such is the effect +and not the cause, of their building upon a particular tree. It is more +likely that the tree is killed partly by the mass of rubbish thus piled +upon it, and partly by the nature of the substances, such as sea-weed +in the nest, the oil of the fish, the excrement of the birds themselves, +and the dead fish that have been dropped about the root, and suffered +to remain there; for when the osprey lets fall his finny prey, which +he often does, he never condescends to pick it up again, but goes in +search of another.</p> + +<p>Boys “a-nesting” might easily discover the nest of the osprey; but +were they inclined to despoil it of its three or four eggs (which are +about the size of a duck's, and blotched with Spanish brown), they +would find that a less easy task, for the owners would be very likely +to claw their eyes out, or else scratch the tender skin from their +beardless cheeks: so that boys do not often trouble the nest of the +osprey.</p> + +<p>A very curious anecdote is related of a negro having climbed up to +plunder a nest of these birds. The negro's head was covered with a +close nap of his own black wool, which is supposed by a certain stretch +of fancy to have the peculiarity of “growing in at both ends.” The +negro, having no other protection than that which his thick fur +afforded him, was assailed by both the owners of the nest, one of +which, making a dash at the “darkie's” head, struck his talons so +firmly into the wool, that he was unable to extricate them, and there +stuck fast, until the astonished plunderer had reached the foot of the +tree. We shall not answer for the truthfulness of this anecdote, +although there is nothing improbable about it; for certain it is that +these birds defend their nests with courage and fury, and we know of +more than one instance of persons being severely wounded who made +the attempt to rob them.</p> + +<p>The ospreys, as already stated, feed exclusively on fish. They are +not known to prey upon birds or quadrupeds of any kind, even when +deprived of their customary food, as they sometimes are for days on +account of the lakes and rivers, in which they expected to find it +being frozen over to a later season than usual. Other birds, as the +purple grakles, often build among the sticks of the osprey's nest, and +rear their young without being meddled with by this generous bird. +This is an important point of difference between the osprey and other +kinds of hawks; and there is a peculiarity of structure about the feet +and legs of the osprey, that points to the nature of his food and his +mode of procuring it. His legs are disproportionately long and strong. +They are without feathers nearly to the knees. The feet and toes are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">96</a></span> +also very long, and the soles are covered with thick, hard scales, like the +teeth of a rasp, which enable the bird to hold securely his slippery +prey. The claws, too, are long, and curved into semicircles, with +points upon them almost as sharp as needles.</p> + +<p>I have stated that an incident occurred to our party that illustrated +some of the habits of this interesting bird. It was upon the afternoon +of a Saturday, after they had fixed their camp to remain for the +following day. They had landed upon a point or promontory that +ran out into the river, and from which they commanded a view of a +fine stretch of water. Near where they had placed their tent was the +nest of an osprey, in the forks of a large poplar. The tree, as usual, +was dead, and the young were plainly visible over the edge of the +nest. They appeared to be full-grown and feathered; but it is a +peculiarity of the young ospreys that they will remain in the nest, +and be fed by the parent birds, until long after they might be considered +able to shift for themselves. It is even asserted that the +latter become impatient at length, and drive the young ones out of +the nest by beating them with their wings; but that for a considerable +time afterwards they continue to feed them—most likely until the +young birds learn to capture their finny prey for themselves.</p> + +<p>This Lucien gave as a popular statement, but did not vouch for its +truth. It was not long, however, before both he and his companions +witnessed its complete verification.</p> + +<p>The old birds, after the arrival of the voyageurs upon the promontory, +had remained for some time around the nest, and at intervals +had shot down to where the party was, uttering loud screams, and +making the air whizz with the strokes of their wings. Seeing that +there was no intention of disturbing them, they at length desisted +from these demonstrations, and sat for a good while quietly upon the +edge of their nest. Then first one, and shortly after the other, flew +out, and commenced sailing in circles, at the height of an hundred +feet or so above the water. Nothing could be more graceful than +their flight. Now they would poise themselves a moment in the air, +then turn their bodies as if on a pivot, and glide off in another direction.</p> + +<p>All these motions were carried on with the most perfect ease, and +as if without the slightest aid from the wings. Again they would +come to a pause, holding themselves fixed in mid-air by a gentle +flapping, and appearing to scrutinise some object below. Perhaps it +was a fish; but it was either too large a one, or not the species most +relished, or maybe it had sunk to too great a depth to be easily taken. +Again they sail around; one of them suddenly arrests its flight, and, +like a stone projected from a sling, shoots down to the water. Before +reaching the surface, however, the fish, whose quick eye has detected +the coming enemy, has gone to the dark bottom and concealed himself; +and the osprey, suddenly checking himself by his wings and the +spread of his full tail, mounts again, and re-commences his curvilinear +flight.</p> + +<p>After this had gone on for some time, one of the birds—the larger +one, and therefore the female—was seen to leave off hunting and +return to the nest. There she sat only for a few seconds, when, to the +astonishment of the boys, she began to strike her wings against the +young ones, as if she was endeavouring to force them from the nest. +This was just what she designed doing. Perhaps her late unsuccessful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">97</a></span> +attempt to get them a fish had led her to a train of reflections, +and sharpened her determination to make them shift for themselves. +However that may be, in a few moments she succeeded in driving +them up to the edge, and then, by half pushing, and half beating +them with her wings, one after the other—two of them there were—was +seen to take wing, and soar away out over the lake.</p> + +<p>At this moment, the male shot down upon the water, and then +rose again into the air, bearing a fish, head-foremost, in his talons. +He flew directly towards one of the young, and meeting as it hovered +in the air, turned suddenly over and held out the fish to it. The latter +clutched it with as much ease as if it had been accustomed to the thing +for years, and then turning away, carried the fish to a neighbouring +tree, and commenced devouring it.</p> + +<p>The action had been perceived by the other youngster, who followed +after, and alighted upon the same branch, with the intention of +sharing in the meal. In a few minutes the best part of the fish was +eaten up, and both, rising from the branch, flew back to their nest. +There they were met by the parents, and welcomed with a loud +squeaking, that was intended, no doubt, to congratulate them upon +the success of their first “fly.”</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE OSPREY AND HIS TYRANT.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span>fter remaining for some time on the nest along with the others, +the old male again resolved to “go a-fishing,” and with this intent he +shot out from the tree, and commenced wheeling above the water. +The boys, having nothing better to engage them, sat watching his +motions, while they freely conversed about his habits and other points +in his natural history. Lucien informed them that the osprey is a bird +common to both Continents, and that it is often seen upon the shores +of the Mediterranean, pursuing the finny tribes there, just as it does +in America. In some parts of Italy it is called the “leaden eagle,” +because its sudden heavy plunge upon the water is fancied to resemble +the falling of a piece of lead.</p> + +<p>While they were discoursing, the osprey was seen to dip once or +twice towards the surface of the water, and then suddenly check himself, +and mount upward again. These manœuvres were no doubt +caused by the fish which he intended to “hook” having suddenly +shifted their quarters. Most probably experience had taught them +wisdom, and they knew the osprey as their most terrible enemy. But +they were not to escape him at all times. As the boys watched the +bird, he was seen to poise himself for an instant in the air, then suddenly +closing his wings, he shot vertically downward.</p> + +<p>So rapid was his descent, that the eye could only trace it like a bolt +of lightning. There was a sharp whizzing sound in the air—a plash +was heard—then the smooth bosom of the water was seen to break, +and the white spray rose several feet above the surface. For an +instant the bird was no longer seen. He was underneath, and the +place of his descent was marked by a patch of foam. Only a single +moment was he out of sight. The next he emerged, and a few strokes +of his broad wing carried him into the air, while a large fish was seen +griped in his claws. As the voyageurs had before noticed, the fish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">98</a></span> +was carried head-foremost, and this led them to the conclusion that +in striking his prey beneath the water the osprey follows it and aims +his blow from behind.</p> + +<p>After mounting a short distance the bird paused for a moment in +the air, and gave himself a shake, precisely as a dog would do after +coming out of water. He then directed his flight, now somewhat slow +and heavy, toward the nest. On reaching the tree, however, there +appeared to be some mismanagement. The fish caught among the +branches as he flew inward. Perhaps the presence of the camp had +distracted his attention, and rendered him less careful. At all events, +the prey was seen to drop from his talons; and bounding from branch +to branch, went tumbling down to the bottom of the tree.</p> + +<p>Nothing could be more opportune than this, for François had not +been able to get a “nibble” during the whole day, and a fresh fish for +dinner was very desirable to all. François and Basil had both started +to their feet, in order to secure the fish before the osprey should +pounce down and pick it up; but Lucien assured them that they need +be in no hurry about that, as the bird would not touch it again after +he had once let it fall. Hearing this, they took their time about it, +and walked leisurely up to the tree, where they found the fish lying. +After taking it up they were fain to escape from the spot, for the +effluvium arising from a mass of other fish that lay in a decomposed +state around the tree was more than any delicate pair of nostrils +could endure.</p> + +<p>The one they had secured proved to be a very fine salmon of not +less than six pounds weight, and therefore much heavier than the +bird itself! The track of the osprey's talons was deeply marked; +and by the direction in which the creature was scored, it was evident +the bird had seized it from behind. The old hawks made a considerable +noise while the fish was being carried away; but they soon gave +up their squealing, and, once more hovering out over the river, sailed +about with their eyes bent upon the water below.</p> + +<p>“What a number of fish they must kill!” said François. “They +don't appear to have much difficulty about it. I should think they +get as much as they can eat. See! there again! Another, I declare!”</p> + +<p>As François spoke the male osprey was seen to shoot down as +before, and this time, although he appeared scarcely to dip his foot +in the water, rose up with a fish in his talons.</p> + +<p>“They have sometimes others to provide for besides themselves,” +remarked Lucien. “For instance, the bald eagle——”</p> + +<p>Lucien was interrupted by a cackling scream, which was at once +recognised as that of the very bird whose name had just escaped his +lips. All eyes were instantly turned in the direction whence it came—which +was from the opposite side of the river—and there, just in the +act of launching itself from the top of a tall tree, was the great enemy +of the osprey—the white-headed eagle himself!</p> + +<p>“Now a chase!” cried François, “yonder comes the big robber!”</p> + +<p>With some excitement of feeling, the whole party watched the +movements of the birds. A few strokes of the eagle's wing brought +him near; but the osprey had already heard his scream, and knowing +it was no use carrying the fish to his nest, turned away from it, and +rose spirally upward, in the hope of escaping in that direction. The +eagle followed, beating the air with his broad pinions, as he soared +after. Close behind him went the female osprey, uttering wild<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">99</a></span> +screams, flapping her wings against his very beak, and endeavouring +to distract his attention from the chase. It was to no purpose, however, +as the eagle full well knew her object, and disregarding her impotent +attempts, kept on in steady flight after her mate. This continued +until the birds had reached a high elevation, and the ospreys, +from their less bulk, were nearly out of sight. But the voyageurs +could see that the eagle was on the point of overtaking the one that +carried the fish.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 347px;"> +<img src="images/illus-099.jpg" width="347" height="500" alt="THE OSPREY AND WHITE-HEADED EAGLE." title="THE OSPREY AND WHITE-HEADED EAGLE." /> +<span class="caption">THE OSPREY AND WHITE-HEADED EAGLE.</span></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">100</a></span>Presently, a glittering object dropped down from the heavens, and +fell with a plunge upon the water. It was the fish, and almost at +the same instant was heard the “whish!” of the eagle, as the great +bird shot after it. Before reaching the surface, however, his white +tail and wings were seen to spread suddenly, checking his downward +course; and then, with a scream of disappointment, he flew off in a +horizontal direction, and alit upon the same tree from which he had +taken his departure. In a minute after the ospreys came shooting +down, in a diagonal line, to their nest; and, having arrived there, a +loud and apparently angry consultation was carried on for some time, +in which the young birds bore as noisy a part as either of their +parents.</p> + +<p>“It's a wonder,” said Lucien, “the eagle missed the fish—he rarely +does. The impetus which he can give his body enables him to overtake +a falling object before it can reach the earth. Perhaps the +female osprey was in his way, and hindered him.</p> + +<p>“But why did he not pick it up in the water?” demanded François.</p> + +<p>“Because it went to the bottom, and he could not reach it—that's +clear.”</p> + +<p>It was Basil who made answer, and the reason he assigned was the +true one.</p> + +<p>“It's too bad,” said François, “that the osprey, not half so big a +bird, must support this great robber-tyrant by his industry.”</p> + +<p>“It's no worse than among our own kind,” interposed Basil. “See +how the white man makes the black one work for him here in +America. That, however, is the <i>few</i> toiling for the <i>million</i>. In +Europe the case is reversed. There, in every country, you see the +million toiling for the few—toiling to support an oligarchy in luxurious +case, or a monarch in barbaric splendour.”</p> + +<p>“But why do they do so? the fools!” asked François, somewhat +angrily.</p> + +<p>“Because they know no better. That oligarchy, and those monarchs, +have taken precious care to educate and train them to the +belief that such is the <i>natural</i> state of man. They furnish them with +school-books, which are filled with beautiful sophisms—all tending to +inculcate principles of endurance of wrong, and reverence for their +wrongers. They fill their rude throats with hurrah songs that paint +false patriotism in glowing colours, making loyalty—no matter to +whatsoever despot—the greatest of virtues, and revolution the +greatest of crimes; they studiously divide their subjects into several +creeds, and then, playing upon the worst of all passions—the passion +of religious bigotry—easily prevent their misguided helots from +uniting upon any point which would give them a real reform. Ah! +it is a terrible game which the present rulers of Europe are playing!”</p> + +<p>It was Basil who gave utterance to these sentiments, for the young +republican of Louisiana had already begun to think strongly on +political subjects. No doubt Basil would one day be an M.C.</p> + +<p>“The bald eagles have been much blamed for their treatment of +the ospreys, but,” said Lucien, “perhaps they have more reason for +levying their tax than at first appears. It has been asked: Why +they do not capture the fish themselves? Now, I apprehend, that +there is a <i>natural</i> reason why they do not. As you have seen, the +fish are not always caught upon the surface. The osprey has often +to plunge beneath the water in the pursuit, and Nature has gifted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">101</a></span> +him with power to do so, which, if I am not mistaken, she has denied +to the eagles. The latter are therefore compelled, in some measure, +to depend upon the former for a supply. But the eagles sometimes +do catch the fish themselves, when the water is sufficiently shallow, +or when their prey comes near enough to the surface to enable them +to seize it.”</p> + +<p>“Do they ever kill the ospreys?” inquired François.</p> + +<p>“I think not,” replied Lucien; “that would be 'killing the goose,' +etc. They know the value of their tax-payers too well to get rid of +them in that way. A band of ospreys, in a place where there happens +to be many of them together, have been known to unite and drive +the eagles off. That, I suppose, must be looked upon in the light of a +successful <i>revolution</i>.”</p> + +<p>The conversation was here interrupted by another incident. The +ospreys had again gone out fishing, and, at this moment, one of them +was seen to pounce down and take a fish from the water. It was a +large fish, and, as the bird flew heavily upward, the eagle again left +its perch, and gave chase. This time the osprey was overtaken +before it had got two hundred yards into the air, and seeing it was +no use attempting to carry off the prey, it opened its claws and let it +drop.</p> + +<p>The eagle turned suddenly, poised himself a moment, and then +shot after the falling fish. Before the latter had got near the +ground, he overtook and secured it in his talons. Then, arresting +his own flight by the sudden spread of his tail, he winged his way +silently across the river, and disappeared among the trees upon the +opposite side. The osprey, taking the thing as a matter of course, +again descended to the proper elevation, and betook himself to his +work. Perhaps he grinned a little, like many another royal taxpayer, +but he knew the tax had to be paid all the same, and he said +nothing.</p> + +<p>An incident soon after occurred that astonished and puzzled our +party not a little. The female osprey, that all this time seemed to +have had but poor success in her fishing, was now seen to descend +with a rush, and plunge deeply into the wave. The spray rose in a +little cloud over the spot, and all sat watching with eager eyes to +witness the result. What was their astonishment when, after waiting +many seconds, the bird still remained under water! Minutes passed, +and still she did not come up. <i>She came up no more!</i> The foam she +had made in her descent floated away—the bosom of the water was +smooth as glass—not a ripple disturbed its surface. They could have +seen the smallest object for a hundred yards or more around the spot +where she had disappeared.</p> + +<p>It was impossible she could have emerged without them seeing her. +Where, then, had she gone? This, as I have said, puzzled the whole +party; and formed a subject of conjecture and conversation for the +rest of that day, and also upon the next. Even Lucien was unable +to solve the mystery. It was a point in the natural history of the +osprey unknown to him. Could she have drowned herself? Had +some great fish, the “gar pike,” or some such creature, got hold of +and swallowed her? Had she dashed her head against a rock, or +become entangled in weeds at the bottom of the river?</p> + +<p>All these questions were put, and various solutions of the problem +were offered. The true one was not thought of, until accident<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">102</a></span> +revealed it. It was Saturday when the incident occurred. The party, +of course, remained all next day at the place. They heard +almost continually the cry of the bereaved bird, who most likely +knew no more than they what had become of his mate. On Monday +our travellers re-embarked and continued down-stream. About a mile +below, as they were paddling along, their attention was drawn +to a singular object floating upon the water. They brought the +canoe alongside it.</p> + +<p>It was a large fish, a sturgeon, floating dead, with a bird beside it, +also dead! On turning both over, what was their astonishment to see +that the talons of the bird were firmly fixed in the back of the +fish! It was the <i>female osprey</i>! This explained all. She had +struck a fish too heavy for her strength, and being unable to clear +her claws again, had been drawn under the water and had perished +along with her victim!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER, XXII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE VOYAGE INTERRUPTED.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span>bout ten days' rapid travelling down the Elk River brought our +party into the Athabasca Lake—sometimes called the “Lake of the +Hills.” This is another of those great bodies of fresh water that lie +between the primitive rocks of the “Barren Grounds,” and the more +fertile limestone deposit upon the west. It is nearly two hundred +miles long from west to east, and it is only fifteen miles in breadth, +but in some places it is so narrow and full of islands that it looks +more like a broad river than a lake. Its shores and many of its +islands are thickly wooded, particularly upon the southern and +western edges; and the eye of the traveller is delighted with many +a beautiful vista as he passes along. But our voyageurs took little heed +of these things.</p> + +<p>A gloom had come over their spirits, for one of their party had +taken ill, and was suffering from a painful and dangerous disease—an +intermittent fever. It was Lucien—he that was beloved by all +of them. He had been complaining for several days—even while +admiring the fair scenery of the romantic Elk—but every day he had +been getting worse, until, on their arrival at the lake, he declared +himself no longer able to travel. It became necessary, therefore, +to suspend their journey; and choosing a place for their camp, they +made arrangements to remain until Lucien should recover. They built +a small log-hut for the invalid, and did everything to make him as +comfortable as possible. The best skins were spread for his couch; and +cooling drinks were brewed for him from roots, fruits, and berries, in +the way he had already taught his companions to prepare them.</p> + +<p>Every day François went forth with his gun, and returned with +a pair of young pigeons, or a wood-partridge, or a brace of the +beautiful ruffed grouse; and out of these he would make delicate +soups, which he was the better able to do as they had procured salt, +pepper, and other ingredients, at the Fort. They had also brought +with them a stock of tea—the real China tea—and sugar; and as the +quantity of both was but small, this luxurious beverage was made +exclusively for Lucien, and was found by him exceedingly beneficial +during his illness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">103</a></span></p> + +<p>To the great joy of all the invalid was at length restored to health, +and the canoe being once more launched and freighted, they continued +their journey.</p> + +<p>They coasted along the shores of the lake, and entered the Great +Slave River, which runs from the Athabasca into the Great Slave +Lake. They soon came to the mouth of another large river, called +the Peace. This runs into the Great Slave a short distance below +Lake Athabasca, and, strange to say, the sources of the Peace River +lie upon the <i>western</i> side of the Rocky Mountains, so that this stream +actually runs across the mountain-chain! It passes through the +mountains in a succession of deep gorges, which are terrible to behold. +On both sides dizzy cliffs and snow-capped peaks rise thousands of +feet above its rocky bed, and the scenery is cold and desolate.</p> + +<p>Its head-waters interlock with those of several streams that run +into the Pacific; so that, had our voyageurs wished to travel to the +shores of that ocean, they might have done so in their birch-bark +canoe nearly the whole of the way. But this was not their design at +present, so they passed the <i>débouchure</i> of the Peace, and kept on for +the Great Slave Lake. They were still upon the same water as the +Elk, for the Great Slave is only another name for that part of the +river lying between the two lakes—Athabasca and Great Slave. Of +course the river had now become much larger by the influx of the +Peace, and they were travelling upon the bosom of a magnificent +stream, with varied scenery upon its banks.</p> + +<p>They were not so happy, however, as when descending the Elk—not +but that they were all in good health, for Lucien had grown quite +strong again. No, it was not any want of health that rendered them +less cheerful. It was the prospect before them—the prospect of +coming winter, which they now felt certain would arrive before they +had got to the end of their journey. The delay of nearly a month, +occasioned by Lucien's illness, had deranged all their calculations; +and they had no longer any hope of being able to finish their voyage +in what remained of the short summer. The ice would soon make +its appearance; the lakes and rivers would be frozen up; they could +no longer navigate them in their canoe. To travel afoot would be +a most laborious undertaking, as well as perilous in an extreme +degree.</p> + +<p>In this way it is only possible to carry a very small quantity of +provisions—for the traveller is compelled to load himself with skin-clothing +in order to keep out the cold. The chances of procuring +game by the way in that season are precarious, and not to be +depended upon. Most of the birds and many of the quadrupeds +migrate to more southern regions; and those that remain are shy +and rare. Besides, great snow-storms are to be encountered, in +which the traveller is in danger of getting “smoored.” The earth is +buried under a deep covering of snow, and to pass over this while +soft is difficult, and at times quite impossible. All these circumstances +were known to our young voyageurs—to Norman better than +any of them—and of course the prospect was a cheerless one—much +more so than those unacquainted with the winter of these dreary +regions would be willing to believe.</p> + +<p>It was the month of August, near its end, when they reached the +Great Slave Lake, in the latitude of 62°. The days had now become +very short, and their journeys grew short in proportion. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">104</a></span> +already experienced weather as cold as an English winter. There +were slight frosts at night—though not yet enough to cover the +water with ice—and the mid-day hours were hot, sometimes too hot +to be comfortable. But this only caused them to feel the cold the +more sensibly when evening set in; and all their robes and skins +were necessary to keep them warm during the night.</p> + +<p>The Great Slave Lake, like the Athabasca, is very long and very +narrow. It extends full 260 miles from east to west, but at its widest +part is not over thirty, and in some places much less. Along its +northern shores lies the edge of the “Barren Grounds,” and there +nothing meets the eye but bleak and naked hills of primitive rock. +On its southern side the geology is entirely of a different character. +There the limestone prevails, and scarcely anything that deserves +the name of hill is to be seen. There are fine forests too, in which +poplars, pines, and birches, are the principal trees. The lake is filled +with islands, many of which are wholly or partially covered with +timber of these kinds, and willows also are abundant.</p> + +<p>There are fish of several species in its waters—which are in many +places of great depth—sixty fathoms deep—and in some of the +islands, and around the wooded shores, game exists in abundance in +the summer season. Even in winter it is not scarce, but then it +is difficult to follow it on account of the deep snow. Many of the +animals, too, at this season become torpid, and are of course hidden +in caves and hollow trees, and even in the snow itself, where no one +can find them. Notwithstanding all this, our voyageurs knew that +it would be the best place for them to make their winter camp. +They saw that to complete their journey during that season would +be impossible. Even had it been a month earlier it would have +been a difficult undertaking.</p> + +<p>In a few days winter would be upon them. They would have +to stop somewhere. There was no place where they could so safely +stay as by the lake. One thing they would have there, which might +not be found so plenty elsewhere, that was wood for their fire; and +this was an inducement to remain by the lake. Having made up +their minds, therefore, to encamp on some part of it, they looked +from day to day for a place that would be most suitable, still +continuing their journey towards its western end. As yet no place +appeared to their liking, and as the lake near its western point +trends away towards the south, Norman proposed that they should +follow the shore no longer, but strike across to a promontory on the +northern shore of the lake, known as “Slave Point.”</p> + +<p>This promontory is of the limestone formation, and as Norman had +heard, is well wooded, and stocked with game. Even buffaloes are +found there. It is, in fact, the farthest point to the north-east that +these animals range, and this presents us with a curious fact. It is +the farthest point that the limestone deposit extends in that direction. +Beyond that, to the east and north, lie the primitive rocks of the +Barren Grounds, into which the buffaloes never stray. Thus we +observe the connexion that exists between the <i>fauna</i> of a country and +its geological character.</p> + +<p>Of course they all agreed to Norman's proposal. The canoe was, +therefore, headed for the open waters; and, after a hard day's +paddling—for there was a head-wind—the voyageurs landed upon a +small wooded island, about half-way over the lake, where they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">105</a></span> +encamped for the night, intending next day to cross the remaining +part.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">FISHING UNDER THE ICE.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">O</span>n awaking next morning, to their great surprise, they saw that the +<i>lake was frozen over</i>! They had almost anticipated as much, for the +night was one of the coldest they had yet experienced—so cold that +one and all of them had slept but badly. As yet the ice was thin, +but so much the worse. It was thick enough to prevent them from +using the canoe, but too thin to bear their weight, and they now saw +that they were <i>prisoners upon the island</i>!</p> + +<p>It was not without some feelings of alarm that they made this discovery; +but their fears were allayed by reflecting, that they could +remain upon the island until the ice either thawed away or become +strong enough to bear them, and then they could cross upon it to the +northern shore. With this consolation, therefore, they set about +making their temporary quarters upon the island as snug as circumstances +would permit. Their apprehensions, however, began to +return again, when several days had passed over, and the ice neither +grew any thinner nor any thicker, but seemed to remain at a stand-still. +In the early part of the morning it was almost strong enough +to bear them; but during the day the sun melted it, until it was +little better than a scum over the surface of the water.</p> + +<p>The alarm of our voyageurs increased. Their provisions were +nearly out. There was no game on the islet—not so much as a bird—for +they had beaten every bush, and found nothing. Once or twice +they thought of launching their canoe and breaking a way for it +through the ice. But they knew that this proceeding would be one +of much labour as well as danger. The islet was full ten miles from +the shore, and they would therefore have to break the ice for ten +miles. Moreover, to stand up in a bark canoe, so as to get at the +work, would be a difficult task. It could not be accomplished without +endangering the equilibrium of the vessel, and indeed without upsetting +it altogether. Even to lean forward in the bow would be a +perilous experiment; and under these considerations the idea of +breaking a way was abandoned.</p> + +<p>But their provisions were at length entirely exhausted, and what +was to be done? The ice was still too weak to carry them. Near the +shore it might have been strong enough, but farther out lay the +danger. There they knew it was thinner, for it had not frozen over +until a later period. It would have been madness to have risked it +yet. On the other hand, they were starving, or likely to starve from +hunger, by staying where they were. There was nothing eatable on +the island. What was to be done? In the water were fish—they +doubted not that—but how were they to catch them? They had +tried them with hook and line, letting the hook through a hole in the +ice; but at that late season the fish would not take a bait, and +although they kept several continually set, and “looked” them most +regularly and assiduously, not a “tail” was taken.</p> + +<p>They were about to adopt the desperate expedient, now more +difficult than ever, of breaking their way through the ice, when, all<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">106</a></span> +at once, it occurred to Norman, that, if they could not coax the fish +to take a bait, they might succeed better with a net, and capture +them against their will. This idea would have been plausible enough, +had there been a net; but there was no net on that islet, nor perhaps +within an hundred miles of it. The absence of a net might have been +an obstacle to those who are ever ready to despair; but such an +obstacle never occurred to our courageous boys. They had two +<i>parchment</i> skins of the caribou which they had lately killed, and out +of these Norman proposed to make a net.</p> + +<p>He would soon do it, he said, if the others would set to work and +cut the deer-skins into thongs fine enough for the purpose. Two of +them, therefore, Basil and Lucien, took out their knives, and went +briskly to work; while François assisted Norman in twining the +thongs, and afterwards held them, while the latter wove and knotted +them into meshes. In a few hours both the skins were cut into fine +strips, and worked up; and a net was produced nearly six yards in +length by at least two in width. It was rude enough, to be sure, but +perhaps it would do its work as well as if it had been twined out of +silk. At all events, it was soon to have a trial—for the moment it +was finished the sinkers were attached to it, and it was carried down +to the edge of the water.</p> + +<p>The three “Southerners” had never seen a net set under ice—for in +their country ice is an uncommon thing, and indeed never freezes of +sufficient thickness to carry the weight of a man. They were therefore +very curious to know how the thing was to be done. They could +not conceive how the net was to be stretched under the ice, in such a +manner as to catch the fish. Norman, however, knew all about it. +He had seen the Indians, and had set many a one himself. It was no +new thing for him, and he set about it at once.</p> + +<p>He first crept out upon the ice to the distance of about twenty or +thirty yards from the shore. He proceeded cautiously, as the ice +creaked under him. Having arrived at the place where he intended +to set the net, he knelt down, and with his knife cut several holes in +the ice, at the distance of about six feet from each other, and all in +one line. He had already provided himself with a straight sapling +of more than six feet in length, to one end of which he had attached +a cord. The other end of this cord was tied to the net, at one of its +corners. He now thrust the sapling through the first hole he had +made, and then guided it so as to pass directly under the second.</p> + +<p>At this hole he took a fresh hold of the stick, and passed it along +to the next, and so on to the last, where he pulled it out again, and +of course along with it the string. The net was not drawn into the +first hole, and by means of the cord already received through, was +pulled out to its full length. The sinkers, of course, fell down in the +water, and drew it into a vertical position. At both its upper corners +the net was made fast above the ice, and was now “set.” Nothing +more could be done until the fish came into it of their own accord, +when it could be drawn out upon the ice by means of the cord +attached; and, of course, by the same means could easily be returned +to its place, and set again.</p> + +<p>All of them now went back to the fire, and with hungry looks sat +around it, waiting the result. They had made up their minds, should +no fish be caught, to get once more into the canoe and attempt +breaking their way to the shore. Summoning all their patience,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">107</a></span> +therefore, they waited for nearly two hours, without examining the +net. Then Norman and Basil crawled back upon the ice, to see what +fortune had done for them. They approached the spot, and, with +their hearts thumping against their ribs, untied the knot and commenced +hauling out.</p> + +<p>“It certainly feels heavy,” said Basil, as the net was being drawn. +“Hurrah!” he shouted, “Something kicks, hurrah!” and with the +second “hurrah!” a beautiful fish was pulled up through the hole, +and landed upon the ice. A loud “hurrah” was uttered in response +by Lucien and François—who, fearing the ice might not bear so +many, had remained upon the shore. A yard or two more of the net +was cleared, and a second fish still larger than the former was greeted +with a general “hurrah!” The two fish were now taken out—as +these were all that had been caught—and the net was once more +carefully set. Basil and Norman came back to the shore—Norman +to receive quite a shower of compliments from his companions.</p> + +<p>The fish—the largest of which weighed nearly five pounds—proved +to be trout; and it was not long before their quality was put to the +proof. All declared they had never eaten so fine trout in their lives; +but when the condition of their appetites is taken into account, we +may infer that there was, perhaps, a little exaggeration in this statement. +If hunger really makes good sauce, our voyageurs had the best +of sauce with their fish, as each of them was as hungry as a half-famished +wolf.</p> + +<p>They felt quite relieved, as far as present appetite went, but they +were still uneasy for the future. Should they not succeed in taking +more fish—and it was by no means certain they should succeed—they +would be no better off than ever. Their anxiety, however, was soon +removed. Their second “haul” proved even more successful than the +first—as five fish, weighing together not less than twenty pounds, +were pulled up.</p> + +<p>This supply would enable them to hold out for a long time, but +they had not much longer to remain on the islet. Upon that very +night there was one of those severe frosts known only in high +latitudes, and the ice upon the lake became nearly a foot in thickness. +They had no longer any fear of its breaking under their weight; and +taking their canoe with all their “traps,” they set out to cross over +upon the ice. In a few hours they reached the shore of the lake, near +the end of the promontory, where they chose a spot, and encamped.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">AN ODD ALARM.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he first thing our voyageurs did after choosing a suitable situation, +was to build a log-hut. Being young backwoodsmen this was but a +trifle to them. All four of them knew how to handle an axe with +dexterity. The logs were soon cut and notched, and a small cabin +was put up, and roofed with split clap-boards. With the stones that +lay near the shore of the lake they built a chimney. It was but a +rude structure, but it drew admirably. Clay was wanted to “chink” +the cabin, but that could not be had, as the ground was hard frozen, +and it was quite impossible to make either clay or mud.</p> + +<p>Even hot water poured out would freeze into ice in a few minutes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">108</a></span> +This was a serious want—for in such a cold climate even the smallest +hole in the walls will keep a house uncomfortable, and to fill the +interstices between the logs, so as to make them air-tight, some soft +substance was necessary. Grass was suggested, and Lucien went off +in search of it. After awhile he returned with an armful of half-withered +grass, which all agreed would be the very thing; and a +large quantity was soon collected, as it grew plentifully at a short +distance from the cabin.</p> + +<p>They now set to work to stuff it into the chinks; when, to their +astonishment, they found that this grass had a beautiful smell, quite +as powerful and as pleasant as that of mint or thyme! When a +small quantity of it was flung into the fire it filled the cabin with a +fragrance as agreeable as the costliest perfumes. It was the “scented +grass,” which grows in great profusion in many parts of the Hudson's +Bay territory, and out of which the Indians often make their beds, +burning it also upon the fire to enjoy its aromatic perfume.</p> + +<p>For the first day or two, at their new abode, the travellers had +lived altogether on fish. They had, of course, brought their net with +them from the island, and had set it near the shore in the same way +as before. They had captured as many as they wanted, and, strange +to say, at one haul they found no less than five different species in +the net! One kind, a white fish, the <i>Coregonus albus</i> of naturalists, +but which is named “tittameg” by the fur-traders, they caught in +great plenty. This fish is found in nearly all the lakes and rivers of +the Hudson's Bay territory, and is much prized both by whites and +Indians for its delicate flavour. At some of the trading posts it +often forms, for weeks together, the only food which the residents +can obtain; and they are quite satisfied when they can get enough +of it. The tittameg is not a large fish; the largest attain to the +weight of about eight pounds.</p> + +<p>There was another and still smaller species, which, from its colour, +the voyageurs call the “poisson bleu,” or blue fish. It is the <i>Coregonus +signifer</i> of ichthyologists. It is a species of grayling, and frequents +sharp-running water, where it will leap at the fly like a trout. +Several kinds of trout also inhabit the Great Slave Lake, and some of +these attain to the enormous weight of eighty pounds! A few were +caught, but none of so gigantic proportions as this. Pike were also +taken in the net, and a species of burbot. This last is one of the +most voracious of the finny tribe, and preys upon all others that it is +able to swallow. It devours whole quantities of cray-fish, until its +stomach becomes crammed to such a degree as to distort the shape of +its whole body. When this kind was drawn out, it was treated very +rudely by the boys—because its flesh was known to be extremely +unsavoury, and none of them cared to eat it. Marengo, however, had +no such scruples, and he was wont to make several hearty meals each +day upon the rejected burbot.</p> + +<p>A fish diet exclusively was not the thing; and as our party soon +grew tired of it, the hunter Basil shouldered his rifle, and strode off +into the woods in search of game. The others remained working +upon the cabin, which was still far from being finished.</p> + +<p>Basil kept along the edge of the lake in an easterly direction. He +had not gone more than a quarter of a mile, when he came upon a +dry gravelly ridge, which was thickly covered with a species of pine-trees +that resembled the Scotch fir. These trees were not over forty<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">109</a></span> +feet in height, with very thick trunks and long flexible branches. +No other trees grew among them, for it is the nature of this pine—which +was the “scrub” or grey pine—to monopolise the ground +wherever it grows. As Basil passed on, he noticed that many of the +trees were completely “barked,” particularly on the branches; and +small pieces of the bark lay scattered over the ground, as though it +had been peeled off and gnawed by some animal. He was walking +quietly on and thinking what creature could have made such a +wreck, when he came to a place where the ground was covered with +fine sand or dust.</p> + +<p>In this, to his astonishment, he observed what he supposed to be +the tracks of human feet! They were not those of a man, but small +tracks, resembling the footsteps of a child of three or four years of +age. He was about stooping down to examine them more closely, +when a voice sounded in his ears exactly like the cry of a child! +This brought him suddenly to an erect attitude again, and he looked +all round to discover who or what had uttered that strange cry. +He could see no one—child or man—and strange, too, for he had a +clear view through the tree-trunks for several hundred yards around. +He was filled with curiosity, not unmixed with alarm; and, stepping +forward a few paces, he was about to bend down and examine the +tracks a second time, when the singular cry again startled him.</p> + +<p>This time it was louder than before, as if he was closer to whatever +had uttered it, but Basil now perceived that it proceeded from above +him. The creature from which it came was certainly not upon the +ground, but high up among the tops of the trees. He looked up, and +there, in the fork of one of the pines, he perceived a singular and +hideous-looking animal—such as he had never before seen. It was of +a brown colour, about the size of a terrier-dog, with thick shaggy +hair, and clumped up in the fork of the tree—so that its head and +feet were scarcely distinguishable.</p> + +<p>Its odd appearance, as well as the peculiar cry which it had uttered, +would have alarmed many a one of less courage than our young +hunter, and Basil was at first, as he afterwards confessed, “slightly +flurried;” but a moment's reflection told him what the animal was—one +of the most innocent and inoffensive of God's creatures—the +Canada porcupine. It was this, then, that had barked the scrub +pines—for they are its favourite food; and it was its track—which +in reality very much resembles that of a child—that Basil had seen +in the sand.</p> + +<p>The first thought of the young hunter was to throw up his rifle, +and send a bullet through the ungainly animal; which, instead of +making any effort to escape, remained almost motionless, uttering, at +intervals, its child-like screams. Basil, however, reflected that the +report of his rifle would frighten any large game that might chance +to be near; and as the porcupine was hardly worth a shot, he concluded, +upon reflection, it would be better to leave it alone. He +knew—for he had heard Lucien say so—that he would find the +porcupine at any time, were it a week, or even a month after—for +these creatures remain sometimes a whole winter in the same grove. +He resolved, therefore, should no other game turn up, to return for +it; and, shouldering his rifle again, he continued his course through +the woods.</p> + +<p>As he proceeded, the timber became thinner. The scrub-pines gave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">110</a></span> +place to poplar-trees, with here and there an undergrowth of willows. +The trees stood far apart, and the willows grew only in clumps or +“islands,” so that the view was nearly open for many hundred yards +around. Basil walked on with all the silence and watchfulness of a +true “still” hunter—for, among backwoodsmen, this species of +hunting is so called. He ascended a low hill, and keeping a tree in +front of him, looked cautiously over its crest. Before him, and +stretching from the bottom of the hill, was a level tract of considerable +extent.</p> + +<p>It was bounded on one side by the edge of the lake, and on all the +others by thin woods, similar to those through which the hunter had +been for some time travelling. Here and there, over the plain, there +stood trees, far apart from each other, and in nowise intercepting the +view for a mile or more. The ground was clear of underwood, except +along the immediate edge of the lake, which was fringed by a thicket +of willows.</p> + +<p>As Basil looked over the hill, he espied a small group of animals +near the interior border of the willows. He had never seen animals +of the same species before, but the genus was easily told. The tall +antlered horns, that rose upon the head of one of them, showed that +they were deer of some kind; and the immense size of the creature +that bore them, together with his ungainly form, his long legs, and +ass-like ears, his huge head with its overhanging lip, his short neck +with its standing mane, and, above all, the broad palmation of the +horns themselves, left Basil without any doubt upon his mind that +the animals before him were moose-deer—the largest, and perhaps +the most awkward, of all the deer kind.</p> + +<p>The one with the antlers was the male or bull-moose. The others +were the female and her two calves of the preceding year. The +latter were still but half-grown, and, like the female, were without +the “branching horns” that adorned the head of the old bull. They +were all of a dark-brown colour—looking blackish in the distance—but +the large one was darker than any of the others.</p> + +<p>Basil's heart beat high, for he had often heard of the great moose, +but now saw it for the first time. In his own country it is not found, +as it is peculiarly a creature of the cold regions, and ranges no farther +to the south than the northern edge of the United States territory. +To the north it is met with as far as timber grows—even to the +shores of the Polar Sea! Naturalists are not certain, whether or +not it be the same animal with the elk of Europe. Certainly the +two are but little, if anything, different; but the name “elk” has +been given in America to quite another and smaller species of deer—the +wapiti.</p> + +<p>The moose takes its name from its Indian appellation, “moosöă,” or +“wood-eater;” and this name is very appropriate, as the animal lives +mostly upon the leaves and twigs of trees. In fact, its structure—like +that of the camelopard—is such that it finds great difficulty in +reaching grass, or any other herbage, except where the latter chances +to be very tall, or grows upon the declivity of a very steep hill. +When it wishes to feed upon grass, the moose usually seeks it in such +situations; and it may often be seen browsing up the side of a hill, +with its legs spread widely on both sides of its neck. But its favourite +food is found at a more convenient height, and consists of the young +shoots of many species of trees. It prefers those of the poplar, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">111</a></span> +birch-tree, and willows, and one kind of these last, the red willow, is +its particular favourite.</p> + +<p>The “striped” maple is also much relished by the moose—hence the +name “moose-wood,” by which this tree is known among the hunters. +It loves also the common water-lilies, and in summer it may be seen +wading out into lakes, and plucking up their succulent leaves. It +takes to the water also for other purposes—to cool its body, and rid +itself of several species of gnats and mosquitoes that at this season +torment it exceedingly. At such times it is more easily approached; +and the Indians hunt it in their canoes, and kill it in the water, both +with spears and arrows. They never find the moose, however, in +large numbers—for it is a solitary animal, and only associates in pairs +during one part of the year, and in families at another season—as +Basil now found it.</p> + +<p>In winter the Indians track it through the snow, following it upon +snow-shoes. These give them the advantage of skimming along the +surface, while the moose plunges through the deep rift, and is therefore +impeded in its flight. Notwithstanding, it will frequently +escape from the hunter, after a <i>chase of several days' duration</i>! Sometimes, +in deep snow, a dozen or more of these animals will be found +in one place, where they have got accidentally together. The snow +will be trodden down until the place appears as if enclosed by a wall. +This the hunters term a “moose-pound,” and when found in such +situations the moose are easily approached and surrounded—when a +general <i>battue</i> takes place, in which few or none of the animals are +allowed to escape.</p> + +<p>I have said that Basil's heart beat high at the sight of the moose. +He was very desirous of killing one—partly on account of the novelty +of the thing, and partly because he and his companions at the camp +were anxious for a change of diet. Moose-meat was the very thing; +and he knew that if he could return to camp with a few pieces of this +strung over his gun, he would receive a double welcome. He was +well aware that the flesh of the moose was of the most savoury and +delicate kind, and that the long pendulous upper lip is one of the +“tit-bits” of the fur countries. Moreover, the fine hide would be an +acceptable addition to their stock, as it is the best of all deer-skins +for mocassins, as well as snow-shoes—articles which Basil knew would +soon be needed. For these reasons he was unusually desirous of killing +one of the moose.</p> + +<p>He knew it would be difficult to approach them. He had heard +that they were shyest at that very season—the beginning of winter—and +indeed such is the case. No deer is so difficult to get a shot at +as a moose in early winter. In summer it is not so—as then the musquitoes +torment these animals to such a degree that they pay less +heed to other enemies, and the hunter can more easily approach them. +In winter they are always on the alert. Their sense of smell—as well +as of sight and hearing—is acute to an extreme degree, and they are +cunning besides. They can scent an enemy a long distance off—if +the wind be in their favour—and the snapping of a twig, or the +slightest rustle of the leaves, is sufficient to start them off.</p> + +<p>In their journeyings through the snow, when they wish to rest +themselves, they make a sort of <i>détour</i>, and, coming back, lie down +near the track which they have already passed over. This gives them +an opportunity of hearing any enemy that may be following upon<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">112</a></span> +their trail, and also of making off in a side-direction, while the latter +will be looking steadfastly ahead for them.</p> + +<p>Basil had heard of all these tricks of the moose—for many an old +moose-hunter had poured his tale into Basil's ear. He proceeded, +therefore, with all due caution. He first buried his hand in his game-bag, +and after a little groping brought out a downy feather which +had chanced to be there. This he placed lightly upon the muzzle of +his rifle, and having gently elevated the piece above his head, watched +the feather. After a moment, the breeze carried it off, and Basil +noted the direction it took. This is called, in hunter phrase, “tossing +the feather,” and gave Basil the exact direction of the wind—an important +knowledge in the present case.</p> + +<p>To Basil's gratification he saw that it was blowing down the lake, +and nearly towards himself. He was not exactly to leeward of the +moose; but, what was better still, the willows that fringed the lake +were, for he could see them bending from the deer, as the breeze blew +freshly. He knew he could easily get among the willows; and as +they were not quite leafless, and, moreover, were interspersed with +tall reed grass, they formed a tolerable cover under which he might +make his approach.</p> + +<p>Without losing time, then, he made for the willows, and placing +them between himself and the game, commenced “approaching” +along the shore of the lake.</p> + +<p>He had a full half-hour's creeping—at one time upon his hands and +knees—at another crawling flat upon his breast like a gigantic lizard, +and now and then, at favourable spots, walking in a bent attitude. +A full half-hour was he, and much pain and patience did it cost him, +before getting within shot. But Basil was a hunter, and knew both +how to endure the pain and practise the patience—virtues that, in +hunting as well as in many other occupations usually meet with their +reward. And Basil was likely to meet with his, for on parting the +leaves, and looking cautiously through, he saw that he had arrived +at the right spot. Within fifty yards of him he saw the high shoulders +of the bull-moose and his great flat antlers towering over the tops of +the willows, among the leaves of which the snout of the animal was +buried. He also caught a glimpse of parts of the other three beyond; +but he thought only of the bull, and it was upon him that he kept his +eyes fixed. Basil did not think of the quality of the meat, else he +would have selected either the cow or one of the calves. Had it been +buffaloes he would certainly have done so; but as he had never killed +a moose, he was determined to slay the leader of the herd.</p> + +<p>Indeed, had he wished to shoot one of the others, it might not have +been so easy, as they were farther off, and he could only see the tops +of their shoulders over the willows. Neither did the bull offer a fair +mark. He stood face to face with the hunter, and Basil fancied that +a shot on the frontal bone might not kill him. He knew it would +not kill a buffalo. There was only one other part at which he could +aim—the fore-shoulder; and after waiting some moments for the +animal to give him a fairer chance he took aim at this and fired. He +heard a loud cracking of hoofs, as the cow and calves shambled off +over the plain, but he saw that the bull was not with them. He was +down behind the willows. No doubt he was dead.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">113</a></span></p> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">ENCOUNTER WITH A MOOSE.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">W</span>hat was a rare thing for Basil to do, he rushed forward without +reloading his gun. A few springs brought him into the open ground, +and in presence of the game. To his astonishment, the bull was not +dead, nor down neither, but only upon his knees—of course wounded. +Basil saw the “crease” of the bullet along the neck of the animal as +he drew near. It was only by a quick glance that he saw this, for +as soon as the bull saw <i>him</i> he rose to his full height—his eyes flashing +like a tiger's—and settling his antlers in a forward position, sprang +upon the hunter! Basil leaped aside to avoid the encounter; and +in the first rush was successful, but the animal turned suddenly, and, +coming up a second time, raised his fore-feet high in the air, and +struck forward with his long-pointed hoofs.</p> + +<p>Basil attempted to defend himself with his rifle, but the piece was +struck out of his hand in an instant. Once more avoiding the forward +rush of the infuriated beast, the young hunter looked around +for some object to save him. A tree fell under his eye, and he ran +towards it with all his speed. The moose followed close upon his +heels, and he had just time to reach the tree and get around its +trunk, when the animal brushed past, tearing the bark with his +sharp antlers. Basil now slipped round the trunk, and when the +moose again turned himself the two were on opposite sides of the +tree! The beast, however, rushed up, and struck the tree furiously +first with his brow antlers, and then with his hoofs, uttering loud +snorts, and at intervals a shrill whistling sound that was terrible to +hear.</p> + +<p>The disappointment which the enraged animal felt, at seeing his +enemy thus escape him, seemed to have added to his rage; and he +now vented his spite upon the tree, until the trunk, to the height of +six feet, was completely stripped of its bark. While this was going +on, Basil remained behind the tree, “dodging” round as the moose +manœuvred, and taking care always to have the animal on the +opposite side. To have got into a safer situation he would have +climbed the tree; but it happened to be a poplar, without a branch +for many feet from the ground, and of too great a girth to be “embraced.” +He could do nothing, therefore, but remain upon the +ground, and keep the tree-trunk between himself and the bull.</p> + +<p>For nearly an hour this lasted, the moose now remaining at rest +for a few minutes, and then making fresh onsets that seemed to abate +nothing in their fury. His rage appeared to be implacable, and his +vengeance as tenacious as that of a tiger or any other beast of prey. +The wound which the hunter had given him was no doubt painful, +and kept his resentment from cooling. Unfortunately, it was not a +mortal wound, as Basil had every opportunity of seeing. The bullet +had hit the fore-shoulder; but, after tearing along the skin, had +glanced off without injuring the bone. It had only enraged the bull, +without crippling him in the least degree.</p> + +<p>Basil began to dread the result. He was becoming faint with +fatigue as well as hunger. When would he be relieved? When would +the fierce brute feel inclined to leave him? These were questions +which the hunter put to himself repeatedly, without being able to +divine an answer. He had heard of hunters being killed by wounded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">114</a></span> +moose. He had heard that these creatures will remain for days +watching a person whom they may have “treed.” He could not +stand it for days. He would drop down with fatigue, and then the +bull would gore and trample him at pleasure. Would they be able +to trace him from the camp? They would not think of that before +nightfall. They would not think of him as “lost” before that time; +and then they could not follow his trail in the darkness, nor even +in the light—for the ground was hard as a rock, and he had made +no footmarks. Marengo might trace him. The dog had been left +at the camp, as Basil preferred “still-hunting” without him. But +in his present situation the hunter's apprehensions were stronger +than his hopes. Even Marengo might be baffled in lifting the +scent.</p> + +<p>The trail was an exceedingly devious one, for Basil had meandered +round the sides of the hill in search of game. Deer or other animals +might have since crossed it, which might mislead the hound. It +would be cold at night, and much colder next morning. There were +many chances that no relief might reach him from the camp. Impressed +with this conviction, Basil began to feel serious alarm. Not +despair, however—he was not the boy to despair. His mind only +grew more alive to the necessity for action. He looked around to +discover some means of escape. His gun lay not a hundred yards off. +Could he only get hold of the piece, and return safely to the tree +again, he could there load it and put an end to the scene at once. +But to reach the gun was impossible. The moose would bound after +and overtake him to a certainty. The idea of getting the gun was +abandoned.</p> + +<p>In the opposite direction to that in which the gun lay, Basil perceived +that there were other trees. The nearest was but a dozen +yards from him; and others, again, grew at about the same distance +from that one, and from each other. Basil now conceived the idea +of escaping to the nearest, and from that to the next, and by this +means getting back into the thick forest. Once there, he believed +that he would be the better able to effect his escape, and perhaps +reach the camp by dodging from tree to tree. He could beat the +moose for a dozen yards—getting a little the start of him—and this +he hoped to be able to do. Should he fail in his short race, however—should +his foot slip—the alternative was fearful. <i>It was no other +than death!</i></p> + +<p>He knew that, but it did not change his resolution to make the +attempt. He only waited for the animal to work round between him +and the tree towards which he intended to run. You will wonder +that he did not prefer to have the moose on the other side. But he +did not, for this reason—had the bull been there, he could have +sprung after him at the first start; whereas, when heading the other +way, Basil believed he could brush close past, and gain an advantage, +as the unwieldy brute, taken by surprise, would require some time +in turning himself to give chase.</p> + +<p>The opportunity at length arrived; and, nerving himself for the +race, the hunter sprang past the moose, brushing the very tips of its +antlers. He ran without either stopping or even looking back, until +he had reached the tree, and sheltered himself behind its trunk. The +moose had followed, and arrived but the moment after, snorting and +whistling furiously. Enraged at the <i>ruse</i>, it attacked this tree, as it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">115</a></span> +had the other, with hoof and horns; and Basil nimbly evaded both +by keeping on the opposite side, as before.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes he prepared himself for a second rush, and once +more started. A third tree was reached in safety—and then a fourth, +and a fifth, and many others, in a similar manner—the moose all the +while following in hot pursuit. Basil had begun to hope that in +this way he would get off, when, to his chagrin, he saw that an open +space still intervened between him and the thick woods, upon which +there were only a few trees, and those so small that not one of them +would have sheltered him. This tract was full two hundred yards +in width, and extended all along the edge of the thick forest. He +dared not cross it. The moose would overtake him before he could +get half the way; and he was obliged to give up the idea of making +the attempt.</p> + +<p>As he stood behind the last tree he had reached, he saw that it +branched, and the lowest branches grew but a little above his head. +He could easily climb it, and at once resolved to do so. He would +there be safe for the time, and could at least rest himself, for he was +now weak with fatigue. He therefore stretched up his hands, and, +laying hold of a branch, swung himself up into the tree. Then, +climbing up a little higher, he sat down on one of the forks.</p> + +<p>The moose appeared as furious as ever; and ran round the tree, +now striking it with his horns, and then rearing upon his hind-legs, +and pouncing against the trunk with his hoofs. At times his snout +was so close to Basil, that the latter could almost touch it; and he +had even drawn his hunting-knife, and reached down with the intent +of giving the creature a stab.</p> + +<p>This last action led to a train of thought, and Basil seemed suddenly +to adopt some new resolution. Leaving the fork where he had +perched himself, he climbed higher up the tree; and, selecting one +of the longest and straightest branches, commenced cutting it off close +to the trunk. This was soon effected; and then, drawing it along +his knee, he trimmed off all the twigs and tops until the branch +became a straight pole, like a spear-handle. Along one end of this +he laid the handle of his knife; and with thongs, which he had +already cut out of the strap of his bullet-pouch, he spliced the knife +and pole together. This gave him a formidable weapon—for the +knife was a “bowie,” and had a long blade, with a point like a rapier. +He was not slow in using it.</p> + +<p>Descending again to the lowermost limbs, he commenced making +demonstrations, in order to bring the moose within reach. This he +very soon succeeded in doing; and the animal ran forward and reared +up against the tree. Before it could get upon its four legs again, +Basil had thrust it in the neck, giving full force to the blow. The +blood rushed forth in a thick stream, as the jugular vein had been +cut by the keen blade; and the huge brute was seen to totter in its +steps, and then fall with a dull heavy sound to the earth. In a few +moments the hunter had the satisfaction of perceiving that it was +quite dead.</p> + +<p>Basil now dropped out of the tree, and walking back to where his +rifle lay, took up the piece and carefully reloaded it. He then +returned to the moose, and opening the great jaws of the animal, +gagged them with a stick. He next unspliced his knife, took off the +gristly lips, and cut out the tongue. These he placed in his game-bag,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">116</a></span> +and shouldering his rifle, was about to depart; when some new +idea caused him to halt, put down his gun, and again unsheath his +knife. Once more approaching the carcass, he made an incision near +the kidneys; and having inserted his hand, drew forth what appeared +to be a part of the intestines. It was the bladder. He then looked +around as if in search of something. Presently his eye rested upon +some tall reed-grass that was growing near. This was just what he +wanted, and, pulling up one of the stems, he cut and fashioned it +into a pipe.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 345px;"> +<img src="images/illus-116.jpg" width="345" height="500" alt="BASIL AND THE MOOSE BULL" title="BASIL AND THE MOOSE BULL" /> +<span class="caption">BASIL AND THE MOOSE BULL</span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">117</a></span>With this the moose-bladder was blown out to its full dimensions, +and tied at the neck by a piece of thong. The other end of the +thong was fastened to one of the branches of the tree above, so that +the bladder dangled within a few feet of the carcass of the moose, +dancing about with the lightest breath of wind. All these precautions +Basil had taken to keep the wolves from devouring the moose—for +it was his intention to return and butcher it, as soon as he could +get help. When he had hung the bladder to his liking, he put up his +knife again; and, once more shouldering his rifle, walked off.</p> + +<p>On reaching the camp—which he did shortly after—the tongue of +the moose was broiled without delay, and, after making a delicious +meal of it, the whole party went off for the remainder of the meat. +They found it all quite safe; although, had it not been for the bladder, +not much of it would have been there—as no less than a dozen great +gaunt wolves were seen lurking about, and these would have eaten it +up in the shortest possible time. The bladder, however, had kept +them off; for, strange to say, these creatures, who are as cunning as +foxes, and can hardly be trapped, can yet be deceived and frightened +by such a simple thing as a bladder dangling from a branch.</p> + +<p>The moose proved to be one of the largest of his kind. His height +was quite equal to that of a horse; and his horns, flattened out to the +breadth of shovels, weighed over sixty pounds. His carcass was not +less than fifteen hundred pounds weight; and our voyageurs had to +make two journeys to convey the meat to their camp. On the last +journey, François brought the porcupine as well—having found it on +the very same tree where Basil had left it!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">LIFE IN A LOG-HUT.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he log-hut was finished on the 1st of September, and not a day too +soon; for on that very day the winter set in with full severity. A +heavy fall of snow came down in the night; and next morning, when +our voyageurs looked abroad, the ground was covered to the depth of +a foot, or more; and the ice upon the lake was also white. Walking +through the great wreaths now became very difficult; and the next +thing to be done was the making of “snow-shoes.”</p> + +<p>Snow-shoes are an invention of the Indians; and, in the winter of +the Arctic regions of America, are an article almost as indispensable +as clothing itself. Without them, travelling afoot would be impossible. +In these countries, as already stated, the snow often covers +the ground to the depth of many feet; and remains without any considerable +diminution for six, and, in some years, eight or nine months. +At times, it is frozen hard enough on the surface to bear a man without +the snow-shoes; but oftener on account of thaws and fresh falls, +it becomes quite soft, and at such times travelling over it is both +difficult and dangerous. To avoid both the difficulty and the danger, +the Indians make use of this very singular sort of foot-wear—called +“snow-shoes” by the English, and “raquets” by the Canadian +voyageurs.</p> + +<p>They are used by all the Indian tribes of the Hudson's Bay +territory; and were it not for them these people would be confined +to one place for months together, and could not follow the deer or<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">118</a></span> +other game. As almost all savages are improvident, and none more +so than the North American Indians, were they prevented for a +season from going out to hunt, whole tribes would starve. Indeed, +many individuals of them perish with hunger as it is; and the life of +all these Indians is nothing more than one continued struggle for +food enough to sustain them. In summer they are often in the +midst of plenty; slaughtering deer and buffalo by hundreds, taking +out only the tongues, and recklessly leaving the flesh to the wolves! +In winter the very same Indians may be seen without a pound of +meat in their encampment—the lives of themselves and their families +depending upon the success of a single day's hunt!</p> + +<p>But let us return to the snow-shoes. Let us see what they are, and +learn how they are made.</p> + +<p>Any boy who has snared sparrows in snow-time, has, no doubt, +done so by tying his snares upon a hoop netted across with twine or +other small cord. Now, if he will conceive his hoop bent into an +oblong shape—something like what the figure of a boat turned on its +mouth would make in snow—and if he will also fancy the netting to +consist of thongs of twisted deer-hide woven somewhat closely together, +he will get a very good idea of an Indian snow-shoe. It is +usually from three to four feet long, by about a foot wide at the +middle part, from which it tapers gently to a point, both at the heel +and toe.</p> + +<p>The frame, as I have said, is like the hoop of a boy's bird-snare. It +is made of light, tough wood, and, of course, carefully bent and +polished with the knife. The slender branches of the “scrub-pine” +are esteemed excellent for this purpose, as their wood is light, flexible +and tough in its fibres. This is also a favourite tree, where it grows, +to make tent-poles, canoe-timbers, and other implements required by +the Indians; and these people use so much of it for their arrows, that +it has received from the Canadian voyageurs the name of <i>bois de +flêche</i> (arrow-wood).</p> + +<p>Well, then, the frame of the snow-shoes being bent to its proper +shape, two transverse bars are placed across near the middle, and +several inches from each other. They are for the foot to rest upon, +as well as to give strength to the whole structure. These being made +fast, the netting is woven on, and extends over the whole frame, +with the exception of a little space in front of the bars where the ball +of the foot is to rest. This space is left free of netting, in order to +allow play to the toes while walking. The mesh-work is made of +thongs usually cut from the parchment-skin of a deer, and twisted. +Sometimes twisted intestines are used, and the netting exactly +resembles that seen in “racquets” for ball play.</p> + +<p>The snow-shoe, when finished, is simply fastened upon the foot by +means of straps or thongs; and a pair of them thus placed, will present +a surface to the snow of nearly six square feet—more, if required, +by making them larger. But this is enough to sustain the heaviest +man upon the softest snow, and an Indian thus “shod” will skim +over the surface like a skater.</p> + +<p>The shoes used by all tribes of Indians are not alike in shape. +There are fashions and fancies in this respect. Some are made—as +among the Chippewa Indians—with one side of the frame nearly +straight; and these, of course, will not do for either foot, but are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">119</a></span> +“rights and lefts.” Generally, however, the shape is such that the +snow-shoe will fit either foot.</p> + +<p>The snow-shoes having now become a necessary thing, our young +voyageurs set about making a complete set for the whole party—that +is, no less than four pairs. Norman was the “shoemaker,” and +Norman knew how. He could splice the frames, and work in the +netting, equal to an Indian squaw. Of course all the others assisted +him. Lucien cut the moose-skin into fine regular strips; Basil +waded off through the snow, and procured the frames from the wood +of the scrub-pine trees where he had encountered the porcupine; +and then he and François trimmed them with their knives, and +sweated them in the hot ashes until they became dry, and ready +for the hands of the “shoemaker.”</p> + +<p>This work occupied them several days, and then each had a pair +of shoes fitted to his size and weight.</p> + +<p>The next consideration was, to lay in a stock of meat. The moose +had furnished them with enough for present use, but that would not +last long, as there was no bread nor anything else to eat with it. +Persons in their situation require a great deal of meat to sustain +them, much more than those who live in great cities, who eat a +variety of substances, and drink many kinds of drinks. The healthy +voyageur is rarely without a keen appetite; and meat by itself is +a food that speedily digests, and makes way for a fresh meal; so +that the ration usually allowed to the <i>employés</i> of the fur companies +would appear large enough to supply the table of several families. +For instance, in some parts of the Hudson's Bay territory, the +voyageur is allowed eight pounds of buffalo-meat <i>per diem</i>! And +yet it is all eaten by him, and sometimes deemed barely sufficient.</p> + +<p>A single deer, therefore, or even a buffalo, lasts a party of voyageurs +for a very short time, since they have no other substance, such as +bread or vegetables, to help it out. It was necessary, then, that our +travellers should use all their diligence in laying up a stock of dried +meat, before the winter became too cold for them to hunt. There +was another consideration—their clothing. They all had clothing +sufficient for such weather as they had yet experienced; but that +would never do for the winter of the Great Slave Lake, and they +knew it. Many deer must be killed, and many hides dressed, before +they could make a full set of clothing for all, as well as a set of +deer-skin blankets, which would be much needed.</p> + +<p>As soon as the snow-shoes were finished, therefore, Basil and +Norman went out each day upon long hunting expeditions, from +which they rarely returned before nightfall. Sometimes they brought +with them a deer, of the caribou or reindeer species, and the “woodland” +variety, which were in plenty at this place. They only carried to +camp the best parts with the skin, as the flesh of the woodland caribou +is not much esteemed. It is larger than the other kind—the “Barren +Ground caribou,” weighing about one hundred and fifty pounds; but +both its venison and hide are of inferior quality to those of the latter +species. Sometimes our hunters killed smaller game; and on several +occasions they returned without having emptied their guns at all.</p> + +<p>But there was one day that made up for several—one grand day +when they were extremely successful, and on which they killed +a whole herd of moose, consisting of five individuals—the old bull, +a spike buck—that is, a young buck, whose horns had not yet got<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">120</a></span> +antlers upon them—the cow, and two calves. These they had tracked +and followed for a long distance, and had succeeded, at length, in +running them into a valley where the snow was exceedingly deep, and +where the moose became entangled. There had been a shower of +rain the day before that had melted the surface of the snow; and +this had again frozen into an icy crust, upon which the deer lacerated +their ankles at every plunge, leaving a track of blood behind them as +they ran.</p> + +<p>Under these circumstances they were easily trailed, and Basil and +Norman, skimming along upon their snow-shoes, soon came up with +them, and shot first one and then another, until the whole herd were +stretched in the valley. They then butchered them, and hung the +hides and quarters upon high branches, so as to secure them from +wolves and wolverenes. When the job was finished, the whole place +looked like a great slaughter-yard! Next day a rude sledge was +constructed; and the voyageurs, returning in full force, transported +the meat to camp. Huge fires were kindled outside the hut, and +several days were spent in cutting up and drying the flesh. Had our +travellers been certain that the frost would have continued all winter, +this would not have been necessary—since the meat was already +frozen as hard as a brick.</p> + +<p>But they knew that a sudden thaw would spoil it; and, as there +was plenty of good firewood on the spot, they were not going to run +the risk of losing it in that way.</p> + +<p>They had now enough provision to last them for months; and +hunting became no longer necessary, except to obtain fresh meat—which +was, of course, preferable to the dry stock. Hunting, also, +gave them exercise and amusement—both of which were necessary +to their health; for to remain idle and inactive in a situation +such as that in which they were placed is the worst possible plan, +and is sure to engender both sickness and <i>ennui</i>. Indeed, the last +grew upon them, notwithstanding all the pains they took to prevent +it. There were days on which the cold was so extreme, that they +could not put their noses out of the door without the danger of +having them frost-bitten—although each had now a complete suit +of deer-skin clothing, made by Lucien, the “tailor” of the party.</p> + +<p>Upon such days they were fain to remain shut up in their hut; +and, seated around their huge log-fire, they passed the time in +cleaning their guns, mending their nets, stitching their clothes, and +such-like employments. These days were far from being their +dullest; for, what with the varied and scientific knowledge of +Lucien, which he took pleasure in imparting to his companions—what +with the practical experience of Norman amid scenes of Arctic +life, and the many “voyageur tales” he could tell—what with +François merry jokes and <i>bon mots</i>—and what with Basil's <i>talent for +listening</i>—not the least important element in a good <i>conversazione</i>,—our +<i>quartette</i> of young voyageurs found their indoor days anything +but dull.</p> + +<p>This was all well enough for a while. For a month or two they +bore their odd kind of life cheerfully enough; but the prospect of +nearly six months more of it began to appal them, when they reflected +upon it; and they soon found themselves longing for a change. +Hunting adventures, that at other times would have interested them, +now occurred without creating any excitement; and the whole<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">121</a></span> +routine of their employments seemed monotonous. Nearly all of +them were boys of an active character of mind; and most of them +were old enough to reason about the value of time. Their idea of +such a long isolation from civilized life, and, above all, the being +debarred from following any useful pursuit, began to impress some +of them forcibly. Others, as François, could not be contented for +a very great stretch of time with any sort of life; so that all of them +began to sigh for a change.</p> + +<p>One day, while conversing upon this theme, a bold proposal was +made by Basil. It was, that they should “strike camp,” and continue +their journey. This proposal took the others by surprise, but they +were all just in the frame of mind to entertain and discuss it; and +a long consultation was held upon the point. François chimed in +with the proposal at once; while Lucien, more cautious, did not +exactly oppose, but rather offered the reasons that were against it, +and pointed out the perils of the undertaking. Norman, of course, +was appealed to—all of them looking to him as one whose advice, +upon that question at least, was more valuable than their own.</p> + +<p>Norman admitted the dangers pointed out by Lucien, but believed +that they might overcome them by a proper caution. On the whole, +Norman approved of the plan, and it was at length adopted. Perhaps +Norman's habitual prudence was to some extent influenced on this +occasion by the very natural desire he had of returning to what he +considered his home. He had now been absent nearly two years, and +was desirous of once more seeing his father and his old companions +at the Fort.</p> + +<p>There was another feeling that influenced nearly all of them: that +was <i>ambition</i>. They knew that to make such a journey would be +something of a feat, and they wished to have the credit of performing +it. To minds like that of Basil, even the danger had something +attractive in it. It was resolved then to break up the encampment, +and continue their journey.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">TRAVELLING ON SNOW-SHOES.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">O</span>nce their resolution was taken, they lost but little time in making +preparations to carry it out. Most of the articles required for such +a journey were already in their hands. They had the proper dresses—snow-shoes, +skin-blankets, and gloves. They had prepared for themselves +sets of “snow spectacles.” These were made out of red cedar-wood. +Each pair consisted of two small thin pieces, that covered the +eyes, joined together and fastened on by thongs of buckskin. In +each piece an oblong slit served for the eye-hole, through which the +eye looked without being dazzled by the snow. Without this, or +some like contrivance, travelling in the Arctic regions is painful to +the eyes, and the traveller often loses his sight. Indeed, one of the +most common infirmities of both the Indians and Esquimaux of these +parts is blindness or soreness of the eyes, caused by the reflexion of +the sunbeams from the crystals of the frozen snow. Norman was +aware of this, and had made the spectacles to guard against this +peril.</p> + +<p>Out of their spare skins they had made a small tent. This was to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">122</a></span> +be carried along by Marengo in a light sledge, which they had long +since constructed, and taught the dog to draw. Nothing else remained +but to pack their provisions in the smallest bulk possible, +and this was done, according to the custom of the country, by making +“pemmican.” The dry meat was first pounded until it became a +powder; it was then put into small skin bags, made for the purpose, +and the hot melted fat was poured in and well mixed with it. This +soon froze hard, and the mixture—that resembled “potted meat,”—was +now ready for use, and would keep for an indefinite time without +the least danger of spoiling. Buffalo-beef, moose-meat, or venison of +any sort, thus prepared, is called “<i>pemmican</i>,” and is more portable +in this shape than any other. Besides no further cooking is required—an +important consideration upon those vast prairie deserts, where +firewood is seldom to be procured without the trouble of carrying it +a great distance.</p> + +<p>Norman, who was the maker of the pemmican, had produced a +superior article upon this occasion. Besides the pounded meat and +fat, he had mixed another ingredient with it, which rendered it a +most delicious food. This third ingredient was a small purple-coloured +berry—of which we have already spoken—not unlike the whortleberry, +but sweeter and of a higher flavour. It grows through most +of the Northern regions of America; and in some places, as upon the +Red River and the Elk, the bushes that produce it are seen in great +plenty.</p> + +<p>Previous to the setting in of winter, our voyageurs had collected a +large bagful upon the banks of the Elk, which they had dried and +stored away—expecting to stand in need of them for this very +purpose. They now came into use, and enabled Norman to make his +pemmican of the very choicest quality. Five bags of it were put up, +each weighing over thirty pounds. One of these was to be drawn +upon the sledge, along with the tent, the axe, and a few other articles. +The rest were to be carried by the voyageurs themselves—each +shouldering one, which, along with their guns and accoutrements, +would be load enough.</p> + +<p>These arrangements being at length complete, the party bid adieu +to their log-hut—gave a parting look to their little canoe, which still +rested by the door—and then, shouldering their guns and bags of +pemmican, set out over the frozen surface of the snow.</p> + +<p>Of course before starting they had decided upon the route they +were to take. This decision, however, had not been arrived at until +after much discussion. Lucien advised that they should follow the +shore of the lake until they should reach the Mackenzie River—which +of course was now frozen up. Its channel, he argued, would then +guide them; and, in case their provisions should run short, they +would be more likely to find game upon its banks than elsewhere, as +these were wooded almost to the sea—in consequence of its head-waters +rising in southern latitudes, and carrying with them a warmer +climate.</p> + +<p>There was plausibility in Lucien's argument, combined with much +prudence. Norman, however, advised a contrary course. He said +that they would have to make a considerable journey westward before +reaching the place where the Mackenzie River flows out of the lake; +and, moreover, he knew that the river itself was very crooked—in +some places winding about in great curves, whose ends come near<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">123</a></span> +meeting each other. Should they keep the course of the river, +Norman believed it would almost double their journey. A much +shorter route, he said, would be obtained by striking across the +country in a north-westerly direction, so as to reach the Mackenzie +near where another great stream—the River of the Mountains—empties +into it from the west. This would certainly be a more +direct route, and they would avoid the windings of the river +channel.</p> + +<p>Norman's reasoning prevailed. Basil and François readily agreed +to his plan, and Lucien at length also gave his assent, but with some +reluctance. Norman knew nothing whatever of the route he was +advising them to take. His former journeys up and down the +Mackenzie had been made in summer, and of course he had travelled +by canoe, in company with the traders and voyageurs. He only knew +that to strike across the country would be the shorter way. But +“the shortest way is not always the nearest,” says the proverb; and +although Lucien remembered this prudent maxim, the others did not +give it a thought. Before the end of their journey they received a +practical lesson of its wisdom—a lesson they were not likely to forget. +But they knew not what was before them, and they started off in +high spirits.</p> + +<p>Their first three or four days' journeys were without any event +worth being chronicled. They travelled full twenty miles each day. +The Southerners had become quite skilful in the management of their +snow-shoes, and they skimmed along upon the icy crust at the rate of +three or four miles an hour.</p> + +<p>Marengo and his sledge gave them very little trouble. There was +full sixty pounds weight upon it; but to the huge dog this was a +mere bagatelle, and he pulled it after him without any great strain. +His harness was neatly made of moose-skin, and consisted of a collar +with a back strap and traces—the traces meeting behind, where they +were attached to the head of the sledge. No head-gear was necessary, +as Marengo needed not to be either led or driven. The sledge consisted +of two or three light planks of smooth wood, laid alongside +each other, and held together by transverse bands. In front it +turned up with a circular sweep, so as not to “plough” the snow; +and at the top of this curved part the traces were adjusted. The +load was, of course, carefully packed and tied, so that the overturning +of the vehicle did no damage whatever, and it could be easily righted +again. Marengo required no one to guide him, but followed quietly +in the tracks of the snow-shoes, and thus avoided the trees, rocks, +and other inequalities. If a rabbit or other creature started up, +Marengo knew better than to go galloping after it; he felt that he +had a more important duty to perform than to throw away his time +upon rabbit-hunting.</p> + +<p>Each night a spot was chosen for the camp by the side of some lake +or stream, where wood could be obtained for their fire. Water was +got by breaking a hole in the ice, and the little tent was always set +up in a sheltered situation.</p> + +<p>Upon the fifth day after leaving the log-hut the woods began to +grown thinner and more straggling; and towards night of the same +day they found themselves travelling through a country, where the +timber only grew here and there in small clumps, and the individual +trees were small and stunted. Next day still less timber was seen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">124</a></span> +upon their route; and when camping-time came, they were obliged +to halt at a spot where nothing but willows could be procured for +their fire. They had, in fact, arrived upon the edge of that vast +wilderness, the Barren Grounds, which stretches in all its wild desolation +along the Northern half of the American continent from the +Great Slave Lake even to the shores of the Arctic Sea on the north, +and to those of Hudson's Bay on the east.</p> + +<p>This territory bears an appropriate name, for, perhaps, upon the +whole surface of the earth there is no tract more barren or desolate—not +even the Saära of Africa. Both are deserts of immense extent, +equally difficult to cross, and equally dangerous to the traveller. On +both the traveller often perishes, but from different causes. On the +Saära it is <i>thirst</i> that kills; upon the Barren Grounds <i>hunger</i> is more +frequently the destroyer. In the latter there is but little to be feared +on the score of water. That exists in great plenty; or where it is not +found, snow supplies its place. But there is water everywhere. Hill +succeeds hill, bleak, rocky, and bare. Everywhere granite, gneiss, or +other primitive rocks, show themselves.</p> + +<p>No vegetation covers the steep declivities of the hills, except the +moss and lichen upon the rocks, a few willows upon the banks of +streams, the dwarf birch-tree or the scrub-pines, rising only to the +height of a few inches, and often straggling over the earth like vines. +Every hill has its valley, and every valley its lake—dark, and deep, +and silent—in winter scarce to be distinguished under the snow-covered +ice. The prospect in every direction exhibits a surface of +rocks, or bleak hills, half covered with snow. The traveller looks +around and sees no life. He listens and hears no sound. The world +appears dead and wrapped in its cold winding-sheet!</p> + +<p>Amidst just such scenes did our voyageurs find themselves on the +seventh day after parting from the lake. They had heard of the +Barren Grounds—had heard many fearful stories of the sufferings of +travellers who had attempted to cross them; but the description had +fallen far short of the actual reality. None of them could believe in +the difficulties to be encountered, and the desolateness of the scene +they were to witness, until now that they found themselves in its +midst; and, as they proceeded on their journey, getting farther and +farther from the wooded region, their apprehensions, already aroused +by the wild aspect of the country, grew stronger and stronger. They +began to entertain serious fears, for they knew not how far the barren +tract extended along their route.</p> + +<p>On calculation they found they had provisions enough to last them +for a month. That in some measure restored their confidence; but +even then, they could not help giving way to serious reflections. +Should they get lost or retarded in their course by mountains, or +other obstacles, it might take them longer than a month to reach +some place where game was to be met with. Each day, as they advanced, +they found the country more hilly and difficult. Precipices +often bounded the valleys, lying directly across their track; and as +these could not be scaled, it was necessary to make long <i>détours</i> to +pass them, so that some days they actually advanced less than five +miles upon their journey.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding these impediments, they might still have got over +the Barren Grounds without further suffering than the fatigue and +necessary exposure to cold; but at this time an incident occurred, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">125</a></span> +not only frustrated all their calculations, but placed them in imminent +danger of perishing.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE BARREN GROUNDS</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he Barren Grounds are not entirely destitute of animal life. Even +in winter—when they are almost covered with snow, and you would +suppose that no living creature could procure subsistence upon them—even +then they have their denizens; and, strange to say, there are +many animals that choose them for their home. There is no part of +the earth's surface so sterile but that some animated being can find a +living upon it, and such a being Nature adapts to its peculiar situation. +For instance, there are animals that prefer the very desert +itself, and would not thrive were you to place them in a country of +mild climate and fertile soil. In our own species this peculiarity is +also found—as the Esquimaux would not be happy were you to transplant +him from his icy hut amid the snows of the Arctic regions, and +give him a palace under the genial skies of Italy.</p> + +<p>Among other creatures that remain all winter upon the Barren +Grounds are the wolves. How they exist there is almost a question +of the naturalists. It is true they prey upon other animals found at +times in the same district; but wolves have been met with where not +the slightest traces of other living creatures could be seen!</p> + +<p>There is no animal more generally distributed over the earth's +surface than the wolf. He exists in nearly every country, and most +likely has at one time existed in all. In America there are wolves in +its three zones. They are met with from Cape Horn to the farthest +point northward that man has reached. They are common in the +tropical forests of Mexico and South America. They range over the +great prairies of the temperate zones of both divisions of the continent, +and in the colder regions of the Hudson's Bay territory they are +among the best known of wild animals. They frequent the mountains, +they gallop over the plains, they skulk through the valleys, +they dwell everywhere—everywhere the wolf seems equally at home.</p> + +<p>In North America two very different kinds are known. One is the +“prairie” or “barking” wolf, which we have already met with and +described. The other species is the “common” or “large” wolf; but +it is not decided among naturalists that there are not several distinct +species of the latter. At all events, there are several <i>varieties</i> of it—distinguished +from each other in size, colour, and even to some extent +in form. The habits of all, however, appear to be similar, and it is a +question, whether any of these varieties be <i>permanent</i> or only <i>accidental</i>. +Some of them, it is well known, are accidental—as wolves +differing in colour have been found in the same litter—but late explorers, +of the countries around and beyond the Rocky Mountains, +have discovered one or two kinds that appear to be specifically distinct +from the common wolf of America—one of them, the “dusky +wolf,” being much larger.</p> + +<p>This last is said to resemble the wolf of Europe more than the other +American wolves do—for there is a considerable difference between +the wolves of the two continents. Those of the Northern regions of +America have shorter ears, a broader snout and forehead, and are of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">126</a></span> +a stouter make, than the European wolves. Their fur, too, is finer, +denser, and longer; their tails more bushy and fox-like; and their +feet broader. The European wolf, on the contrary, is characterized +by a gaunt appearance, a pointed snout, long jaws, high ears, long +legs, and feet very narrow. It is possible, nothwithstanding these +points of difference, that both may be of the same species, the difference +arising from a want of similitude in the circumstances by which +they are surrounded.</p> + +<p>For instance, the dense wool of the Hudson's Bay wolf may be +accounted for by the fact of its colder habitat, and its broader feet may +be the result of its having to run much upon the surface of the snow. +The writer of this little book believes that this peculiar adaptation +of Nature—which may be observed in all her kingdoms—may explain +the difference that exists between the wolves of the Northern parts +of America and those of the South of Europe. He believes, moreover, +that those of the Southern parts of the American continent approximate +more nearly to the Pyrenean wolves, as he has seen in the +tropical forest of Mexico some that possessed all that “gaunt” form +and “sneaking” aspect that characterize the latter.</p> + +<p>It would be interesting to inquire whether the wolves of Siberia +and Lapland, inhabitating a similar climate to that of the Northern +parts of America, do not possess the same peculiarities as the North +American kind—a point which naturalists have not yet considered, +and which you, my boy reader, may some day find both amusement +and instruction in determining for yourself.</p> + +<p>With regard to colour the wolves of both continents exhibit many +varieties. In North America there are more than half-a-dozen colours +of them, all receiving different names. There is the “grey wolf,” the +“white,” the “brown,” the “dusky,” the “pied,” and the “black.” +These trivial names will give a good enough idea of the colours of +each kind, but there are even varieties in their markings. “Yellow” +wolves, too, have been seen, and “red” ones, and some of a “cream +colour.” Of all these the grey wolf is the most common, and is <i>par +excellence the wolf</i>; but there are districts in which individuals of +other colours predominate. Wolves purely black are plenty in many +parts, and white wolves are often seen in large packs.</p> + +<p>Even those of the same colour differ in size, and that to a considerable +extent. And what is also strange, large wolves will be found in +one district of country, while much smaller ones <i>of the same colour and +species</i> inhabit another. The largest in size of American wolves are +about six feet in length, the tail included; and about three feet in +height, measuring to the tips of the standing fur. The tail is usually +about one-third of the whole length.</p> + +<p>The habits of the American wolf are pretty much like those of his +European cousin. He is a beast of prey, devouring all the smaller +animals he can lay hold of. He pursues and overtakes the deer, and +often runs down the fox and makes a meal of it. He will kill and eat +Indian dogs, although these are so near his own species that the one +is often taken for the other. But this is not all, for he will even eat +his own kind, on a pinch. He is as cunning as the fox himself, and as +cowardly; but at times, when impelled by hunger, he becomes bolder, +and has been known to attack man. Instances of this kind, however, +are rare.</p> + +<p>The American wolves burrow, and, like the fox, have several entrances<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">127</a></span> +to their holes. A litter of young wolves numbers five puppies, +but as many as eight are often produced at one birth.</p> + +<p>During their journey through the Barren Grounds our voyageurs +had frequently observed wolves. They were mostly grey ones, and +of great size, for they were travelling through a district where the +very largest kind is found. At times they saw a party of five or six +together; and these appeared to be following upon their trail—as +each night, when they came barking about the camp, our travellers +recognised some of them as having been seen before. They made no +attempt to shoot any of them—partly because they did not want +either their skins or flesh, and partly because their ammunition had +been reduced to a small quantity, and they did not wish to spend it +unnecessarily.</p> + +<p>The wolves, therefore, were allowed to approach very near the +camp, and howl as much as they liked—which they usually did +throughout the livelong night. What they found to allure them +after our travellers, the latter could not make out; as they had not +shot an animal of any kind since leaving the lake, and scarcely a +scrap of anything was ever left behind them. Perhaps the wolves +were <i>living upon hope</i>.</p> + +<p>One evening our travellers had made their camp on the side of a +ridge—which they had just crossed—and under the shelter of some +rough rocks. There was no wood in the neighbourhood wherewith +to make a fire; but they had scraped the snow from the place over +which their tent was pitched, and under it their skins were spread +upon the ground. As the tent was a very small one, Marengo's +sledge, with the utensils and pemmican bags, was always left outside +close by the opening. Marengo himself slept there, and that was +considered sufficient to secure all these things from wolves, or any +other creatures that might be prowling about.</p> + +<p>On the evening in question, the sledge was in its usual place—the +dog having been taken from it—and as our voyageurs had not yet +had their supper, the pemmican bags were lying loosely about, one +or two of them being open. There was a small rivulet at the foot of +the ridge—some two hundred paces distant—and Basil and François +had gone down to it to get water. One of them took the axe to +break the ice with, while the other carried a vessel. On arriving +near the bank of the rivulet, the attention of the boys was attracted +to a singular appearance upon the snow. A fresh shower had fallen +that morning, and the surface was still soft, and very smooth. Upon +this they observed double lines of little dots, running in different +directions, which, upon close inspection, appeared to be the tracks of +some animal.</p> + +<p>At first, Basil and François could hardly believe them to be such, +the tracks were so very small. They had never seen so small ones +before—those of a mouse being quite double the size. But when they +looked more closely at them, the boys could distinguish the marks of +five little toes with claws upon them, which left no doubt upon their +minds that some living creature, and that a very diminutive one, +must have passed over the spot. Indeed, had the snow not been +both fine-grained and soft, the feet of such a creature could not have +made any impression upon it.</p> + +<p>The boys stopped and looked around, thinking they might see the +animal itself. There was a wide circle of snow around them, and its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">128</a></span> +surface was smooth and level; but not a speck upon it betrayed the +presence of any creature.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps it was a bird,” said François, “and has taken flight.”</p> + +<p>“I think not,” rejoined Basil. “They are not the tracks of a bird. +It is some animal that has gone under the snow, I fancy.”</p> + +<p>“But I see no hole,” said François, “where even a beetle could have +gone down. Let us look for one.”</p> + +<p>At François' suggestion, they walked on following one of the dotted +lines. Presently they came to a place, where a stalk of long grass +stood up through the snow—its seedless panicle just appearing above +the surface. Round this stalk a little hole had been formed—partly +by the melting of the snow, and partly by the action of the wind +upon the panicle—and into this hole the tracks led. It was evident +that the animal, whatever it was, must have gone down the culm of +the grass in making its descent from the surface of the snow!</p> + +<p>They now observed another track going <i>from</i> the hole in an opposite +direction, which showed that the creature had climbed up in +the same way. Curious to know what it might have been, the boys +hailed Lucien and Norman, telling them to come down. These, +followed by Marengo, soon arrived upon the spot. When Lucien +saw the tracks, he pronounced them at once to be those of the little +shrew-mouse, the smallest of all the quadrupeds of America. Several +of them had evidently been out upon the snow—as there were other +dotted lines—and the tops of many stalks of grass were seen above +the surface, each of which had formed a little hole around it, by +which the mice were enabled to get up and down.</p> + +<p>Norman, who had seen these little animals before, cautioned his +companions to remain quiet awhile, and perhaps some of them might +come to the surface. They all stopped therefore, and stood some +time without moving, or speaking to one another. Presently, a little +head not much bigger than a pea was seen peeping up, and then a +body followed, which in size did not exceed that of a large gooseberry! +To this a tail was suspended, just one inch in length, of a +square shape, and tapering from root to point, like that of any other +mouse. The little creature was covered with a close smooth fur, of a +clove-brown colour above, but more yellowish upon the belly and +sides; and was certainly, as it sat upon the even surface of the snow, +the most diminutive and oddest-looking quadruped that any of the +party had ever beheld.</p> + +<p>They were just whispering to one another what means they should +use to capture it, when Marengo, whom Basil had been holding +quiet, all at once uttered a loud bay; and, springing out of the hands +of his master, galloped off towards the camp. All of them looked +after, wondering what had started the dog; but his strange behaviour +was at once explained, and to their consternation. Around the tent, +and close to its entrance, several large wolves were seen. They were +leaping about hurriedly, and worrying some objects that lay upon +the ground. What these objects were was too plain. They were <i>the +bags of pemmican</i>! Part of their contents was seen strewed over the +snow, and part was already in the stomachs of the wolves.</p> + +<p>The boys uttered a simultaneous shout, and ran forward. Marengo +was by this time among the wolves, and had set fiercely upon one of +them. Had his masters not been at hand, the fierce brutes would +soon have settled the account with Marengo. But the former were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">129</a></span> +now close by, and the wolves, seeing them, ran off; but, to the consternation +of the boys, each of them carried off a bag of the pemmican +in his mouth with as much lightness and speed as if nothing encumbered +them!</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 345px;"> +<img src="images/illus-129.jpg" width="345" height="500" alt="THE WOLVES AND THE PEMMICAN BAGS." title="THE WOLVES AND THE PEMMICAN BAGS." /> +<span class="caption">THE WOLVES AND THE PEMMICAN BAGS.</span> +</div> + +<p>“We are lost!” cried Norman, in a voice of terror. “Our provisions +are gone!—all gone!”</p> + +<p>It was true. The next moment the wolves disappeared over the +summit of the ridge; and although each of the boys had seized his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">130</a></span> +gun, and ran after, the pursuit proved an idle one. Not a wolf was +overtaken.</p> + +<p>Scarce a scrap of the pemmican had been left—only some fragments +that had been gnawed by the ravenous brutes, and scattered +over the snow. That night our travellers went to bed supperless; +and, what with hunger, and the depression of spirits caused by this +incident, one and all of them kept awake nearly the whole of the +night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE ROCK-TRIPE.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>hey left their skin-couch at an early hour, close after daybreak. +Hunger and anxiety drove them out of their tent. Not a morsel of +anything for breakfast! They looked abroad over the country, in +order, if possible, to descry some living creature. None could be +seen—nothing but the wilderness waste of snow, with here and there +the side of a steep hill, or a rock showing cold and bleak. Even the +wolves that had robbed them were no longer to be seen, as if these +creatures knew that they had got all that was worth having, and had +now taken themselves off to hunt for plunder elsewhere.</p> + +<p>The situation of our travellers was really one of extreme peril, +although it may be difficult for you, young reader, to conceive why it +should be so. They, however, knew it well. They knew that they +might travel for days through that inhospitable region, without falling +in with anything that would make a single meal for them. But less +time than that would suffice to starve them all. Already they felt +the pangs of hunger—for they had not eaten since their breakfast of +the preceding day, the wolves having interrupted their preparations +for dinner.</p> + +<p>It was of no use remaining where they were; so, striking their tent +once more, they travelled forward. It was but poor consolation to +them that they travelled much lighter than before. They had nothing +to carry but their guns, and these they had got ready for work—so +that their journey partook somewhat of the character of a hunting +excursion. They did not even follow a direct course, but occasionally +turned to one side or the other, wherever a clump of willows, or any +other roughness on the ground, looked like it might be the shelter of +game. But during that whole day—although they travelled from +near sunrise to sunset—not a living thing was seen; and for the +second night they went supperless to bed.</p> + +<p>A man will bear hunger for many days—some more, some less—without +actually dying of it; but at no period will his sufferings be +greater than during the third or fourth day. He will grow more +feeble afterwards, but the pain which he endures will not be greater.</p> + +<p>On the third day the sufferings of our party were extreme. They +began to chew pieces of their skin-tent and blankets; but although +this took the sharp edge off their appetites, it added nothing to their +strength; and they still craved for food, and grew feebler.</p> + +<p>To use a poetical phrase, Marengo now became the “cynosure of +every eye.” Marengo was not very fat. The sledge and short rations +had thinned him down, and his ribs could be easily traced. Although +the boys, and Basil in particular, would have suffered much before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">131</a></span> +sacrificing him, yet starvation will reconcile a man to part with his +best friend. In spite of their friendship for Marengo, his masters +could not help scanning him from time to time with hungry looks. +Marengo was an old dog, and, no doubt, as tough as a piece of tan-leather; +but their appetites were made up for anything.</p> + +<p>It was near mid-day. They had started early, as on the day before. +They were trudging wearily along, and making but little progress. +Marengo was struggling with his sledge, feeble as any of the party. +Basil saw that the eyes of his companions were from time to time +bent upon the dog; and though none of them said anything, he +understood the thoughts that were passing within them. He knew +that none of them wished to propose it—as Basil was the real master +of Marengo—but their glances were sufficiently intelligible to him. +He looked at the downcast countenance of the once merry François—at +the serious air of Norman—at the wan cheek and sunken eye of +Lucien, whom Basil dearly loved. He hesitated no longer. His duty +to his companions at once overcame his affection for his faithful dog.</p> + +<p>“We must kill <i>him</i>!” said he, suddenly stopping, and pointing to +Marengo.</p> + +<p>The rest halted.</p> + +<p>“I fear there's no help for it,” said Norman, turning his face in +every direction, and sweeping the surface of the snow with hopeless +glances.</p> + +<p>François also assented to the proposal.</p> + +<p>“Let us make a condition,” suggested Lucien; “I for one could +walk five miles farther.” And as Lucien said this, he made an effort +to stand erect, and look strong and brave; but Basil knew it was an +effort of <i>generosity</i>.</p> + +<p>“No,” said he,—“no, dear Luce. You are done up. We must kill +the dog!”</p> + +<p>“Nonsense, Basil, you mistake,” replied the other; “I assure you I +am far from being done up. I could go much farther yet. Stay!” +continued he, pointing ahead; “you see yonder rocks? They are +about three miles off, I should think. They lie directly in our course. +Well, now, let us agree to this condition. Let us give poor Marengo +a chance for his life. If we find nothing before reaching those rocks, +why then——”</p> + +<p>And Lucien, seeing Marengo gazing up in his face, left the sentence +unfinished. The poor brute looked up at all of them as though he +understood every word that they were saying; and his mute appeal, +had it been necessary, would not have been thrown away. But it did +not require that to get him the proposed respite. All agreed willingly +with Lucien's proposition; and, shouldering their pieces, the party +moved on.</p> + +<p>Lucien had purposely understated the distance to the rocks. It +was five, instead of three miles; and some of them made it full ten, +as they were determined Marengo should have the benefit of every +chance. They deployed like skirmishers; and not a brake or brush +that lay to the right or left of the path but was visited and beaten +by one or other of them. Their diligence was to no purpose. After +two hours' weary work, they arrived among the rocks, having seen +not a trace of either quadruped or bird.</p> + +<p>“Come!” cried Lucien in his now feeble voice, still trying to look +cheerful, “we must pass through them. There is a chance yet. Let<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">132</a></span> +him have fair play. The rocks were to be the limit, but it was not +stated what part of them. Let us pass through to the other side—they +do not extend far.”</p> + +<p>Encouraged by the words of Lucien, the party entered among the +rocks, moving on separate paths. They had gone only a few paces, +when a shout from Norman caused the rest to look to him for an +explanation. No animal was in sight. Had he seen any? No; but +something that gratified him certainly, for his voice and manner +expressed it.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” inquired the others, all speaking at the same time.</p> + +<p>“<i>Tripe de roche</i>!” answered he.</p> + +<p>“<i>Tripe de roche</i>?”</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Norman, “look there!” and he pointed to one of the +rocks directly ahead of them, at the same time moving forward to it. +The others hastened up after. On reaching the rock, they saw what +Norman had meant by the words <i>tripe de roche</i> (rock-tripe). It was +a black, hard, crumply substance, that nearly covered the surface of +the rock, and was evidently of a vegetable nature. Lucien knew +what it was as well as Norman, and joy had expressed itself upon his +pale cheeks at the sight. As for Basil and François they only stood +waiting an explanation, and wondering what value a quantity of +“rock moss,” as they deemed it, could be to persons in their condition.</p> + +<p>Lucien soon informed them that it was not a “moss,” but a “lichen,” +and of that celebrated species which will sustain human life. It was +the <i>Gyrophora</i>. Norman confirmed Lucien's statement, and furthermore +affirmed, that not only the Indians and Esquimaux, but also +parties of voyageurs, had often subsisted upon it for days, when they +would otherwise have starved. There are many species,—not less +than five or six. All of them possess nutritive properties, but only +one is a palatable food—the <i>Gyrophora vellea</i> of botanists. Unfortunately +this was not the sort which our voyageurs had happened +upon, as it grows only upon rocks shaded by woods, and is rarely met +with in the open barrens. The one, however, which Norman had +discovered was the “next best,” and they were all glad at finding +even that.</p> + +<p>The first thing to be thought of was to collect it, and all four set to +peeling and scraping it from the rocks. The next thought was to +make it ready for eating. Here a new difficulty stared them in the +face. The <i>tripe de roche</i> had to be boiled,—it could not be eaten else,—and +where was the fire? where was the wood to make one? Not a +stick was to be seen. They had not met with a tree during all that +day's journey!</p> + +<p>They were now as badly off as ever. The <i>tripe de roche</i> would be of +no more use to them than so much dry grass. What could they do +with it?</p> + +<p>In the midst of their suspense, one of them thought of the sledge.—Marengo's +sledge. That would make a fire, but a very small one. +It might do to cook a single meal. Even that was better than none. +Marengo was not going to object to the arrangement. He looked +quite willing to part with the sledge. But a few hours before, it +came near being used to cook Marengo himself. He was not aware +of that, perhaps, but no matter. All agreed that the sledge must be +broken up, and converted into firewood.</p> + +<p>They were about taking it to pieces, and had already “unhitched”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">133</a></span> +Marengo from it, when Basil, who had walked to the other side of +the rocky jumble, cried back to them to desist. He had espied some +willows at no great distance. Out of these a fire could be made. +The sledge, therefore, was let alone for the present. Basil and François +immediately started for the willows, while Norman and Lucien +remained upon the spot to prepare the “tripe” for the pot.</p> + +<p>In a short time the former parties returned with two large bundles +of willows, and the fire was kindled. The <i>tripe de roche</i>, with some +snow—for there was no water near—was put into the pot, and the +latter hung over the blaze.</p> + +<p>After boiling for nearly an hour, the lichen became reduced to +a soft gummy pulp, and Norman thickened the mess to his taste by +putting in more snow, or more of the “tripe,” as it seemed to require +it. The pot was then taken from the fire, and all four greedily ate +of its contents. It was far from being palatable, and had a clammy +“feel” in the mouth, something like sago; but none of the party was +in any way either dainty or fastidious just at that time, and they +soon consumed all that had been cooked. It did not satisfy the +appetite, though it filled the stomach, and made their situation less +painful to bear.</p> + +<p>Norman informed them that it was much better when cooked with +a little meat, so as to make broth. This Norman's companions could +easily credit, but where was the meat to come from? The Indians +prefer the <i>tripe de roche</i> when prepared along with the roe of fish, or +when boiled in fish liquor.</p> + +<p>Our weary voyageurs resolved to remain among the rocks for that +night at least; and with this intent they put up their little tent. +They did not kindle any fire, as the willows were scarce, and there +would be barely enough to make one or two more boilings of the +rock-tripe. They spread their skins within the tent, and creeping +in, kept one another as warm as they could until morning.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE POLAR HARE AND GREAT SNOWY OWL.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">O</span>f course hunger kept them from sleeping late. They were up and +out of the tent by an early hour. Their fire was re-kindled, and they +were making preparations for a fresh pot of rock-tripe, when they +were startled by the note of a well-known bird. On looking up, they +beheld seated upon the point of a rock the creature itself, which was +the “cinereous crow,” or, as it is better known, the “whiskey Jack.” +The latter name it receives from the voyageurs, on account of the +resemblance of its Indian appellation, “whiskae-shaw-neesh” to the +words “whiskey John.” Although sometimes called the “cinereous +crow,” the bird is a true jay.</p> + +<p>It is one of the most inelegant of the genus, being of a dull grey +colour, and not particularly graceful in its form. Its plumage, +moreover, does not consist of webbed feathers, but rather more +resembles hair; nor does its voice make up for the plainness of its +appearance, as is the case with some birds. On the contrary, the +voice of “whiskey Jack” is plaintive and squeaking, though he is +something of a mocker in his way, and frequently imitates the notes +of other birds. He is one of those creatures that frequent the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">134</a></span> +habitations of man, and there is not a fur post, or fort, in all the +Hudson's Bay territory, where “whiskey Jack” is not familiarly +known.</p> + +<p>He is far from being a favourite, however, as, like his near relative +the magpie, he is a great thief, and will follow the marten-trapper all +day while baiting his traps, perching upon a tree until the bait is +set, and then pouncing down, and carrying it off. He frequently +pilfers small articles from the forts and encampments, and is so bold +as to enter the tents, and seize food out of any vessel that may +contain it. Notwithstanding all this, he is a favourite with the +traveller through these inhospitable regions. No matter how barren +the spot where the voyageur may make his camp, his tent will +hardly be pitched, before he receives a visit from “whiskey Jack,” +who comes, of course, to pick up any crumbs that may fall. His +company, therefore, in a region where all other wild creatures shun +the society of man, endears him to the lonely traveller.</p> + +<p>At many of their camps our voyageurs had met with this singular +bird, and were always glad to receive him as a friend. They were +now doubly delighted to see him, but this delight arose from no +friendly feelings. Their guest was at once doomed to die. François +had taken up his gun, and in the next moment would have brought +him down, had he not been checked by Norman. Not that Norman +intended to plead for his life, but Norman's eye had caught sight of +another “whiskey Jack,”—which was hopping among the rocks at +some distance—and fearing that François' shot might frighten it +away, had hindered him from firing. It was Norman's design to get +both.</p> + +<p>The second “whiskey Jack,” or, perhaps, it was the “whiskey Jill,” +soon drew near; and both were now seen to hop from rock to rock, +and then upon the top of the tent, and one of them actually settled +upon the edge of the pot, as it hung over the fire, and quietly looking +into it, appeared to scrutinize its contents!</p> + +<p>The boys could not think of any way of getting the birds, except +by François' gun; and it was at length agreed that François should +do his best. He was sure of one of them, at least; so telling the +others to get behind him, he fired at the more distant one where it +sat upon the tent, and took the other on the wing.</p> + +<p>Both shots were successful. The two jays fell, and were soon +divested of their soft, silky, hair-like plumage, and dropped into the +boiling pot. They did not weigh together more than about six or +seven ounces; but even that was accounted something under present +circumstances; and, with the <i>tripe de roche</i>, a much better breakfast +was made than they had anticipated.</p> + +<p>No more of the lichen could be found. The rocks were all searched, +but only a few patches—not enough for another full meal—could +be obtained. The travellers had no other resource, therefore, but +to continue on, and passing through the rocky ground, they once +more embarked upon the wilderness of snow.</p> + +<p>During that whole day not a living creature gladdened their eyes. +They saw nothing that was eatable—fish, flesh, fowl, or vegetable. +Not even a bit of rock-tripe—in these parts the last resource of +starving men—could be met with. They encamped in a plain, where +not a tree stood—not even a rock to shelter them.</p> + +<p>Next morning a consultation was held. Marengo was again the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">135</a></span> +subject of their thoughts and conversation. Should they kill him on +the spot or go a little farther? That was the question. Lucien, +as before, interposed in his favour. There was a high hill many +miles off, and in their proper course. “Let us first reach yonder +hill,” proposed Lucien. “If nothing is found before that, then we +must part with Marengo.”</p> + +<p>The proposal was agreed to, and, striking their tent, they again +set out.</p> + +<p>It was a toilsome long way to that hill—feeble and weary as they +all were—but they reached it without having observed the slightest +trace of animal life.</p> + +<p>“Up the hill!” cried Lucien, beckoning to the others, and cheering +them with his weak voice, “Up the hill!”</p> + +<p>On they went, up the steep declivity—Marengo toiling on after +them. The dog looked downcast and despairing. He really appeared +to know the conditions that had been made for his life. His +masters, as they crept upward, looked sharply before them. Every +tuft that appeared above the snow was scrutinized, and every inch of +the ground, as it came into view, was examined.</p> + +<p>At length they crossed the escarpment of the hill, and stood upon +the summit. They gazed forward with disappointed feelings. The +hill-top was a sort of table plain, of about three hundred yards in +diameter. It was covered with snow, nearly a foot in depth. A few +heads of withered grass were seen above the surface, but not enough +to subdue the uniform white that prevailed all over. There was no +creature upon it; that was evident. A bird as big as a sparrow, or a +quadruped as large as a shrew-mouse, could have been seen upon any +part of it. A single glance satisfied all of them that no living thing +was there.</p> + +<p>They halted without proceeding farther. Some of them could not +have gone another mile, and all of them were tottering in their tracks. +Marengo had arrived upon the summit, and stood a little to one side, +with the sledge behind him.</p> + +<p>“<i>You</i> must do it!” said Basil, speaking to Norman in a hoarse +voice, and turning his head away. Lucien and François stepped +aside at the same time, and stood as if looking down the hill. The +countenances of all three betokened extreme sorrow. There was a +tear in Basil's eye that he was trying to wipe away with his sleeve.</p> + +<p>The sharp click of Norman's gun was heard behind them, and they +were all waiting for the report, when, at that moment, a dark shadow +passing over the white declivity arrested their attention! It was +the shadow of a bird upon the wing. The simultaneous exclamation +of all three stayed Norman's finger—already pressing upon the trigger—and +the latter, turning round, saw that they were regarding some +object in the air. It was a bird of great size—almost as large as an +eagle, but with the plumage of a swan. It was white all over—both +body and wings—white as the snow over which it was sailing. +Norman knew the bird at a glance. Its thick short neck and large +head—its broad-spreading wings, of milky whiteness, were not to be +mistaken. It was the “great snowy owl” of the Arctic regions.</p> + +<p>Its appearance suddenly changed the aspect of affairs. Norman +let the butt of his rifle fall to the ground, and stood, like the rest, +watching the bird in its flight.</p> + +<p>The snowy owl is, perhaps, the most beautiful, as it is one of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">136</a></span> +most powerful birds of its genus—of which there are more than a +dozen in North America. It is a bird of the Polar regions—even the +most remote—and in the dead of winter it is found within the Arctic +circle, on both Continents—although at the same season it also +wanders farther south. It dwells upon the Barren Grounds as well +as in wooded districts. In the former it squats upon the snow, where +its peculiar colour often prevents it from being noticed by the passing +hunter. Nature has furnished it with every protection from the +cold. Its plumage is thick, closely matted, and downy, and it is +feathered to the very eyes—so that its legs appear as large as those +of a good-sized dog. The bill, too, is completely hidden under a mass +of feathers that cover its face, and not even a point of its whole body +is exposed.</p> + +<p>The owl is usually looked upon as a night-bird, and in Southern +latitudes it is rarely seen by day; but the owls of the Northern +regions differ from their congeners in this respect. They hunt by +day, even during the bright hours of noon. Were it not so, how could +they exist in the midst of an Arctic summer, when the days are +months in duration? Here we have another example of the manner +in which Nature trains her wild creatures to adapt themselves to +their situation.</p> + +<p>At least a dozen species of owls frequent the territory of the +Hudson's Bay Company—the largest of which is the cinereous owl, +whose wings have a spread of nearly five feet. Some species migrate +south on the approach of winter; while several, as the snowy owl, +remain to prey upon the ptarmigan, the hares, and other small +quadrupeds, who, like themselves, choose that dreary region for their +winter home.</p> + +<p>Our travellers, as I have said, stood watching the owl as it soared +silently through the heavens. François had thrown his gun across +his left arm, in hopes he might get a shot at it; but the bird—a shy +one at all times—kept away out of range; and, after circling once or +twice over the hill, uttered a loud cry and flew off.</p> + +<p>Its cry resembled the moan of a human being in distress; and its +effect upon the minds of our travellers, in the state they then were, +was far from being pleasant. They watched the bird with despairing +looks, until it was lost against the white background of a snow-covered +hill.</p> + +<p>They had noticed that the owl appeared to be just taking flight +when they first saw it. It must have risen up from the hill upon +which they were; and they once more ran their eyes along the level +summit, curious to know where it had been perched that they had +not seen it. No doubt, reflected they, it had been near enough, but +its colour had rendered it undistinguishable from the snow.</p> + +<p>“What a pity!” exclaimed François.</p> + +<p>While making these reflections, and sweeping their glances around, +an object caught their eyes that caused some of them to ejaculate +and suddenly raise their guns. This object was near the centre of +the summit table, and at first sight appeared to be only a lump of +snow; but upon closer inspection, two little round spots of a dark +colour, and above these two elongated black marks, could be seen. +Looking steadily, the eye at length traced the outlines of an animal, +that sat in a crouching attitude. The round spots were its eyes, and +the black marks above them were tips of a pair of very long ears.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">137</a></span> +All the rest of its body was covered with a soft white fur, hardly to +be distinguished from the snow upon which it rested.</p> + +<p>The form and colour of the animal, but more especially its long +erect ears, made it easy for them to tell what it was. All of them +saw it was a hare.</p> + +<p>“Hush!” continued Norman, as soon as he saw it, “keep still all of +you—leave it to me.”</p> + +<p>“What shall we do?” demanded Basil. “Can we not assist you?”</p> + +<p>“No,” was the reply, uttered in a whisper, “stay where you are. +Keep the dog quiet. I'll manage puss, if the owl hasn't scared her +too badly. That scream has started her out of her form. I'm certain +she wasn't that way before. Maybe she'll sit it out. Lucky the sun's +high—don't move a step. Have the dog ready, but hold him tight, +and keep a sharp look out if she bolts.”</p> + +<p>After giving these instructions, that were all uttered quickly and +in an under tone, Norman moved off, with his gun carried across his +arm. He did not move in the direction of the hare, but rather as if +he was going <i>from</i> her. His course, however, bent gradually into a +circle of which the hare was the centre—the diameter being the full +breadth of the summit level, which was about three hundred yards. +In this circle he walked round and round, keeping his eye fixed upon +the crouching animal. When he had nearly completed one circumference, +he began to shorten the diameter—so that the curve which +he was now following was a spiral one, and gradually drawing nearer +to the hare. The latter kept watching him as he moved—curiosity +evidently mingling with her fears. Fortunately, as Norman had said, +the sun was nearly in the vertex of the heavens, and his own body +cast very little shadow upon the snow. Had it been otherwise, the +hare would have been frightened at the moving shadow, and would +have sprung out of her form, before he could have got within range.</p> + +<p>When he had made some four or five circuits, Norman moved slower +and slower, and then stopped nearly opposite to where the others +were. These stood watching him with beating hearts, for they knew +that the life of Marengo, and perhaps their own as well, depended on +the shot. Norman had chosen his place, so that in case the hare +bolted, she might run towards them, and give them the chance of a +flying shot. His gun was already at his shoulder—his finger rested +on the trigger, and the boys were expecting the report, when again +the shadow of a bird flitted over the snow, a loud human-like scream +sounded in their ears, and the hare was seen to spring up, and stretch +her long legs in flight. At the same instant the great snowy owl was +observed wheeling above, and threatening to pounce upon the fleeing +animal!</p> + +<p>The hare ran in a side direction, but it brought her as she passed +within range of the party by the sledge. The owl kept above her as +she ran. A dozen leaps was all the hare ever made. A loud crack +was heard, and she was seen to spring up and fall back upon the +snow, dead as a door-nail. Like an echo another crack followed—a +wild scream rang through the air, and the great white owl fell +fluttering to the earth. The reports were not of a rifle. They were +the louder detonations of a shot gun. All eyes were turned towards +François, who, like a little god, stood enveloped in a halo of blue +smoke. François was the hero of the hour.</p> + +<p>Marengo rushed forward and seized the struggling owl, that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">138</a></span> +snapped its bill at him like a watchman's rattle. But Marengo did +not care for that; and seizing its head in his teeth, gave it a crunch +that at once put an end to its flapping.</p> + +<p>Marengo was reprieved, and he seemed to know it, as he bounded +over the snow, waving his tail, and barking like a young fool.</p> + +<p>They all ran up to the hare, which proved to be the “Polar hare” +and one of the largest of its species—not less than fifteen pounds in +weight. Its fur, soft and white like swan-down, was stained with +red blood. It was not quite dead. Its little heart yet beat faintly, +and the light of life was still shining from its beautiful honey-coloured +eyes. Both it and the owl were taken up and carried to the sledge, +which was once more attached to Marengo, as the party intended to +go forward and halt under the shelter of the hill.</p> + +<p>“There must be some wood in this quarter,” remarked Norman; +“I never knew this sort of hare far from timber.”</p> + +<p>“True,” said Lucien, “the Polar hare feeds upon willows, arbutus, +and the Labrador tea-plant. Some of these kinds must be near.”</p> + +<p>While they were speaking, they had reached the brow of the hill, +on the opposite side from where they had ascended. On looking into +the valley below, to their great joy they beheld some clumps of +willows, and good-sized trees of poplar, birch, and spruce-pine, and +passing down the hill, the travellers soon stood in their midst. Presently +was heard the chipping sound of an axe and crash of falling +timber, and in a few moments after a column of smoke was seen +soaring up out of the valley, and curling cheerfully towards the bright +blue sky.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE JUMPING MOUSE AND THE ERMINE.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">L</span>arge as the hare was, she would have made but a meal for our four +hungry voyageurs, had they eaten at will. By Lucien's advice, however, +they restrained themselves, and half of her was left for supper, +when the “cook” promised to make them hare-soup. The head, feet, +and other spare bits, fell to Marengo's share. The owl, whose flesh +was almost as white as its plumage, and, as Norman well knew, most +delicate eating, was reserved for to-morrow's breakfast.</p> + +<p>They had pitched their tent with the intention of remaining at that +place all night, and continuing their journey next day; but, as it still +wanted several hours of sunset, and the strength of all was considerably +recruited, they resolved to hunt about the neighbourhood as +long as they had light. It was of great importance that they should +procure more game. The owl would make but a spare breakfast, and +after that where was the next meal to come from? They had had a +temporary relief, and while their strength lasted, they must use every +effort to procure a further supply. The valley in which their new +camp was placed looked well for game.</p> + +<p>It was a sort of oäsis in the Barren Grounds. There was a lake and +a considerable skirting of timber around it—consisting, as we have +said, of willows, poplars, spruce-pine, and dwarf birch-trees. The +Alpine arbutus, whose berries are the food of many species of animals, +also grew upon the side of the hills; and the Labrador tea-plant was +found upon the low ground around the lake. The leaves of this last<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">139</a></span> +is a favourite food of the Polar hare, and our voyageurs had no doubt +but that there were many of these animals in the neighbourhood. +Indeed, they had better evidence than conjecture, for they saw +numerous hare-tracks in the snow. There were tracks of other +animals too, for it is a well-known fact that where one kind exists, at +least two or three others will be found in the same habitat—all being +connected together by a “chain of destruction.”</p> + +<p>A singular illustration of this was afforded to Lucien, who remained +at the camp while the rest went out hunting. He had gathered some +of the leaves of the Labrador tea, and was drying them over the coals, +intending to cheer his comrades with a cup of this beverage after +supper. The hare-soup was boiling, and the “cook” sat listening to +the cheerful sounds that issued from the pot—now and then taking +off the lid to examine its savoury contents, and give them a stir. He +would then direct his attention to the tea-leaves that were parching +in the frying-pan; and, having shifted them a little, felt himself at +liberty to look about for a minute or two.</p> + +<p>On one of these occasions, while glancing up, his attention was +attracted to an object which appeared upon the snow at a short distance +from where he sat. A wreath of snow, that had formed under +the shelter of the hill, extended all around its base, presenting a steep +front in every direction. This front was only two or three feet in +height; but the top surface of the wreath was many yards wide—in +fact, it extended back until it became blended with the slope of the +hill. It was smooth and nearly level, but the hill above was steep, +and somewhat rough and rocky. The steep front of the wreath came +down within half-a-dozen paces of the fire where Lucien was seated; +and it was upon the top or scarpment of it that the object appeared +that had drawn his attention. It was a small creature, but it was in +motion, and thus had caught his eye.</p> + +<p>A single glance showed him that the little animal was a mouse, but +of a somewhat singular species. It was about the size of the common +mouse, but quite different in colour. The upper half of its body was +of a light mahogany tint, while the lower half, including the legs and +feet, were of a milky whiteness. It was, in fact, the “white-footed +mouse” (<i>Mus leucopus</i>), one of the most beautiful of its kind.</p> + +<p>Here and there above the surface of the snow protruded the tops +of arbutus-trees; and the little creature was passing from one of +these to the other, in search, no doubt, of the berries that remain upon +these trees all the winter. Sometimes it ran from point to point like +any other mouse, but now and then it would rear itself on its hind-legs, +and leap several feet at a single bound! In this it evidently +assisted itself by pressing its tail—in which it possesses muscular +power—against the snow. This peculiar mode of progression has +obtained for it the name of the “jumping-mouse,” and among the +Indians “deer”-mouse, because its leap reminds them of the bounding +spring of the deer. But there are still other species of “jumping-mice” +in America that possess this power to a greater degree even +than the <i>Mus leucopus</i>.</p> + +<p>Lucien watched its motions without attempting to interfere with +it, until it had got nearly out of sight. He did not desire to do injury +to the little creature, nor was he curious to obtain it, as he had already +met with many specimens, and examined them to his satisfaction. +He had ceased to think of it, and would, perhaps, never have thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">140</a></span> +of it again, but, upon turning his eyes in the opposite direction, he +observed another animal upon the snow. This creature had a far +different aspect from the mouse. Its body was nearly a foot in length, +although not much thicker than that of the other! Its legs were +short, but strong, and its forehead broad and arched convexly. It +had a tail more than half the length of the body, hairy, and tapering +like that of a cat. Its form was the well-known form of the weasel, +and it was, in fact, a species of weasel.</p> + +<p>It was the celebrated <i>ermine</i>, celebrated for its soft and beautiful +fur, so long prized as an ornament for the robes of the rich. It was +white all over, with the exception of its tail; and that, for about an +inch or so at the tip, was covered with black silky hair. On some +parts of the body, too, the white was tinged with a primrose yellow; +but this tinge is not found in all animals of this species, as some individuals +are pure white. Of course it was now in its winter “robes”; +but in the summer it changes to a colour that does not differ much +from that of the common weasel.</p> + +<p>When Lucien first saw it, it was running along the top of the +wreath, and coming from the same direction from which the mouse +had come. Now and then it paused awhile, and then ran on again. +Lucien observed that it kept its nose to the ground, and as it drew +nearer he saw that it was following on the same path which the other +had taken. To his astonishment he perceived that it was <i>trailing the +mouse</i>! Whatever the latter had doubled or made a <i>détour</i>, the +ermine followed the track; and where the mouse had given one of +its long leaps, there the ermine would stop, and, after beating about +until it struck the trail again, would resume its onward course at a +gallop. Its manœuvres were exactly like those of a hound upon the +fresh trail of a fox!</p> + +<p>Lucien now looked abroad to discover the mouse. It was still in +sight far off upon the snow, and, as Lucien could see, busily gnawing +at the arbutus, quite unconscious that its <i>greatest</i> enemy was so near. +I say greatest enemy, for the <i>Mus leucopus</i> is the <i>natural</i> prey of the +<i>Mustela erminea</i>.</p> + +<p>The mouse was soon made aware of the dangerous proximity, but +not until the ermine had got within a few feet of it. When it perceived +the latter it shrunk, at first, among the leaves of the arbutus; +but seeing there would be no protection there—as the other was still +springing forward to seize it—it leaped up, and endeavoured to escape +by flight. Its flight appeared to be in alternate jumps and +runs, but the chase was not a long one. The ermine was as active as +a cat, and, after a few skips, its claws were struck into the mouse. +There was a short, slender squeak, and then a “crunch,” like the +cracking of a hazel-nut. This last sound was produced by the teeth +of the ermine breaking through the skull of its victim.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE ARCTIC FOX AND WHITE WOLF.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">L</span>ucien turned round to get hold of his rifle, intending to punish the +ermine, although the little creature, in doing what it did, had only +obeyed a law of nature. But the boy had also another design in +killing it: he wished to compare it with some ermines he had seen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">141</a></span> +while travelling upon Lake Winnipeg, which, as he thought, were +much larger—one that he had caught having measured more than a +foot in length, without including the tail. He wished, also, to make +some comparison between it and the common weasel; for in its +<i>winter dress</i>, in the snowy regions, the latter very much resembles +the ermine; and, indeed, the trappers make no distinction between +them.</p> + +<p>With these ideas Lucien had grasped his gun, and was raising +himself to creep a little nearer, when his eye was arrested by the +motions of another creature coming along the top of the wreath. +This last was a snow-white animal, with long, shaggy fur, sharp-pointed +snout, erect ears, and bushy tail. Its aspect was fox-like, and +its movements and attitudes had all that semblance of cunning and +caution so characteristic of these animals. Well might it, for it <i>was</i> +a fox—the beautiful white fox of the Arctic regions.</p> + +<p>It is commonly supposed that there are but two or three kinds of +foxes in America; and that these are only varieties of the European +species.</p> + +<p>This is an erroneous idea, as there are nearly a dozen varieties +existing in North America, although they may be referred to a less +number of species. There is the Arctic fox, which is confined to the +cold Northern regions, and which in winter is white.</p> + +<p>The “sooty-fox” is a variety of the “Arctic,” distinguished from it +only by its colour, which is of a uniform blackish brown.</p> + +<p>The “American fox” or, as it is commonly called, the “red fox,” has +been long supposed to be the same as the European red fox. This is +erroneous. They differ in many points; and, what is somewhat +curious, these points of difference are similar to those that exist +between the European and American wolves, as already given.</p> + +<p>The “cross fox” is supposed by the Indians and some naturalists +to be only a variety of the last. It derives its name from its having +two dark stripes crossing each other upon the shoulders. Its fur +from this circumstance, and perhaps because the animal is scarce, is +more prized than that of the red variety. When a single skin of the +latter is worth only fifteen shillings, one of the cross fox will bring as +much as five guineas.</p> + +<p>Another variety of the red fox, and a much more rare one, is the +“black,” or “silver” fox. The skins of these command six times the +price of any other furs found in America, with the exception of the +sea-otter. The animal itself is so rare that only a few fall into the +hands of the Hudson's Bay Company in a season; and Mr. Nicholay, +the celebrated London furrier, asserts that a single skin will fetch +from ten to forty guineas, according to quality. A remarkable cloak, +or pelisse, belonging to the Emperor of Russia, and made out of the +skins of silver-foxes, was exhibited in the Great London Exposition +of 1851. It was made entirely from the neck-part of the skins—the +only part of the silver-fox which is pure black. This cloak was +valued at 3400<i>l</i>.; though Mr. Nicholay considers this an exaggerated +estimate, and states its true value to be not over 1000<i>l.</i> George the +Fourth had a lining of black fox-skins worth 1000<i>l.</i></p> + +<p>The “grey fox” is a more southern species than any already described. +Its proper home is the temperate zone covered by the United +States; although it extends its range into the southern parts of +Canada. In the United States it is the most common kind, although<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">142</a></span> +in that district there is also a “red fox,” different from the <i>Vulpus +fulvus</i> already noticed; and which, no doubt, is the red fox of Europe, +introduced by the early colonists of America.</p> + +<p>Still another species, the smallest and perhaps the most interesting +of any, is the “kit fox.” This little creature is an inhabitant of the +prairies, where it makes its burrows far from any wood. It is extremely +shy, and the swiftest animal in the prairie country—outrunning +even the antelope!</p> + +<p>When Lucien saw the fox he thought no more of the ermine, but +drew back and crouched down, in hopes he might get a shot at the +larger animal. He knew well that the flesh of the Arctic fox is highly +esteemed as food, particularly by persons situated as he and his companions +were, and he hoped to be able to add it to their larder.</p> + +<p>When first seen it was coming towards him, though not in a direct +line. It was engaged in hunting, and, with its nose to the snow, was +running in zig-zag lines, “quartering” the ground like a pointer dog. +Presently it struck the trail of the ermine, and with a yelp of satisfaction +followed it. This of course brought it close past where Lucien +was; but, notwithstanding his eagerness to fire, it moved so rapidly +along the trail that he was unable to take sight upon it. It did not +halt for a moment; and, as Lucien's gun was a rifle, he knew that a +flying shot would be an uncertain one. In the belief, therefore, that +the fox would stop soon—at all events when it came up with the +ermine—he restrained himself from firing, and waited.</p> + +<p>It ran on, still keeping the track of the ermine. The latter, hitherto +busy with his own prey, did not see the fox until it was itself seen, +when, dropping the half-eaten mouse, it reared up on its hind-quarters +like a squirrel or a monkey, at the same time spitting as spitefully as +any other weasel could have done. In a moment, however, it changed +its tactics—for the open jaws of the fox were within a few paces of +it—and after making a short quick run along the surface, it threw up +its hind-quarters, and plunged head-foremost into the snow! The +fox sprang forward, and flinging his brush high in the air, shot after +like an arrow!</p> + +<p>Both had now disappeared from Lucien's sight. For a moment the +surface of the snow was disturbed above the spot where they had gone +down, but the next moment all was still, and no evidence existed that +a living creature had been there, except the tracks, and the break the +two creatures had made in going down. Lucien ran forward until he +was within a few yards of the place, and stood watching the hole, +with his rifle ready—thinking that the fox, at least, would soon come +up again.</p> + +<p>He had waited for nearly five minutes, looking steadily at this point, +when his eye was attracted by a movement under the snow, at a considerable +distance, quite fifty paces, from where he stood. The frozen +crust was seen to upheave: and, the next moment, the head of the +fox, and afterwards his whole body, appeared above the surface. +Lucien saw that the ermine lay transversely between his jaws, and +was quite dead! He was about to fire, but the fox, suddenly perceiving +him, shot off like an arrow, carrying his prey along with him.</p> + +<p>He was soon out of reach, and Lucien, seeing that he had lost his +chance, was about to return to the fire, when, all at once, the fox was +observed to stop, turn suddenly in his tracks, and run off in a new +direction! Lucien looked beyond to ascertain the cause of this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">143</a></span> +strange manœuvre. That was soon ascertained. Coming down from +among the rocks was a large animal—five times the fox's size—but in +other respects not unlike him. It was also of a snow-white colour, +with long hair, bushy tail, and short erect ears, but its aspect was not +to be mistaken. It was the great <i>white wolf</i>.</p> + +<p>When Lucien first saw this new-comer, the latter had just espied +the fox, and was about stretching out into a gallop towards him. +The fox, <i>watching backwards</i> as he ran, had not seen the wolf, until +the latter was within a few springs of him; and now when he had +turned, and both were in full chase, there was not over twenty yards +between them. The direction in which they ran would bring them +near to Lucien; and so they came, and passed him—neither of them +seeming to heed his presence. They had not got many yards farther, +before Lucien perceived that the wolf was fast closing on the fox, +and would soon capture him. Believing he would then stop, so as to +offer him a fairer chance for a shot, Lucien followed. The wolf, +however, had noticed him coming after, and although the next +moment he closed his great jaws upon the fox, he did not pause for +a single instant, but, lifting the latter clear up from the ground, ran +on without the slightest apparent diminution of speed!</p> + +<p>Reynard was seen to struggle and kick, while he squeaked like a +shot puppy; but his cries each moment grew feebler, and his +struggles soon came to an end. The wolf held him transversely in +his jaws—just as he himself but the moment before had carried the +ermine.</p> + +<p>Lucien saw there was no use in following them, as the wolf ran on +with his prey. With some disappointment, therefore, he was about +to return to the fire, where, to add to his mortification, he knew he +would find his tea-leaves parched to a cinder. He lingered a moment, +however, with his eyes still fixed upon the departing wolf that was +just about to disappear over the crest of a ridge. The fox was still +in his jaws, but no longer struggling. Reynard looked limber and +dead, as his legs swung loosely on both sides of the wolf's head +Lucien at that moment saw the latter suddenly stop in his career, +and then drop down upon the surface of the snow as if dead! He +fell with his victim in his jaws, and lay half doubled up, and quite still.</p> + +<p>This strange action would have been a difficult thing for Lucien to +explain, but, almost at the same instant in which he observed it, a +puff of blue smoke shot up over the ridge, and quickly following was +heard the sharp crack of a rifle. Then a head with its cap of raccoon +skin appeared above the snow, and Lucien, recognising the face of +Basil, ran forward to meet him.</p> + +<p>Both soon stood over the body of the dead wolf, wondering at what +they saw; but Basil, far more than Lucien—for the latter already +knew the circumstances of that strange scene of death. First there +was the great gaunt body of the wolf stretched along the snow, and +quite dead. Cross-ways in his mouth was the fox, just as he had +been carried off; and across the jaws of the latter, lay the long +worm-like body of the ermine, still retaining between its teeth the +half-devoured remains of the white-footed mouse! A very chain of +destroyers! These creatures died as they had lived, preying one +upon the other! Of all four the little mouse alone was an innocent +victim. The other three, though morally guilty by the laws of man, +yet were only acting in obedience to the laws of Nature and necessity.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">144</a></span></p> + +<p>Man himself obeys a similar law, as Basil had just shown. Philosophize +as we will, we cannot comprehend why it is so—why Nature +requires the sacrifice of one of her creatures for the sustenance of +another. But although we cannot understand the cause, we must +not condemn the fact as it exists; nor must we suppose, as some do, +that the destruction of God's creatures for our necessities constitutes +a crime. They who think so, and who, in consistency with their +doctrines, confine themselves to what they term “vegetable” food, +are at best but shallow reasoners. They have not studied Nature +very closely, else would they know that every time they pluck up a +parsnip, or draw their blade across the leaf of a lettuce, they cause +pain and death!</p> + +<p>How much pain we cannot tell; but that the plant feels, as well as +the animal, we can clearly <i>prove</i>. Probably it feels less, and it may +be each kind of plant differs from others in the amount, according to +its higher or lower organism. Probably its amount of pleasure—its +capability of enjoyment—is in a direct proportion to the pain which +it endures; and it is highly probable that this double line of ratios +runs in an ascending scale throughout the vegetable kingdom, gradually +joining on to what is more strictly termed the “animal.” But +these mysteries of life, my young friend, will be interesting studies +for you when your mind becomes matured.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it may be your fortune to unravel some of them, for the +benefit of your fellow-men. I feel satisfied that you will not only be +a student of Nature, but one of her great teachers; you will far surpass +the author of this little book in your knowledge of Nature's +laws; but it will always be a happiness to him to reflect, that, when +far advanced upon the highway of science, you will look back to him +as one you had passed upon the road, and who <i>pointed you to the +path</i>.</p> + +<p>Though Basil had shot the wolf, it was plain that it was not the +first nor yet the second time he had discharged his rifle since leaving +the camp. From his game-bag protruded the curving claws and +wing-tips of a great bird. In one hand he carried a white hare—not +the Polar hare—but a much smaller kind, also an inhabitant of these +snowy regions; and over his shoulders was slung a fierce-looking +creature, the great wild-cat or lynx of America. The bird in his bag +was the golden eagle, one of the few feathered creatures that brave +the fierce winter of a northern climate, and does not migrate, like its +congeners, the “white-head” and the osprey, to more southern +regions.</p> + +<p>Basil had returned alone—for the three, Basil, Norman, and François, +had taken different directions at setting out. This they had +done, in order to have as great a number of chances as possible of +finding the game. Norman came in a few minutes after, bearing a +whole deer upon his shoulders—a glad sight that was—and, a short +interval having passed, François's “hurrah” sounded upon their ears, +and François himself was seen coming up the valley loaded like a +little donkey with two bunches of large snow-white birds.</p> + +<p>The camp now exhibited a cheering sight. Such a variety was +never seen even in the larder of a palace kitchen. The ground was +strewed with animals like a dead menagerie. There were no less +than a dozen kinds upon it!</p> + +<p>The hare-soup was now quite ready, and was accordingly served<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">145</a></span> +up by Lucien in the best style. Lucien had dried a fresh “grist” of +the tea leaves, and a cheering cup followed; and then the party all +sat around their log-fire, while each of them detailed the history of +his experience since parting with the others.</p> + +<p>François was the first to relate what had befallen him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE JERFALCON AND THE WHITE GROUSE.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“M</span>ine,” began François, “was a bird adventure, as you all see—though +what kind of birds I've shot, <i>I</i> can't tell. One of them's a +hawk, I'm sure; but it's a <i>white</i> hawk, and that I never saw before. +The rest, I suppose, are <i>white</i> partridges. Everything appears to be +white here. What are they, Luce?”</p> + +<p>“You are right about this first,” answered Lucien, taking up one of +the birds which François had brought back with him, and which was +white all but a few spots of clove-brown upon its back. “This is a +hawk, as you may tell, by its appearance, or rather I should say a +'falcon,' for you must know there is a difference.”</p> + +<p>“What difference?” demanded François, with some eagerness of +manner.</p> + +<p>“Why the principal difference is the formation of their beaks or +bills. The bills of the true falcons are stronger, and have a notch in +the lower mandible answering to a tooth in the upper one. Their +nostrils, too, are differently formed. But another point of distinction +is found in their habits. Both feed on warm-blooded animals, and +neither will eat carrion. In this respect the hawks and falcons are +alike. Both take their prey upon the wing; but herein lies the +difference. The hawks capture it by skimming along horizontally or +obliquely, and picking it up as they pass; whereas the true falcons +'pounce' down upon it from above, and in a line nearly vertical.”</p> + +<p>“Then this must be a true falcon,” interrupted François, “for I +saw the gentleman do that very thing; and beautifully he did it, too.”</p> + +<p>“It is a falcon,” continued Lucien; “and of the many species of +hawks which inhabit North America—over twenty in all—it is one +of the boldest and handsomest. I don't wonder you never saw it +before; for it is truly a bird of the Northern regions, and does not +come so far south as the territory of the United States, much less +into Louisiana. It is found in North Europe, Greenland, and Iceland, +and has been seen as far north on both continents as human beings +have travelled. It is known by the name of 'jerfalcon,' or 'gyrfalcon,' +but its zoological name is <i>Falco Islandicus</i>.”</p> + +<p>“The Indians here,” interposed Norman, “call it by a name that +means 'winter bird,' or 'winterer'—I suppose, because it is one of the +few that stay in these parts all the year round, and is therefore often +noticed by them in winter time. The traders sometimes call it the +'speckled partridge-hawk,' for there are some of them more spotted +than this one is.”</p> + +<p>“True,” said Lucien; “the young ones are nearly of a brown colour, +and they first become spotted or mottled after a year or two. They +are several years old before they get the white plumage, and very few +individuals are seen of a pure white all over, though there are some +without a spot.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">146</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes,” continued the naturalist, “it is the jerfalcon; and those +other birds which you call 'white partridges,' are the very creatures +upon which it preys. So you have killed both the tyrant and his +victims. They are not partridges though, but grouse—that species +known as 'willow grouse.'”</p> + +<p>And as Lucien said this, he began to handle the birds, which were +of a beautiful white all over, with the exception of the tail feathers. +These last were pitch-black.</p> + +<p>“Ho!” exclaimed Lucien, in some surprise, “you have two kinds +here! Were they all together when you shot them?”</p> + +<p>“No,” answered François; “one I shot along with the hawk out +in the open ground. All the others I killed upon a tree in a piece of +woods that I fell in with. There's no difference between them that I +can see.”</p> + +<p>“But I can,” said Lucien, “although I acknowledge they all look +very much alike. Both are feathered to the toes—both have the +black feathers in the tail—and the bills of both are black; but if you +observe closely, this kind—the willow-grouse—has the bill much +stronger and less flattened. Besides, it is a larger bird than the +other, which is 'the rock-grouse.' Both are sometimes, though +erroneously, called 'ptarmigan;' but they are not the true ptarmigan—such +as exist in North Europe—though these last are also to be met +with in the Northern parts of America. The ptarmigan are somewhat +larger than either of these kinds, but in other respects differ +but little from them.</p> + +<p>“The habits of the 'rock' and 'willow' grouse are very similar. +They are both birds of the snowy region, and are found as far north +as has been explored. The willow-grouse in winter keep more among +the trees, and are oftener met with in wooded countries; whereas the +others like best to live in the open ground, and, from your statement, +it appears you found each kind in its favourite haunt.”</p> + +<p>“Just so,” said François. “After leaving here, I kept down the +valley, and was just crossing an open piece of high ground, when I +espied the white hawk, or falcon as you call it, hovering in the air as +I'd often seen hawks do. Well, I stopped and hid behind a rock, +thinking I might have a chance to put a few drops into him. All at +once he appeared to stand still in the air, and, then closing his wings, +shot down like an arrow. Just then I heard a loud '<i>whur-r-r</i>,' and +up started a whole covey of white partridges—grouse, I should say—the +same as this you call the 'rock-grouse.' I saw that the hawk had +missed the whole of them, and I marked them as they flew off.</p> + +<p>“They pitched about a hundred yards or so, and then went plunge +under the snow—every one of them making a hole for itself just like +where one had poked their foot in! I guess, boys, this looked funny +enough. I thought I would be sure to get a shot at some of these +grouse as they came out again; so I walked straight up to the holes +they had made, and stood waiting. I still saw the hawk hovering in +the air, about an hundred yards ahead of me.</p> + +<p>“I was considering whether I ought to go farther on, and tramp the +birds out of the snow; for I believed, of course, they were still under +the place where the holes were. All at once I noticed a movement on +the crust of the snow right under where the hawk was flying, and +then that individual shot down to the spot, and disappeared under +the snow! At the same instant, the crust broke in several places, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">147</a></span> +up came the grouse one after another, and whirred off out of sight, +without giving me any sort of a chance. The hawk, however, had +not come up yet; and I ran forward, determined to take him as soon +as he should make his appearance. When I had got within shooting +distance, up he fluttered to the surface, and—what do you think?—he +had one of the grouse struggling in his claws! I let him have the +right barrel, and both he and grousy were knocked dead as a couple +of door-nails!</p> + +<p>“I thought I might fall in with the others again; and kept on in the +direction they had taken, which brought me at last to a piece of woodland +consisting of birches and willow-trees. As I was walking along +the edge of this, I noticed one of the willows, at some distance off, +covered with great white things, that at first I took for flakes of snow; +but then I thought it curious that none of the other trees had the +same upon them. As I came a little nearer, I noticed one of the +things moving, and then I saw they were birds, and very like the +same I had just seen, and was then in search of. So I crept in among +the trees; and, after some dodging, got within beautiful shooting +distance, and gave them both barrels. There, you see the result!”</p> + +<p>Here François triumphantly pointed to the pile of birds, which in +all, with the jerfalcon, counted four brace and a half.</p> + +<p>One was the rock-grouse, which the falcon had itself killed, and the +others were willow-grouse, as Lucien had stated. François now remained +silent, while Basil related his day's adventure.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE HARE, THE LYNX, AND THE GOLDEN EAGLE.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“F</span>rank,” began he, “has called his 'a bird adventure.' I might +give mine somewhat of the same title, for there was a bird mixed up +with it—the noblest of all birds—the eagle. But you shall hear it.</p> + +<p>“On leaving the camp, I went, as you all know, up the valley. +After travelling for a quarter of a mile or so, I came upon a wide +open bottom, where there were some scattered willows and clumps of +dwarf birch-trees. As Luce had told me that such are the favourite +food of the American hare, or, as we call it in Louisiana, 'rabbit,' +I looked out for the sign of one, and, sure enough, I soon came upon +a track, which I knew to be that of 'puss.' It was fresh enough, and +I followed it. It kept me meandering about for a long while, till +at last I saw that it took a straight course for some thick brushwood, +with two or three low birches growing out of it.</p> + +<p>“As I made sure of finding the game there, I crept forward very +quietly, holding Marengo in the leash. But the hare was not in the +brush; and, after tramping all through it, I again noticed the +track where she had gone out on the opposite side. I was about +starting forth to follow it, when all at once an odd-looking creature +made its appearance right before me. It was that fellow there!” +And Basil pointed to the lynx. “I thought at first sight,” continued +he, “it was our Louisiana wild cat or bay lynx, as Luce calls it, for +it is very like our cat; but I saw it was nearly twice as big, and +more greyish in the fur. Well, when I first sighted the creature, +it was about an hundred yards off.</p> + +<p>“It hadn't seen me, though, for it was not running away, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">148</a></span> +skulking along slowly—nearly crosswise to the course of the hare's +track—and looking in a different direction to that in which I was. +I was well screened behind the bushes, and that, no doubt, prevented +it from noticing me. At first I thought of running forward, and +setting Marengo after it. Then I determined on staying where +I was, and watching it a while. Perhaps it may come to a stop, +reflected I, and let me creep within shot. I remained, therefore, +crouching among the bushes, and kept the dog at my feet.</p> + +<p>“As I continued to watch the cat, I saw that, instead of following +a straight line, it was moving in a circle!</p> + +<p>“The diameter of this circle was not over an hundred yards; and in +a very short while the animal had got once round the circumference, +and came back to where I had first seen it. It did not stop there, +but continued on, though not in its old tracks. It still walked in +a circle, but a much smaller one than before. Both, however, had +a common centre; and, as I noticed that the animal kept its eyes +constantly turned towards the centre, I felt satisfied that in that +place would be found the cause of its strange manœuvring. I looked +to the centre. At first I could see nothing—at least nothing that +might be supposed to attract the cat. There was a very small bush +of willows, but they were thin. I could see distinctly through them, +and there was no creature there, either in the bush or around it. +The snow lay white up to the roots of the willows, and I thought +that a mouse could hardly have found shelter among them, without +my seeing it from where I stood.</p> + +<p>“Still I could not explain the odd actions of the lynx, upon any +other principle than that it was in the pursuit of game; and I looked +again, and carefully examined every inch of the ground as my eyes +passed over it. This time I discovered what the animal was after. +Close into the willows appeared two little parallel streaks of a dark +colour, just rising above the surface of the snow. I should not have +noticed them had there not been two of them, and these slanting in +the same direction. They had caught my eyes before, but I had +taken them for the points of broken willows. I now saw that they +were the ears of some animal, and I thought that once or twice they +moved slightly while I was regarding them.</p> + +<p>“After looking at them steadily for a time, I made out the shape of +a little head underneath. It was white, but there was a round dark +spot in the middle, which I knew to be an eye. There was no body +to be seen. That was under the snow, but it was plain enough that +what I saw was the head of a hare. At first I supposed it to be +a Polar hare—such as we had just killed—but the tracks I had +followed were not those of the Polar hare. Then I remembered that +the 'rabbit' of the United States also turns white in the winter of +the Northern regions. This, then, must be the American rabbit, +thought I.</p> + +<p>“Of course my reflections did not occupy all the time I have taken +in describing them. Only a moment or so. All the while the lynx +was moving round and round the circle, but still getting nearer to +the hare that appeared eagerly to watch it. I remembered how +Norman had manœuvred to get within shot of the Polar hare; +and I now saw the very same <i>ruse</i> being practised by a dumb +creature, that is supposed to have no other guide than instinct. But +I had seen the 'bay lynx' of Louisiana do some 'dodges' as cunning<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">149</a></span> +as that,—such as claying his feet to make the hounds lose the scent, +and, after running backwards and forwards upon a fallen log, leap +into the tops of trees, and get off in that way.”</p> + +<p>“Believing that his Northern cousin was just as artful as himself” +(here Basil looked significantly at the “Captain,”) “I did not so +much wonder at the performance I now witnessed. Nevertheless, +I felt a great curiosity to see it out. But for this curiosity I could +have shot the lynx every time he passed me on the nearer edge of +the circle. Round and round he went, then, until he was not twenty +feet from the hare, that, strange to say, seemed to regard this the +worst of her enemies more with wonder than fear. The lynx at +length stopped suddenly, brought his four feet close together, arched +his back like an angry cat, and then with one immense bound, +sprang forward upon his victim.</p> + +<p>“The hare had only time to leap out of her form, and the second +spring of the lynx brought him right upon the top of her. I could +hear the child-like scream which the American rabbit always utters +when thus seized; but the cloud of snow-spray raised above the +spot prevented me for a while from seeing either lynx or hare. The +scream was stifled in a moment, and when the snow-spray cleared +off, I saw that the lynx held the hare under his paws, and that +'puss' was quite dead.</p> + +<p>“I was considering how I might best steal up within shooting +distance, when, all at once, I heard another scream of a very different +sort. At the same time a dark shadow passed over the snow. I +looked up, and there, within fifty yards of the ground, a great big +bird was wheeling about. I knew it to be an eagle from its shape; +and at first I fancied it was a young one of the white-headed kind—for, +as you are aware, these do not have either the white head or +tail until they are several years old. Its immense size, however, +showed that it could not be one of these. It must be the great +<i>'golden' eagle</i> of the Rocky Mountains, thought I.</p> + +<p>“When I first noticed it, I fancied that it had been after the rabbit; +and, seeing the latter pounced upon by another preying creature, +had uttered its scream at being thus disappointed of its prey. I +expected, therefore, to see it fly off. To my astonishment it broke +suddenly out of the circles in which it had been so gracefully wheeling, +and, with another scream wilder than before, darted down +towards the lynx!</p> + +<p>“The latter, on hearing the first cry of the eagle, had started, dropped +his prey, and looked up. In the eagle he evidently recognised an +antagonist, for his back suddenly became arched, his fur bristled up, +his short tail moved quickly from side to side, and he stood with +glaring eyes, and claws ready to receive the attack.</p> + +<p>“As the eagle came down, its legs and claws were thrown forward, +and I could then tell it was not a bald eagle, nor the great “Washington +eagle,” nor yet a fishing eagle of any sort, which both of these are. +The fishing eagles, as Lucien had told me, <i>have always naked legs</i>, +while those of the true eagles are more feathered. So were his, but +beyond the feathers I could see his great curved talons, as he struck +forward at the lynx. He evidently touched and wounded the animal, +but the wound only served to make it more angry: and I could hear +it purring and spitting like a tom-cat, only far louder.</p> + +<p>“The eagle again mounted back into the air, but soon wheeled round<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">150</a></span> +and shot down a second time. This time the lynx sprang forward to +meet it, and I could hear the concussion of their bodies as they came +together. I think the eagle must have been crippled, so that it could +not fly up again, for the fight from that time was carried on upon the +ground. The lynx seemed anxious to grasp some part of his antagonist's +body—and at times I thought he had succeeded—but then +he was beaten off again by the bird, that fought furiously with wings, +beak, and talons.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 348px;"> +<img src="images/illus-150.jpg" width="348" height="500" alt="THE LYNX AND THE GOLDEN EAGLE." title="THE LYNX AND THE GOLDEN EAGLE" /> +<span class="caption">THE LYNX AND THE GOLDEN EAGLE.</span></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">151</a></span>“The lynx now appeared to be the attacking party, as I saw him repeatedly +spring forward at the eagle, while the latter always received +him upon its claws, lying with its back upon the snow. Both fur and +feathers flew in every direction, and sometimes the combatants were +so covered with the snow-spray that I could see neither of them.</p> + +<p>“I watched the conflict for several minutes, until it occurred to me, +that my best time to get near enough for a shot was just while they +were in the thick of it, and not likely to heed me. I therefore moved +silently out of the bushes; and, keeping Marengo in the string, crept +forward. I had but the one bullet to give them, and with that I could +not shoot both; but I knew that the quadruped was eatable, and, as +I was not sure about the bird, I very easily made choice, and shot the +lynx. To my surprise the eagle did not fly off, and I now saw that +one of its wings was disabled! He was still strong enough, however, +to scratch Marengo severely before the latter could master him. As +to the lynx, he had been roughly handled. His skin was torn in +several places, and one of his eyes, as you see, regularly 'gouged out.'”</p> + +<p>Here Basil ended his narration; and after an interval, during which +some fresh wood was chopped and thrown upon the fire, Norman, in +turn, commenced relating what had befallen him.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE “ALARM BIRD” AND THE CARIBOU.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“T</span>here wasn't much 'adventure' in my day's sport,” said he, “though +I might call it a 'bird-adventure' too, for if it hadn't been for a bird +I shouldn't have had it. I shot a deer—that's all. But maybe it +would be curious for you to know how I came to find the animal, so +I'll tell you.</p> + +<p>“The first thing I did after leaving here was to climb the hill +yonder”—here Norman pointed to a long hill that sloped up from +the opposite shore of the lake, and which was the direction he had +taken, as Basil and François had gone right and left.</p> + +<p>“I saw neither bird, beast, nor track, until I had reached the top of +the hill. There I got a good view of the country ahead. I saw it +was very rocky, without a stick of timber, and did not look very +promising for game. 'It's no use going that way,' I says to myself; +“I'll keep along the ridge, above where Frank's gone. He may drive +some varmint out of the hollow, and I'll get a crack at it, as it comes +over the hill.</p> + +<p>“I was about to turn to the left when I heard the skreek of a bird +away ahead of me. I looked in that direction; and, sure enough, +saw one wheeling about in the air, right above the rocky jumble with +which the country was covered.</p> + +<p>“Now it's a mighty curious bird that I saw. It's a sort of an owl, +but, I should say myself, there's a sprinkling of the hawk in it—for +it's as much like the one as the other.”</p> + +<p>“No doubt,” interrupted Lucien, “it was one of the day owls of +these Northern regions, some of which approach very near to the +hawks, both in shape and habits. This peculiarity arises from the +fact of the long summer day—of weeks in duration—within the Arctic +circle, requiring them to hunt for their prey, just as hawks do; and +therefore Nature has gifted them with certain peculiarities that make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">152</a></span> +them resemble these birds. They want the very broad faces and large +tufted heads of the true owls; besides the ears, which in the latter +are remarkable for their size, and also for being operculated, or with +lids, in the former are not much larger than in other birds of prey. +The small hawk-owl which is altogether a Northern bird, is one of +this kind.”</p> + +<p>“Very well,” continued Norman, “what you say may be very true, +cousin Luce; I only know that the bird I am speaking about is a +mighty curious little creature. It ain't bigger than a pigeon, and is +of a mottled brown colour; but what I call it curious for is this:—Whenever +it sees any creature passing from place to place, it mounts +up into the air, and hovers above them, keeping up a constant +screeching, like the squalling of a child—and that's anything but +agreeable. It does so, not only in the neighbourhood of its nest—like +the plover and some other birds—but it will sometimes follow a +travelling party for hours together, and for miles across the country.”</p> + +<p>From this circumstance the Indians of these parts call it the “alarm +bird,” or “bird of warning,” because it often makes them aware of +the approach either of their enemies or of strangers. Sometimes it +alarms and startles the game, while the hunter is crawling up to it; +and I have known it to bother myself for a while of a day, when I +was after grouse. It's a great favourite with the Indians though—as +it often guides them to deer, or musk-oxen, by its flying and screaming +above where these animals are feeding.</p> + +<p>Just in the same way it guided me. I knew, from the movements +of the bird, that there must be something among the rocks. I +couldn't tell what, but I hoped it would turn out to be some creature +that was eatable; so I changed my intention, and struck out for the +place where it was.</p> + +<p>It was a good half mile from the hill, and it cost me considerable +clambering over the rocks, before I reached the ground. I thought +to get near enough to see what it was, without drawing the bird upon +myself, and I crouched from hummock to hummock; but the sharp-eyed +creature caught sight of me, and came screeching over my head. +I kept on without noticing it; but as I was obliged to go round some +large rocks, I lost the direction, and soon found myself wandering +back into my own trail.</p> + +<p>I could do nothing, therefore, until the bird should leave me, and +fly back to whatever had first set it a-going. In order that it might +do so, I crept in under a big stone that jutted out, and lay quiet a +bit, watching it. It soon flew off, and commenced wheeling about in +the air, not more than three hundred yards from where I lay. This +time I took good bearings, and then went on. I did not care for the +bird to guide me any longer, for I observed there was an open spot +ahead, and I was sure that there I could see something. And sure +enough I did. On peeping round the end of a rock, I spied a herd of +about fifty deer.</p> + +<p>They were reindeer, of course, as there are no others upon the +'Barren Grounds,' and I saw they were all does—for at this season +the bucks keep altogether in the woods. Some of them were pawing +the snow to get at the moss, while others were standing by the rocks, +and tearing off the lichens with their teeth. It so happened that I +had the wind of them, else they would have scented me and made off, +for I was within a hundred yards of the nearest. I was not afraid of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">153</a></span> +their taking fright, so long as they could only see part of my body—for +these deer are so stupid, or rather so curious, that almost anything +will draw them within shot.</p> + +<p>Knowing this, I practised a trick that had often helped me before; +and that was to move the barrel of my gun, up and down, with the +same sort of motion as the deer make with their horns, when rubbing +their necks against a rock or tree. If I'd had a set of antlers, it +would have been all the better; but the other answered well enough. +It happened the animals were not very wild, as, likely, they hadn't +been hunted for a good while. I bellowed at the same time,—for I +know how to imitate their call—and, in less than a minute's time, I +got several of them within range. Then I took aim, and knocked one +over, and the rest ran off. “That,” said Norman, “ended <i>my</i> adventure—unless +you call the carrying a good hundred pounds weight of +deer-meat all the way back to camp part of it. If so, I can assure +you that it was by far the most unpleasant part.”</p> + +<p>Here Norman finished his narration, and a conversation was carried +on upon the subject of reindeer, or, as these animals are termed, in +America, “caribou.”</p> + +<p>Lucien said that the reindeer is found in the Northern regions of +Europe and Asia as well as in America, but that there were several +varieties of them, and perhaps there were different species. Those +of Lapland are most celebrated, because they not only draw sledges, +but also furnish food, clothing, and many other commodities for their +owners. In the north of Asia, the Tungusians have a much larger +sort, which they ride upon; and the Koreki, who dwell upon the +borders of Kamschatka, possess vast herds of reindeer—some rich +individuals owing as many as ten or twenty thousand!</p> + +<p>It is not certain that the reindeer of America is exactly the same +as either of the kinds mentioned; and indeed in America itself there +are two very distinct kinds—perhaps a third. Two kinds are well +known, that differ from each other in size, and also in habits. One +is the “Barren Ground caribou,” and the other, the “Woodland +caribou.” The former is one of the smallest of the deer kind—the +bucks weighing little over one hundred pounds. As its name implies, +it frequents the Barren Grounds, although in winter it also seeks the +shelter of wooded tracts. Upon the Barren Grounds, and the desolate +shores and islands of the Arctic Sea, it is the only kind of deer found, +except at one or two points, as the mouth of the Mackenzie River—which +happens to be a wooded country, and there the moose also is +met with.</p> + +<p>Nature seems to have gifted the Barren Ground caribou with such +tastes and habits, that a fertile country and a genial clime would not +be a pleasant home for it. It seems adapted to the bleak, sterile +countries in which it dwells, and where its favourite food—the +mosses and lichens—is found. In the short summer of the Arctic +regions, it ranges still farther north; and its traces have been found +wherever the Northern navigators have gone. It must remain among +the icy islands of the Arctic Sea until winter be considerably advanced, +or until the sea is so frozen as to allow it to get back to the shores of +the continent.</p> + +<p>The “Woodland caribou” is a larger variety—a Woodland doe +being about as big as a Barren Ground buck—although the horns of +the latter species are larger and more branching than those of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">154</a></span> +former. The Woodland kind are found around the shores of Hudson's +Bay, and in other wooded tracts that lie in the southern parts of the +fur countries—into which the Barren Ground caribou never penetrates. +They also migrate annually, but, strange to say, their spring migrations +are southward, while, at the same season, their cousins of the +Barren Grounds are making their way northward to the shores of the +Arctic Sea. This is a very singular difference in their habits, and +along with their difference in bulk, form, &c., entitles them to be +ranked as separate species of deer.</p> + +<p>The flesh of the Woodland caribou is not esteemed so good an +article of food as that of the other; and, as it inhabits a district +where many large animals are found, it is not considered of so much +importance in the economy of human life. The “Barren Ground +caribou,” on the other hand, is an indispensable animal to various +tribes of Indians, as well as to the Esquimaux. Without it, these +people would be unable to dwell where they do; and although they +have not domesticated it, and trained it to draught, like the Laplanders, +it forms their main source of subsistence, and there is no part +of its body which they do not turn to some useful purpose.</p> + +<p>Of its horns they form their fish-spears and hooks, and, previous to +the introduction of iron by the Europeans, their ice-chisels and various +other utensils. Their scraping or currying knives are made from the +split shin-bones. The skins make their clothing, tent-covers, beds, +and blankets. The raw hide, cleared of the hair and cut into thongs, +serves for snares, bow-strings, net-lines, and every other sort of ropes. +The finer thongs make netting for snow-shoes—an indispensable +article to these people—and of these thongs fish-nets are also woven; +while the tendons of the muscles, when split, serve for fine sewing-thread. +Besides these uses, the flesh of the caribou is the food of +many tribes, Indians and Esquimaux, for most of the year; and, +indeed, it may be looked upon as their staple article of subsistence.</p> + +<p>There is hardly any part of it (even the horns, when soft) that is +not eaten and relished by them. Were it not for the immense herds +of these creatures that roam over the country, they would soon be +exterminated—for they are easily approached, and the Indians have +very little difficulty, during the summer season, in killing as many as +they please.</p> + +<p>Norman next gave a description of the various modes of hunting +the caribou practised by the Indians and Esquimaux; such as driving +them into a pound, snaring them, decoying and shooting them with +arrows, and also a singular way which the Esquimaux have of taking +them in a pit-trap built in the snow.</p> + +<p>“The sides of the trap,” said he, “are built of slabs of snow, cut as +if to make a snow-house. An inclined plane of snow leads to the +entrance of the pit, which is about five feet deep, and large enough +within to hold several deer. The exterior of the trap is banked up +on all sides with snow; but so steep are these sides left, that the deer +can only get up by the inclined plane which leads to the entrance. +A great slab of snow is then placed over the mouth of the pit, and +revolves on two axles of wood. This slab will carry the deer until it +has passed the line of the axles, when its weight overbalances one +side, and the animal is precipitated into the pit. The slab then +comes back into a horizontal position as before, and is ready to +receive another deer. The animals are attracted by moss and lichens<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">155</a></span> +placed for them on the opposite side of the trap—in such a way that +they cannot be reached without crossing the slab. In this sort of +trap several deer are frequently caught during a single day.”</p> + +<p>Norman knew another mode of hunting practised by the Esquimaux, +and proposed that the party should proceed in search of the herd +upon the following day; when, should they succeed in finding the +deer, he would show them how the thing was done; and he had no +doubt of their being able to make a good hunt of it. All agreed +to this proposal, as it would be of great importance to them to kill a +large number of these animals. It is true they had now provision +enough to serve for several days—but there were perhaps months, not +days, to be provided for. They believed that they could not be far +from the wooded countries near the banks of the Mackenzie, as some +kinds of the animal they had met with were only to be found near +timber during the winter season. But what of that? Even on the +banks of the great river itself they might not succeed in procuring +game. They resolved, therefore, to track the herd of deer which +Norman had seen; and for this purpose they agreed to make a stay +of some days at their present camp.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A BATTLE WITH WOLVES.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">N</span>ext morning they were up by early daybreak. The days were +now only a few hours in length, for it was mid-winter, and they were +but three or four degrees south of the Arctic circle. Of course they +would require all the day for the intended hunt of the caribou, as +they might have to follow the track of the herd for many miles +before coming up with the animals. Lucien was to remain by the +camp, as it would never do to leave the animals they had already +killed without some guard. To have hung them on the trees, would +have put them out of the reach of both wolves and foxes; but the +lynx and wolverene are both tree-climbers, and could easily have +got at them there.</p> + +<p>They had reason to believe there were wolverenes about; for these +fierce and destructive beasts are found in every part of the fur +countries—wherever there exist other animals upon which they can +prey. Eagles, hawks, and owls, moreover, would have picked the +partridges from the branches of the trees without difficulty. One +proposed burying them in the snow; but Norman assured them that +the Arctic foxes could scent them out, and dig them up in a few +minutes. Then it was suggested to cover them under a pile of +stones, as there were plenty of these lying about.</p> + +<p>To this Norman also objected, saying that the wolverene could +pull off any stones they were able to pile upon them—as this creature +in its fore-legs possesses more than the strength of a man. Besides, +it was not unlikely that one of the great brown bears,—a species +entirely different from either the black or grizzly bears, and which +is only met with on the Barren Grounds—might come ranging that +way; and he could soon toss over any stone-heap they might build. +On the whole it was better that one of the four should remain by the +camp; and Lucien, who cared less about hunting than any of them, +willingly agreed to be the one.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">156</a></span></p> + +<p>Their arrangements were soon completed, and the three hunters +set out. They did not go straight towards the place where Norman +had found the deer upon the preceding day, but took a cross-cut +over the hills. This was by Norman's advice, who guided himself by +the wind—which had not changed since the previous day. He knew +that the caribou in feeding always travel <i>against</i> the wind; and he +expected therefore to find them somewhere in the direction from +which it was blowing. Following a course, which angled with that +of the wind, they kept on, expecting soon to strike the trail of the +herd.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Lucien, left to himself, was not idle. He had to prepare +the flesh of the different animals, so as to render it fit to be carried +along. Nothing was required farther than to skin and cut them up. +Neither salting nor drying was necessary, for the flesh of one and all +had got frozen as stiff as a stone, and in this way it would keep +during the whole winter. The wolf was skinned with the others, +but this was because his fine skin was wanted. His flesh was not +intended to be eaten—although only a day or two before any one of +the party would have been glad of such a meal.</p> + +<p>Not only the Indians, but the voyageurs and fur-traders, while +journeying through these inhospitable wilds, are often but too delighted +to get a dinner of wolf-meat. The ermine and the little +mouse were the only other creatures of the collection that were +deemed uneatable. As to the Arctic fox and the lynx, the flesh of +both these creatures is highly esteemed, and is white and tender, +almost as much so as the hares upon which they feed. The snowy +owl too, the jerfalcon, and the eagle, were looked upon as part of the +larder—the flesh of all being almost as good as that of the grouse.</p> + +<p>Had it been a fishing eagle—such as the bald-head—the case would +have been different, for these last, on account of their peculiar food, +taste rank and disagreeable. But there was no danger of their +falling in with a fishing eagle at that place. These can only exist +where there is <i>open</i> water. Hence the cause of their annual migrations +to the southward, when the lakes and rivers of the fur countries +become covered with their winter ice.</p> + +<p>Though Lucien remained quietly at the camp he was not without +adventures to keep him from wearying. While he was singeing his +grouse his eye happened to fall upon the shadow of a bird passing +over the snow. On looking up he saw a very large bird, nearly as +big as an eagle, flying softly about in wide circles. It was of a +mottled-brown colour; but its short neck and great round head told +the naturalist at a glance that it was a bird of the owl genus. It was +the largest of the kind that Lucien had ever seen, and was, in fact, +the largest known in America—the “great cinereous owl.” Now and +then it would alight upon a rock or tree, at the distance of an hundred +yards or so from the camp; where it would watch the operations +of Lucien, evidently inclined to help him in dissecting some of the +animals. Whenever he took up his gun and tried to approach +within shot, it would rise into the air again, always keeping out of +range. Lucien was provoked at this—for he wished, as a naturalist, +to examine the bird, and for this purpose to kill it, of course; but +the owl seemed determined that he should do no such thing.</p> + +<p>At length, however, Lucien resolved upon a plan to decoy the +creature within shot. Taking up one of the grouse, he flung it out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">157</a></span> +upon the snow some thirty yards from the fire. No sooner had he +done so, than the owl, at sight of the tempting morsel, left aside both +its shyness and prudence, and sailed gently forward; then, hovering +for a moment over the ground, hooked the grouse upon its claws, and +was about to carry it off, when a bullet from Lucien's rifle, just in +the “nick of time,” put a stop to its further flight, and dropped the +creature dead upon the snow.</p> + +<p>Lucien picked it up and brought it to the camp, where he passed +some time in making notes upon its size, colour, and other peculiarities. +The owl measured exactly two feet in length from the point +of the bill to the end of the tail; and its “alar spread,” as naturalists +term it, was full five feet in extent. It was of a clove-brown colour, +beautifully mottled with white, and its bill and eyes were of a bright +gamboge yellow. Like all of its tribe that winter in the Arctic +wilds, it was feathered to the toes. Lucien reflected that this species +lives more in the woods than the “great snowy owl,” and, as he had +heard, is never found far out on the Barren Grounds during winter. +This fact, therefore, was a pleasant one to reflect upon, for it confirmed +the testimony which the travellers had already obtained from +several of the other creatures they had killed—that is to say, that +they must be in the neighbourhood of some timbered country.</p> + +<p>Lucien had hardly finished his examination of the owl when he was +called upon to witness another incident of a still more exciting +nature. A hill, as already mentioned, or rather a ridge, rose up from +the opposite shore of the lake by which the camp was pitched. The +declivity of this hill fronted the lake, and sloped gradually back from +the edge of the water. Its whole face was smooth and treeless, +covered with a layer of pure snow. The camp commanded a full +view of it up to its very crest.</p> + +<p>As Lucien was sitting quietly by the fire a singular sound, or +rather continuation of sounds, fell upon his ear. It somewhat +resembled the baying of hounds at a distance; and at first he was +inclined to believe that it was Marengo on a view-hunt after the +deer. On listening more attentively, however, he observed that the +sounds came from more than one animal; and also, that they bore +more resemblance to the howling of wolves than the deep-toned bay +of a bloodhound. This, in fact, it was; for the next moment a +caribou shot up over the crest of the hill, and was seen stretching at +full gallop down the smooth declivity in the direction of the lake. +Not twenty paces in its rear followed a string of howling animals, +evidently in pursuit of it. There were a dozen of them in all, and +they were running exactly like hounds upon the “view holloa.” +Lucien saw at a glance they were wolves. Most of them were +dappled-grey and white, while some were of a pure white colour. +Any one of them was nearly as large as the caribou itself; for in these +parts—around Great Slave Lake—the wolf grows to his largest size.</p> + +<p>The caribou gained upon them as it bounded down the slope of the +hill. It was evidently making for the lake, believing, no doubt, that +the black ice upon its surface was water, and that in that element it +would have the advantage of its pursuers, for the caribou is a splendid +swimmer. Nearly all deer when hunted take to the water—to throw +off the dogs, or escape from men—and to this habit the reindeer +makes no exception.</p> + +<p>Down the hill swept the chase, Lucien having a full view both of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">158</a></span> +pursuers and pursued. The deer ran boldly. It seemed to have +gathered fresh confidence at sight of the lake, while the same object +caused its pursuers a feeling of disappointment. They knew they +were no match for a caribou in the water, as no doubt many a one +had escaped them in that element. It is not likely, however, that +they made reflections of this sort. There was but little time. From +the moment of their appearance upon the crest of the hill till the +chase arrived at the edge of the lake, was but a few seconds. On +reaching the shore the caribou made no stop; but bounded forward +in the same way as if it had been springing upon water. Most likely +it expected to hear a plunge; but, instead of that, its hoofs came +down upon the hard ice; and, by the impulse thus given, the animal +shot out with the velocity of a skater.</p> + +<p>Strange to say, it still kept its feet; but, now seemingly overcome +by surprise, and knowing the advantage its pursuers would have +over it upon the slippery ice, it began to plunge and flounder, and +once or twice came to its knees. The hungry pursuers appeared to +recognise their advantage at once, for their howling opened with a +fresh burst, and they quickened their pace. Their sharp claws +enabled them to gallop over the ice at top speed; and one large +brute that led the pack soon came up with the deer, sprang upon it, +and bit it in the flank. This brought the deer upon its haunches, +and at once put an end to the chase. The animal was hardly down +upon the ice, when the foremost wolves coming up precipitated +themselves upon its body, and began to devour it.</p> + +<p>It was about the middle of the lake where the caribou had been +overtaken. At the time it first reached the ice, Lucien had laid hold +of his rifle and run forward in order to meet the animal half-way, +and, if possible, get a shot at it. Now that the creature was killed, +he continued on with the design of driving off the wolves, and securing +the carcass of the deer for himself. He kept along the ice until he +was within less than twenty yards of the pack, when, seeing that the +fierce brutes had torn the deer to pieces, and perceiving, moreover, +that they exhibited no fear of himself, he began to think he might +be in danger by advancing any nearer. Perhaps a shot from his rifle +would scatter them, and without further reflection he raised the +piece, and fired. One of the wolves kicked over upon the ice, and +lay quite dead; but the others, to Lucien's great surprise, instead of +being frightened off, immediately sprang upon their dead companion, +and commenced tearing and devouring it, just as they had done the +deer!</p> + +<p>The sight filled Lucien with alarm; which was increased at seeing +several of the wolves—that had been beaten by the others from the +quarry—commence making demonstrations towards himself! Lucien +now trembled for his safety, and no wonder. He was near the middle +of the lake upon slippery ice. To attempt running back to the camp +would be hazardous; the wolves could overtake him before he had +got half-way, and he felt certain that any signs of fear on his part +would be the signal for the fierce brutes to assail him.</p> + +<p>For some moments he was irresolute how to act. He had commenced +loading his gun, but his fingers were numbed with the cold, +and it was a good while before he could get the piece ready for a +second fire. He succeeded at length. He did not fire then, but +resolved to keep the charge for a more desperate crisis. Could he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">159</a></span> +but reach the camp there were trees near it, and one of these he +might climb. This was his only hope, in case the wolves attacked +him, and he knew it was. Instead of turning and running for this +point, he began to back for it stealthily and with caution, keeping +his front all the while towards the wolves, and his eyes fixed upon +them.</p> + +<p>He had not got many yards, when he perceived to his horror, that +the whole pack were in motion, and <i>coming after him</i>! It was a +terrible sight, and Lucien seeing that by retreating he only drew +them on, stopped and held his rifle in a threatening attitude. The +wolves were now within twenty yards of him; but, instead of moving +any longer directly towards him, they broke into two lines, swept +past on opposite sides of him, and then circling round, met each other +in his rear. <i>His retreat was cut off!</i></p> + +<p>He now stood upon the ice with the fierce wolves forming a ring +around him, whose diameter was not the six lengths of his gun, and +every moment growing shorter and shorter. The prospect was +appalling. It would have caused the stoutest heart to quail, and +Lucien's was terrified. He shouted at the top of his voice. He fired +his rifle at the nearest. The brute fell, but the others showed no +symptoms of fear; they only grew more furious. Lucien clubbed his +gun—the last resort in such cases—and laid around him with all his +might; but he was in danger of slipping upon the ice, and his efforts +were feeble.</p> + +<p>Once down he never would have risen again, for his fierce assailants +would have sprung upon him like tigers. As it was, he felt but little +hope. He believed himself lost. The teeth of the ferocious monsters +gleamed under his eyes. He was growing weaker and weaker, yet +still he battled on, and swept his gun around him with the energy of +despair.</p> + +<p>Such a struggle could not have continued much longer. Lucien's +fate would have been sealed in a very few minutes more, had not +relief arrived in some shape or other. But it did come. A loud shout +was heard upon the hill; and Lucien, glancing suddenly towards it, +saw several forms rushing downward to the lake! It was the hunting +party returned, and in a moment more they were crossing the ice to +his rescue. Lucien gaining confidence fought with fresh vigour. The +wolves busy in their attack had either not heard or were regardless +of the new-comers; but the “crack, crack” of the guns—repeated no +less than four times—and then the nearer reports of pistols, made a +speedy impression upon the brutes, and in a short while half their +number were seen tumbling and kicking upon the ice. The rest, +uttering their hideous howls, took to flight, and soon disappeared +from the valley; and Lucien, half dead with fatigue, staggered into +the arms of his deliverers.</p> + +<p>No less than seven of the wolves were killed in the affray—two of +which Lucien had shot himself. One or two were only wounded, but +so badly, that they could not get away; and these were handed over +to the tender mercies of Marengo, who amused himself for some time +after by worrying them to death.</p> + +<p>The hunting party had made a good day of it. They had fallen in +with the caribou, and had killed three of them. These they were +bringing to camp, but had dropped them upon the hill, on perceiving +the perilous position of Lucien. They now went back, and having<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">160</a></span> +carried the deer to their camping-place, were soon engaged in the +pleasant occupation of eating a savoury dinner. Lucien soon recovered +from his fright and fatigue, and amused his companions by +giving an account of the adventures that had befallen him in their +absence.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">END OF THE “VOYAGE.”</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">O</span>ur party remained several days at this place, until they had made +a fresh stock of “pemmican” from the flesh of the caribou, several +more of which they succeeded in killing; and then, arranging everything +anew, and taking with them such skins as they wanted, they +continued their journey.</p> + +<p>They had two days' hard travelling through a rocky mountainous +country, where they could not find a stick of wood to cook their meals +with, and were exposed to cold more than at any other place. Both +François and Lucien had their faces frost-bitten; but they were cured +by Norman, who prevented them from going near a fire until he had +well rubbed the parts with soft snow.</p> + +<p>The rocks through which they passed were in many places covered +with the <i>tripe de roche</i> of several species; but our voyageurs cared +nothing about it so long as their pemmican lasted, and of that each +of them had nearly as much as he could carry.</p> + +<p>In the most dreary part of the mountains they chanced upon +a herd of those curious animals, the musk-oxen, and shot one of +them; but the meat tasted so rank, and smelt so strongly of musk, +that the whole of it was left to the wolves, foxes, and other preying +creatures of these parts.</p> + +<p>On the third day, after leaving their camp by the lake, a pleasant +prospect opened before them. It was the valley of the Mackenzie, +stretching to the west, and extending north and south as far as the +eye could reach, covered with forests of pine and poplar, and other +large trees. Of course the landscape was a winter one, as the river +was bound up in ice, and the trees themselves were half-white with +frozen snow; but after the dreary scenery of the barren grounds, +even this appeared warm and summer-like. There was no longer +any danger they should be without a good fire to cook their dinners, +or warm themselves at, and a wooded country offers a better prospect +of game.</p> + +<p>The sight, therefore, of a great forest was cheering; and our +travellers, in high spirits, planted their tent upon the banks of the +great Northern river. They had still many hundred miles to go +before arriving at their destination; but they determined to continue +their journey without much delay, following the river as a guide. +No more “near cuts” were to be taken in future. They had learned, +from their recent experience, that “the shortest way across is +sometimes the longest way round,” and they resolved to profit by +the lesson. I hope, boy reader, you too will remember it.</p> + +<p>After reaching the Mackenzie the voyageurs halted one day, and +upon the next commenced their journey down-stream. Sometimes +they kept upon the bank, but at times, for a change, they travelled +upon the ice of the river. There was no danger of its giving way<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">161</a></span> +under them, for it was more than a foot in thickness, and would +have supported a loaded wagon and horses, without even cracking.</p> + +<p>They were now drawing near the Arctic circle, and the days grew +shorter and shorter as they advanced. But this did not much +interfere with their travelling. The long nights of the Polar regions +are not like those of more Southern latitudes. They are sometimes so +clear, that one may read the smallest print. What with the coruscations +of the aurora borealis, and the cheerful gleaming of the Northern +constellations, one may travel without difficulty throughout the livelong +night. I am sure, my young friend, you have made good use of +your globes, and need not be told that the length of both nights and +days, as you approach the pole, depends upon two things—the +latitude of the place, and the season of the year; and were you to +spend a whole year <i>leaning against the pole itself, (!)</i> you would <i>live +but one day and one night</i>—each of them six months in length.</p> + +<p>But no doubt you know all these things without my telling you of +them, and you are impatient to hear not about that, but whether the +young voyageurs safely reached the end of their journey. That +question I answer briefly at once—they did.</p> + +<p>Some distance below the point where they had struck the Mackenzie, +they fell in with a winter encampment of Dog-rib Indians. +Some of these people had been to the Fort to trade; and Norman +being known to them, he and his Southern cousins were received +with much hospitality. All their wants were provided for, as far as +it lay in the power of these poor people to do; but the most valuable +thing obtained from the Indians was a full set of dogs and dog-sledges +for the whole party. These were furnished by the chief, +upon the understanding that he should be paid for them on his next +visit to the Fort.</p> + +<p>Although the reindeer of North America are not trained to the +sledge by the Esquimaux and Indians, several kinds of dogs are; +and a single pair of these faithful creatures will draw a full-grown +man at a rate that exceeds almost every other mode of travelling—steam +excepted. When our voyageurs, therefore, flung away their +snow-shoes, and, wrapped in their skin cloaks, seated themselves +snugly in their dog sledges, the five hundred miles that separated +them from the Fort were soon reduced to nothing; and one afternoon, +four small sledges, each carrying a “young voyageur,” with a large +bloodhound galloping in the rear, were seen driving up to the +stockade fence surrounding the Fort.</p> + +<p>Before they had quite reached the gate, there was a general rush +of trappers, traders, voyageurs, <i>coureurs-des-bois</i> and other <i>employés</i>, +to reach them; and the next moment they were lost in the midst of +the people who crowded out of the Fort to welcome them. This was +their hour of happiness and joy.</p> + +<p>To me there is an hour of regret, and I hope, boy reader, to you as +well—the hour of our parting with the “<span class="smcap">Young Voyageurs</span>.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">162</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="cap2">THE FOREST EXILES,</div> +<br /> +<div class="cap">OR</div> +<br /> +<div class="cap">ADVENTURES AMID THE WILDS OF THE AMAZON.</div> +<br /><br /> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE BIGGEST WOOD IN THE WORLD.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">B</span>oy Reader, I am told that you are not tired of my company. +Is this true?</p> + +<p>“Quite true, dear Captain,—quite true!”</p> + +<p>That is your reply. You speak sincerely? I believe you do.</p> + +<p>In return, believe <i>me</i>, when I tell you I am not tired of yours; and +the best proof I can give is, that I have come once more to seek you. +I have come to solicit the pleasure of your company,—not to an +evening party, nor to a ball, nor to the Grand Opera, nor to the +Crystal Palace, nor yet to the Zoological Gardens of Regent's Park,—no, +but to the great zoological garden of Nature. I have come to +ask you to accompany me on another “campaign,”—another “grand +journey” through the fields of Science and Adventure. Will you go?</p> + +<p>“Most willingly—with you, dear Captain, anywhere.”</p> + +<p>Come with me, then.</p> + +<p>Again we turn our faces westward; again we cross the blue and +billowy Atlantic; again we seek the shores of the noble continent of +America.</p> + +<p>“What! to America again?”</p> + +<p>Ha! that is a large continent, and you need not fear that I am +going to take you over old ground. No, fear not that! New scenes, +await us; a new <i>fauna</i>, a new <i>flora</i>,—I might almost say, a new +earth and a new sky!</p> + +<p>You shall have variety, I promise you,—a perfect contrast to +the scenes of our last journey.</p> + +<p>Then, you remember, we turned our faces to the cold and icy +North,—now our path lies through the hot and sunny South. Then +we lived in a log-hut, and closed every cranny to keep out the cold,—now, +in our cottage of palms and cane, we shall be but too glad to let +the breeze play through the open walls. Then we wrapped our +bodies in thick furs,—now we shall be content with the lightest +garments. Then we were bitten by the frost—now we shall be +bitten by the sand-flies, and mosquitoes, and bats, and snakes, and +scorpions, and spiders, and stung by wasps, and centipedes, and +great red ants! Trust me, you shall have a change!</p> + +<p>Perhaps you do not contemplate <i>such</i> a change with any very lively +feelings of pleasure. Come! do not be alarmed at the snakes, and +scorpions, and centipedes! We shall find a cure for every bite—an +antidote for every bane.</p> + +<p>Our new journey shall have its pleasures and advantages. Remember +how of old we shivered as we slept, coiled up in the corner +of our dark log-hut and smothered in skins,—now we shall swing +lightly in our netted hammocks under the gossamer leaves of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">163</a></span> +palm-tree, or the feathery frondage of the ferns. Then we gazed +upon leaden skies, and at night looked upon the cold constellation of +the Northern Bear;—now, we shall have over us an azure canopy, +and shall nightly behold the sparkling glories of the Southern Cross, +still shining as bright as when Paul and his little Virginia with +loving eyes gazed upon it from their island home. In our last journey +we toiled over bleak and barren wastes, across frozen lakes, and +marshes, and rivers;—now we shall pass under the shadows of virgin +forests, and float lightly upon the bosom of broad majestic streams, +whose shores echo with the voices of living nature.</p> + +<p>Hitherto our travels have been upon the wide, open prairie, the +trackless plain of sand, the frozen lake, the thin scattering woods of +the North, or the treeless snow-clad “Barrens.” Now we are about +to enter a great forest,—a forest where the leaves never fade, where +the flowers are always in bloom,—a forest where the woodman's axe +has not yet echoed, where the colonist has hardly hewed out a single +clearing,—a vast primeval forest,—the largest in the world.</p> + +<p>How large, do you ask? I can hardly tell you. Are you thinking +of Epping or the New Forest? True, these are large woods, and have +been larger at one time. But if you draw your ideas of a great forest +from either of these you must prepare yourselves for a startling +announcement—and that is, that the forest through which I am +going to take you is <i>as big as all Europe</i>! There is one place where +a straight line might be drawn across this forest that would measure +the enormous length of two thousand six hundred miles! And there +is a point in it from which a circle might be described, with a +diameter of more than a thousand miles, and the whole area included +within the vast circumference would be found covered with an unbroken +forest!</p> + +<p>I need scarce tell you what forest I allude to, for there is none +other in the world of such dimensions—none to compare with that +vast, trackless forest that covers the valley of the mighty Amazon!</p> + +<p>And what shall we see in travelling through this tree-covered +expanse? Many a strange form of life—both vegetable and animal. +We shall see the giant “ceiba” tree, and the “zamang,” and the +“caoba,” twined by huge parasites almost as thick as their own +trunks, and looking as though they embraced but to crush them; the +“juvia,” with its globe-shaped fruits as large as the human head; the +“cow-tree,” with its abundant fountains of rich milk; the “seringa,” +with its valuable gum—the caoutchouc of commerce; the “cinchona,” +with its fever-killing bark; the curious “volador,” with its winged +seeds; the wild indigo, and the arnatto. We shall see palms of many +species—some with trunks smooth and cylindrical, others covered +with thorns, sharp and thickly set—some with broad entire leaves, +others with fronds pinnate and feathery, and still others whose +leaves are the shape of a fan—some rising like naked columns to the +height of an hundred and fifty feet, while others scarcely attain to +the standard of an ordinary man.</p> + +<p>On the water we shall see beautiful lilies—the snow-white <i>nymphs</i>, +and the yellow <i>nuphars</i>. We shall see the <i>Victoria regia</i> covering the +pool with its massive wax-like flowers, and huge circular leaves of +bronze green. We shall see tall flags like Saracen spears, and the +dark green culms of gigantic rushes, and the golden <i>arundinaria</i>—the +bamboo, and “caña brava,”—that rival the forest trees in height.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">164</a></span></p> + +<p>Many a form of animal life we may behold. Basking in the sun, +we may behold the yellow and spotted body of the jaguar—a beautiful +but dreaded sight. Breaking through the thick underwood, or +emerging slowly from the water, we may catch a glimpse of the +sombre tapir, or the red-brown capivara. We may see the ocelot +skulking through the deep shade, or the margay springing upon its +winged prey.</p> + +<p>We may see the shaggy ant-bear tearing at the cones of sand-clay, +and licking up the white termites; or we may behold the scaly +armadillo crawling over the sun-parched earth, and rolling itself up +at the approach of danger. We may see human-like forms,—the +<i>quadrumana</i>—clinging among the high branches, and leaping from +tree to tree, like birds upon the wing; we may see them of many +shapes, sizes, and colours, from the great howling monkeys, with their +long prehensive tails, down to the little saimiris and ouistitis not +larger than squirrels.</p> + +<p>What beautiful birds, too!—for this forest is their favourite home. +Upon the ground, the large curassows, and gurns, and the “gallo,” +with his plumage of bright red. Upon the trees, the macaws, and +parrots, and toucans, and trogons. In the waters, the scarlet +flamingoes, the ibises, and the tall herons; and in the air, the hawks, +the zamuros, the king-vultures, and the eagles.</p> + +<p>We shall see much of the reptile world, both by land and water. +Basking upon the bank, or floating along the stream, we may behold +the great water lizards—the crocodile and caïman; or the unwieldly +forms of the <i>cheloniæ</i>—the turtles. Nimbly running along the tree-trunk, +or up the slanting lliana, we may see the crested iguana, +hideous to behold. On the branches that overhang the silent pool +we may see the “water-boa,” of huge dimensions, watching for his +prey—the peccary, the capivara, the paca, or the agouti; and in the +dry forest we may meet with his congener the “stag-swallower,” +twined around a tree, and waiting for the roebuck or the little red-deer +of the woods.</p> + +<p>We may see the mygale, or bird-catching spider, at the end of his +strong net-trap, among the thick foliage; and the tarantula, at the +bottom of his dark pit-fall, constructed in the ground. We may see +the tent-like hills of the white ants, raised high above the surface, +and the nests of many other kinds, hanging from high branches, and +looking as though they had been constructed out of raw silk and +pasteboard. We may see trees covered with these nests, and some +with the nests of wasps, and still others with those of troupials and +orioles—birds of the genus <i>icterus</i> and <i>cassicus</i>—hanging down like +long cylindrical purses.</p> + +<p>All those, and many more strange sights, may be seen in the great +forest of the Amazon valley; and some of them we <i>shall</i> see—<i>voilà</i>!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE REFUGEES.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">U</span>pon a bright and lovely evening, many years ago, a party of +travellers might have been seen climbing up that Cordillera of the +Andes that lies to the eastward of the ancient city of Cuzco. It was +a small and somewhat singular party of travellers; in fact, a travelling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">165</a></span> +family,—father, mother, children, and one attendant. We shall +say a word of each of them separately.</p> + +<p>The chief of the party was a tall and handsome man, of nearly forty +years of age. His countenance bespoke him of Spanish race, and so +he was. He was not a Spaniard, however, but a Spanish-American, +or “Creole,” for so Spaniards born in America are called to distinguish +them from the natives of Old Spain.</p> + +<p>Remember—Creoles are <i>not</i> people with negro or African blood in +their veins. There is a misconception on this head in England, and +elsewhere. The African races of America are either negroes, mulattoes, +quadroons, quinteroons, or mestizoes; but the “Creoles” are of +European blood, though born in America. Remember this. Don +Pablo Romero—for that was the name of our traveller—was a Creole, +a native of Cuzco, which, as you know, was the ancient capital of the +Incas of Peru.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo, as already stated, was nearly forty years of age. Perhaps +he looked older. His life had not been spent in idleness. +Much study, combined with a good deal of suffering and care, had +made many of those lines that rob the face of its youthful appearance. +Still, although his look was serious, and just then sad, his eye was +occasionally seen to brighten, and his light elastic step showed that +he was full of vigour and manhood. He had a moustache, very full +and black, but his whiskers were clean shaven, and his hair cut short, +after the fashion of most people in Spanish America.</p> + +<p>He wore velvet pantaloons, trimmed at the bottoms with black +stamped leather, and upon his feet were strong boots of a reddish +yellow colour—that is, the natural colour of the tanned hide before it +has been stained. A dark jacket, closely buttoned, covered the upper-part +of his body, and a scarlet silk sash encircled his waist, the long +fringed ends hanging down over the left hip. In this sash were +stuck a Spanish knife and a pair of pistols, richly ornamented with +silver mountings.</p> + +<p>But all these things were concealed from the view by a capacious +poncho, which is a garment that in South America serves as a cloak +by day and a blanket by night. It is nearly of the size and shape of +an ordinary blanket, with a slit in the centre, through which the +head is passed, leaving the ends to hang down. Instead of being of +uniform colour, several bright colours are usually woven into the +poncho, forming a variety of patterns. In Mexico a very similar +garment—the serapé—is almost universally worn. The poncho of +Don Pablo was a costly one, woven by hand, and out of the finest +wool of the vicuña, for that is the native country of this useful and +curious animal.</p> + +<p>Such a poncho would cost 20<i>l.</i>, and would not only keep out cold, +but would turn rain like a “macintosh.” Don Pablo's hat was also +curious and costly. It was one of those known as “Panama,” or +“Guayaquil,”—hats so called because they are manufactured by +Indian tribes who dwell upon the Pacific coast, and are made out +of a rare sea-grass, which is found near the above-mentioned places. +A good Guayaquil hat will cost 20<i>l.</i>; and although, with its broad +curling brim and low crown, it looks not much better than Leghorn +or even fine straw, yet it is far superior to either, both as a protection +against rain, or, what is of more importance in southern countries, +against a hot tropical sun. The best of them will wear half a life-time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">166</a></span> +Don Pablo's “sombrero” was one of the very best and +costliest; and this, combined with the style of his other habiliments, +betokened that the wearer was one of the “ricos,” or high class of +his country.</p> + +<p>The costume of his wife, who was a dark and very beautiful +Spanish woman, would have strengthened this idea. She wore a +dress of black silk with velvet bodice and sleeves, tastefully embroidered. +A mantilla of dark cloth covered her shoulders, and on +her head was a low broad-brimmed hat, similar to those usually worn +by men, for a bonnet is a thing unknown to the ladies of Spanish +America. A single glance at the Doña Isidora would have satisfied +any one that she was a lady of rank and refinement.</p> + +<p>There were two children, upon which, from time to time, she gazed +tenderly. They were her only ones. They were a boy and girl, +nearly of equal size and age. The boy was the elder, perhaps thirteen +or more, a handsome lad, with swarth face, coal-black eyes, and +curly full-flowing dark hair. The girl, too, who would be about +twelve, was dark—that is to say, brunette in complexion. Her eyes +were large, round, and dreamy, with long lashes that kept the sun +from shining into them, and thus deepened their expression.</p> + +<p>Perhaps there are no children in the world so beautiful as those of +the Spanish race. There is a smoothness of skin, a richness in colour, +and a noble “hidalgo” expression in their round black eyes that is +rare in other countries. Spanish women retain this expression to a +good age. The men lose it earlier, because, as I believe, they are +oftener of corrupted morals and habits; and these, long exercised, +certainly stamp their lines upon the face. Those which are mean, +and low, and vicious, produce a similar character of countenance, +while those which are high, and holy, and virtuous, give it an aspect +of beauty and nobility.</p> + +<p>Of all beautiful Spanish children none could have been more +beautiful than our two little Creole Spaniards, Leon and Leona—for +such were the names of the brother and sister.</p> + +<p>There yet remains one to be described, ere we complete the account +of our travelling party. This one was a grown and tall man, quite +as tall as Don Pablo himself, but thinner and more angular in his +outlines. His coppery colour, his long straight black hair, his dark +and wild piercing eye, with his somewhat odd attire, told you at +once he was of a different race from any of the others. He was an +Indian—a South American Indian; and although a descendant from +the noble race of the Peruvian Incas, he was acting in the capacity +of a servant or attendant to Don Pablo and his family.</p> + +<p>There was a familiarity, however, between the old Indian—for he +was an old man—and Don Pablo, that bespoke the existence of some +tie of a stronger nature than that which exists between master and +servant. And such there was in reality. This Indian had been one +of the patriots who had rallied around Tupac Amaru in his revolution +against the Spaniards. He had been proscribed, captured, and +sentenced to death. He would have been executed, but for the +interference of Don Pablo, who had saved his life. Since then Guapo—such +was the Indian's name—had remained not only the retainer, +but the firm and faithful friend, of his benefactor.</p> + +<p>Guapo's feet were sandalled. His legs were naked up to the knees, +showing many an old scar received from the cactus plants and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">167</a></span> +thorny bushes of acacia, so common in the mountain-valleys of Peru. +A tunic-like skirt of woollen cloth,—that home-made sort called +“bayeta,”—was fastened around his waist, and reached down to the +knees; but the upper part of his body was quite bare, and you could +see the naked breast and arms, corded with strong muscles, and +covered with a skin of a dark copper colour. The upper part of his +body was naked only when the sun was hot. At other times Guapo +wore a species of poncho like his master, but that of the Indian was +of common stuff—woven out of the coarse wool of the llama. His +head was bare.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 344px;"> +<img src="images/illus-167.jpg" width="344" height="500" alt="THE FLIGHT OF THE REFUGEES." title="THE FLIGHT OF THE REFUGEES." /> +<span class="caption">THE FLIGHT OF THE REFUGEES.</span></div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">168</a></span>Guapo's features were thin, sharp, and intelligent. His eye was +keen and piercing; and the gait of the old man, as he strode along +the rocky path, told that it would be many years before he would +show any signs of feebleness or tottering.</p> + +<p>There were four animals that carried our travellers and their +effects. One was a horse ridden by the boy Leon. The second was +a saddle mule, on which rode Doña Isidora and Leona. The other +two animals were not mounted. They were beasts of burden, with +“yerguas,” or pack-saddles, upon which were carried the few articles +that belonged to the travellers. They were the camels of Peru—the +far-famed llamas. Don Pablo, with his faithful retainer, travelled +afoot.</p> + +<p>You will wonder that one apparently so rich, and on so distant a +journey, was not provided with animals enough to carry his whole +party. Another horse at least, or a mule, might have been expected +in the cavalcade. It would not have been strange had Guapo only +walked—as he was the arriero, or driver, of the llamas—but to see +Don Pablo afoot and evidently tired, with neither horse nor mule to +ride upon, was something that required explanation. There was +another fact that required explanation. The countenance of Don +Pablo wore an anxious expression, as if some danger impended; so +did that of the lady, and the children were silent, with their little +hearts full of fear. They knew not <i>what</i> danger, but they knew that +their father and mother were in trouble.</p> + +<p>The Indian, too, had a serious look; and at each angle of the +mountain road he and Don Pablo would turn around, and with +anxious eyes gaze back in the direction that led towards Cuzco. As +yet they could distinguish the spires of the distant city, and the +Catholic crosses, as they glistened under the evening sunbeam. Why +did they look back with fear and distrust? Why? <i>Because Don +Pablo was in flight, and feared pursuers!</i> What? Had he committed +some great crime? No. On the contrary, he was the <i>victim of a noble +virtue</i>—the virtue of patriotism! For that had he been condemned, +and was now in flight—flying to save not only his liberty but his +life! yes, <i>his life;</i> for had the sentinels on those distant towers but +recognised him, he would soon have been followed and dragged back +to an ignominious death.</p> + +<p>Young reader, I am writing of things that occurred before the +Spanish-American colonies became free from the rule of Old Spain. +You will remember that these countries were then governed by +viceroys, who represented the King of Spain, but who in reality were +quite as absolute as that monarch himself. The great viceroys of +Mexico and Peru held court in grand state, and lived in the midst of +barbaric pomp and luxury. The power of life and death was in their +hands, and in many instances they used it in the most unjust and +arbitrary manner. They were themselves, of course, natives of Old +Spain—often the pampered favourites of that corrupt court.</p> + +<p>All the officials by which they were surrounded and served were, +like themselves, natives of Spain, or “Gachupinos,” (as the Creoles +used to call them,) while the Creoles—no matter how rich, or learned, +or accomplished in any way—were excluded from every office of +honour and profit. They were treated by the Gachupinos with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">169</a></span> +contempt and insult. Hence for long, long years before the great +revolutions of Spanish America, a strong feeling of dislike existed +between Creole Spaniards and Spaniards of Old Spain; and this +feeling was quite independent of that which either had towards the +Indians—the aborigines of America. This feeling brought about the +revolution, which broke out in all the countries of Spanish America +(including Mexico) and which, after fifteen years of cruel and sanguinary +fighting, led to the independence of these countries.</p> + +<p>Some people will tell you that they gained nothing by this independence, +as since that time so much war and anarchy have marked +their history. There is scarcely any subject upon which mankind +thinks more superficially, and judges more wrongly, than upon this +very one. It is a mistake to suppose that a people enjoys either +peace or prosperity, simply because it is quiet. There is quiet in +Russia, but to its millions of serfs war continuous and eternal; and +the same may be said of many other countries as well as Russia.</p> + +<p>To the poor slave, or even to the over-taxed subject, peace is no +peace, but a constant and systematised struggle, often more pernicious +in its effects than even the anarchy of open war. A war of +this kind numbers its slain by millions, for the victims of famine are +victims of <i>political crime</i> on the part of a nation's rulers. I have no +time now to talk of these things. Perhaps, boy reader, you and I +may meet on this ground again, and at no very distant period.</p> + +<p>Well, it was not in the general rising that Don Pablo had been +compromised, but previous to that. The influence of the European +Revolution of 1798 was felt even in distant Spanish America, and +several ebullitions occurred in different parts of that country at +the same time. They were premature; they were crushed. Those +who had taken part in them were hunted to the death. Death! +death! was the war-cry of the Spanish hirelings, and bitterly did they +execute their vengeance on all who were compromised. Don Pablo +would have been a victim among others, had he not had timely +warning and escaped; but as it was, all his property was taken by +confiscation, and became the plunder of the rapacious tyrant.</p> + +<p>We are introduced to him just at the period of his escape. By the +aid of the faithful Guapo he had hastily collected a few things, and +with his wife and family fled in the night. Hence the incompleteness +of his travelling equipage. He had taken one of the most unfrequented +paths—a mere bridle-road—that led from Cuzco eastward +over the Cordillera. His intent was to gain the eastern slope of the +Andes mountains, where he might conceal himself for a time in the +uninhabited woods of the Great <i>Montaña</i>, and towards this point +was he journeying. By a <i>ruse</i> he had succeeded in putting the +soldiers of the despot on a false track; but it was not certain that +they might not yet fall into the true one. No wonder then, when +he gazed back towards Cuzco, that his look was one of apprehension +and anxiety.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE POISON-TREES.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">F</span>ollowing the rugged and winding path, the travellers had climbed +to a height of many thousand feet above the ocean level. There was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">170</a></span> +very little vegetation around them. Nothing that deserved the +name of tree, if we except a few stunted specimens of queñoa trees, +and here and there patches of the Ratanhia shrub, which covered +the hill-sides. Both these are used by the mountain Indians as fuel, +but the Ratanhia is also a favourite remedy against dysentery and +blood-spitting. Its extract is even exported to European countries, +and is to be found in the shop of the apothecary.</p> + +<p>Now and then a beautiful species of locust was seen with its bright +red flowers. It was the “Sangre de Christo” of the Peruvian <i>flora</i>.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo Romero was a naturalist, and I may here tell you a +pleasant and interesting fact—which is, that many of the earliest +patriots and revolutionists of Spanish America were men who had +distinguished themselves in natural science—in fact, were the “savans” +of these countries. I call this a pleasant fact, and you may deem it +a curious one too, because men of science are usually lovers of peace, +and not accustomed to meddle either in war or politics.</p> + +<p>But the truth of the matter is this,—under the government of the +viceroys all books, except those of a monkish religion, were jealously +excluded from these countries. No political work whatever was +permitted to be introduced; and the people were kept in the grossest +ignorance of their natural rights. It was only into learned institutions +that a glimmering of the light of freedom found its way, and +it was amongst the professors of these institutions that the “rights +of men” first began to be discussed. Many of these noble patriots +were the first victims offered up on the altar of Spanish-American +independence.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo, I have said, was a naturalist; and it was perhaps the +first journey he had ever made without observing attentively the +natural objects that presented themselves along his route. But his +mind was busy with other cares; and he heeded neither the <i>fauna</i> +nor <i>flora</i>. He thought only of his loved wife and dear children, of +the dangers to which he and they were exposed. He thought only +of increasing the distance between them and his vengeful enemies. +During that day they had made a toilsome journey of fifteen miles, +up the mountain—a long journey for the llamas, who rarely travel +more than ten or twelve; but the dumb brutes seemed to exert themselves +as if they knew that danger threatened those who guided +them.</p> + +<p>They belonged to Guapo, who had not been a mere servant, but a +cultivator, and had held a small “chacra,” or farm, under Don Pablo. +Guapo's voice was well known to the creatures, and his “hist!” of +encouragement urged them on. But fifteen miles was an unusual +journey, and the animals began to show symptoms of fatigue. +Their humming noise, which bears some resemblance to the tones of +an Eolian harp, boomed loud at intervals as the creatures came to a +stop; and then the voice of Guapo could be heard urging them +forward.</p> + +<p>The road led up a defile, which was nothing more than the bed +of a mountain-torrent, now dry. For a long distance there was no +spot of level ground where our travellers could have encamped, even +had they desired to stop. At length, however, the path led out of +the torrent-bed, and they found themselves on a small ledge, or +table, covered with low trees. These trees were of a peculiar kind, +very common in all parts of the Andes, and known as <i>mollé</i> trees.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">171</a></span> +They are more properly bushes than trees, being only about ten or +twelve feet in height. They have long delicate pinnate leaves, very +like those of the acacia, and, when in fruit, they are thickly covered +with clusters of small bright red berries.</p> + +<p>These berries are used among some tribes of Indians for making a +highly valuable and medicinal beer; but the wood of the tree is of +more importance to the people of those parts as an article of fuel, +because the tree grows where other wood is scarce. It is even considered +by the sugar-refiners as the best for their purpose, since its +ashes, possessing highly alkaline properties, are more efficient than +any other in purifying the boiling juice of the sugar-cane. The +leaves of this beautiful tree, when pressed, emit a strong aromatic +smell; and a very curious property ascribed to it by the more +ignorant people of the mountains will be illustrated by the dialogue +which follows:—</p> + +<p>“Let us pass the night here,” said Don Pablo, halting, and addressing +himself to Guapo. “This level spot will serve us to encamp. +We can sleep under the shade of the bushes.”</p> + +<p>“What! <i>mi amo</i>! (my master) Here?” replied the Indian, with a +gesture of surprise.</p> + +<p>“And why not here? Can any place be better? If we again enter +the defile we may find no other level spot. See! the llamas will go +no farther. We must remain therefore.”</p> + +<p>“But, master,” continued Guapo—“see!”</p> + +<p>“See what?”</p> + +<p>“The trees, master!”</p> + +<p>“Well, what of the trees? Their shade will serve to screen us from +the night dew. We can sleep under them.”</p> + +<p>“Impossible, master—<i>they are poison trees</i>!”</p> + +<p>“You are talking foolishly, Guapo. These are <i>mollé</i> trees.”</p> + +<p>“I know it, señor; but they are poison. If we sleep under them +we shall not awake in the morning—we shall awake no more.”</p> + +<p>And Guapo, as he uttered these words, looked horrified.</p> + +<p>“This is nonsense; you are superstitious, old man. We must abide +here. See, the llamas have lain down. They will not move hence, +I warrant.”</p> + +<p>Guapo turned to the llamas, and thinking that their movements +might influence the decision of his master, began to urge them in his +accustomed way. But it is a peculiarity of these creatures not to stir +one step beyond what they consider a proper journey. Even when +the load is above that which they are accustomed to carry—that is to +say, 120 lbs.—neither voice nor whip will move them. They may be +goaded to death, but will not yield, and coaxing has a like effect. +Both knew that they had done their day's work; and the voice, the +gesticulations and blows of Guapo, were all in vain. Neither would +obey him any longer. The Indian saw this, and reluctantly consented +to remain; at the same time he continued to repeat his belief that +they would all most certainly perish in the night. For himself, he +expressed his intention to climb a ledge, and sleep upon the naked +rocks; and he earnestly entreated the others to follow his example.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo listened to the admonitions of his retainer with incredulity, +though not with any degree of disdain. He knew the +devotedness of the old Indian, and therefore treated, what he considered +a mere superstition, with a show of respect. But he felt an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">172</a></span> +inclination to cure Guapo of the folly of such a belief; and was, on +this account, the more inclined to put his original design into +execution. To pass the night under the shade of the mollé trees +was, therefore, determined upon.</p> + +<p>All dismounted. The llamas were unloaded; their packs, or <i>yerguas</i>, +taken off; the horse and mule were unsaddled; and all were permitted +to browse over the little space which the ledge afforded. +They were all trained animals. There was no fear of any of them +straying.</p> + +<p>The next thing was to prepare supper. All were hungry, as none +of the party had eaten since morning. In the hurry of flight, they +had made no provision for an extended journey. A few pieces of +<i>charqui</i> (jerked or dried beef) had been brought along; and, in +passing near a field of “oca,” Guapo had gathered a bunch of the +roots, and placed them on the back of his llama. This oca is a +tuberous root, of an oval shape and pale red colour, but white inside. +It resembles very much the Jerusalem artichoke, but it is longer and +slimmer. Its taste is very agreeable and sweetish—somewhat like +that of pumpkins, and it is equally good when roasted or boiled.</p> + +<p>There is another sort of tuberous root, called “ulluca” by the +Peruvians, which is more glutinous and less pleasant to the taste. +This kind is various in form, being either round, oblong, straight, or +curved, and of a reddish, yellow colour outside, though green within. +It is insipid when boiled with water, but excellent when dressed with +Spanish peppers (<i>Capsicum</i>). Out of the <i>oca</i>, then, and <i>charqui</i>, the +supper must be made; and for the purpose of cooking it, a fire must +be kindled with the wood of the mollé.</p> + +<p>For a long time there was a doubt about whether it would be safe +to kindle this fire. The sun had not yet gone down, and the smoke +might attract observation from the valley below. If the pursuers +were on their track, it might be noticed; as upon this lonely route +a fire would indicate nothing else than the camp of some one on a +journey. But the stomachs of our travellers cried for food, and it +was at length resolved to light the fire, but not until after sunset, +when the smoke could be no longer seen, and the blaze would be +hidden behind the thick bushes of mollé.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo walked off from the camp, and wandered among the +trees to see if he could find something that might contribute a little +variety to their simple supper. A small, broom-like plant, that grew +among the mollé trees, soon attracted his attention. This was the +<i>quinoa</i> plant, which produces a seed, not unlike rice, though smaller +in the grain, whence it has received in commerce the name “petty +rice.” The quinoa seeds, when boiled, are both pleasant and nutritious, +but especially so when boiled in milk. Previous to the discovery +of America, “quinoa” was an article of food, supplying the place of +wheat. It was much used by the natives, and is still collected for +food in many parts. Indeed, it has been introduced into some +European countries, and cultivated with success. The leaves, when +young, can be used as spinach, but the seeds are the most sought +after for food.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo having called Leon to assist him, a quantity of the seeds +were soon collected into a vessel, and carried to the place which they +had chosen for their camp; and, as it was now dark enough, the fire +was kindled and the cooking-pot got ready. The Doña Isidora,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">173</a></span> +although a fine lady, was one of those who had all her life been +accustomed to look after her household affairs; and this, it may be +remarked, is a somewhat rare virtue among the Peruvian ladies, who +are generally too much given to dress and idleness. It was not so, +however, with the wife of Don Pablo. She knew how to look after +the affairs of the <i>cuisine</i>, and could dress any of the peculiar dishes of +the country with the best of cooks. In a short while, therefore, an +excellent supper was ready, of which all ate heartily, and then, +wrapping themselves up in their ponchos, lay down to sleep.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE SUPPER OF GUAPO.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">I</span> have said all ate of the supper. This is not strictly true. One of +the party did not touch it, and that was old Guapo. Why? Was he +not hungry like the rest? Yes; as hungry as any of them. Why +then did he not eat of the <i>charqui</i> and ocas? Simply because Guapo +had a supper of a very different kind, which he carried in his pouch, +and which he liked much better than the charqui stew. What was +it? It was “coca.”</p> + +<p>“Chocolate,” you will say, or, as some call it, “cocoa,” which should +be called, to name it properly, “cacao.” No, I answer—it was not +chocolate, nor cocoa, nor cacao neither.</p> + +<p>“It must have been cocoa-nuts then?” No; nor yet cocoa-nuts. +The “coca,” upon which Guapo made his supper, and which contented +his stomach perfectly for the night, was an article very different from +either the cacao which makes chocolate, or the nut of the cocoa-palm. +You are now impatient to hear what sort of thing it was, and I shall +tell you at once.</p> + +<p>The coca is a small tree or shrub about six feet in height, which +grows in the warmer valleys among the Andes mountains. Its +botanical name is <i>Erythroxylon coca</i>. Its leaves are small and of a +bright green colour, and its blossoms white. Its fruits are very small +scarlet berries. It is a native plant, and, therefore, found in a wild +state; but it is cultivated by the planters of these countries in fields +regularly laid out, and hence called “cocales.” This plant is raised +from the seed, and when the young shoots have attained the height +of about eighteen inches, they are transplanted and put down again +at the distance of about a foot apart from each other.</p> + +<p>Now as these little bushes require a humid atmosphere, maize-plants +are sown between the rows to protect them from the sun. In +other places arbours of palm-leaves are constructed over the coca-plants. +When no rain falls, they are watered every five or six days. +After about two and a half years of this nursing, the coca-bush is +ready for use, and it is the leaves alone that are valuable. These are +gathered with great care, just as the Chinese gather the leaves of the +tea-plant; and, as in China, women are principally employed in this +labour. The leaves are said to be ripe, not when they have withered +and turned brown, but at a period when they are full-grown and +become brittle. When this period arrives, they are picked from the +tree, and laid out on coarse woollen cloths to dry in the sun.</p> + +<p>When dried, they remain of a pale green colour; but should they +get damp during the process, they become darker, and are then of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">174</a></span> +inferior quality, and sell for a less price. When fully dried, they are +carefully packed in bags and covered up with dry sand, and are thus +ready for the market. Their price, on the spot where the crop is +produced, is about one shilling English per pound. They are, therefore, +full as costly to produce as tea itself, although the coca-bush will +yield three crops of leaves in one year—that is, a crop every four +months; and one hundred plants will produce about an arroba (25 lbs.) +at a crop. The coca-plant will continue to give fresh leaves for a +long period of years, unless attacked and destroyed by ants, which is +not unfrequently the case.</p> + +<p>Now, why have I so minutely described the coca-bush? Because, +that, in the economy of the life of those Indians who inhabit the +countries of the Andes mountains, this curious plant plays a most +important part. Scarcely one of these people is to be met with who +is not an eater of cocoa—a “coquero.” With them it is what the tea-tree +is to the Chinese. Indeed, it is a curious fact, that in all parts +of the world some stimulating vegetable is used by the human race. +Tea in China; the betel-leaf, and the nut of the areca palm, among +the Southern Asiatics; the poppy in the East; with tobacco, and +many like things, in other countries.</p> + +<p>But the coca not only supplies the Indian with a solace to his +cares, it forms the chief article of his food. With a supply of coca, +an Indian will support himself five or six days without eating anything +else. The poor miners, in the Peruvian mines, are all +“coqueros;” and it is alleged that, without coca, they would be +unable to undergo the painful toil to which their calling subjects +them. When used to excess, the coca produces deleterious effects +on the human system; but, if moderately taken, it is far more +innocent in its results than either opium or tobacco.</p> + +<p>The coca-leaf is not eaten alone. A certain preparation is +necessary, and another substance is mixed with it before it produces +the proper effect. But let us watch the movements of Guapo, and we +shall see how <i>he</i> does it, for Guapo is a confirmed coquero.</p> + +<p>Guapo, true to his promise, does not sleep under the mollé trees. +He leaves the party, and, with a melancholy air, has climbed up and +seated himself upon a projecting rock, where he intends to pass the +night. His last glance at Don Pablo and his family was one of foreboding. +He had again remonstrated with his master, but to no +purpose. The latter only laughed at the earnestness of the old +Indian, and told him to go to his perch and leave the party to themselves.</p> + +<p>It was still grey light when Guapo climbed up to the rock. Against +the sky his tall, lank form could be traced in all its outlines. For +some moments he sat in a serious and reflective mood—evidently +busy with thoughts about the “poison-trees.” His appetite, however, +soon got the better of him; and he set to work to prepare his +coca supper. It was a simple operation.</p> + +<p>Around Guapo's neck there hung a small pouch made of the skin +of the chinchilla, which beautiful little animal is a native of these +parts. This pouch contained a quantity of the dry leaves of the coca. +Having taken out some half-dozen of these leaves, he put them into +his mouth and commenced chewing them. In a short while, by the +aid of tongue, teeth, and lips, they were formed into a little ball of +pulp, that rolled about in his mouth. Another step in the process<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">175</a></span> +now became necessary. A small gourd, that hung around Guapo's +neck by a thong, was laid hold of. This was corked with a wooden +stopper, in which stopper a wire pin was fixed, long enough to reach +down to the bottom of the gourd.</p> + +<p>After taking out the stopper, Guapo applied the lower part of the +pin to his lips, and then, plunging it once more into the gourd, drew +it out again. This time the pin came out, with a fine whitish powder +adhering to the part that had been wetted. Now what was this +powder? It was nothing else than lime that had been burned, and +pulverised. Perhaps it was the ashes of the mollé tree, of which we +have already spoken, and which, as we have said, possess a highly +alkaline property. The ashes of the musa, or plaintain, are sometimes +used; but, after all, it is most likely that it was the mollé ashes +which Guapo carried, for these are most highly esteemed by the +Indians of Southern Peru; and Guapo was a connoisseur in coca-eating.</p> + +<p>Whichever of the three it was—lime, mollé, or musa—Guapo carried +the pin to his mouth, and, without touching his lips (it would have +burnt him if he had), he inserted it, so as to penetrate the ball of +chewed cocoa-leaves that rested upon the tip of his tongue. This +was stabbed repeatedly and adroitly by the pin, until all the powder +remained in the coca-ball; and then the pin was withdrawn, wiped, +and restored to its place, along with the stopper of the gourd.</p> + +<p>Guapo now remained quietly “ruminating” for a period of about +forty minutes—for this is about the time required for chewing a mess +of cocoa-leaves. Indeed, so exactly is this time observed, that the +Indians, when travelling, measure distances by it; and one “coceada” +is about equal to the time occupied in walking a couple of English +miles.</p> + +<p>The coceada of our old Indian being finished, he drew his llama-wool +poncho around him; and, leaning back against the rock, was +soon buried in a profound slumber.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE PUNA.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">B</span>y early dawn Guapo was awake, but he did not immediately awake +the others. It was still too dark to follow the mountain road. His +first care was to have his coca breakfast, and to this he applied himself +at once.</p> + +<p>Day was fairly broke when he had ended the process of mastication, +and he bethought him of descending from the rock to arouse the +sleepers. He knew they still slept, as no voice had yet issued from +the grove of mollés. The mule and horse were heard cropping the +grass, and the llamas were now feeding upon an open spot,—the first +they had eaten since their halt, as these creatures do not browse in +the night.</p> + +<p>Guapo descended with fear in his heart. How it would have joyed +him to hear the voice of his master, or of any of them! But, no. +Not a sound proceeded from any one of the party. He stole nimbly +along the ledge, making his way through the mollé trees. At length +he reached the spot. All asleep?—yes, all! “Are they dead?” +thought Guapo, and his heart beat with anxiety. Indeed, they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">176</a></span> +seemed so. The fatigue of travel had cast a sickly paleness over the +faces of all, and one might easily have fancied they no longer lived. +But they breathed. “Yes, they breathe!” ejaculated the old Indian, +half aloud. “They live!”</p> + +<p>Guapo bent down, and seizing Don Pablo by the arm, shook him—at +first gently, uttering, at the same time, some words to awake him. +But neither the shaking nor the voice had any effect. Guapo shook +more violently, and shouted louder. Still Don Pablo slept. None of +the others moved—none of them heard him. It was strange, for the +Indian knew that Don Pablo himself, as well as the others, were +easily awaked on ordinary occasions. Guapo, becoming alarmed, now +raised his voice to its loudest pitch, at the same time dragging Don +Pablo's shoulder in a still more violent manner. This had the desired +effect. The sleeper awoke but so slowly, and evidently with such +exertion, that there was something mysterious in it.</p> + +<p>“What is it?” he inquired, with half-opened eyes. “Is it morning +already?”</p> + +<p>“The sun is up. Rouse, my master! It is time we were on the +road,” replied the Indian.</p> + +<p>“I feel very drowsy—I am heavy—I can scarce keep my eyes +open. What can be the cause of this?”</p> + +<p>“The poison-trees, master,” answered Guapo.</p> + +<p>The answer seemed to impress Don Pablo. He made a violent +effort, and rose to his feet. When up he could scarcely stand. He +felt as though he had swallowed a powerful opiate.</p> + +<p>“It must be so, good Guapo. Perhaps there is some truth in what +you have said. O, heavens!” exclaimed he, suddenly recollecting +himself,—“the others—my wife and children!”</p> + +<p>This thought had fully awakened Don Pablo; and Guapo and he +proceeded at once to arouse the others, which they effected after +much shouting and shaking. All were still heavy with sleep, and +felt as did Don Pablo himself.</p> + +<p>“Surely there is some narcotic power in the aroma of these trees,” +muttered Don Pablo. “Come, wife, let us be gone! We must remain +under its influence no longer, else what Guapo has said may prove +too true. Saddle up—we must eat our breakfasts farther on. To the +road!—to the road!”</p> + +<p>Guapo soon had the horses ready, and all hurried from the spot, +and were once more climbing up the mountain-path. Even the +animals seemed to move slowly and lazily, as though they, too, had +been under the influence of some soporific. But the pure cold air of +the mountain soon produced its effect. All gradually recovered, and +after cooking some <i>charqui</i> and ocas in the ravine, and making their +breakfast upon these, they again felt light and fresh, and pursued +their journey with renewed vigour.</p> + +<p>The road kept on up the ravine, and in some places the banks rose +almost perpendicularly from the bed of the dry torrent, presenting +on both sides vast walls of black porphyry—for this is the principal +rock composing the giant chain of the Andes. Above their heads +screamed small parrots of rich plumage of the species <i>Conurus +rupicola</i>, which make their nestling places, and dwell upon these +rocky cliffs. This is a singular fact, as all other parrots known are +dwellers among trees and are found in the forest at all times, except +when on their passage from place to place.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">177</a></span></p> + +<p>But even the squirrel, which is an animal peculiarly delighting in +tree-life, has its representative in several species of ground-squirrels, +that never ascend a tree; and, among the monkeys, there exists the +troglodyte or cave-dwelling chimpanzee. No doubt squirrels or +monkeys of any kind, transported to an open or treeless country, +would soon habituate themselves to their new situation,—for Nature +affords many illustrations of this power of adaptation on the part of +her creatures.</p> + +<p>It was near sunset when our travellers reached the highest point of +their route, nearly 14,000 feet above the level of the sea! Here they +emerged upon an open plain which stretched far before them. Above +this plain towered mountains of all shapes to a height of many +thousand feet from the level of the plain itself. Some of these +mountains carried their covering of eternal snow, which, as the +evening sun glanced upon it, exhibited the most beautiful tints of +rose, and purple, and gold. The plain looked bleak and barren, and +the cold which our travellers now felt added to the desolateness of +the scene. No trees were in sight. Dry yellow grass covered the +ground, and the rocks stood out naked and shaggy. They had +reached one of those elevated tables of the Andes known as the +<i>Puna</i>.</p> + +<p>These singular tracts elevated above the level of cultivation are +almost uninhabited. Their only inhabitants are a few poor Indians, +who are employed by the rich proprietors of the lower valleys as +shepherds; for upon these cold uplands thrive sheep, and cattle, and +llamas, and flocks of the wool-bearing alpaco. Through this wild +region, however, you may travel for days without encountering even +a single one of the wretched and isolated inhabitants who watch over +these flocks and herds.</p> + +<p>On reaching the Puna, our party had made their day's journey, +and would have halted. The llamas already showed signs of giving +out by stopping and uttering their strange booming note. But +Guapo knew these parts—for, though a descendant of the Incas, +he had originally come from the great forest beyond the eastern +slope of the Andes, where many of the Peruvian Indians had retired +after the cruel massacres of Pizarro. He now remembered, that not +far from where they were, was a shepherd's hut, and that the +shepherd himself was an old friend of his. That would be the place +to stop for the night; and, by Guapo's advice, Don Pablo resolved to +continue on to the hut.</p> + +<p>Guapo fell upon his knees before the llamas, and, after caressing +and kissing them, and using a great variety of endearing expressions, +he at last coaxed these animals to proceed. No other means would +have availed, as beating would not make either llama budge an inch. +The leader, who was a fine large animal and a great favourite with +its master, at length stepped boldly out; and the other, encouraged +by the sound of the small bells that tinkled around the head of the +leader, followed after, and so the travellers moved on.</p> + +<p>“Come, papa!” cried Leon; “you are tired yourself—mount this +horse—I can walk a bit:” at the same instant the boy flung himself +from the back of the horse, and led him up to where his father +stood. Then handing the bridle to the latter, he struck off along +the plain, following Guapo and his llamas.</p> + +<p>The road skirted round the rocks, where the mountain came down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">178</a></span> +to meet the plain. The walk was not a long one, for the hut of +which Guapo spoke became visible at less than a quarter of a mile's +distance. An odd-looking hut it was—more like an ill-built stack of +bean-straw than a house. It had been built in the following +manner:—</p> + +<p>First, a round ring of large stones had been laid, then a row of turf, +then another tier of stones, and so on, until the circular wall had +reached the height of about four or five feet, the diameter being not +more than eight or nine. On the top of the wall a number of poles +had been set, so as to meet above where they were tied together. +These poles were nothing else than the long flower-stalks of the +<i>maguey</i> or American aloe, as no other wood of sufficient length grew +in the vicinity. These poles served for rafters, and across them laths +had been laid, and made fast. Over all this was placed a thatch of the +long coarse Puna grass, which was tied in its place by grass ropes that +were stretched from side to side over the top. This was the hut of +Guapo's friend, and similar to all others that may be encountered in +the wild region of the Puna. A door was left in the side, not over +two feet high, so that it was necessary to crawl upon the hands and +knees before any one could reach the interior.</p> + +<p>As our travellers approached, they saw that the entrance was +closed by an ox-hide which covered the whole of the opening.</p> + +<p>Whether the shepherd was at home, was the next question; but as +they got near to the house, Guapo suggested that Don Pablo should +dismount and let Leon get upon horseback. This suggestion was +made on account of the Puna dogs—of which creatures Guapo had +a previous knowledge. These dogs, known by the name of Inca +dogs, are, perhaps, the fiercest animals of their species.</p> + +<p>They are small, with pointed muzzles, tails curling upward, and +long shaggy hair. They are half-wild, snappish, and surly, as it is +possible for dogs to be. They attack strangers with fury, and it is +as much as their masters can do to rescue even a friend from their +attack. Even when wounded, and unable any longer to keep their +feet, they will crawl along the ground and bite the legs of those who +have wounded them. They are even more hostile to white people +than to Indians, and it is sometimes dangerous to approach an +Indian hut where three or four of these fierce creatures are kept, +as they will jump up against the side of a horse, and bite the legs +of the rider. Their masters often use the stick before they can get +obedience from them. In every Indian hut several of these animals +may be found, as they are extremely useful to the shepherds in +guarding their flocks and for hunting.</p> + +<p>They are much employed throughout the Puna to hunt the “yutu,” +a species of partridge which inhabits the rushy grass. This bird +is traced by the dogs, seized before it can take to flight, and killed +by a single bite of its fierce pursuer. Considering the savage nature +of the Inca dogs, Guapo showed great caution in approaching the hut +of his friend. He first called loudly, but there was no reply. He +then stole forward with his long knife, or “<i>macheté</i>,” in his hand; +and having lifted the skin that covered the low doorway, peeped in. +The hut was empty.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">179</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE WILD BULL OF THE PUNA.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">G</span>uapo was not much troubled at this. He knew he could take the +liberty of using his friend's roof for the night, even should the latter +not return to grant it. He crawled in. Of course his friend was +only temporarily absent—no doubt looking after his flocks of sheep +and alpacos; and as he was a bachelor, there was no wife at home, +but there were his furniture and utensils. Furniture! No—there +was none. There never is in the hut of a Puna shepherd. Utensils! +yes—there was an earthen “olla,” or pot to cook soup in, another +to boil or roast maize, a jar to hold water, a few split gourd-shells for +plates, two or three others for cups—that was all.</p> + +<p>This was the catalogue of utensils. Two stones set a little apart +formed the fireplace, in which the shepherd, when he makes a fire to +cook with, makes it out of dry dung. A couple of dirty sheep-skins +lay upon the ground. These were the bed. Nothing more was to +be seen. Yes, there was one thing more, and this gladdened the eyes +of Guapo. In a bag that hung against the wall, and on which he +soon laid his hands, he felt something—a collection of hard round +objects, about as big as large chestnuts. Guapo knew very well +what these were. He knew they were “macas.”</p> + +<p>What are <i>macas</i>? you will ask. Macas, then, are tuberous roots +that grow in the elevated regions of the Puna, where neither ocas, +ullucas, nor potatoes, will thrive. They are cultivated by the inhabitants, +and in many parts constitute almost the only food of +these wretched people. They have an agreeable and rather sweetish +flavour, and, when boiled in milk, taste somewhat like boiled chestnuts. +They can be preserved for more than a year by simply drying +them in the sun, and then exposing them to the cold air, when they +become hard and shrivelled. They thrive best in this high region, +for although they will grow in the lower valleys, they are there very +insipid and worthless. The Indians prepare them for food by +boiling them into a soup, or syrup, which is taken with parched +maize-corn.</p> + +<p>Guapo knew that he had got his hands upon a bag of dried macas, +and although their owner was absent, he had already come to the +determination to appropriate them for himself and party. His joy +at the discovery had not subsided when another bag drew his attention, +and this was the signal for another delightful surprise. His +hand touched the new bag in a trice. There was a rattling sound +within. Peas? No—maize.</p> + +<p>“Good!” ejaculated Guapo; “maize and macas! That with what +is left of the charqui—we shall not fast to-night.”</p> + +<p>Guapo now backed himself out of the hut, and joyfully announced +the discoveries he had made. The travellers dismounted. The horse +and mule were picketed on lassoes on the plain. The llamas were +left to go at will. They would not stray far from their owner.</p> + +<p>It was piercing cold in this highland region. Doña Isidora and +the children entered the hut, while Don Pablo and Guapo remained +without for the purpose of collecting fuel. There was not a stick of +wood, as no trees of any sort grew near. Both strayed off upon the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">180</a></span> +plain to gather the <i>taquia</i>, or ordure of the cattle, though no cattle +were in sight. Their tracks, however, were visible all around.</p> + +<p>While engaged thus, the old Indian suddenly raised himself from +his stooping position with an exclamation that betokened alarm. +What had startled him? A loud bellowing was heard—it was the +bellowing of a bull. But what was there in that sound to alarm two +full-grown men? Ah! you know not the bulls of the Puna.</p> + +<p>Coming around a promontory of rocks a large black bull was in +sight. He was approaching them in full run, his head thrown down, +his eyes glaring fiercely. At every spring he uttered a roar, which +was terrific to hear. A more horrid object it would be difficult to +conceive. You may suppose that an adventure with an enraged bull +is one of an ordinary character, and may occur any day, even in the +green meadow pastures of Old England. So it is, if the animal were +only an English bull. But it is a far different affair with the bulls of +the Puna.</p> + +<p>Throughout all Spanish America animals of this kind are of a +fiercer nature than elsewhere. It is from them the bulls used in the +celebrated fights are obtained; and, perhaps, the race has been made +fiercer by the treatment they receive on such occasions—for many of +those that exhibit in the arena are afterwards used to breed from. +But, in general, the Spanish-American “vacqueros,” or cattle-herds, +treat the cattle under their charge with much cruelty, and this has +the effect of rendering them savage. Even in herds of cattle where +there are no bulls, there are cows so dangerous to approach, that the +vacqueros never attempt driving them unless when well mounted.</p> + +<p>A Mexican or South American cattle-herd is, therefore, always a +mounted man. There is a difference, too, among the bulls in different +parts of these countries. On the Llanos of Venezuela they are not +so fierce as those of the Puna, and they are more and less so in +different parts of Mexico and the Pampas of Buenos Ayres.</p> + +<p>The Puna bulls are, perhaps, the fiercest and most dangerous of all. +They are more than half wild. They scarcely ever see a human +being, and they will attack one upon sight. To a mounted man there +is little danger, unless by the stumbling or falling of his horse; but +many a poor Indian, crossing these high plains afoot, has fallen a +sacrifice to these vengeful brutes.</p> + +<p>Both Don Pablo and Guapo knew all this, and therefore were +aware of their own danger. Neither had a weapon—not so much as +a stick. They had laid aside their knives and other arms, which had +been carried inside the hut. To reach the hut before the bull +reached <i>them</i> would be impossible; the brute was coming nearly +from it—for he had issued from some shelter in the rocks not far off. +They were full two hundred yards out upon the plain, and to run in +the direction of the rocks would have been to run counter to the +bull, and meet him face to face! Their danger was imminent. What +was to be done?</p> + +<p>There was not much time left them for consideration. The furious +animal was within thirty paces distance, roaring loudly, shaking +his head and brandishing his long sharp horns. At this moment a +happy thought occurred almost simultaneously to Don Pablo and +the Indian. The evening, as we have already said, was piercing cold, +and both, in going out to collect the fuel, had worn their ponchos.</p> + +<p>The trick of the matador with his red cloak suggested itself in this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">181</a></span> +moment of peril. Both had seen it performed—Don Pablo often—and +knew something of the “way.” In a moment both had stripped +the ponchos from their shoulders, and, placing themselves <i>à la matador</i>, +awaited the onset of the bull. It was agreed that as soon as the +bull was “hooded” by either, that both should run at all speed to +the rocks, where they could easily climb out of reach of the animal.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo happened to be more in the way, and perhaps his more +showy poncho attracted the brute; but whether or not, he was the +first to receive the charge. With the adroitness of a practised +matador he flung his poncho on the horns of the animal, and then +both ran in the direction of the rocks. As they faced towards the +hut, however, to the horror of Don Pablo he saw the Doña Isidora, +with Leon and the little Leona, all outside, and even at some distance +from the entrance! Attracted by the bellowing of the bull and the +shouts of the men, they had rushed out of the hut.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo, in wild accents, shouted to them to make for the door; +but, paralysed by terror, they were for some moments unable to +move. At length Doña Isidora, recovering herself, ran for the entrance, +pushing the children before her. But the low doorway was +difficult of access; they were slow in getting under it; and they +would have been too late, as the bull, after shaking off the poncho, +had turned and made directly for the hut.</p> + +<p>“O God, preserve her!” cried Don Pablo, as he saw the enraged +animal within a few paces of where his wife had knelt to enter the +doorway. “She is lost! she is lost!”</p> + +<p>In fact, the bull was making directly towards her, and it seemed +as if nothing could then have interposed to save her.</p> + +<p>At that moment the tramp of a horse in full gallop sounded on +their ears. Don Pablo looked up. A strange horseman was near +the spot—an Indian. Over his head a singular instrument was +revolving. There were three thongs fastened at one end, while at +the other end of each was a ball. These balls were whirling and +gyrating in the air. The next moment both thongs and balls were +seen to part from the hands of the rider, and wrap themselves around +the legs of the bull. The latter made an awkward spring forward, +and then fell upon the plain, where he lay kicking and helpless. +The horseman uttered a yell of triumph, sprang from his horse, and +running up to the prostrate animal, thrust the blade of his long +macheté into its throat. The red stream gushed forth, and in a few +seconds the black monster lay motionless upon the plain.</p> + +<p>The new-comer quietly unwound the thongs—the <i>bolas</i>—from the +legs of the dead bull, and then addressed himself to our travellers.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE “VAQUERO.”</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">W</span>ho was this deliverer? No other than the vaquero—the friend +of Guapo,—who now welcomed Guapo and his companions, telling +them in the polite phraseology of all Spanish-Americans that his +<i>house(!)</i> was at their service. They were welcome to all it contained.</p> + +<p>The macas, and maize, and a fresh steak from the wild bull, enabled +them to make a most excellent supper. In return for this hospitality, +Don Pablo made the vaquero a handsome present out of his purse;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">182</a></span> +but what gratified him still more was a supply of coca which his +friend Guapo was enabled to bestow upon him, for his own stock +had been exhausted for some days. Guapo, on leaving Cuzco, had +spent his last <i>peseta</i> in buying this luxury, and therefore was well +provided for weeks to come.</p> + +<p>After they had had supper, he and his friend seated themselves on +one side, and quietly chewed for a good half-hour, when at length +Guapo, who knew he could trust the vaquero—because the latter, +like himself, was one of the “patriotas”—communicated to him the +object of their journey through that desolate region. The vaquero +not only promised secrecy, but bound himself to put any party of +pursuers completely off the trail.</p> + +<p>The vaquero, even in his remote mountain-home, had heard of Don +Pablo, knew that he was a good patriot and friend of the Indians, +and he would therefore have risked his life to serve such a man—for +no people have proved more devoted to the friends of their race than +these simple and faithful Indians of the Andes. How many instances +of noble self-sacrifice—even of life itself—occurred during the painful +history of their conquest by the cruel and sanguinary followers of +Pizarro!</p> + +<p>The vaquero, therefore, did all in his power to make his guests +comfortable for the night. His dogs—there were four of them—were +not so hospitably inclined, for they did not seem to know friends from +enemies. They had come up shortly after their master himself +arrived, and had made a desperate attack upon everybody. The +vaquero, however, assisted by Guapo—who, being an Indian, was less +troubled with them—gave them a very rough handling with a large +whip which he carried; and then, securing the whole of them, tied +them together in a bunch, and left them at the back of the hut to +snap and growl at each other, which they did throughout the livelong +night. Supper over, all the travellers would have retired to +rest; but the vaquero, having announced that he was going out to +set snares for the chinchillas and viscachas, Leon could not rest, but +asked permission to accompany him. This was granted both by Don +Pablo and the vaquero himself.</p> + +<p>The chinchilla, and its near relative the viscacha, are two little +animals of the rodent, or grass-eating kind, that inhabit the very +highest mountains of Peru and Chili. They are nearly of the same +size, and each about as big as a rabbit, which in habits they very +much resemble. They have long tails, however, which the rabbit has +not, though the latter beats them in the length of his ears. The +colour of the chinchilla is known to everybody, since its soft, velvety +fur is highly prized by ladies as an article of dress, and may be seen +in every London fur-shop.</p> + +<p>The animal is of a beautiful marbled grey, white and black, with +pure white feet. The fur of the viscacha is not so pretty, being of a +brownish and white mixture. Its cheeks are black, with long, bristly +moustaches, like those of a cat; while its head resembles that of the +hare or rabbit. Both these innocent little creatures live upon the +high declivities of the Andes, in holes and crevices among the rocks, +where they remain concealed during the day, but steal out to feed +twice in the twenty-four hours,—that is, during the evening twilight +and in the early morning. The mode of capturing them is by snares +made of horse-hair, which are set in front of their caves—just as we<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">183</a></span> +snare rabbits in a warren, except that for the rabbits we make use of +light elastic wire, instead of the horse-hair.</p> + +<p>Leon was delighted with the excursion, as the vaquero showed him +how to set the snares, and told him a great many curious stories of +Puna life and habits. Some of these stories were about the great +condor vulture—which the narrator, of course, described as a much +bigger bird than it really is, for the condor, after all, is not so much +bigger than the griffon vulture, or even the vulture of California. +But you, young reader, have already had a full account of the vultures +of America—the condor among the rest—therefore we shall not +repeat what was said by the vaquero about this interesting bird.</p> + +<p>On the way to the place where the snares were to be set, they +passed a lagoon, or marshy lake, in which were many kinds of birds +peculiar to these high regions. Out on the open water they saw a +wild goose of a very beautiful species. It is called the “Huachua” +goose. Its plumage is of a snowy whiteness, all except the wings, +which are bright green and violet, while the beak, legs, and feet, are +scarlet. They also saw two species of ibis wading about in the marsh, +and a gigantic water-hen almost as big as a turkey. This last is of a +dark grey colour, with a red beak, at the base of which is a large +yellow knob of the shape of a bean. On this account it is called by +the Indians “bean nose.”</p> + +<p>Upon the plain, near the border of the marsh, they noticed a +beautiful plover, having plumage marked very much like that of the +“huachua” goose, with green wings shining in the sun like polished +metal. Another curious bird also sat upon the plain, or flew around +their heads. This was a bird of prey of the species of jerfalcons +(<i>Polyborus</i>). The vaquero called it the “Huarahua.” He told Leon +it preyed only on carrion, and never killed its own food; that it was +very harmless and tame—which was evidently true, as, shortly after, +one of them seated upon a stone allowed the Indian to approach and +knock it over with a stick! Such a silly bird Leon had never seen.</p> + +<p>The vaquero was quite a naturalist in his way—that is, he knew all +the animals of the Puna, and their habits, just as you will sometimes +find a gamekeeper in our own country, or often a shepherd or farm-servant. +He pointed out a rock-woodpecker, which he called a “pito” +(<i>Colaptes rupicola</i>), that was fluttering about and flying from rock to +rock. Like the cliff-parrots we have already mentioned, this rock-woodpecker +was a curious phenomenon, for, as their very name +implies, the woodpeckers are all tree-dwelling birds, yet here was one +of the genus living among rocks where not a tree was to be seen, and +scarcely a plant, except the thorny cactuses and magueys, with which +succulent vegetables the woodpecker has nothing to do. The “pito” +is a small, brown, speckled bird, with yellow belly, and there were +great numbers of them flying about.</p> + +<p>But the bird which most fixed the attention of Leon was a little +bird about the size of a starling. Its plumage was rather pretty. It +was brown, with black stripes on the back, and white-breasted. But +it was not the plumage of the bird that interested Leon. It was +what his companion told him of a singular habit which it had—that +of repeating, at the end of every hour during the night, its melancholy +and monotonous note. The Indians call this bird the “cock of the +Inca,” and they moreover regard it with a sort of superstitious +reverence.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">184</a></span></p> + +<p>Having placed his snares, the vaquero set out to return with his +youthful companion. As they walked back along the mountain-foot, +a fox stole out from the rocks and skulked towards the marshy lake, +no doubt in search of prey. This fox was the <i>Canis Azaræ</i>, +a most troublesome species, found all through South America. He is the +great pest of the Puna shepherds, as he is a fierce hunter, and kills +many of the young lambs and alpacos.</p> + +<p>The vaquero was sorry he had not his dogs with him, as, from the +route the fox had taken, he would have been certain to have captured +him, and that would have been worth something, for the great sheep-owners +give their shepherds a sheep for every old fox that they can +kill, and for every young one a lamb. But the dogs, on this occasion, +had been left behind, lest they should have bitten Leon, and the +vaquero was compelled to let “Reynard” go his way. It was night +when they returned to the hut, and then, after Leon had related the +details of their excursion, all retired to rest.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">LLAMAS, ALPACOS, VICUÑAS, AND GUANACOS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">O</span>ur travellers were stirring by early break of day. As they issued +from the hut, a singular and interesting scene presented itself to +their eyes. At one view—one <i>coup d'œil</i>—they beheld the whole four +species of the celebrated camel-sheep of the Andes; for there are four +of them,—llama, guanaco, alpaco, and vicuña! This was a rare sight, +indeed. They were all browsing upon the open plain: first, the +llamas, near the hut; then a flock of tame alpacos, out upon the +plain; thirdly, a herd of seven guanacos farther off; and still more +distant, a larger herd of the shy vicuñas. The guanacos and vicuñas +were of uniform colours,—that is, in each flock the colour of the +individuals was the same; while among the llamas and alpacos there +were many varieties of colour. The latter two kinds were tame,—in +fact, they were under the charge of Guapo's friend the shepherd, +whereas the herds of vicuñas and guanacos consisted of wild animals.</p> + +<p>Perhaps no animal of South America has attracted so much attention +as the llama, as it was the only beast of burden the Indians had +trained to their use on the arrival of Europeans in that country. +So many strange stories were told by the earlier Spanish travellers +regarding this “camel-sheep,” that it was natural that great interest +should attach to it. These reported that the llama was used for +riding. Such, however, is not the case. It is only trained to carry +burdens; although an Indian boy may be sometimes seen on the +back of a llama for mischief, or when crossing a stream and the lad +does not wish to get his feet wet.</p> + +<p>The llama is three feet high from hoof to shoulder, though his long +neck makes him look taller. His colour is generally brown, with +black and yellow shades, sometimes speckled or spotted; and there +are black and white llamas, but these are rare. His wool is long and +coarse, though the females, which are smaller, have a finer and better +wool. The latter are never used to carry burdens, but only kept for +breeding. They are fed in flocks upon the Puna heights, and it was +a flock of these that our travellers saw near the hut.</p> + +<p>The males are trained to carry burdens at the age of four years.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">185</a></span> +A pack-saddle, called <i>yergua</i>, woven out of course wool, is fastened +on the back, and upon this the goods are placed. The burden never +exceeds 120 or 130 pounds. Should a heavier one be put on, the +llama, like the camel, quite understands that he is “over-weighted,” +and neither coaxing nor beating will induce him to move a step. He +will lie down, or, if much vexed, spit angrily at his driver, and this +spittle has a highly acrid property, and will cause blisters on the +skin where it touches. Sometimes a llama, over vexed by ill-treatment, +has been known, in despair, to dash his brains out against a +rock.</p> + +<p>The llamas are used much in the mines of Peru, for carrying the +ore. They frequently serve better than either asses or mules, as they +can pass up and down declivities where neither ass nor mule can +travel. They are sometimes taken in long trains from the mountains +down to the coast region for salt and other goods; but on such +occasions many of them die, as they cannot bear the warm climate of +the lowlands. Their proper and native place is on the higher plains +of the Andes.</p> + +<p>A string of llamas, when on a journey, is a very interesting spectacle. +One of the largest is usually the leader. The rest follow in +single file, at a slow, measured pace, their heads ornamented tastefully +with ribands, while small bells, hanging around their necks, +tinkle as they go. They throw their high heads from side to side, +gazing around them, and when frightened at anything, will “break +ranks,” and scamper out of their path, to be collected again with some +trouble.</p> + +<p>When resting, they utter a low, humming noise, which has been +compared to the sound of an Eolian harp. They crouch down on +their breast—where there is a callosity—when about to receive their +burdens, and also sleep resting in the same attitude. A halt during +the day is necessary, in order that they may be fed, as these animals +will not eat by night. In consequence of this they make but short +journeys—ten to fifteen miles—although they will travel for a long +time, allowing them a day's rest out of every five or six. Like the +camels of the East, they can go days without water, and Buffon knew +one that went <i>eighteen months</i> without it! but Buffon is very poor +authority. When one of them becomes wearied, and does not wish to +proceed, it is exceedingly difficult to coax him onward.</p> + +<p>These animals were at one time very valuable. On the discovery +of America a llama cost as much as eighteen or twenty dollars. But +the introduction of mules and other beasts of burden has considerably +cheapened them. At present they are sold for about four dollars in +the mining districts, but can be bought where they are bred and +reared for half that amount. In the days of the Incas their flesh was +much used as food. It is still eaten; but for this purpose the common +sheep is preferred, as the flesh of the llama is spongy and not very +well flavoured. The wool is used for many sorts of coarse manufacture. +So much for llamas. Now the “guanaco.”</p> + +<p>This animal (whose name is sometimes written “huanaca,” though +the pronunciation is the same with “guanaco” or “guanaca”) is +larger than the llama, and for a long time was considered merely as +the wild llama, or the llama <i>run wild</i>, in which you will perceive an +essential distinction. It is neither, but an animal of specific difference. +It exists in a wild state in the high mountains, though, with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">186</a></span> +great care and trouble, it can be domesticated and trained to carry +burdens as well as its congener the llama. In form it resembles the +latter, but, as is the case with most wild animals, the guanacos are +all alike in colour. The upper parts of the body are of a reddish +brown, while underneath it is a dirty white. The lips are white, and +the face a dark grey. The wool is shorter than that of the llama, and +of the same length all over the body. The guanaco lives in herds of +five or seven individuals, and these are very shy, fleeing to the most +inaccessible cliffs when any one approaches them. Like the chamois +of Switzerland and the “bighorn” of the Rocky Mountains, they can +glide along steep ledges when neither men nor dogs can find footing.</p> + +<p>The “alpaco,” or “paco,” as it is sometimes called, is one of the +most useful of the Peruvian sheep, and is more like the common sheep +than the others. This arises from its bulkier shape, caused by its +thick fleece of long wool. The latter is soft, fine, and often five inches +in length; and, as is well known, has become an important article in +the manufacture of cloth. Its colour is usually either white or black, +though there are some of the alpacos speckled or spotted. Ponchos +are woven out of alpaco-wool by the Indians of the Andes.</p> + +<p>The alpaco is a domesticated animal, like the llama, but it is not +used for carrying burdens. It is kept in large flocks, and regularly +shorn as sheep are. If one of the alpacos gets separated from the +flock, it will lie down and suffer itself to be beaten to death, rather +than go the way its driver wishes. You have, no doubt, sometimes +seen a common sheep exhibit similar obstinacy.</p> + +<p>Of all the Peruvian sheep the vicuña is certainly the prettiest and +most graceful. It has more the form of the deer or antelope than of +the sheep, and its colour is so striking that it has obtained among +the Peruvians the name of the animal itself, <i>color de vicuña</i> (vicuña +colour). It is of a reddish yellow, not unlike that of our domestic +red cat, although the breast and under parts of the body are white. +The flesh of the vicuña is excellent eating, and its wool is of more +value than even that of the alpaco. Where a pound of the former +sells for one dollar—which is the usual price—the pound of alpaco +will fetch only a quarter of that sum. Hats and the finest fabrics +can be woven from the fleece of the vicuña, and the Incas used to +clothe themselves in rich stuffs manufactured from it. In the present +day the “ricos,” or rich proprietors of Peru, pride themselves in possessing +ponchos of vicuña wool.</p> + +<p>The vicuña inhabits the high plains of the Andes, though, unlike +the guanaco, it rarely ventures up the rocky cliffs, as its hoofs are +only calculated for the soft turf of the plains. It roams about in +larger herds than the other—eighteen or twenty in the herd—and +these are usually females under the protection and guidance of one +polygamous old male. While feeding, the latter keeps watch over +the flock, usually posting himself at some distance, so that he may +have a better opportunity of seeing and hearing any danger that +may approach. When any is perceived, a shrill whistle from the +leader and a quick stroke of his hoof on the turf warn the flock; and +all draw closely together, each stretching out its head in the direction +of the danger. They then take to flight, at first slowly, but +afterwards with the swiftness of the roe; while the male, true to his +trust, hangs in the rear, and halts at intervals, as if to cover the +retreat of the herd.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">187</a></span></p> + +<p>The llama, guanaco, alpaco, and vicuña, although different species, +will breed with each other; and it is certain that some of their +hybrids will again produce young. There exist, therefore, many +intermediate varieties, or “mules,” throughout the countries of the +Andes, some of which have been mistaken for separate species.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A VICUÑA HUNT.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he vicuña being of such value, both inside and out, both in flesh and +wool, is hunted by the mountain Indians with great assiduity. It is +an animal most difficult to approach, and there is rarely any cover +on these naked plains by which to approach it.</p> + +<p>The chief mode of capturing it is by the “chacu.” This cannot be +effected by a single hunter. A great number is required. Usually +the whole population of one of the villages of the “Sierras” lower +down turns out for this sport, or rather business, for it is an annual +source of profit. Even the women go along, to cook and perform +other offices, as the hunt of the <i>chacu</i> sometimes lasts a week or +more.</p> + +<p>A hunting party will number from fifty to one hundred persons. +They climb up to the <i>altos</i>, or high and secluded plains, where the +vicuña dwells in greatest numbers. They carry with them immense +coils of ropes, and a large quantity of coloured rags, together with +bundles of stakes three or four feet in length. When a proper part +of the plain has been chosen, they drive in the stakes four or five +yards apart and running in the circumference of a circle, sometimes +nearly a mile in diameter.</p> + +<p>A rope is then stretched from stake to stake, at the height of +between two and three feet from the ground, and over this rope are +hung the coloured rags provided for the occasion, and which keep +fluttering in the wind. A sort of scare-crow fence is thus constructed +in the form of a ring, except that on one side a space of about two +hundred yards is left open to serve as an entrance for the game. +The Indians then, most of them on horseback, make a grand détour, +extending for miles over the country; and having got behind the +herds of vicuñas, drive them within the circle, and close up the +entrance by completing the ring.</p> + +<p>The hunters then go inside, and using the <i>bolas</i>, or even seizing the +animals by their hind-legs, soon capture the whole. Strange to say, +these silly creatures make no attempt to break through the sham +fence, nor even to leap over it. Not so with the guanacos, when so +enclosed. The latter spring against the fence at once, and if, by +chance, a party of guanacos be driven in along with the vicuñas, they +not only break open the rope enclosure and free themselves, but also +the whole herd of their cousins, the vicuñas. It is, therefore, not +considered any gain to get a flock of guanacos into the trap.</p> + +<p>The hunt usually lasts several days, but during that time the +enclosure of ropes is flitted from place to place, until no more vicuñas +can be found. Then the ropes, stakes, &c., are collected, and the +produce of the hunt distributed among the hunters. But the +Church levies its tax upon the “chacu,” and the skins—worth a +dollar each—have to be given up to the priest of the village. A good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">188</a></span> +round sum this amounts to, as frequently four or five hundred vicuñas +are taken at a single <i>chacu</i>.</p> + +<p>A good hunter is sometimes able to “approach” the vicuña. +Guapo's friend was esteemed one of the best in all the Puna. The +sight of the herd out on the plain, with their graceful forms, and +beautiful reddish-orange bodies, was too much for him, and he +resolved to try his skill upon them. He said he had a plan of his +own, which he intended to practise on this occasion.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo and his party—even Doña Isidora and the little Leona—were +all outside the hut, although the morning air was raw and chill. +But the domicile of the worthy vaquero was not empty, for all that. +It was peopled by a very large colony of very small animals, and a +night in their society had proved enough for the travellers. The +chill air of the Puna was even more endurable than such company.</p> + +<p>The vaquero crawled back into the hut, and in a few minutes +returned, but so metamorphosed, that had the party not seen him +come out of the doorway they would have mistaken him for a llama! +He was completely disguised in the skin of one of these animals. +His face only was partly visible, and his eyes looked out of the breast. +The head and neck of the skin, stuffed with some light substance, +stood up and forward, after the manner of the living animal, and +although the legs were a little clumsy, yet it would have required a +more intelligent creature than the vicuña to have observed this +defect.</p> + +<p>All hands, even the saturnine Guapo, laughed loudly at the counterfeit, +and the vaquero himself was heard to chuckle through the long +wool upon the breast. He did not lose time, however, but instantly +prepared to set off. He needed no other preparation than to get +hold of his <i>bolas</i>,—that was his favourite weapon. Before going +farther, I shall tell you what sort of weapon it is.</p> + +<p>The bolas consist of three balls—hence the name—of lead or stone, +two of them heavier than the third. Each ball is fastened to the +end of a stout thong made of twisted sinews of the vicuña itself, and +the other ends of the three thongs are joined together. In using +them the hunter holds the lightest ball in his hand, and twirls the +other two in circles around his head, until they have attained the +proper velocity, when he takes aim and launches them forth.</p> + +<p>Through the air fly the thongs and balls, and all whirling round in +circles, until they strike some object; and if that object be the legs +of an animal, the thongs become immediately warped around them, +until the animal is regularly hoppled, and in attempting to escape +comes at once to the ground. Of course great practice is required +before such an instrument can be used skilfully; and to the novice +there is some danger of one of the balls hitting him a crack on the +head, and knocking over himself instead of the game. But there was +no danger of Guapo's friend the vaquero committing this blunder. +He had been swinging the bolas around his head for more than forty +years!</p> + +<p>Without more ado, then, he seized the weapon, and, having gathered +it with his <i>fore-feet</i> into a portable shape, he proceeded in the direction +of the vicuñas.</p> + +<p>The travellers remained by the hut, watching him with interest, +but his movements were particularly interesting to Leon, who, like +all boys, was naturally fond of such enterprises.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">189</a></span></p> + +<p>The herd of vicuñas was not more than three quarters of a mile off. +For the first half of this distance the vaquero shambled along right +speedily, but as he drew nearer to the animals he proceeded slower +and with more caution.</p> + +<p>The pretty creatures were busily browsing, and had no fear. They +knew they were well guarded by their faithful sentinel, in whom +they had every confidence,—the lord and leader of the herd. Even +from the hut, this one could be seen standing some distance apart +from the rest. He was easily recognised by his greater bulk and +prouder bearing.</p> + +<p>The false llama has passed near the guanacos, and they have taken +no heed of him. This is a good omen, for the guanacos are quite as +sharp and shy as their smaller cousins, and since he has succeeded in +deceiving them, he will likely do the same for the vicuñas. Already +he approaches them. He does not make for the herd, but directly +for the leader. Surely he is near enough; from the hut he seems +close up to the creature. See! the vicuña tosses his head and strikes +the ground with his hoof. Listen! it is his shrill whistle. The +scattered herd suddenly start and flock together; but, look! the +<i>llama</i> stands erect on his hind-legs; the bolas whirl around his head—they +are launched out. Ha! the vicuña is down!</p> + +<p>Where is the female drove? Have they scampered off and forsaken +their lord? No! faithful as a loving wife, they run up to share his +danger. With shrill cries they gather around him, moving to and +fro. The llama is in their midst. See! he is dealing blows with some +weapon—it is a knife! his victims fall around him—one at every +blow; one by one they are falling. At last, at last, they are all +down,—yes, the whole herd are stretched, dead or dying, upon the +plain!</p> + +<p>The struggle is over; no sound is heard, save the hoof-stroke of the +guanacos, llamas, and alpacos, that cover the plain in their wild flight.</p> + +<p>Leon could no longer restrain his curiosity; but ran off to the +scene of the slaughter. There he counted no less than nineteen +vicuñas lying dead, each one stabbed in the ribs! The Indian assured +him that it was not the first <i>battue</i> of the kind he had made. A +whole herd of vicuñas is often taken in this way. When the male is +wounded or killed, the females will not leave him; but, as if out of +gratitude for the protection he has during life afforded them, they +share his fate without making an effort to escape!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<div class="cap">CAPTURING A CONDOR.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he vaquero with his horse soon dragged the vicuñas to the hut. +Guapo gave him a help with the mule, and in a few minutes they +were all brought up. One of them was immediately skinned, and +part of it prepared for breakfast, and our travellers ate heartily of +it, as the cold Puna air had given an edge to their appetites.</p> + +<p>The new-killed animals, along with the red skin of the bull, which +had been spread out on the ground at some distance from the hut, +had already attracted the condors; and four or five of these great +birds were now seen hovering in the air, evidently with the intention +of alighting at the first opportunity.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">190</a></span></p> + +<p>An idea seemed to enter the head of the vaquero, while his guests +were still at breakfast, and he asked Leon if he would like to see a +condor caught. Of course Leon replied in the affirmative. What boy +wouldn't like to see a condor caught?</p> + +<p>The vaquero said he would gratify him with the sight, and without +staying to finish his breakfast—indeed he had had his “coceada,” and +didn't care for any,—he started to his feet, and began to make preparations +for the capture.</p> + +<p>How he was to catch one of these great birds, Leon had not the +slightest idea. Perhaps with the “bolas,” thought he. That would +have done well enough if he could only get near them; but the +condors were sufficiently shy not to let any man within reach either +with bolas or guns. It is only when they have been feasting on +carrion, and have gorged themselves to repletion, that they can be thus +approached, and then they may be even knocked over with sticks.</p> + +<p>At other times the condor is a shy and wary bird. No wonder +either that he is so, for, unlike most other vultures, he is hunted and +killed at all times. The vultures of most countries are respected by +the people, because they perform a valuable service in clearing away +carrion; and in many parts these birds are protected by statute. +There are laws in the Southern United States, and in several of the +Spanish-American Republics, which impose fines and penalties for +killing the black vultures. In some Oriental countries, too, similar +laws exist. But no statute protects the condor. On the contrary, +he is a proscribed bird, and there is a bounty on his head, because he +does great damage to the proprietors of sheep, and llamas, and alpacos, +killing and devouring the young of these animals. His large quills, +moreover, are much prized in the South American cities, and the +killing of a condor is worth something. All this will account for the +shyness of this great bird, while other vultures are usually so tame +that you may approach within a few paces of them.</p> + +<p>As yet the half-dozen condors hovering about kept well off from +the hut; and Leon could not understand how any one of them was +to be caught.</p> + +<p>The vaquero, however, had a good many “dodges,” and after the +<i>ruse</i> he had just practised upon the vicuñas, Leon suspected he would +employ some similar artifice with the condors. Leon was right. It +was by a stratagem the bird was to be taken.</p> + +<p>The vaquero laid hold of a long rope, and lifting the bull's hide +upon his shoulders, asked Guapo to follow him with the two horses. +When he had got out some four or five hundred yards from the hut, +he simply spread himself flat upon the ground, and drew the skin +over him, the fleshy side turned upward. There was a hollow in the +ground about as big as his body—in fact, a trench he had himself +made for a former occasion—and when lying in this on his back, his +breast was about on a level with the surrounding turf.</p> + +<p>His object in asking Guapo to accompany him with the horses was +simply a <i>ruse</i> to deceive the condors, who from their high elevation +were all the while looking down upon the plain. But the vaquero +covered himself so adroitly with his red blanket, that even their keen +eyes could scarcely have noticed him; and as Guapo afterwards left +the ground with the led horses, the vultures supposed that nothing +remained but the skin, which from its sanguinary colour to them +appeared to be flesh.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">191</a></span></p> + +<p>The birds had now nothing to fear from the propinquity of the hut. +There the party were all seated quietly eating their breakfast, and +apparently taking no notice of them. In a few minutes' time, therefore, +they descended lower, and lower,—and then one of the very +largest dropped upon the ground within a few feet of the hide. After +surveying it for a moment, he appeared to see nothing suspicious +about it, and hopped a little closer. Another at this moment came +to the ground—which gave courage to the first—and this at length +stalked boldly on the hide, and began to tear at it with his great +beak.</p> + +<p>A movement was now perceived on the part of the vaquero—the hide +“lumped” up, and at the same time the wings of the condor were +seen to play and flap about as if he wanted to rise into the air, but +could not. He was evidently held by the legs!</p> + +<p>The other bird had flown off at the first alarm, and the whole band +were soon soaring far upward into the blue heavens.</p> + +<p>Leon now expected to see the vaquero uncover himself. Not so, +however, as yet. That wily hunter had no such intention, and +although he was now in a sitting posture, grasping the legs of the +condor, yet his head and shoulders were still enveloped in the bull's +hide. He knew better than to show his naked face to the giant +vulture, that at a single “peck” of his powerful beak would have +deprived him of an eye, or otherwise injured him severely. The +vaquero was aware of all this, and therefore did not leave his hiding-place +until he had firmly knotted one end of the long cord around the +shank of the bird—then slipping out at one side, he ran off to some +distance before stopping. The condor, apparently relieved of his +disagreeable company, made a sudden effort and rose into the air, +carrying the hide after him. Leon shouted out, for he thought the +vulture had escaped; but the vaquero knew better, as he held the +other end of the cord in his hand; and the bird, partly from the +weight of the skin, and partly from a slight tug given by the hunter, +soon came heavily to the ground again. The vaquero was now joined +by Guapo; and, after some sharp manœuvring, they succeeded between +them in passing the string through the nostrils of the condor, +by which means it was quietly conducted to the hut, and staked on +the ground in the rear—to be disposed of whenever its captor should +think fit.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE PERILS OF A PERUVIAN ROAD.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">I</span>t was as yet only an hour or so after daybreak—for the vicuña hunt +had occupied but a very short time and the capture of the condor a +still shorter. Don Pablo was anxious to be gone, as he knew he was +not beyond the reach of pursuit. A pair of the vicuñas were hastily +prepared, and packed upon a llama for use upon their journey. Thus +furnished, the party resumed their route.</p> + +<p>The vaquero did not accompany them. He had an office to perform +of far more importance to their welfare and safety. As soon as they +were gone he let loose his four snarling curs, and taking them out to +where the pile of dead vicuñas lay upon the plain, he left them there +with instructions to guard the carcasses from foxes, condors, or whatever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">192</a></span> +else might wish to make a meal off them. Then mounting, he +rode off to the place where the road leading from Cuzco ascended +upon the table-land, and having tied his horse to a bush, he climbed +upon a projecting rock and sat down. From this point he commanded +a view of the winding road to the distance of miles below him.</p> + +<p>No traveller—much less a party of soldiers—could approach without +his seeing them, even many hours before they could get up to where +he sat; and it was for that reason he had stationed himself there. +Had Don Pablo been pursued, the faithful Indian would have galloped +after and given him warning, long before his pursuers could have reached +the plain.</p> + +<p>He sat until sunset—contenting himself with a few leaves of coca. +No pursuer appeared in sight. He then mounted his horse, and rode +back to his solitary hut.</p> + +<p>Let us follow our travellers.</p> + +<p>They crossed the table-plain during the day, and rested that night +under the shelter of some overhanging rocks on the other side. They +supped upon part of the vicuñas, and felt more cheerful, as they +widened the distance between themselves and danger. But in the +morning they did not remain longer by their camp than was necessary +to get breakfast. Half-an-hour after sunrise saw them once more on +their route.</p> + +<p>Their road led through a pass in the mountains. At first it +ascended, and then began to go downward. They had crossed the +last ridge of the Andes, and were now descending the eastern slopes. +Another day's journey, or two at most, would bring them to the +borders of that wild forest, which stretches from the foot-hills of the +Andes to the shores of the Atlantic Ocean—that forest with scarcely +a civilised settlement throughout all its wide extent—where no roads +exist—whose only paths are rivers—whose dark jungles are in places +so impenetrable that the Indian cannot enter them, and even the +fierce jaguar, embarrassed by the thick underwood, has to take to +the tree-tops in pursuit of his prey. Another day's journey or so +would bring them to the borders of the “Montaña”—for such is the +name which, by a strange misapplication of terms, has been given to +this primeval wood. Yes, the Montaña was before them, and +although yet distant, it could now and then be seen as the road +wound among the rocks, stretching far towards the sky like a green +and misty ocean.</p> + +<p>In that almost boundless region there dwelt none but the +aborigines of the soil—the wild Indians—and these only in sparse +and distant bands. Even the Spaniards in their day of glory had +failed to conquer it; and the Portuguese from the other side were +not more successful.</p> + +<p>The Spanish colonists, on the Peruvian or western border of this +immense forest, had never been able to penetrate it as colonists or +settlers. Expeditions from time to time had passed along its rivers +in search of the fabled gold country of <i>Manoa</i>, whose king each +morning gave himself a coating of gold dust, and was hence called +El Dorado (the gilded); but all these expeditions ended in mortification +and defeat. The settlements never extended beyond the <i>sierras</i>, +or foot-hill of the Andes, which stretch only a few days' journey (in +some places but a score of leagues) from the populous cities on the +mountain-heights.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">193</a></span></p> + +<p>Even at this present time, if you travel thirty leagues eastward of +the large town of Cuzco, in the direction taken by Don Pablo, you +will pass the boundaries of civilisation, and enter a country unexplored +and altogether unknown to the people of Cuzco themselves! +About the “Montaña” very little is known in the settlements of the +Andes. Fierce tribes of Indians, the jaguar, the vampire bat, swarms +of mosquitoes, and the hot atmosphere, have kept the settler, as well +as the curious traveller, out of these wooded plains.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo had already passed the outskirts of civilisation. Any +settlement he might find beyond would be the hut of some half-wild +Indian. There was no fear of his encountering a white face upon +the unfrequented path he had chosen, though had he gone by some +other route he might have found white settlements extending farther +to the eastward. As it was, the wilderness lay before him, and he +would soon enter it.</p> + +<p><i>And what was he to do in the wilderness?</i> He knew not. He had +never reflected on that. He only knew that behind him was a +relentless foe thirsting for his life. To go back was to march to +certain death. He had no thoughts of returning. That would have +been madness. His property was already confiscated—his death +decreed by the vengeful Viceroy, whose soldiers had orders to capture +or slay, whenever they should find him. His only hope, then, was +to escape beyond the borders of civilisation—to hide himself in the +great Montaña. Beyond this he had formed no plan. He had +scarcely thought about the future. Forward, then, for the Montaña!</p> + +<p>The road which our travellers followed was nothing more than +a narrow path or “trail” formed by cattle, or by some party of +Indians occasionally passing up from the lower valleys to the +mountain-heights. It lay along the edge of a torrent that leaped +and foamed over its rocky bed. The torrent was no doubt on its +way to join the greatest of rivers, the mighty Amazon—the head-waters +of which spring from all parts of the Andes, draining the +slopes of these mountains through more than twenty degrees of +latitude.</p> + +<p>Towards evening the little party were beginning to enter among +the mountain spurs, or foot-hills. Here the travelling grew exceedingly +difficult, the path sometimes running up a steep acclivity +and then descending into deep ravines—so deep and dark that the +sun's rays seemed hardly to enter them. The road was what Spanish-Americans +term, “<i>Cuesta arriba, cuesta abajo</i>” (up hill, down hill).</p> + +<p>In no part of the world are such roads to be met with as among +the Andes Mountains, both in South America and in their Mexican +continuation through the northern division of the continent. This +arises from the peculiar geological structure of these mountains. +Vast clefts traverse them, yawning far into the earth. In South +America these are called <i>quebradas</i>. You may stand on the edge of +one of them and look sheer down a precipice two thousand feet! +You may fancy a whole mountain scooped out and carried away, +and yet you may have to reach the bottom of this yawning gulf by +a road which seems cut out of the face of the cliff, or rather has +been formed by a freak of Nature—for in these countries the hand of +man has done but little for the roads.</p> + +<p>Sometimes the path traverses a ledge so narrow that scarce room +is found for the feet of your trusty mule. Sometimes a hanging<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">194</a></span> +bridge has to be crossed, spanning a horrid chasm, at the bottom of +which roars a foaming torrent—the bridge itself, composed of ropes +and brambles, all the while swinging like a hammock under the +tread of the affrighted traveller!</p> + +<p>He who journeys through the tame scenery of European countries +can form but little idea of the wild and dangerous highways of the +Andes. Even the passes of the Alps or Carpathians are safe in +comparison. On the Peruvian road the lives of men and animals are +often sacrificed. Mules slide from the narrow ledges, or break +through the frail “soga” bridges, carrying their riders along with +them, whirling through empty air to be plunged into foaming +waters or dashed on sharp rocks below.</p> + +<p>These are accidents of continual occurrence; and yet, on account of +the apathy of the Spano-Indian races that inhabit these countries, +little is done for either roads or bridges. Every one is left to take +care of himself, and get over them as he best may. It is only now +and then that positive necessity prompts to a great effort, and then +a road is repaired or a broken bridge patched with new ropes.</p> + +<p>But the road that was travelled by Don Pablo had seen no repairs—there +were no bridges. It was, in fact, a mere pathway where the +traveller scrambled over rocks, or plunged into the stream, and +forded or swam across it as he best could. Sometimes it lay along +the water's edge, keeping in the bottom of the ravine; at other +places no space was left by the water, and then the path ascended +and ran along some ledge perhaps for miles, at the end of which it +would again descend to the bed of the stream.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">ENCOUNTER UPON A CLIFF.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>hat night they encamped in the bottom of the ravine close to the +water's edge. They found just enough of level ground to enable +them to stretch themselves, but they were contented with that. +There was nothing for the animals to eat except the succulent, but +thorny, leaves of the <i>Cactus opuntia</i>, or the more fibrous blades of +the wild agave. This evening there were no quinoa seeds to be had, +for none of these trees grew near. Even the botanist, Don Pablo, +could find no vegetable substance that was eatable, and they would +have to sup upon the vicuña meat, without bread, potatoes, or other +vegetables. Their stock of ocas, ullucas, and macas, was quite out. +They had cooked the last of the macas for that morning's meal.</p> + +<p>Guapo here came to their relief. Guapo's experience went beyond +the theoretical knowledge of the botanist. Guapo knew a vegetable +which was good to eat—in fact, a most delicious vegetable when +cooked with meat. This was no other than the fleshy heart of the +wild maguey (<i>agave</i>), with part of the adhering roots. Among naked +rocks, in the most barren parts of the desert wilderness, the wild +agave may be found growing in luxuriance. Its thick, succulent +blades, when split open, exude a cool liquid, that often gives considerable +relief to the thirsty traveller; while the heart, or egg-shaped +nucleus from which spring the sheathing leaves—and even +parts of the leaves themselves—when cooked with any sort of meat, +become an excellent and nourishing food.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">195</a></span></p> + +<p>The Indians make this use of the aloe on the high plains of Northern +Mexico, among the roving bands of the Apaché, Navajo, and Comanché. +These people cook them along with horse's flesh, for there +the wild horse is the principal food of whole tribes. Their mode of +cooking, both the flesh and the aloe, is by baking them together in +little ovens of stones sunk in the ground, and then heated by fire +until they are nearly red hot. The ashes are then cleared out, the +meat and vegetables placed in the ovens, and then buried until both +are sufficiently done. In fact, there is one tribe of the Apachés who +have obtained the name of “Mezcaleros,” from the fact of their +eating the wild aloe, which in those countries goes under the name +of “mezcal” plant.</p> + +<p>In many parts of the Andes, where the soil is barren, the wild +maguey is almost the only vegetation to be seen, and in such places +the Indians use it as food. It seems to be a gift of Nature to the +desert, so that even there man may find something on which to subsist.</p> + +<p>Guapo with his knife had soon cleared off several large pieces of +the maguey, and these, fried along with the vicuña meat, enabled the +party to make a supper sufficiently palatable. A cup of pure water +from the cold mountain stream, sweeter than all the wine in the +world, washed it down; and they went to rest with hearts full of +contentment and gratitude.</p> + +<p>They rose at an early hour, and, breakfasting as they had supped, +once more took the road.</p> + +<p>After travelling a mile or two, the path gradually ascended along +one of those narrow ledges that shelve out from the cliff, of which we +have already spoken. They soon found themselves hundreds of feet +above the bed of the torrent, yet still hundreds of feet above them +rose the wall of dark porphyry, seamed, and scarred, and frowning. +The ledge or path was of unequal breadth—here and there forming +little tables or platforms. At other places, however, it was so narrow +that those who were mounted could look over the brink of the +precipice into the frothing water below—so narrow that no two +animals could have passed each other. These terrible passes were +sometimes more than an hundred yards in length, and not straight, +but winding around buttresses of the rock, so that one end was not +visible from the other.</p> + +<p>On frequented roads, where such places occur, it is usual for +travellers, entering upon them, to shout, so that any one who chances +to be coming from the opposite side, may have warning and halt. +Sometimes this warning is neglected, and two trains of mules or +llamas meet upon the ledge! Then there is a terrible scene—the +drivers quarrel—one party has to submit—their animals have to be +unloaded and dragged back by the heels to some wider part of the +path, so that each party can get past in its turn!</p> + +<p>Near the highest part of the road, our travellers had entered upon +one of these narrow ledges, and were proceeding along it with +caution. The trusty mule, that carried Doña Isidora and Leona, +was in front, the horse followed, and then the llamas. It is safer to +ride than walk on such occasions, especially upon mules, for these +animals are more sure-footed than the traveller himself. The horse +that carried Leon, however, was as safe as any mule. He was one of +the small Spanish-American breed, almost as sure-footed as a chamois.</p> + +<p>The torrent rushed and thundered beneath. It was fearful to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">196</a></span> +listen and look downward; the heads of all were giddy, and their +hearts full of fear. Guapo, alone accustomed to such dangers, was +of steady nerve. He and Don Pablo afoot were in the rear.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 345px;"> +<img src="images/illus-196.jpg" width="345" height="500" alt="GUAPO'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE BULLS." title="GUAPO'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE BULLS." /> +<span class="caption">GUAPO'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE BULLS.</span></div> + +<p>They had neared the highest point of the road, where a jutting +rock hid all beyond from their view. They were already within a +few paces of this rock, when the mule—which, as we have stated, +was in the front—suddenly stopped, showing such symptoms of +terror that Doña Isidora and the little Leona both shrieked!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">197</a></span></p> + +<p>Of course all the rest came to a halt behind the terrified and +trembling mule. Don Pablo, from behind, shouted out, inquiring +the cause of the alarm; but before any answer could be given the +cause became apparent to all. Around the rock suddenly appeared +the head and horns of a fierce bull, and the next moment his whole +body had come into view, while another pair of horns and another +head were seen close behind him!</p> + +<p>It would be difficult to describe the feelings of our travellers at +that moment. The bull came on with a determined and sullen look, +until he stood nearly head to head with the mule. The smoke of his +wide steaming nostrils was mingled with the breath of the terrified +mule, and he held his head downward, and evidently with the intention +of rushing forward upon the latter. Neither could have gone +back, and of course the fierce bull would drive the mule into the +abyss. The other bull stood close behind, ready to continue the work +if the first one failed, and, perhaps, there were many others behind!</p> + +<p>The mule was sensible of her danger, and, planting her hoofs +firmly on the hard rock, she clung closely to the precipice. But this +would not have served her, had not a hand interposed in her behalf. +Amidst the terrified cries of the children, the voice of Guapo was +heard calling to Don Pablo,—“Your pistols, master! give me your +pistols!”</p> + +<p>Something glided quickly among the legs of the animals. It was +the lithe body of the Indian. In a second's time he appeared in +front of the mule. The bull was just lowering his head to charge +forward—his horns were set—the foam fell from his lips—and his +eyes glanced fire out of their dark orbs. Before he could make the +rush, there came the loud report of a pistol—a cloud of sulphury +smoke—a short struggle on the cliff—and then a dead plunge in the +torrent below!</p> + +<p>The smoke partially cleared away; then came another crack—another +cloud—another short struggle—and another distant plash in +the water!</p> + +<p>The smoke cleared away a second time. The two bulls were no +longer to be seen!</p> + +<p>Guapo, in front of the mule, now ran forward upon the ledge, and +looked around the buttress of rock. Then, turning suddenly, he +waved his hand, and shouted back,—</p> + +<p>“No more, master; you may come on—the road is clear!”</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE LONE CROSS IN THE FOREST.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span>fter two more days of fatiguing travel, the road parted from the +bank of the river, and ran along the ridge of a high mountain spur +in a direction at right angles to that of the Andes themselves. This +spur continued for several miles, and then ended abruptly. At the +point where it ended, the path, which for the whole of the day had +been scarcely traceable, also came to an end. They were now of +course in a forest-covered country—in the <i>Ceja de la Montaña</i>—that +is, the forest that covers the foot-hills of the mountains. The forest +of the plains, which were yet lower down, is known as the “Montaña” +proper.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">198</a></span></p> + +<p>During that day they had found the road in several places choked +up with underwood, and Guapo had to clear it with his <i>macheté</i>—a +sort of half-sword, half-knife, used throughout all Spanish America, +partly to cut brushwood and partly as a weapon of defence. Where +the ridge ended, however, what had once been a road was now +entirely overgrown—vines and llianas of large size crossed the path. +Evidently no one had passed for years. A road existed no longer; +the luxuriant vegetation had effaced it.</p> + +<p>This is no unusual thing on the borders of the Montaña. Many a +settlement had existed there in former times, and had been abandoned. +No doubt the road they had been following once led to some such +settlement that had long since fallen into ruin.</p> + +<p>It is a melancholy fact that the Spanish-Americans—including the +Mexican nation—have been retrograding for the last hundred years. +Settlements which they have made, and even large cities built by +them, are now deserted and in ruins; and extensive tracts of country, +once occupied by them, have become uninhabited, and have gone +back to a state of nature. Whole provinces, conquered and peopled +by the followers of Cortez and Pizarro, have within the last fifty +years been retaken from them <i>by the Indians</i>: and it would be very +easy to prove, that had the descendants of the Spanish conquerors, +been left to themselves, another half century would have seen them +driven from that very continent which their forefathers so easily +conquered and so cruelly kept. This re-conquest on the part of the +Indian races was going on in a wholesale way in the northern provinces +of Mexico. But it is now interrupted by the approach of +another and stronger race from the East—the Anglo-American.</p> + +<p>To return to our travellers. Don Pablo was not surprised that the +road had run out. He had been expecting this for miles back. +What was to be done? Of course they must halt for that night at +least. Indeed it was already near camping-time. The sun was low +in the sky, and the animals were all much jaded. The llamas could +not have gone much farther. They looked as if they should never go +farther. The heat of the climate—it had been getting warmer every +hour—was too much for them. These animals, whose native home is +among the high cool mountain valleys, as already observed, cannot +live in the low tropical plains. Even as they descended the Sierras +they had shown symptoms of suffering from the heat during all that +day. Their strength was now fairly exhausted.</p> + +<p>The party halted. A little open space was chosen for the camp. +The animals were relieved of their burdens and tied to the trees, lest +they might stray off and be lost in the thick woods. A fire was +kindled, and part of the vicuña meat cooked for supper.</p> + +<p>It was not yet night when they had finished eating, and all were +seated on the ground. The countenance of the father was clouded +with a melancholy expression. Doña Isidora sat by his side and tried +to cheer him, endeavouring to force a smile into her large black eyes. +The little Leona, with her head resting on her mother's lap, overcome +with the heat and fatigue, had fallen asleep. Leon, seeing the +dejected look of his father, was silent and thoughtful. Guapo was +busy with his llamas.</p> + +<p>“Come, dear husband!” said the lady, trying to assume a cheerful +tone, “do not be so sad. We are now safe. Surely they will never +pursue us here.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">199</a></span></p> + +<p>“They may not,” mechanically replied Don Pablo; “but what then? +We have escaped death, for what purpose? Either to live like +savages in these wild woods—perhaps to be killed by savages—perhaps +to die of hunger!”</p> + +<p>“Do not say so, Don Pablo. I have never heard that the Indians +of these parts were cruel. They will not injure poor harmless people +such as we are. And as for starving, are not these luxuriant woods +filled with roots and fruits that will sustain life a long while? You, +too, know so well what they are! Dear husband, do not despond; +God will not forsake us. He has enabled us to escape from our +enemies, from fearful dangers on our journey. Fear not! He will +not leave us to perish now.”</p> + +<p>The cheering words of his beautiful wife had their effect upon Don +Pablo. He embraced and kissed her in a transport of love and +gratitude. He felt inspired with new hope. The vigour of mind and +body, that for days had deserted him, now suddenly returned; and +he sprang to his feet evidently with some newly-formed resolution.</p> + +<p>The country both before and behind them was shut out from their +view by the thick foliage and underwood. A tall tree grew by the +spot, with branches down to the level of a man's head. Don Pablo +approached this tree, and seizing the branches drew himself up, and +then climbed on towards its top. When he had reached a sufficient +height, to overlook the surrounding woods, he stopped; and, resting +himself upon one of the branches, looked abroad towards the east. +All the rest stood watching him from below.</p> + +<p>He had been gazing but a few seconds when his face brightened up, +and a smile of satisfaction was seen to play upon his countenance. +He evidently saw something that pleased him. Isidora, impatient, +called out to him from below; but Don Pablo waved his hand to her, +as if admonishing her to be silent.</p> + +<p>“Have patience, love,” he cried down. “I shall descend presently +and tell you all. I have good news, but be patient.”</p> + +<p>It required a good share of patience, for Don Pablo after this +remained a full half-hour upon the tree. He was not all the time +looking abroad, however. Part of it he sat upon his perch—his head +leaning forward, and his eyes not appearing to be particularly engaged +with anything. He was busy with his thoughts, and evidently +meditating on some great project. Perhaps the going down of the +sun admonished him, as much as the desire of satisfying his wife's +curiosity, but just as the bright orb was sinking among the far tree-tops +he descended.</p> + +<p>“Now, Don Pablo,” said the fair Isidora, pretending to frown and +look angry, “you have tried our patience, have you not? Come, +then, no more mystery, but tell us all. What have you seen?”</p> + +<p>“Forgive me, wife; you shall know all.”</p> + +<p>Both sat down upon the trunk of a dead tree that Guapo had felled, +and was cutting up for firewood: not that it was at all cold, but they +had now arrived in the country of the terrible <i>jaguar</i>, and it would +be necessary to keep up a blazing fire throughout the night.</p> + +<p>“Your words were true, love,” began Don Pablo. “God has not +forsaken us. I have seen three things that have inspired me with +fresh life and hope.</p> + +<p>“First, I looked out upon the Montaña, which I expected to see +stretching away to the horizon, like a green ocean. I saw this in fact;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">200</a></span> +but, to my surprise, I saw more. I beheld a broad river winding like +an immense serpent through the distant forest. It ran in a direction +north-east, as far as the eye could reach. Even upon the horizon I +could distinguish spots of its bright water glancing like silver under +the rays of the setting sun. My heart leaped with joy, for I recognised +a river whose existence has been doubted. It can be no other, +thought I, than the <i>Madre de Dios</i>. I have often heard that there +existed such a river in these parts, that runs on to the Amazon. A +missionary is said to have visited it, but with the destruction of the +missions the record has been lost. I have no doubt the river I have +seen is the <i>Madre de Dios</i> of that missionary.”</p> + +<p>The thought of being so near the banks of this river suggested +other thoughts. At once a design entered into my mind. “We can +build a raft,” thought I, “launch it upon this noble river, and float +down to the Amazon, and thence to the mouth of the great stream +itself. There is a Portuguese settlement there—the town of Grand +Para. There we shall be safe from our foes.”</p> + +<p>Such were my first thoughts on beholding the new river. I reflected +further. “Our fortune is gone,” I reflected; “we have nothing +in the wide world—what should we do at Para, even if we arrived +there in safety? How could we attempt such a journey without +provisions. It would be impossible.”</p> + +<p>My hopes fell as quickly as they had sprung up.</p> + +<p>“I noticed your countenance change as you sat upon the tree.”</p> + +<p>“True, you might easily have done so: the prospect of reaching +Para, penniless, and becoming a beggar in the streets—the nearer +prospect of starving in the wilderness of the Amazon—were before +my mind.”</p> + +<p>My eyes for awhile were bent mechanically upon the green ocean +of tree-tops. All at once an object arrested them. It was a patch of +bright rose-coloured foliage, easily distinguishable amid the green +leaves that surrounded it. It was not down in the Montaña—for that +is a thousand feet below us. It was upon the side of the Sierra. My +eyes glanced quickly around. I beheld other patches of similar +foliage, some of them nearly an acre in breadth. My heart again +leaped with joy. I knew well what these red spots of the forest +were. They were clumps of <i>cinchona</i> trees—those trees that yield the +celebrated febrifuge—the Peruvian bark!</p> + +<p>New ideas passed rapidly through my mind. “Our fortune is +gone,” thought I. “Here is a fortune in these valuable trees. Here +is a mine that only requires to be worked. I shall turn <i>cascarillero</i>—I +shall be a <i>bark-hunter</i>.”</p> + +<p>“At first I thought that we might gather the bark, and send Guapo +to sell it in the towns of the Sierra. Then the idea came into my +mind that it might be possible to collect an immense quantity, store +it up, build a great raft, float it down the rivers, and dispose of it in +Para. I knew that in this way it would more than quadruple its +price—for the traders of the Sierra purchase it from the poor cascarilleros, +and have enormous profits upon it from the larger merchants.</p> + +<p>“But how to live while making this store? Yes, how to live even +on the morrow? Could we support ourselves by hunting, or find +sustenance from fruits and roots, as you have suggested? This was +the most important question of all, for our present necessities far +outweighed our future prospects.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">201</a></span></p> + +<p>“The very thought of our necessity caused me once more to glance +over the forest, and I continued to scan it on all sides. My eye was +again arrested, and fixed upon a point where I saw there existed a +different vegetation from any that could be seen elsewhere. There is +a small valley about five hundred feet below us. It is a sort of table +valley, and the stream along which we have been travelling runs +through it, afterwards dashing over a fall to join the river below. In +this valley I saw huge broad leaves of a brilliant yellowish green. I +knew them at once to be the leaves of the great <i>musaceæ</i>, either +plantains or bananas. I thought, too, I could distinguish the form of +the <i>yucca</i> plant. These are the certain signs of some settlement, or +where one has existed. I fancy the latter is the correct idea, as I +could distinguish neither house nor smoke. It may be some deserted +Indian 'chacra,' or it may be the grounds of an old mission. In +either case, we shall be likely to find those useful plants from which +we may obtain food.”</p> + +<p>“Oh, papa! mamma!” cried Leon, running up and interrupting +the conversation. “See what is here among the trees! I declare it +is a great cross!”</p> + +<p>Don Pablo and Isidora walked towards the spot. There, sure +enough, was a large wooden cross planted in the ground, and leaning +to one side. The wood was much decayed, but the inscription that +had been deeply cut in the transverse beam was still legible. It was +simply the Spanish phrase:—</p> + +<center> +“<span class="smcap">Brazos de Dios</span>” (The arm of God).<br /> +</center> + +<p>Isidora took Don Pablo by the hand, and looking steadfastly in his +face, pointed to the inscription.</p> + +<p>“It <i>is</i> true,” said she, “God protects us!”</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE DESERTED MISSION.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>hat night all went to rest with hope in their hearts, though still not +without some anxiety.</p> + +<p>If you reflect upon the situation in which they were placed, you +will not wonder that they were anxious about the future. Their first +care had been to fly into the wilderness, without thinking upon the +necessities they might encounter there—without reflecting that they +had made no provision of food to sustain them. It is true that in the +great Montaña there are many plants and trees whose roots and fruits +can be eaten; but a traveller may go for days without finding one of +these. Indeed, to pass through this great forest, in most places, is +impossible, so completely are the creeping parasites matted and laced +together. It is necessary to keep along the rivers in a canoe or raft, +else you cannot get from place to place.</p> + +<p>You cannot even walk along the banks of many of these rivers, as +the underwood hangs into the very water! For the same reason +game is hard to be procured, and neither Don Pablo nor Guapo were +provided with proper weapons to hunt with. Don Pablo's pistols +were all the fire-arms they had, and Guapo had no other weapon than +his macheté. With their present means, then, there was very little +chance of their killing any game, even should they have fallen in with +it. But they saw none as yet, except some birds, such as parrots,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">202</a></span> +macaws, and toucans, that fluttered among the leaves. No wonder, +then, they were anxious about what they should find to eat, or +whether they should find anything at all.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo considered the cross a good omen, or rather a good <i>sign</i>. +Some missionary must have planted it in years gone by. No doubt a +missionary station must have been near; and it was highly probable +that what he had seen in the little valley below would turn out to be +the very place where it had stood.</p> + +<p>As soon as it became day, therefore, Don Pablo again ascended the +tree to take the bearings of the valley, so that they should proceed +towards it. Guapo also climbed up, so that both might make sure of +the route they ought to take—for in the tangled forests of South +America it is no easy matter to reach any object, which you may +have only seen at a distance from the top of a tree. Without a compass, +the traveller soon loses his direction; and, after hours of vain +exertion and devious wandering, often finds himself at the very place +from which he had started.</p> + +<p>After carefully noting the direction of the valley, Don Pablo and +Guapo came down from the tree; and while the former, assisted by +Leon, packed and saddled the animals, Guapo was busy with his +macheté in clearing away the brushwood that obstructed the path. +This did not turn out such a task after all. It was only at the brow +of the ridge, where the undergrowth had choked up the way. A little +farther down it was quite passable, and the party, animals and all, +were soon winding down the Sierra towards the valley. Half-an-hour's +travelling brought them to their destination; and then a shout of +joy, coming simultaneously from all of them, announced their arrival +upon the spot.</p> + +<p>What was it that caused them to utter this shout of joy? Before +them towered the great <i>musaceæ</i>—plantains and bananas. There +were both: their broad yellow-green and wax-like leaves sheathing +their succulent stems, and bending gracefully over to a length of +twenty feet. But beautiful as were the leaves of these giant plants, +more attractive still to the eyes of our travellers were the huge +clusters of fruit-pods that hung from beneath them. Each of these +would have weighed nearly an hundred-weight! There was food for +hundreds. These plants grew by the water's edge, in a damp soil—their +natural habitat. Their leaves drooped over the stream. Another +plant, equally interesting, was seen farther back, in a dry place. +There were many of these ten or fifteen feet high, and as thick as a +man's wrist. This was the <i>yucca</i> plant. All of them knew it. They +knew that its roots produced the far-famed cassava. Cassava is bread. +Hurrah! the staff of life was secure!</p> + +<p>But, more than this, there were fruits in abundance; there were +mangoes and guavas, oranges and the celebrated cherimoya—the +favourite of Peru. There were shaddocks and sweet limes; and see! +yonder is a clump of sugar-canes, with their thin silken leaves and +yellow tassels waving in the wind. Oh, look here! Here is a coffee-shrub, +with its ripe, aromatic berries; and here is the cacao-tree. +Coffee and chocolate—there was a choice of beverages! Ha! what +have we here—this plant like an orange tree? It is a species of holly. +As I live, it is the <i>yerba maté</i>, the “Paraguay tea.” What shall we +light upon next?</p> + +<p>And so the delighted travellers went on, over the ground, through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">203</a></span> +the thick-tangled weeds and convolvuli, making new discoveries at +every step. Even Guapo's favourite, the coca-shrub, was found growing +among the rest, and the eyes of the old Indian sparkled at the +sight of it.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo's first conjecture had been right. They had arrived at +the ruin of some old missionary station, long since deserted. Some +zealous monk had planted all these plants and trees; had for years, +no doubt, tended them with care; had dreamt of establishing around +this lonely spot a great hierarchy, and making the “wilderness blossom +as the rose.” An evil day had come—perhaps during the revolt of +Juan Santos, or maybe in the later revolution of Tupac Amaru. The +hand of the savage had been turned against the priest, who had fallen +a victim, and his roof—the mission-house—had been given to the +flames. Not a vestige of building was to be seen—neither stick nor +stone—and had it not been for the curious variety of vegetation +collected on the spot, this once cultivated and flourishing garden +might have been taken for part of the primeval forest.</p> + +<p>It must have been a long time since the place was inhabited, for +great trees and parasites had grown up in the midst of the cultivated +plants.</p> + +<p>After the first transports of delight had to some extent subsided, +a consultation was held as to future proceedings. They were not long +in coming to a conclusion. It was resolved that a house should be +built in the middle of this wild garden, which should be, for a time at +least, their home.</p> + +<p>The poor llamas had made their last journey. They were to be +killed. Guapo, although reluctant to part with his old favourites, +knew that they could not live in the warm climate of the valley, and +therefore consented. Their flesh, it is true, is none of the best, but it +would taste the better that no other was to be had; and their wool +and skins would be found useful. The llamas were killed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE GUACO AND THE CORAL SNAKE.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">I</span>t was Guapo himself that killed the llamas, and, having skinned +them, he cut the flesh into thin strips, and hung it upon the branches +to dry in the sun. This, of course, was necessary, as they had no +salt to cure it with; but meat well dried under a hot sun will keep +good for a long time. It is curious, that in all Spanish-American +countries they preserve most of their meat in this way, whereas in +North America, among the people of our own race, “jerked beef” +(for that is the name we give it) is very rare.</p> + +<p>Now, in Spanish-America there are vast depositories of salt—both +in mines and on plains, with salt lakes—called <i>salinas</i>; yet, for want +of a proper commercial activity existing among these people, in +many places the valuable article, salt, is both scarce and dear. In +Mexico dried or “jerked” beef is called “tasajo.” In Peru, as we +have stated, it is “charqui;” but mutton cured in this way is +distinguished by the name “chalona.” Now as the llamas are a +species of sheep, it was “chalona” that Guapo was making out of +their mutton.</p> + +<p>The others were not idle; Don Pablo, assisted by Leon, was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">204</a></span> +clearing a place on which they intended to build the house, while +the Doña Isidora, with her soft slender fingers (for the first time in +her life, perhaps), was acting as laundress, and the little Leona +assisted her as much as she was able. Where did they get their soap, +for they had not brought so much as a single cake along with them?</p> + +<p>But Don Pablo was too good a botanist not to know the nature of +the trees that grew around, and the uses to which they could be +applied. Near by grew a curious tree, which is known among the +Indians as the <i>parapara</i>. It was the soap-berry of botanists and +Don Pablo knew that the bark of the berries, when rubbed, produces +a lather that will wash linen equal to the best “Castile.” Doña +Isidora was not long in making a trial of it, and found this to be +true. The little round stones of the berries, when cleared of the +pulp, are very pretty, and are much used by the missionaries in +making rosaries. Leon found, dropping one of them on a stone, +that it was as elastic as a ball of India rubber, for it rebounded +several times the height of a man's head!</p> + +<p>In the evening they all rested from their various occupations, and +seated themselves upon the new-cleared ground, upon the trunk +of a tree that had been felled. They were one and all quite cheerful. +They felt no more apprehension of pursuit. It would have been +a very revengeful enemy, indeed, who would have followed them so +far into the wilderness. They had no fear of that. Doña Isidora +had just cooked a kettle of coffee—they had both pots and kettles, +for these were some of the utensils with which Guapo, even in the +hurry of flight, had taken the precaution to load his llamas.</p> + +<p>This coffee turned out to be of the finest quality. It was of a +peculiar species, which has long been cultivated by the missionaries +of Peru, and which yields a very high price. It used to be sent +by the viceroys as a valued present to the kings of Spain. To +sweeten the coffee some joints of sugar-cane had been crushed, and +boiled in a rough manner; and for bread they had roasted plantains. +During the repast they were all quite merry, and pleasant jokes +were passed for the first time in many days.</p> + +<p>While thus engaged a singular sound fell upon their ears. It was +like a voice repeating the word “Guaco!” They all listened. “Guaco—Guaco!” +again came the voice.</p> + +<p>“Hola!” cried Leon, “Guapo—Guapo! there's some one calling +you, Guapo. There again!—no—it's 'Guaco'—listen! Guaco—Guaco' +What is it, I wonder?”</p> + +<p>“That's the snake-bird,” quietly answered Guapo, who, it must be +remembered, was a native of the Montaña, and knew a great deal +both about the birds and beasts of these regions.</p> + +<p>“The snake-bird?” exclaimed Leon, evidently interested in the +name.</p> + +<p>“Yes, young master!” replied Guapo; “look! yonder it goes!”</p> + +<p>The eyes of all were instantly turned in the direction pointed out +by Guapo. There sure enough was a bird, not much larger than +a common pigeon, but which had all the appearance of a sparrow-hawk. +It was “swallow-tailed,” however, and this, with its peculiar +form and the manner of its flight, showed that it was one of the +kite-hawks. When first noticed, it was perched upon the top of +a high tree, but it soon flew to another not so high, uttering as it +went, the “Guaco—Guaco!” It then pitched itself to a still lower<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">205</a></span> +branch, and was evidently after something which none of the party +could see. That something, however, soon became apparent. The +ground had been cleared in a broad track down to the water's edge, +and near the middle of the open space an object was observed in +motion, making towards the weeds. That object was a snake.</p> + +<p>It was not a large one—not more than three feet in length—and +its beautiful body, variegated with bands of black, red, and bright +yellow, glistened as it moved. Its predominating colour was a fleshy +red, or coral, from whence it has its name, for both Don Pablo and +Guapo, as soon as they saw it, pronounced it the “coral snake.” +Beautiful as it appeared, all knew that it was one of the most +poisonous of serpents—one of the most dreaded of South American +reptiles.</p> + +<p>The first thought of Guapo and Leon was to spring up, seize upon +some weapon, and kill the creature. Don Pablo, however, restrained +them.</p> + +<p>“Stay where you are,” said he; “be patient; we shall have a scene. +Look at the hawk,—see!”</p> + +<p>As Don Pablo spoke, the guaco, which had hopped down to the +lowest branches of a neighbouring tree, swooped suddenly at the +snake, evidently aiming to clutch it around the neck. The latter, +however, had been too quick, and coiling itself, like a flash of +lightning darted its head out towards the bird in a threatening +manner. Its eyes sparkled with rage, and their fiery glitter could be +seen even at many yards distance.</p> + +<p>The bird diverged from its course, and after passing the snake, +turned and swooped again from the opposite direction. But the +reptile had shifted its body so as to meet the attack, and its threatening +head once more was reared high above its coiled body. The +guaco was foiled a second time.</p> + +<p>This second failure seemed to enrage the bird, as it turned at +shorter intervals, and apparently losing all fear, fluttered over the +reptile, striking both with beak and claws. The latter still kept in +its coil, but its head moved hastily from side to side, so as always to +“show front” to its active antagonist.</p> + +<p>After this play had continued for some time, the snake was seen to +draw in its head farther than usual, and the hawk, evidently somewhat +off his guard, deeming this a fair opportunity, pounced forward +to seize it. But he was met half way. The head of the serpent shot +forward like a rapier, and reached his breast. The hawk felt that +he was wounded; and uttering a wild scream, he flew suddenly +away.</p> + +<p>All eyes watched him as he flew off, expecting that he would fall—for +the bite of the coral snake will kill even a man in a few minutes, +and a bird or small animal in much less time. It is not correct to +say that all of them expected to see him fall. Guapo, from experience, +knew better, and even Don Pablo, as a naturalist, had +heard a strange account of this singular bird, and was curious to +witness the result. The hawk, therefore, was narrowly watched.</p> + +<p>It flew directly for a tree, up against the trunk of which, and +clinging to its branches, grew a parasite or creeping plant. The +latter was of the thickness of a willow rod, with long slender leaves, +of a dark green colour. The bird did not alight upon the top of the +tree, but on a branch where it could reach the leaves of the creeper,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">206</a></span> +which it began immediately to pluck and devour. In a short while +it had eaten as many as a dozen of these long leaves, when it again +took to wing, and flew back in the direction of the snake.</p> + +<p>All had, for the moment, forgotten the snake, in their eagerness to +watch the movements of the bird. To their astonishment the reptile +was still in the same place, and coiled up as when last seen. This +was easily explained, however, as snakes who defend themselves in +that attitude usually remain coiled, until they are certain that their +enemy has gone away and will not return to the attack.</p> + +<p>The contest was now renewed with redoubled fury. The bird +fought with fresh courage, knowing that he had taken precautions +against a fatal result, while the snake defended itself with the energy +of despair. This time the battle was a short one. The guaco, using +its wings, succeeded in striking its antagonist upon the upraised +head, and quickly following up the blow, planted his talons so as to +encircle the throat of his victim. The effect of his gripe was +instantly apparent. The reptile unfolded itself, and the slender +coral body was seen writhing and twisting along the ground. But +it did not remain long upon the ground, for in a few moments the +guaco rose into the air, and carried the struggling victim into the +woods to devour it at his leisure.</p> + +<p>Now Guapo was exceedingly pleased at what had occurred. Why? +It was not because such a scene was at all new to him. No; he had +often witnessed such, and was no longer curious upon that head. It +was something more than mere curiosity that moved Guapo. When +the affair was over, he rose from his seat, and stalking off to the place +where the bird had been seen to eat the leaves, he gathered a quantity +of them, and then returned to the fire. Don Pablo recognised +them as the leaves of a plant of the genus <i>Mikania</i>, and known +popularly as the “vejuco de guaco.”</p> + +<p>Guapo knew nothing of the scientific designation of the plant, but +he had long ago been taught the valuable properties of its leaves as +an antidote against the bite of the most poisonous snakes. He had +known them to cure the bite of the cascabel (<i>rattle-snake</i>), and even +of the small spotted viper, the most poisonous of all the American +snakes.</p> + +<p>What, then, did Guapo with the leaves of the vejuco? First, he +chopped them up as fine as he could, and then, tying them tightly in +a piece of cotton cloth, he expressed from them a quantity of juice—enough +for his purpose. That done, with the point of a knife he +made small incisions between his toes, and also upon his breast and +fingers. Into each of these incisions, even while the blood was +flowing from them, he dropped the juice of the Mikania, and rubbed +it in with fresh leaves of the plant itself; and then, with some tufts +of the soft floss of the silk-cotton tree he covered the incisions, so as +to stop the bleeding. He wound up this strange performance, by +chewing some of the leaves, and swallowing about a spoonful of the +juice. This made the “inoculation” complete, and Guapo, as he himself +declared, was now invulnerable to the bite of the most venomous +serpent!</p> + +<p>He offered to “inoculate” the others in the same way. They at +first refused—Don Pablo among the rest—but after a day or two, +when each of the party had met with several narrow escapes from +vipers, coral snakes, and the much-dreaded “jararaca,” Don Pablo<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">207</a></span> +thought it prudent that all should submit to the operation, and +accordingly Guapo “doctored” the party without more ado.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE PALM-WOODS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">I</span>t happened, that upon the opposite side of the stream there was a +broad track covered with palm-trees, while not one was to be seen +on that side where they intended building their house. As these +are the most convenient trees for constructing a house to suit the hot +climate of the Montaña, it appeared necessary that they should use +them. But how were they to get at them? The stream flowed +between them and the camp; and although not a large river, yet at +that place it was very wide and deep, for in the flat table valley it +expanded to the dimensions of a little lake.</p> + +<p>Below, where it issued out of the valley, it ran for some distance +in a deep cleft between rocky banks almost or quite perpendicular, +and above the valley it came dashing through an impassable ravine. +If they could only get over to cut the palms, they knew they could +roll them to the bank, and float them across the stretch of still water. +But how to get over required some consideration. Guapo could +swim like a water-dog, but Don Pablo could not; and Leon, having +been brought up as a town boy, had had but little practice, and +consequently was but a poor swimmer. What, then, was to be done, +as Guapo could not well manage the palms without help?</p> + +<p>After examining the stream, both above and below, no crossing +place could be found, but just at the point where it ran out of the +valley, the space between the high banks was very narrow. A good +long plank would have reached across it—had they only had one—but +that they had not. Now, upon the opposite bank there grew a +tall tree. It was one of the beautiful silk-cotton trees already +mentioned. It stood upon the very edge of the chasm. Both Don +Pablo and Guapo saw at a glance that this tree could be felled, and +made to fall across the stream, so as to form the very bridge they +wanted.</p> + +<p>Not much time was lost about it. Guapo, tying his axe upon his +shoulders, ran up the near side, until he was opposite the still running +water; and then plunging in, swam across in a few seconds. He +soon after appeared on the opposite bank, at the root of the bombax, +which he attacked in such a manner that one who did not know +what he was about might have fancied he was angry at it. In a few +minutes a great notch appeared in the side of the tree, and Guapo +continuing his sturdy blows, made the yellow chips fly out in showers. +Of course the notch was cut on the side next the stream, so that the +tree would fall in that direction. The beaver understands that +much, and Guapo had considerably more intelligence than any +beaver.</p> + +<p>In about half-an-hour the bombax began to creak and lean a little. +Then Don Pablo threw over a lasso, which had been brought along. +Guapo noosed one end over a high limb, and tying a stone to the +other, pitched it back to Don Pablo, who hauled it taut. Then a few +cuts of the axe broke the skin of the tree on the other side, Don +Pablo pulled by the rope, and with a loud tear and a crash, and a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">208</a></span> +vast deal of crackling among the branches, the great bombax settled +into a horizontal position across the chasm. The bridge was built.</p> + +<p>After all, it was no slight adventure to cross it. The rounded +trunk was anything but sure footing, and even had it been a flat +plank, the depth of the chasm—nearly an hundred feet clear—and +the white roaring torrent below, were enough to shake the stoutest +nerves. All, however, got over in safety, and proceeded up to the +palm-woods. I say all—but I mean only the male population of the +new settlement. Doña Isidora and the little Leona remained by the +camp, both of them busy scraping <i>yucca</i> roots, to be manufactured +into cassava, and then into bread.</p> + +<p>On arriving among the palm-trees, Don Pablo was struck with a +singular fact. He observed (indeed, he had already noticed as much +from the opposite side of the river) that instead of one species of +palm, there were not less than a dozen kinds growing in this wood. +This was a very unusual circumstance, as although two or three +species are often found together, such a varied collection as were +there could only have been made by human hands. Here, again, was +recognised the work of the missionary monk, who had no doubt +planted most of the species, having received them very likely from +many distant stations of his fellow-labourers in other parts of the +Amazon valley.</p> + +<p>Whether Franciscan, Jesuit, or Dominican (for all three have had +their missions in this part of the world), the holy father who resided +here, thought Don Pablo, must have been an ardent horticulturist. +Whether or not he converted many Indians to his faith, he seemed +to have exerted himself to provide for their temporal necessities, for +there was hardly a useful plant or tree suitable to the climate that +was not to be found growing near the spot. Such were the reflections +of Don Pablo.</p> + +<p>“What a variety of beautiful palms!” said he, looking around +upon these by far the fairest forms of the vegetable creation.</p> + +<p>Now, my boy reader, I have not the slightest doubt but that you, +too, think the palms the fairest forms of the vegetable creation. I +have not the shadow of a doubt that your heart beats joyfully at the +very word “palm;” that you love to gaze at one of the stately trees, +and that you would give all your pocket-money for an afternoon's +ramble through a real palm-wood. Would you not? Yes. I am +sure of it. Now I could tell you a great deal about palms if I <i>would</i>; +and I would, too, if my space and time allowed me, but neither will, +alas! Why, if I were only to give you even the shortest and dryest +botanic description of all the different palms that are known to us, +that mere dry catalogue would fill a book as big as this one!</p> + +<p>How many species do you think there are? Up to this time you +have thought, perhaps, there was only one, and that was <i>the palm-tree +itself</i>. Maybe you have heard of more, such as the sago-palm, +the cocoa-nut palm, the date-palm, or the cabbage-palm; and you +fancied there might be others—perhaps as many as a dozen! Now +you will hardly credit me when I tell you that we know of no less +than <i>six hundred species of palms</i>, all differing from each other! I +may add, further, that it is my belief that there exist on the earth as +many more—that is, the enormous number of twelve hundred.</p> + +<p>The reason why I entertain this belief is, that in all cases where +similar guesses have been hazarded—whether with regard to plants,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">209</a></span> +or birds, or <i>mammalia</i>—they have eventually proved far below the +mark; and as the palm countries are the very regions of the earth +least known and least explored by botanists, it is but reasonable to +conclude that great numbers of species have never yet been described, +nor even seen. Another fact which strengthens this probability is, +that peculiar species of palms are sometimes found only in a limited +district, and nowhere else in the same country. A small river even +sometimes forms the boundary-line of a species; and although whole +groves may be seen on the one side, not a tree of the same sort grows +on the other. Some botanists even prognosticate that more than +two thousand species of palms will yet become known.</p> + +<p>Of the six hundred species known, about half belong to the Old +World, and half to America. In America they are chiefly found +growing on the Continent—although several species are natives of +the West India Islands—while on the Eastern hemisphere the greatest +number of species belong to the islands.</p> + +<p>I might tell you a great deal of the importance of these noble trees +to the human race, for they are as useful as they are beautiful. +Almost every sort has its particular use in the economy of human +life. Not only do they serve certain purposes in Africa, Asia, +America, and Oceanica, but in all these divisions of the earth there +are whole nations who <i>live almost exclusively</i> upon one or another +species of palm.</p> + +<p>A discovery has lately been made in regard to an African species, +which it is to be hoped will have an important influence in doing +away with the infamous slave traffic so long existing in that unhappy +country. You have heard of <i>palm-oil</i>. Well, it is extracted from the +nuts of a species of palm. The oil is no new discovery, but it is only +lately that it has been found to be as quite as good for the manufacture +of candles as either spermaceti or wax.</p> + +<p>The consequence has been a great increase in the traffic of this +article on the western coast of Africa; and the native princes, finding +that it is more profitable than slave-selling, have in many parts given +up the last-named atrocious commerce, and have taken to gathering +palm-oil. If a palm-tree can effect what has baffled the skill of the +combined philanthropists and powers of Europe, then, indeed, we +shall say, “All honour to the noble palms.”</p> + +<p>But I might go on talking of palms until our little volume came to +an end. I must, therefore, no longer speak generally of these beautiful +trees, but confine myself to such species as came under the +observation, and ministered to the wants, of the new settlers.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A HOUSE OF PALMS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he first species of palms that attracted the observation of Don +Pablo and his party, was that known as the “patawa” palm. It +belongs to the genus <i>Œnocarpus</i>. There are several species of this +genus in South America, but none more beautiful than the “patawa.” +It is a palm with a straight smooth stem, and pinnate leaves—the +stem being sixty feet in height, and about a foot in diameter. The +stem becomes smooth only in old trees. In the young ones, and even +in those that stand in a thick shady forest, it presents a very shaggy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">210</a></span> +appearance, and is completely hidden by the bases of the old leaves +that have decayed and fallen off. From the margins of these bases +grow spinous processes of nearly three feet in length, which point +upward. These are used by the Indians to make the arrows of their +“blow-guns,” of which more hereafter.</p> + +<p>From the fruits of this palm a most delicious drink is manufactured +with very little trouble. The fruit itself is about the size of a plum, +but of an oval shape and deep violet colour. It grows in large +clusters just under the leaves. To make the drink, the fruits are +thrown into a vessel of hot water, where they remain for a few +minutes until the pulp becomes soft. The hot water is next poured +off, and cold water is substituted. In this the fruits are crushed and +rubbed with the hands until all the pulp is washed from the stones. +The liquid is then strained so as to separate the stones and other +substances, when it is ready for use, and a most luxurious beverage +it is,—in its taste bearing some resemblance to filberts and cream.</p> + +<p>A palm called the “assái” has a small sloe-like fruit which produces +a similar beverage—thick and creamy, and of a fine plum +colour. In all the Portuguese settlements the “assái” is a favourite +drink, and is taken along with cassava bread, as we use milk or +coffee.</p> + +<p>It was not on account of its fruit, however, that Don Pablo rejoiced +at beholding the “patawa” palms. Perhaps Leon thought more +about the rich clusters of oval plums, but his father looked only to +the straight smooth stems which were designed for corner-posts, +beams, and the heavier woodwork of the house.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes Guapo was busy with his axe, and one after +another fell the princely trunks of the “patawa” until enough were +cut down for their purpose.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo next looked out for some palm of a more slender trunk +for the rafters and joists.</p> + +<p>This was soon found in the “catinga,” which is a species of the +“assái palm, the one of which we have just spoken as producing the +assái wine.” The catinga was the very thing for the rafters. It is +tall, nearly forty feet high, but quite slender. It is one of the +smooth palms, with pinnate leaves, not unlike those of the “patawa.” +There is a peculiarity about its top,—that is, there is a column or +sheath of several feet in length, out of which the leaves spring, and, +at the lower end of this column, and not immediately at the root +of the leaves, the fruit clusters grow. This sheathing column is of +a red colour, which gives the tree a strange look.</p> + +<p>Another peculiarity of the catinga is that its roots grow out of the +ground, and form a little cone from the top of which rises the stem. +The fruits of this sort are smaller than the true assái, but a drink is +also made from them which some people consider more delicious than +that either of the assái or patawa. The rafters then were got from +the catinga.</p> + +<p>Now for the thatch, that was the next consideration.</p> + +<p>“Master!” cried Guapo, pointing off into the woods. “Yonder's +'bussu,'—very thing for thatch!”</p> + +<p>Guapo indicated a very singular-looking tree, with a thick, clumsy, +crooked, and deeply ringed stem. It was not a bit like either of the +palm-trees they had already cut down. Its trunk was not over ten +or a dozen feet high, but then, such leaves! They were not pinnated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">211</a></span> +like those already described, but what is termed “entire,” that is, all +in one piece, and thirty feet in length by full five in width! Fancy +two or three dozen of these gigantic leaves standing up almost erect +from the top of the thick trunk, and you may form some idea of the +“bussu” palm. There are many palm-trees whose leaves are used for +thatching houses, but of all others for that purpose the bussu is the +best.</p> + +<p>These great fronds have a mid-rib, and from this, on both sides, +run veins in a diagonal direction to the edge. When they are used +for thatch the leaf is split up the mid-rib, and then each half is laid +upon the rafters, not straight, but in such a way that the veins of the +leaf will lie in a vertical direction, and thus serve as gutters to guide +the rain-water down the roof. A very few leaves will thatch a house, +and a covering of this kind, when properly laid on, will last for ten +or twelve years. So much are the bussu-leaves prized for thatch, +that the Indians, in parts where this palm does not grow, often make +a canoe voyage of a week to procure them!</p> + +<p>The spathe which contains the flowers is also put to many uses. +It is of a long spindle shape, of fibrous, cloth-like texture, and brown +colour. The Indians use it as cloth. It makes an excellent bag, in +which the native carries his paints or other articles; and a large one, +stretched out, makes a very comfortable cap. Indeed, Guapo used +the first spathe he laid his hands upon for this very purpose.</p> + +<p>There remained now to be found some palm-tree that would split +easily, and make laths for the roof, as well as planks for the door, +shelves, and benches. They soon discovered the very palm for these +purposes. It was one of the genus <i>Iriartea</i>, and known as the +“pashiuba” palm. It was a tree that differed from all the others in +its aspect. It was a noble-looking tree, rising, with a smooth stem, +to the height of seventy feet. At its top, there was a sheathing +column swollen larger than the stem, and not unlike the sheathing +column of the catinga already mentioned, except that that of the +pashiuba was of a deep green colour. Its leaves, however, differed +materially from those of the catinga. It is true, that, like them, they +were pinnate, but the leaflets, instead of being slender and tapering, +were of a triangular shape, notched along the edges, and not growing +very regularly out from the mid-rib.</p> + +<p>Their general arrangement, as well as the form, therefore, gave the +tree a different, and, perhaps, more beautiful aspect. But the most +singular characteristic of the pashiuba was its roots. I have said +that the roots of the catinga rose above the surface of the soil. So +did they, but only to a limited height, forming a little cone. Now +the roots of the pashiuba stood up to the height of ten or a dozen +feet! Each root was nearly straight in itself, but there were a +number of them, and they sloped upwards so as to make a sort of +pyramid, out of the apex of which grew the stem. There were wide +spaces between the roots—so wide that you could easily pass through, +and a full-grown man might stand upright with his head under the +very base of the stem. Fancy a man standing under the trunk of a +tree that rose seventy feet above his head!</p> + +<p>There were young trees of the same species growing around, and +these were miniature models of the older ones. Sometimes these +lesser ones are supported on three roots, like the tripod of a surveyor's +compass, and this gives them a somewhat ludicrous appearance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">212</a></span> +There are many species of this sort of palms, which are classed +under the genus <i>Iriartea</i>. In most of them the fruit, which is small +oval and red or yellow, is bitter and uneatable; but their wood is +prized for many purposes. The wood of the species which Don Pablo +had found is hard on the outside, but soft within, and splits readier +into laths and planks than any other kind of palm.</p> + +<p>Guapo attacked the roots with his axe, and enough trunks were +soon felled to make laths, doors, and all sorts of benches.</p> + +<p>The different kinds were now collected on the edge of the stream, +and were tied together by a rope-like, creeping plant, called a “Sipo,” +so that they formed a rude raft. The leaves of the “bussu,” with +great clusters of the fruits of the catinga and patawa, were laid upon +the raft; and then, Guapo, mounting himself on top of all, pushed +out with his long pole, and ferried the whole across. The others +walked round by the bridge, and were just in time to assist Guapo +in mooring his somewhat unwieldy craft.</p> + +<p>Next day the framework of the house was put up, and on the day +after the walls. These were made of bamboo-canes, plenty of which +grew near the bottom of the valley. They grew wild, for the slopes +of the Andes are the favourite soil of these gigantic grasses. They +were set on end, side by side, and then tied to each other and to the +beams of palm-trees. On the third day the “bussu” leaves were laid +on, and the house was finished.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">TRACKING THE TAPIR.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">I</span>t has been already mentioned that the stream in front of the house +was wider than at other parts, forming a sort of lake. There was a +slow current down the middle, but at the sides the water was nearly +stagnant, and there grew in some places bunches of flags interspersed +with beautiful white lilies. Among these could be distinguished that +gigantic <i>nympha</i> so celebrated under the name of <i>Victoria regia</i>—for +South America is the native country of this rare plant.</p> + +<p>Every night, as our party were resting from their labours, they +heard strange noises proceeding from the water. There was plunging +and plashing, and now and then a snorting sound like that sometimes +uttered by frightened swine. Perhaps it would have puzzled any of +them to tell whence these sounds proceeded, or what animal gave +utterance to them, for there could be no doubt they were caused by +an animal. Some of them guessed “alligators;” but that was not a +correct guess, for although there are plenty of alligators in all the +rivers of tropical America, there seemed to be none in that particular +place.</p> + +<p>In truth, they might have remained long in the dark about what +creature they thus heard sweltering about nightly, for they could +neither see nor hear anything of it in the day; but Guapo, who knew +every sound of the Montaña, enlightened them at once. Guapo had +been a keen <i>tapir-hunter</i> in his time, and understood all the habits of +that strange animal. It was a tapir, then, which they had heard +taking his regular nightly bath, and regaling himself on the roots of +the flags and <i>nymphæ</i>.</p> + +<p>Have you ever seen a tapir? Not a living one, I fancy; perhaps<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">213</a></span> +the skin of one in a museum. He is an interesting creature, for this +reason—that he is the largest land animal indigenous to South +America. The llama and guanaco stand higher because their legs are +longer, and they are far inferior to the tapir in bulk and weight: +while the bears of South America, of which there are two or three +species, are small-sized bears, and therefore less than the tapir. In +fact, no very large land animals were found indigenous in the southern +division of the American continent. There were none of the <i>bovine</i> +tribe, as the buffalo and musk-ox of North America; and no large +deer, as the elk and moose of the Northern latitudes. The deer of +South America, of which there are several undescribed species, are +all small animals. The tapir, then, in point of size takes precedence +in the South-American <i>fauna</i>.</p> + +<p>His rounded body gives him some resemblance to a great hog, or a +donkey with its hair shaved off; but, in fact, he is not very like +either; he is more like a <i>tapir</i> than anything else—that is, he is a +creature <i>sui generis</i>. Perhaps, if you were to shave a large donkey, +cut off most part of his ears and tail, shorten his limbs—and, if +possible, make them stouter and clumsier—lengthen his upper jaw so +that it should protrude over the under one into a prolonged curving +snout, and then give him a coat of blackish-brown paint, you would +get something not unlike a tapir.</p> + +<p>To complete the resemblance, however, you would have to continue +the erect mane over the forehead, between the ears, and down to the +level of the eyes, which would give that crested appearance that +characterises the tapir. Instead of hoofs, moreover, you would give +your donkey large toes—four upon the fore feet, and upon the hind +ones three. A little silky hair upon the stumped tail, and a few +thinly scattered hairs of a brown colour over the body, would make +the likeness still more striking; and it would be necessary, too, that +the donkey be one of the very biggest kind to be as big as a big tapir.</p> + +<p>The tapir is a harmless creature, and although it has a good set of +teeth, it never uses them for the purpose of defending itself. When +attacked by either men or fierce animals, it tries to escape by flight, +and if that fails, submits to be killed; but there is no “fight” to be +got out of a tapir.</p> + +<p>The tapir leads a very solitary life, being met with alone, or sometimes +in the company of the female. The latter has but one young +at a birth, which follows her until able to provide for itself; when +they associate no longer together, but part company, each taking its +own way.</p> + +<p>This animal is called amphibious, because it spends part of its time +in the water; but, although it has been called the American representative +of the rhinoceros and hippopotamus, it is not so much a +water animal as either of these. It seeks its food in the river, or the +marshes that border it, and can remain for several minutes under +water; but for all that most of its time is passed on dry land. It +sleeps during the day in some dry spot upon a bed of withered leaves, +from whence it sallies every evening, and makes to the marshy banks +of some well-known stream. It frequently leaves its lair during rain, +and goes in search of food. Like hogs it is very fond of wallowing in +a muddy place; but, unlike these slovenly animals, it does not return +to its bed until it has plunged into the clear water, and thoroughly +purified itself of the mud.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">214</a></span></p> + +<p>One habit of the tapir—and an unfortunate one for itself—is that +in going its rounds it always follows the old track. In this way a +path is soon formed from its lair to its feeding-place, so conspicuous +that a hunter might trail it upon the run. It is easy, therefore, to +“waylay” a tapir. Guapo knew this well, and had already, while +over among the palms, marked the track of the one that came nightly +to the stream, and had settled it in his mind that that particular +tapir had not many days to live. In fact, Leon coaxed him to fix the +tapir-hunt for the next morning, which Guapo, with Don Pablo's +permission, accordingly did.</p> + +<p>Guapo was anxious as any of them to kill the tapir, for, like many +Indians, he was fond of its flesh, though that is by no means a palatable +article of food. On the contrary, it is dry, and to most people +tastes disagreeably. Guapo, however, liked it exceedingly; and, +moreover, he wanted the tough skin for some purpose of his own. +The wild Indians value the skin highly, as it is the best thing they +can procure for “viches,” or shields, to ward off the poisoned arrows +of their enemies.</p> + +<p>Next morning, an hour or so after daybreak, Guapo started for the +hunt, accompanied by Leon. Don Pablo remained at home with his +wife and the little Leona. Now, had the tapir-hunter possessed a +gun, or even a bow and arrows, his plan of proceedings would have +been different, and he would no doubt have chosen a different hour +for the hunt. He would have chosen the twilight of the evening or +morning, and would have hid himself in the bushes, so as to command +a view of the track which the tapir would be certain to take on his +way to or from the water. He would then have simply shot the +creature as it was going past; but this is not so easy a matter neither, +for the tapir, fearful of enemies while on land, always travels at a +trot. As Guapo had neither bow nor gun, nothing in fact but his +<i>macheté</i>, how was he to get near enough to use this weapon? Clumsy-looking +as the tapir certainly is, he can shuffle over the ground faster +than the fastest Indian.</p> + +<p>Guapo knew all this, but he also knew a stratagem by which the +amphibious brute could be outwitted, and this stratagem he designed +putting in practice. For the purpose he carried another weapon +besides the <i>macheté</i>. That weapon was a very pacific one—it was +a <i>spade</i>! Fortunately he had one which he had brought with him +from the mountains.</p> + +<p>Now what did Guapo mean to do with the spade? The tapir +is not a burrowing animal, and therefore would not require to +be “dug out.” We shall presently see what use was made of the +spade.</p> + +<p>After crossing the bridge, and getting well round among the +palms, the hunter came upon a path well tracked into the mud. It +was the path of the tapir,—that could be easily seen. There were +the broad footmarks—some with three, and others with four toes—and +there, too, were places where the animal had “wallowed.” The +tracks were quite fresh, and made, as Guapo said, not an hour before +they had arrived on the spot.</p> + +<p>This was just what the tapir-hunter wanted; and, choosing a +place where the track ran between two palm-trees, and could not +well have gone round either of them, he halted, rested his <i>macheté</i> +against a tree, and took a determined hold of the spade. Leon now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">215</a></span> +began to see what use he intended to make of the spade. He was +<i>going to dig a pit</i>!</p> + +<p>That was, in fact, the very thing he was going to do, and in less +than an hour, with the help of Leon, it was done—the latter carrying +away the earth upon “bussu” leaves as fast as Guapo shovelled it +out. When the pit was sunk to what Guapo considered a sufficient +depth, he came out of it; and then choosing some slender poles, +with palm-leaves, branches, and grass, he covered it in such a manner +that a fox himself would not have known it to be a pit-trap. But +such it was—wide enough and deep enough, as Guapo deemed, to +entrap the largest tapir.</p> + +<p>It now only remained to get the tapir into it, but therein lay the +difficulty. Leon could not understand how this was to be managed. +He knew that at night, as the animal was on its way to the water, it +might step on the covering, and fall in. But Guapo had promised +him that he should see the tapir trapped in an hour's time. Guapo +had a plan of his own for bringing it that way, and he at once +proceeded to put his plan into execution.</p> + +<p>They started along the trail going <i>from</i> the water, and towards +the lair of the beast. The hunter knew it would not be very distant—perhaps +a quarter or half-a-mile, perhaps less. Before starting he +cautioned Leon to keep close behind him, and not to make the least +noise. So little as a whisper or the rustling of the brush, he alleged, +might spoil all his plans. Guapo marched, or rather crouched, along; +at first freely, but after some time his step grew more stealthy and +cautious. He knew that he was getting near to his sleeping victim.</p> + +<p>After stopping and repeating his caution to his companion, he +proceeded as before until they had got better than a quarter of +a mile from the water. Here they began to ascend a gentle hill, +where the ground was dry, and strewed with fallen trees. At some +places the trail was difficult to make out, and Leon would soon have +lost it had he been left to himself. But there was no fear of Guapo +losing it. A hound could not have followed it more surely.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Guapo stopped—then went on a few steps—then stopped +a second time, and made a sign for Leon to come up. Without +speaking, he pointed to a little thicket of scrubby bushes, through +the leaves of which they could just make out some large brown +object perfectly at rest. That was the tapir himself—sound asleep.</p> + +<p>Guapo had already instructed his companion that when they +should arrive near the den of the animal, they were to make a wide +circuit around—Leon going one way, while he himself took the +other. Both now drew back a little, and then parted—the hunter +going to one side, and Leon in the opposite direction. After making +their circuit, they met at some distance beyond the back of the den; +and then Guapo, telling the other to follow him, and, without +observing any further caution, walked straight towards where the +tapir lay.</p> + +<p>The Indian knew by experience that the latter, when roused, +would make directly along its accustomed trail to the water, for to +the water it always flies when alarmed by an enemy. When they +had got within a few paces of the den, a movement was seen among +the leaves—then a crackling noise was heard, as the huge body of the +animal broke through the bushes, and took to flight. He did not +trot according to his usual gait, but went off in a gallop, with his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">216</a></span> +head carried in a singular and awkward manner between his fore-legs! +You have, no doubt, seen a donkey sometimes gallop in a +similar style.</p> + +<p>Guapo bounded after, followed by Leon, who kept close at his +heels. Of course the tapir was in sight only a few seconds, but the +hunter knew that he would take the beaten track, and therefore was +at no loss. They made no unnecessary noise—lest the tapir might +be frightened from its path—but ran on in silence.</p> + +<p>They soon got back to the pit-fall, Guapo of course leading the +way.</p> + +<p>“Hola!” cried the latter, when he came in sight of it, “hola, +young master! he's in the trap!”</p> + +<p>Sure enough he was; and the next moment they stood upon the +edge of the pit, and beheld the great brown body struggling and +tumbling about at the bottom.</p> + +<p>Guapo did not pause a moment, but leaped in, <i>macheté</i> in hand. +He had no fear of the animal biting him, for he knew it would not +do so; but Guapo, in his hurry, had leaped carelessly, and his foot +slipping, he fell over the smooth body of the tapir. The latter in its +fright jumped upward, and the next moment Guapo was <i>undermost</i> +at the bottom of the pit!</p> + +<p>The animal had no design of trampling the hunter; but seeing +that it could easily leap out—the pit being shallowed for it by +Guapo's body and the fallen branches—it made a spring, and came +out on the edge. Leon had got round upon the side next the river, +but he chanced to be on the wrong side just then; for the heavy +tapir dashing past, knocked against him, and sent him sprawling +among the trees. Before he could recover himself, or Guapo climb +out of the pit, a loud plunge in the water announced that the animal +had escaped to an element where it might defy their pursuit.</p> + +<p>Both were quite crest-fallen and disappointed, but Guapo especially +so. He had prided himself very much on his skill as a tapir-hunter, +and his pride was mortified at the result. He seemed very much +chagrined; and as he and Leon returned toward the house, he +stopped at intervals and looked into the water. Then shaking his +macheté in a threatening manner, cried out,—</p> + +<p>“Dive away, old thick-skin! Dive deep as you will, I'll have your +hide yet!”</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE POISONED ARROWS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he result of the tapir chase determined Guapo to have himself +better armed. There was one weapon—and a very efficient one too—which +he knew how both to make and use. That weapon was +a “gravatána,” or blow-gun, sometimes called “pocuna.” He had +had an eye to this weapon all along, and had already provided the +materials necessary for making it. These materials were of a varied +character, and had cost him some trouble in getting them together.</p> + +<p>First, then, for the blow-tube itself he had cut stems of a slender +palm-tree, a species of <i>Iriartea</i>, but not that sort already described. +It was the <i>Pashiuba miri</i> of the Indians. This little palm grows to +the height of from twelve to twenty feet, and is never thicker than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">217</a></span> +a man's wrist. Its roots, like the others of its genus, rise above the +ground, but only a few inches. The stems which Guapo had chosen +were of different sizes. One was about the thickness of the handle +of a garden-rake, while the other was not over the diameter of a +walking-cane. Both were hollow in the heart, or rather they +contained pith like the alder-tree, which when forced out left a +smooth bore.</p> + +<p>Having cut these stems to a length of about ten feet, and pushed +out the pith, Guapo inserted the smaller one into the bore of the +larger, which fitted tightly all the way—for he had chosen it of the +proper thickness to this end. The object of thus using two stems +instead of one will not, at first, be understood. It was for the purpose +of making the tube perfectly straight, as this is a most important +consideration in the gravatána. The outer and stronger stem corrected +any bend that there might be in the inner one, and they were +carefully arranged so that the one should straighten the other.</p> + +<p>Had it not been perfectly straight, Guapo would have bound it to +a post and made it so; but it happened to come quite right without +further trouble. The tube of the lesser one was now cleaned out +thoroughly, and polished by a little bunch of the roots of a tree-fern, +until it was as smooth and hard as ebony. A mouthpiece of wood +was placed at the smaller end of the table, and a sight was glued on +the outside. This “sight” was the tooth of an animal,—one of the +long curving incisors of a rodent animal called the “paca,” which is +found in most parts of tropical America. To make the instrument +look neater, Guapo had procured the tough shining bark of a creeping +plant, which he wound spirally around the outside from the mouthpiece +to the muzzle; and then the gravatána was finished.</p> + +<p>There was yet much to be done before it could be used. Arrows +were to be made, and a quiver in which to carry them, and poison to +dip their points in—for the arrows of the blow-gun do not kill +by the wound they inflict, but by the poison with which they are +charged.</p> + +<p>The next thing, then, to which Guapo turned his attention was the +manufacture of the arrows. These can be made of cane, reeds, and +other kinds of wood; but the best materials for the purpose are the +long spines of the patawa palm, of which I have already spoken. +These spines grow out from the lower part of the leaf-petioles, and, in +young trees and those much sheltered, remain upon the trunk, giving +it a very shaggy appearance. They are often three feet in length, +about as thick as large wire, rather flattish, and of a black colour. +To make the arrows, Guapo cut them to the length of fifteen or +eighteen inches, and then pointed them sharply at one end. About +three inches from the points he notched them all, so that they would +break in the wound rather than drop out again, in consequence of the +struggles of the animal.</p> + +<p>About two or three inches from the thick end of the arrow Guapo +wrapped lightly around the shaft some strands of the soft silky +cotton, which he had procured from the pods of the great “ceiba,” or +silk-cotton tree, already mentioned. This he fastened on with a fibre +of an aloe plant—one of the <i>bromelias</i>; and the cotton, when thus +secured, assumed a conical or spindle shape, having its larger end +towards the butt of the arrow. When inserted into the gravatána, +the swell of the cotton filled the tube exactly,—not so tightly as to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">218</a></span> +impede the passage of the arrow, nor so loosely as to allow of “windage” +when blown upon through the mouthpiece.</p> + +<p>The arrows were now ready, with the exception of the poison for +their tips; and this was the most important of all, for without it both +blow-gun and arrows would have been useless weapons, indeed. But +Guapo was just the man who knew how to make this poison, and that +is more than could be said of every Indian, for it is only the “piaches” +(priests, or “medicine-men”) who understand the process. Nay, more, +there are even some tribes where not an individual knows how the +arrow-poison is made; and these have to procure it by barter from +others, paying a high price, and sometimes going a great distance +for it.</p> + +<p>This celebrated poison is known under different names, but those +of “curare,” “ticuna,” and “wouraly,” are the principal.</p> + +<p>It is one of the most deadly poisons yet discovered—as much so as +the <i>upastiente</i> of Java, or the bean of St. Ignatius—but it is perfectly +harmless when swallowed, and, indeed, it is often taken by the +Indians as an excellent stomachic. Should it get into the blood, however, +by means of an arrow-wound, or a sore, no remedy has yet been +discovered that will cure it. Death is certain, and a death similar to +that caused by the bite of a venomous serpent. So say those who +have suffered from it, but recovered on account of their having been +only slightly wounded, or lightly inoculated with it. Let us see, then, +how Guapo prepared this deadly mixture.</p> + +<p>He had gone out to the forest, and returned carrying a bundle of +slender rods. They were pieces of a lliana, or creeping plant. It was +the <i>bejuco de curare</i>, or “mavacure,” as it is sometimes called. The +leaves he had stripped off, and left behind as useless. Had he brought +them with him, they would have been seen to be small leaves of an +oblong-oval shape, sharp at the points, and of a whittish-green colour. +Don Pablo knew the plant to be a species of <i>Strychnos</i>.</p> + +<p>Guapo with his knife first scraped all the bark, as well as the +alburnum or white coating, from the rods, which last he flung away. +The mixture of bark and alburnum was next placed upon a smooth +stone, and mashed into a fibre of a yellowish colour. This done, it +was gathered into a heap, and placed within a funnel, which had +already been made out of a plantain-leaf. The funnel was a long +narrow cone, and to strengthen it, it was set within another funnel +made of the thick leaf of the “bussu” palm, and then both were +supported by a framework of palm fibres.</p> + +<p>Underneath the apex was placed a small pan—which could afterwards +be put over the fire—and then cold water was thrown into the +funnel along with the bark. A yellowish liquid soon commenced to +filter and drip into the pan, and this liquid was the <i>curare</i>, the arrow +poison. It still required, however, to be concentrated by evaporation; +and for this purpose the pan was transferred to a slow fire, +where it was kept until the liquid became thickened by the heat.</p> + +<p>Another process was yet required before the curare was ready for +the arrows. It was sufficiently concentrated and deadly, but still too +thin to adhere properly to their tips, and for this purpose a mixture +of some gummy juice was necessary. This Guapo soon prepared from +the large leaves of a tree called the “kiracaguero,” and poured it into +the infusion; and then the curare turned from its yellow colour to +black, and was ready for use. The change of colour was produced by<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">219</a></span> +the decomposition of a hydruret of carbon; the hydrogen was burned, +and the carbon set free.</p> + +<p>Guapo now dipped a few of his arrows, and carefully deposited +them in a large joint of bamboo, which served as a quiver. I say +<i>carefully</i>, for had one of these arrows dropped with its poisoned point +upon his naked foot, or wounded him elsewhere, he never would have +prepared any more curare. But he handled them with care, and the +remainder of the liquid he poured into a small gourd (similar to that +in which he carried his coca-lime), which he closely corked up with a +piece of the pith from a palm.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo, with Doña Isidora and the children, had watched with +interest all this process. At first, they were afraid to go near, believing +that the fumes of the liquid might be injurious. This was long +believed to be the case, in consequence of the absurd tales spread +abroad by the old missionaries, and even at a later period by the +traveller La Condamine. These asserted, that when the Indians +wished to make the curare poison, they selected for this purpose the +old women of the tribe, whose lives were not deemed of any value; +and that several of these always fell a sacrifice while “cooking” the +curare!</p> + +<p>This silly story is now refuted; and Guapo not only assured his +companions that there was no danger, but even tasted the curare +from time to time while in the pan, in order to judge when it was +sufficiently concentrated. This he could tell by its taste, as it grew +more and more bitter as the evaporation proceeded. The arrow-poisons +of South America are not all made from the creeping plant, +the mavacure. Among some Indian tribes a root is used called +“curare de raiz;” and with others the poison is produced by a mixture +of several species of juices from the plant <i>Ambihuasca</i>, tobacco, red +pepper, a bark called “barbasco,” from a tree of the genus <i>Jacquinia</i>, +and a plant of the name “sarnango.” Of all these the juice of the +<i>Ambihuasca</i> is the most powerful ingredient, but the making of this +species of poison is a most complicated process.</p> + +<p>Guapo was not long in having an opportunity to test his gravatána, +and this was just what he desired, for the old Indian was not a little +vain of his skill, and he wished to make a show of it in the eyes of +his companions. His vanity, however, was the more pardonable, as +he was in reality a first-rate shot, which he proved to the satisfaction +of everybody within half-an-hour. The instrument had scarcely been +finished and laid aside, when a loud screaming and chattering was +heard in the air, and on looking up a flock of large birds was seen +flying over the heavens. They were still high up, but all of a sudden +they darted down together and alit on a tall tree that stood nearly +alone.</p> + +<p>Here they continued their chattering, only in a lower and more +confidential tone; and they could be seen, not hopping, but climbing +about, sometimes with their backs and heads turned downward, and, +in short, clinging to the branches in every imaginable way. These +birds were all of one kind, each of them full eighteen inches in +length, and of a uniform colour over the body, which was a purple, +or deep indigo—their beaks only being white. In the sun their +plumage glistened with a metallic lustre. They were, in fact, a rare +species,—the <i>ana</i>, or <i>purple macaw</i>.</p> + +<p>Without saying a word, Guapo seized his gravatána and arrows,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">220</a></span> +and stole off through the underwood towards the tree upon which +the macaws had perched. In a few minutes he stood under it, +screened from the view of the birds by the broad leaves of a plantain +that happened to grow beneath. This cover was necessary, else the +macaws, which are shy birds, might have uttered one of their wild, +choral screams, and flown off. They did not, however, and Guapo +had a fair chance at them. All his movements could be observed by +the party at the house, as he was on that side of the plantain.</p> + +<p>He was seen to adjust an arrow into the tube, and then raise the +gravatána to his lips. Strange to say, he did not hold it as we do a +common gun,—that is, with the left hand advanced along the tube. +On the contrary, both hands were held nearly together, at the lower +end, and close to his mouth. Now, you will wonder how he could +hold such a long tube steady in this way. It is, indeed, a very +difficult thing, and much practice alone can accomplish it. As they +watched him narrowly, his chest was seen to expand, his cheeks +rose with a strong “puff,” and some of them thought they could +perceive the passage of the little arrow out of the tube.</p> + +<p>However this might be, they soon after saw something sticking in +the side of one of the macaws, and could see the bird pecking at it +with its great beak, and trying to pull it out. In this it appeared to +have succeeded after a short while, for something fell from the tree. +It was the shaft with its cotton “boss” that fell down. The point, +broken off where it had been notched, was still in the body of the +bird, and was infusing the deadly venom into its veins. In about +two minutes' time the wounded bird seemed to grow giddy, and +began to stagger. It then fell over, still clutching the branch with +its strong, prehensile claws; but after hanging a moment, these too +relaxed, and the body fell heavily to the ground. It was quite dead.</p> + +<p>Long before it came down Guapo had pushed a fresh arrow into +the tube, and given a fresh puff through it, wounding a second of +the macaws. Then another arrow was chosen, and another victim, +until several had been shot, and the creatures upon the tree could be +seen in all stages of dying. Some, on receiving the wound, uttered +a cry and flew off, but the poison soon brought them down, and they +invariably fell at no great distance from the tree.</p> + +<p>At length Guapo was seen to desist, and walk boldly out from his +ambush. To the surprise of all, the remaining macaws, of which +there were still six or seven upon the tree, showed no fear of him, nor +did they attempt to fly away! This was explained, however, by +their subsequent conduct; for in a few seconds more they were seen, +one by one, falling to the ground, until not a single bird was left +upon the tree. All of them had been killed by the arrows of the +blow-gun!</p> + +<p>Leon now ran out to assist Guapo in gathering his game. There +were no less than eight couple of them in all, and they were all quite +dead—some of them shot in the thigh, some in the neck or wing, and +others through the body. None of them had lived over two minutes +after receiving the wound. Such is the quickness with which the +“curare” does its work!</p> + +<p>As a hunting instrument for most species of game the South +American Indian prefers the gravatána to any other; and with good +reason. Had Guapo been armed with a rifle or fowling-piece, he +would have shot one macaw, or perhaps a pair, and then the rest<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">221</a></span> +would have uttered a tantalising scream, and winged their way out +of his reach. He might have missed the whole flock, too, for on a +high tree, such as that on which they had alit, it is no easy matter to +kill a macaw with a shot-gun. Now the gravatána throws its arrow +to a height of from thirty to forty yards, and the least touch is +sufficient to do the business. Its silence, moreover, enables the +hunter to repeat the shot, until several head of game reward his +skill. The Indians use it with most effect in a vertical or upward +direction; and they are always surer to kill a bird with it when +perched on a high tree, than when seated on a low shrub or on the +ground.</p> + +<p>As we have observed that the curare can be taken inwardly without +any danger, it will be evident to all that game killed by the poisoned +arrows may be eaten with safety. Indeed, there are many epicures +in South America who prefer it in this way; and when a chicken is +wanted for the table, these people require that it should be killed by +an arrow dipped in curare.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE MILK-TREE.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">G</span>uapo kept his promise with the tapir, and on that very same day. +Shortly after the macaws had been brought in, little Leona, who +had been straying down by the water's edge, came running back to +the house, and in breathless haste cried out, “Mamma, mamma! +what a big hog!”</p> + +<p>“Where, my pet?” inquired her mother, with a degree of anxiety, +for she fancied that the child might have seen some fierce beast of +prey instead of a hog.</p> + +<p>“In the water,” replied Leona; “among the great lillies.”</p> + +<p>“It's the tapir,” cried Leon. “Carrambo! it's our tapir!”</p> + +<p>Guapo was busy plucking his macaws, but at the word tapir he +sprang to his feet, making the feathers fly in all directions.</p> + +<p>“Where, señorita?” he asked, addressing little Leona.</p> + +<p>“Down below,” replied the child; “near the edge of the river.”</p> + +<p>Guapo seized his gravatána, and crouched down towards the bank, +with Leon at his heels. On nearing the water, he stopped; and, +with his body half-bent, looked down stream. There, sure enough, +was the huge brown beast standing with his body half out of the +water, and pulling up the roots of the flags with his great teeth and +long moveable snout. It was not likely he would return to his +former den after the chase he had had; and fancying, no doubt, +that all the danger lay upon the opposite shore, he had come to this +side to browse awhile.</p> + +<p>Guapo cautioned Leon to remain where he was, while he himself, +almost crawling upon his belly, proceeded along the bank. In a few +minutes he was out of sight, and Leon, seeing nothing more of him, +kept his eyes sharply fixed upon the tapir.</p> + +<p>The latter remained quietly feeding for about ten minutes, when +the boy saw him give a little start. Perhaps, thought he, he has +heard Guapo among the weeds—for the tapir has good ears—and +that was what caused him to make the motion. The tapir stopped +feeding for a moment, but then recommenced, though evidently not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">222</a></span> +with as much eagerness as before. Presently he stopped a second +time, and seemed undetermined as to whether he should not turn +and take to the clear water. In this way he hesitated for several +minutes; then, to the astonishment of Leon, his body began to rock +from side to side, and the next moment, with a plunge, he fell +heavily backward, making the waves undulate on all sides of him. +The arrow had done its work—he was dead!</p> + +<p>A loud shout from Guapo echoed along the river, and the Indian +was seen plunging forward to the dead tapir, which the next moment +he had seized by the leg, and was dragging towards the bank. He +was here met by the whole party, all of whom were anxious to see +this rare and singular creature. Ropes were soon attached to the +legs, and Guapo, assisted by Don Pablo and Leon, drew the huge +carcass out upon the shore; and dragged it up to the house.</p> + +<p>Guapo at once skinned it, carefully preserving the hide to make +soles for his sandals and other purposes; and that night all of them +tried a “tapir-steak” for supper. All, however, Guapo alone excepted, +preferred the flesh of the purple macaws, which, cooked as +they were with onions and red pepper, were excellent eating, particularly +for Spanish-American palates. Guapo had all the tapir to himself.</p> + +<p>The bamboo palm-house was now quite finished, and several articles +of furniture too—for during the nights both Don Pablo and his trusty +man Guapo had worked at many things. You will, no doubt, be +asking where they procured lights,—will you not? I shall tell you. +One of the loftiest and most beautiful of the palm-trees—<i>the wax-palm</i>—grew +in these very parts, for the lower slopes of the Andes are +its favourite habitat. Out of its trunk exudes wax, which has only +to be scraped off and made into candles, that burn as well as those +made of the wax of bees. Indeed, the missionaries, in their various +religious ceremonies, have always made large use of these palm-candles.</p> + +<p>Another “wax-palm,” called “Carnáuba,” is found in South America. +In this one, the wax—of a pure white colour, and without any admixture +of resin—collects upon the under-side of the leaves, and can be +had in large quantities by merely stripping it off. But even, had +neither of these palms been found, they needed not to have gone +without lights, for the fruits of the “patawa,” already described, when +submitted to pressure, yield a pure liquid oil, without any disagreeable +smell, and most excellent for burning in lamps. So, you see, +there was no lack of light in the cheerful cottage.</p> + +<p>But there were two things, you will say, still wanting—one of them +a necessary article, and the other almost so—and which could not +possibly be procured in such a place. These two things were <i>salt</i> and +<i>milk</i>. Now there was neither a salt-mine, nor a lake, nor a drop of +salt water, nor yet either cow, goat, or ass, within scores of miles of +the place, and still they had both salt and milk!</p> + +<p>The milk they procured from a tree which grew in the woods close +by, and a tree so singular and celebrated, that you have no doubt +heard of it before now. It was the <i>palo de vaca</i>, or “cow-tree,” called +sometimes by an equally appropriate name <i>arbol del leche</i>, or “milk-tree.” +It is one of the noblest trees of the forest, rising, with its tall +straight stem, to a great height, and adorned with large oblong +pointed leaves, some of which are nearly a foot in length. It carries<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">223</a></span> +fruit which is eatable, about the size of a peach, and containing one +or two stones; and the wood itself is valuable, being hard, fine-grained, +and durable.</p> + +<p>But it is the sap which gives celebrity to the tree. This is neither +more nor less than milk of a thick creamy kind, and most agreeable +in flavour. Indeed, there are many persons who prefer it to the milk +of cows, and it has been proved to be equally nutritious, the people +fattening upon it in districts where it grows. It is collected, as the +sugar-water is from the maple, simply by making a notch or incision +in the bark, and placing a vessel underneath, into which the sap runs +abundantly. It runs most freely at the hour of sunrise; and this is +also true as regards the sap of the sugar-tree, and many other trees +of that kind.</p> + +<p>Sometimes it is drunk pure as it flows from the tree; but there are +some people who, not relishing it in its thick gummy state, dilute it +with water, and strain it before using it. It is excellent for tea or +coffee, quite equal to the best cream, and of a richer colour. When +left to stand in an open vessel, a thick coagulum forms on the top, +which the natives term cheese, and which they eat in a similar +manner, and with equal relish. Another virtue of this extraordinary +tree is that the cream, without any preparation, makes a glue for all +purposes as good as that used by cabinet-makers, and, indeed, Don +Pablo and Guapo had already availed themselves of it in this way.</p> + +<p>So much for the <i>palo de vaca</i>.</p> + +<p>It still remains for me to tell you where the <i>salt</i> came from; and +although the milk-tree was ever so welcome, yet the salt was a thing +of still greater necessity. Indeed, the latter might be looked upon as +an indispensable article in household economy. You, my young +reader, know not what it is to be without salt. With whole sacks of +this beautiful mineral within your reach, almost as cheap as sand, +you cannot fancy the longing—the absolute craving—for it, which +they feel who are for a period deprived of it.</p> + +<p>Even the wild animals will make long journeys in search of those +salt-springs—or, as they are called, “licks”—which exist in many +places in the wilderness of America. For salt, Don Pablo and his +companions would have exchanged anything they had,—their sugar, +plantains, cocoa, coffee, or even the cassava, which was their bread. +They longed for salt, and knew not how they could get on without +it. The only substitute was the “aji,” or capsicum, of which several +species grew around, and almost every dish they ate was strongly +spiced with it. But still this was not salt, and they were not contented +with it.</p> + +<p>It was now that they found a friend in Guapo. Guapo knew that +among many of the Indian tribes the fruit of a certain species of palm +was manufactured into salt; and he knew the palm, too, if he could +only get his eyes upon it. Seeing his master and the rest so troubled +upon this head, Guapo rose one morning early and stole off among the +groves of palm, on the other side of the river. There, in a marshy +place, with its roots even growing in the water, stood the very tree,—a +small palm of about four inches in diameter and twenty to thirty +feet high. It was thicker at the base than the top, and the top itself +rose several feet above the tuft of pinnate, feathery fronds, ending in +a pointed spike. It was the “jara” palm, of the genus <i>Leopoldinia</i>.</p> + +<p>It was the fruits upon which Guapo bent his eyes with earnestness.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">224</a></span> +Each one was as large as a peach, of an oval shape, slightly flattened, +and of a yellowish green colour. They grew in large clusters among +the bases of the leaves; and Guapo was not long in ascending several +trees—for the jara is a smooth-skinned palm, and can be climbed—and +breaking off the spadices, and flinging them to the ground. He +had soon collected a bag-full, with which he hurried back to the +house.</p> + +<p>All wondered what Guapo meant to do with these fruits, for they +tasted them and found them very bitter. Guapo soon showed them +his intention. Having prepared a sort of furnace, he set the nuts on +fire; and when they were thoroughly reduced to ashes, to the great +joy and astonishment of all, these ashes, which were as white as flour, +had the taste of salt! It is true it was not equal to “Turk's Island,” +nor yet to “Bay” salt, but it proved to be good enough for cooking +purposes, and satisfied the craving which all had felt for this indispensable +article.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE CANNIBAL FISH AND THE GYMNOTUS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span>bout this time an incident occurred that was very near having a +fatal termination for one of the party—Leon. The day was a very +hot one, and as the cool water looked inviting, Leon could not resist +the temptation of taking a bath. Having undressed himself, he +plunged into the river nearly in front of where the house stood, and +began splashing about quite delighted. The rest were not heeding +him, as each was engaged with some occupation within the house.</p> + +<p>Leon at first kept wading about in a place that was not beyond +his depth, but, by little and little, he took short swims, as he wished +to practise, and become a good swimmer like Guapo. His father had +not only given him permission, but had even advised him to do so. +And it may be here remarked that all parents would do well to take +the same course with their children and allow them to acquire this +healthful and useful art. No one can deny that thousands of lives +are annually sacrificed, because so few have taken the trouble to learn +swimming.</p> + +<p>Well; Leon was determined to be a swimmer, and at each attempt +he made a wider stretch into the deep water, swam around, and then +back again to the bank.</p> + +<p>In one of these excursions, just as he had got farthest out, all at +once he felt a sharp pain as if from the bite of some animal, and then +another, and another, upon different parts of the body, as if several +sets of teeth were attacking him at once!</p> + +<p>Leon screamed—who wouldn't have done so?—and his scream +brought the whole household to the edge of the water in less than a +score of seconds. All of them believed that he was either drowning or +attacked by a crocodile. On arriving at the bank, however, they saw +that he was still above water, and swimming boldly for the shore—no +signs of a crocodile were to be seen!</p> + +<p>What was the matter?</p> + +<p>Of course that question was asked of him by them all in a breath. +His reply was that “he could not tell—<i>something was biting him all +over</i>!”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">225</a></span></p> + +<p>The quick eye of the mother now caught sight of blood—around +the swimmer the water was tinged with it—her piercing shriek rent +the air.</p> + +<p>“O God! my child—my child! Save him—save him!”</p> + +<p>Both Don Pablo and Guapo dashed into the water and plunged +forward to meet him. In the next moment he was raised in their +arms, but the blood streamed down his body and limbs, apparently +from a dozen wounds. As they lifted him out of the water they saw +what had caused these wounds. A shoal of small fish, with ashy-green +backs and bright orange bellies and fins, was seen below. +With large open mouths they had followed their victim to the very +surface, and now that he was lifted out of their reach, they shot +forward and attacked the legs of his rescuers, causing Don Pablo and +Guapo to dance up in the water, and make with all haste for the +bank. As soon as they had reached it, they turned round and +looked into the water. There were these blood-thirsty pursuers that +had followed them up to the very bank, and now swam about darting +from point to point, and ready for a fresh attack on any one that +might enter the water!</p> + +<p>“They are the 'cannibal fish!'” said Guapo, in an angry tone, as +he turned to attend to Leon. “I shall punish them yet for it. +Trust me, young master, you shall be revenged!”</p> + +<p>Leon was now carried up to the house, and it was found that in all +he had received nearly a dozen wounds! Some of them were on the +calves of his legs, where the piece of flesh was actually taken out! +Had he been farther out in the river, when first attacked, he might +never have reached the shore alive, as the fierce creatures were +gathering in far greater numbers when he was rescued, and would +most undoubtedly have torn him to pieces and eaten him up!</p> + +<p>Such has been the fate of many persons who have fallen among the +“cannibal fish” in the midst of wide rivers where they had no chance +of escape. These ferocious little “caribes,” or “caribitos,” as they are +called (for the word <i>carib</i> signifies cannibal), lie at the bottom of +rivers, and are not easily seen; but the moment an attack is made by +one of them, and a drop of blood stains the water, the whole shoal +rises to the surface, and woe to the creature that is assailed by their +sharp triangular teeth!</p> + +<p>Of course the wounds of Leon, although painful, were not dangerous, +but the chief danger lay in the loss of blood which was pouring from +so many veins. But Guapo found ready to his hand the best thing +in the world for stopping it. On some mimosa-trees, not far from +the house, he had already observed—indeed, so had all of them—a +very singular species of ants' nests of a yellowish brown colour. The +ants themselves were of a beautiful emerald green. They were the +<i>Formica spinicollis</i>. These nests were composed of a soft cotton-down, +which the ants had collected from a species of <i>Melastoma</i>, a +handsome shrub found growing in these regions; and this down +Guapo knew to be the best for blood-stopping.</p> + +<p>Even Don Pablo had heard of its being used by the Indians for this +purpose, and knew it by the name of “<i>yesca de hormigas</i>,” or “touch-wood +of ants.” He had heard, moreover, that it was far superior even +to the ants' nests of Cayenne, which form an article of commerce and +are highly prized in the hospitals of Europe. Guapo, therefore, ran +off and robbed the green ants of their nests, and speedily returned<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">226</a></span> +with the full of his hands of the soft “yesca.” This was applied to +the wounds, and in a few minutes the bleeding was effectually +stopped, and Leon, although still suffering pain, had now only to be +patient and get well.</p> + +<p>Strange to say, another incident occurred that very evening, which +taught our party a further lesson of the danger of taking to the +water without knowing more of its inhabitants. Just as they had +finished supper, and were seated in front of their new house, the +mule, that had been let loose, stepped into the river to drink and +cool its flanks. It was standing in the water, which came up to its +belly, and, having finished its drink, was quietly gazing around it. +All at once, it was observed to give a violent plunge, and make with +hot haste for the bank. It snorted and looked terrified, while its red +nostrils were wide open, and its eyes appeared as if they would start +from their sockets. At length it reached the bank, and, staggering +forward, rolled over in the sand, as if it was going to die!</p> + +<p>What could all this mean? Had it, too, been attacked by the +“caribes?” No; that was not likely, as the bite of these creatures +upon the hard shanks of the mule could not have produced such an +effect. They might have frightened it, but they could not have +thrown it into “fits”—for it was evidently in some sort of a fit at +that moment.</p> + +<p>It might have been a puzzle to our party not easily solved, had +Guapo not been upon the spot. But Guapo had witnessed such an +incident before. Just before the mule gave the first plunge Guapo's +eyes had been wandering in that direction. He had noticed an odd-looking +form glide near the mule and pass under the animal's belly. +This creature was of a greenish-yellow colour, about five feet in +length, and four or five inches thick. It resembled some kind of +water-snake more than a fish, but Guapo knew it was not a snake, +but an eel. It was the great <i>electric eel</i>—the “temblador,” or +“gymnotus.”</p> + +<p>This explained the mystery. The gymnotus, having placed itself +under the belly of the unsuspecting mule, was able to bring its body +in contact at all points, and hence the powerful shock that had +created such an effect.</p> + +<p>The mule, however, soon recovered, but from that time forward, no +coaxing, nor leading, nor driving, nor whipping, nor pushing, would +induce that same mule to go within twenty feet of the bank of that +same piece of water.</p> + +<p>Guapo now bethought himself of the narrow escape he himself had +had while swimming across to the palm-woods; and the appearance +of the gymnotus only rendered him more determined to keep the +promise he had made to Leon,—that is, that he would revenge him +of the caribes.</p> + +<p>None of them could understand how Guapo was to get his revenge +without catching the fish, and that would be difficult to do. Guapo, +however, showed them how on the very next day.</p> + +<p>During that evening he had made an excursion into the wood, and +returned home carrying with him a large bundle of roots.</p> + +<p>They were the roots of two species of plants—one of the genus +<i>Piscidea</i>, the other a <i>Jacquinia</i>. Out of these, when properly pounded +together, Guapo intended to make the celebrated “barbasco,” or fish-poison, +which is used by all the Indians of South America in capturing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">227</a></span> +fish. Guapo knew that a sufficient quantity of the barbasco thrown +into the water would kill either “temblador,” caribe, or any fish that +ever swam with fins.</p> + +<p>And so it proved. In the morning Guapo having prepared his +barbasco, proceeded to the upper end of the lake-like opening of the +river, and there flung his poison into the stream. The slow current +through the valley greatly favoured him, and from the large quantity +of roots he had used, the whole pool was soon infected with it. This +was seen from the whitish tinge which the water assumed. The +barbasco had scarcely time to sink to the bottom when small fish +were seen coming to the surface, and turning “wrong side uppermost.” +Then larger ones appeared, and in a few minutes all the fish in that +particular stretch of water, with several gymnoti, were seen floating +on the surface quite dead. To the great joy of Guapo and Leon, who +sat by the bank watching, hundreds of the little caribes, with their +bronze gills quite open, and their yellow bellies turned up, were seen +among the rest.</p> + +<p>But Guapo had not made this great slaughter purely out of revenge. +He had another object. They were not too well off for meat, and a +dish of fish would be welcome. Guapo and Don Pablo had already +provided themselves with long-handled nets, and they soon scooped +out several basketfuls of fish. Among others they netted numerous +“caribes,” for these little monsters, fierce as they are, are not surpassed +for delicacy of flavour by any fish in the South American +rivers. The gymnoti approached the bank, where Guapo fished them +out, not to eat—although they are often eaten. There was not a +spark of electricity in them now. The barbasco had cured them of +that; any one might have handled them with safety, as there was not +a charge left in their whole battery.</p> + +<p>The lake was quite cleared of all its dangerous denizens, and Leon +might bathe with safety, as soon as he got well; and over the fish-dinner +they could now laugh at the adventures both of Leon and the +electrified mule.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE CINCHONA-TREES.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">I</span>n about two weeks from their arrival in the valley, the house, with +a stable for the horse and mule, was completed, and all the necessary +furniture as well. Had you entered the establishment about this +time, you would have observed many odd articles and implements, +most of them quite new. You would have seen boxes woven out of +palm leaves, and bags made of the fibrous, cloth-like spathe of the +“bussu,” filled with the soft, silky cotton of the bombax, to be +afterwards spun and woven for shirts and dresses.</p> + +<p>You would have seen baskets of various shapes and sizes woven +out of the rind of the leaf-stalks of a singular palm called “Iú,” +which has no stem, but only leaves of ten feet long, growing directly +out of the ground. You would have seen chairs made of split palms +and bamboo, and a good-sized table, upon which, at meal-time, +might be noticed a table-cloth, not of diaper, but, what served +equally well, the broad smooth silken leaves of the plantain. There +were cups, too, and plates, and bowls, and dishes, and bottles, of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">228</a></span> +light gourd-shell (<i>Crescentia cujete</i>), some of the bottles holding +useful liquids, and corked with the elastic pith of a palm. Other +vessels of a boat-shape might be noticed.</p> + +<p>There were large wooden vessels pointed at the ends like little +canoes. They were nothing more than the spathes or flower-sheaths +of one of the largest of palms, the “<i>Inaga</i>.” This noble tree rises to +the height of one hundred feet, and carries feathery fronds of more +than fifty feet in length. The spathes are so large that they are +used by the Indian women for cradles and baskets; and their wood +is so hard, that hunters often cook meat in them, hanging them over +the fire when filled with water!</p> + +<p>Many other singular implements might have been noticed in the +new home. One, a cylinder of what appeared to be wood, covered +thickly with spinous points, hung against the wall. That was a +grater, used for the manioc, or yucca roots; and it was a grater of +nature's own making, for it was nothing more than a piece of one of +the air roots of the “pashiuba” palm, already described. Another +curious object hung near this last. It was a sort of conical bag, +woven out of palm-fibre, with a loop at the bottom, through which +loop a strong pole was passed, that acted as a lever when the article +was in use. This wicker-work bag was the “tipiti.” Its use was to +compress the grated pulp of the manioc roots, so as to separate the +juice from it, and thus make “cassava.” The roots of the yucca, or +manioc plant, grow in bunches like potatoes.</p> + +<p>Some of them are oblong—the length of a man's arm—and more +than twenty pounds in weight. When required for use, the bark is +scraped off, and they are grated down. They are then put into the +tipiti, already mentioned; and the bag is hung up to a strong pin, +while the lever is passed through the loop at the bottom. Its short +end goes under a firm notch, and then some one usually sits upon the +long end until the pulp is squeezed sufficiently dry. The bag is so +formed that its extension, by the force of the lever, causes its sides to +close upon the pulp, and thus press out the juice. The pulp is next +dried in an oven, and becomes the famous “cassava” or “farinha,” +which, throughout the greater part of South America, is the only +bread that is used. The juice, of course, runs through the wicker-work +of the <i>tipiti</i> into a vessel below, and there produces a sediment, +which is the well-known “tapioca.”</p> + +<p>There are two kinds of the yucca or manioc-root,—the <i>yucca dulce</i>, +and <i>yucca amarga</i>—the sweet and bitter. One may be eaten raw +without danger. The other, which very closely resembles it, if eaten +raw, would produce almost instant death, as its juice is one of the +deadliest of vegetable poisons. Even while it is dripping from the +tipiti into the vessel placed below, great care is always taken lest +children or other animals should drink of it.</p> + +<p>There were no beds—such things are hardly to be found in any +part of tropical America—at least not in the low hot countries. To +sleep in a bed in these climates is far from being pleasant. The +sleeper would be at the mercy of a thousand crawling things,—insects +and reptiles. Hammocks, or “redes,” as they are called, take +the place of bedsteads; and five hammocks, of different dimensions, +could be seen about the new house. Some were strung up within, others +in the porch in front, for, in building his house, Don Pablo had +fashioned it so that the roof protruded in front, and formed a shaded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">229</a></span> +verandah—a pleasant place in which to enjoy the evenings. Guapo +had made the hammocks, having woven the cords out of the epidermis +of the leaf of a noble palm, called “tucum.”</p> + +<p>Their home being now sufficiently comfortable, Don Pablo began +to turn his attention to the object for which he had settled on that +spot. He had already examined the cinchona-trees, and saw that +they were of the finest species. They were, in fact, the same which +have since become celebrated as producing the “Cuzconin,” and +known as <i>Cascarilla de Cuzco</i> (Cuzco bark).</p> + +<p>Of the Peruvian-bark trees there are many species,—between +twenty and thirty. Most of these are true cinchona-trees, but there +are also many kinds of the genus <i>Exostemma</i>, whose bark is collected +as a febrifuge, and passes in commerce under the name of <i>Peruvian +bark</i>. All these are of different qualities and value. Some are +utterly worthless, and, like many other kinds of “goods,” form a sad +commentary on the honesty of commerce.</p> + +<p>The species, which grew on the sides of the adjacent hills, Don +Pablo recognised as one of the most valuable. It was a nearly-allied +species to the tree of Loxa, which produces the best bark. It +was a tall slender tree—when full grown, rising to the height of +eighty feet; but there were some of every age and size. Its leaves +were five inches long and about half that breadth, of a reddish +colour, and with a glistening surface, which rendered them easily +distinguished from the foliage of the other trees. Now it is a fortunate +circumstance that the Peruvian-bark trees differ from all +others in the colour of their leaves.</p> + +<p>Were this not the case, “bark-hunting” would be a very troublesome +operation. The labour of finding the trees would not be repaid +with double the price obtained for the bark. You may be thinking, +my young friend, that a “cascarillero,” or bark-hunter, has nothing +to do but find a wood of these trees; and then the trouble of searching +is over, and nothing remains but to go to work and fell them. So it +would be, did the cinchona-trees grow together in large numbers, +but they do not. Only a few—sometimes only a single tree—will +be found in one place; and I may here remark that the same is true +of most of the trees of the Great Montaña of South America. This +is a curious fact, because it is a different arrangement from that made +by nature in the forests of North America.</p> + +<p>There a whole country will be covered with timber of a single, or +at most two or three species; whereas, in South America, the forests +are composed of an endless variety. Hence it has been found difficult +to establish saw-mills in these forests, as no one timber can be +conveniently furnished in sufficient quantity to make it worth while. +Some of the palms, as the great <i>morichi</i>, form an exception to this +rule. These are found in vast <i>palmares</i>, or palm-woods, extending +over large tracts of country, and monopolising the soil to themselves.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo, having spent the whole of a day in examining the +cinchonas, returned home quite satisfied with them, both as regarded +their quantity and value. He saw, from a high tree which he had +climbed, “<i>manchas</i>,” or spots of the glistening reddish leaves, nearly +an acre in breadth. This was a fortune in itself. Could he only +collect 100,000 lbs. of this bark, and convey it down stream to the +mouth of the Amazon, it would there yield him the handsome sum of +40,000 or 50,000 dollars! How long before he could accomplish this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">230</a></span> +task he had not yet calculated; but he resolved to set about it at +once.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 341px;"> +<img src="images/illus-230.jpg" width="341" height="500" alt="GUAPO AND THE 'NIMBLE PETERS.'" title="GUAPO AND THE 'NIMBLE PETERS.'" /> +<span class="caption">GUAPO AND THE 'NIMBLE PETERS.'</span></div> + +<p>A large house had been already constructed for storing the bark, +and in the dry hot climate of the high Montaña, where they now +were, Don Pablo knew it could be dried in the woods, where it was +stripped from the trees.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">231</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A PAIR OF SLOW GOERS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span>t length, all things being ready, Don Pablo and party set out for +a day's work among the cinchonas. As it was the first day of bark-gathering +all went along to enjoy the novelty of the thing. A +“mancha” of the cinchona trees was not far off, so their journey +would be a short one. For this reason, the horse and mule remained +in the stable eating the fruits of the “murumuru” palm, of which +all cattle are exceedingly fond. Even the hard undigested stones or +nuts, after passing through the bodies of horses and cattle, are eagerly +devoured by wild or tame hogs, and the zamuros, or black vultures, +when hungered, take to the pulpy fruit of this thorny palm-tree.</p> + +<p>It was a very early hour when they set out, for Don Pablo and his +people were no sluggards. Indeed, in that climate, the early morning +hours are the pleasantest, and they had made it a rule to be always +up at daybreak. They could thus afford to take a <i>siesta</i> in their +hammocks during the hot noontide,—a custom very common, and +almost necessary, in tropical countries. Their road to the cinchonas +led up the stream, on the same side with the house. After going a few +hundred yards, they entered a grove of trees that had white trunks +and leaves of a light silvery colour. The straight, slender stems of +these trees, and the disposition of their branches,—leaning over at +the tops,—gave them somewhat the appearance of palms. They +were not palms, however, but “ambaïba” trees. So said Don Pablo, +as they passed under their shade.</p> + +<p>“I shouldn't wonder,” added he, “if we should see that strange +animal the aï. The leaves of these trees are its favourite food, and it +lives altogether among their branches.”</p> + +<p>“You mean the 'nimble Peter,' do you not, papa?”</p> + +<p>This inquiry was put by Leon, who had read about the animal +under this name, and had read many false stories of it, even in the +works of the great Buffon.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Don Pablo; “it goes by that name sometimes, on +account of its sluggish habits and slow motions. For the same +reason the English call it 'sloth,' and it is known among naturalists +as <i>bradypus</i>. There are two or three species, but all with very +similar habits, though, as usual, the French classifiers have separated +them into distinct genera.”</p> + +<p>“Why, Buffon says,” rejoined Leon, “that it is the most miserable +creature in the world; that it can scarcely get from tree to tree; +that some remain in the same tree all their lives, or, that when one +has eaten all the leaves off a tree, it drops to the ground, to save +itself the trouble of getting down by the trunk, and, that when on +the ground it cannot move a yard in an hour. Is all this true?”</p> + +<p>“Totally untrue. It is true the aï does not move rapidly over the +ground, but the ground is not its proper place no more than it is +that of the orang-otang, or other tree-monkeys. Its conformation +shows that nature intended it for an inhabitant of the trees, where +it can move about with sufficient ease to procure its food. On the +branches it is quite at home, or, rather, I should say, <i>under</i> the +branches, for, unlike the squirrels and monkeys, it travels along the +under sides of the horizontal limbs, with its back downward. This<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">232</a></span> +it can do with ease, by means of its great curving claws, which are +large enough to span the thickest boughs. In this position, with +a long neck of <i>nine vertebræ</i>,—the only animal which has that +number,—it can reach the leaves on all sides of it; and, when not +feeding, this is its natural position of repose.</p> + +<p>“Its remaining during its whole life in one tree, or suffering itself to +fall from the branches, are romances of the early Spanish voyagers, +to which M. Buffon gave too much credit. The aï does not descend +to the ground at all when it can help it, but passes from one tree +to another by means of the outspreading branches. Sometimes, +when these do not meet, it has cunning enough to wait for a windy +day, and then, taking advantage of some branch blown nearer by +the wind, it grasps it and passes to the next tree. As it requires no +drink, and can live without any other food than the leaves of the +<i>cecropia</i>, of course it remains on a single tree so long as it has plenty +of leaves. See!” exclaimed Don Pablo, pointing up; “here are +several trees stripped of their leaves! I'll warrant that was done by +the aï.”</p> + +<p>“<i>A-ee</i>!” echoed a voice in the most lugubrious tones.</p> + +<p>“I thought so,” cried Don Pablo, laughing at the surprise which +the voice had created among the rest of the party. “That's the very +fellow himself,—this way,—here he is!”</p> + +<p>All of them ran under the tree to which Don Pablo pointed, and +looked up. There, sure enough, was an animal about the size of +a cat, of a dark hay colour, with a patch of dirty orange and black +upon the back. This could be easily seen, for the creature was +hanging along a horizontal branch with its back downward, and its +huge curving claws, all in a bunch, were hooked over the branch. +Its hair was thick and rough, and no tail was visible, but its small +round head and flat face was almost as like the human face as is that +of any monkey. Indeed, the others would have taken it for a +monkey,—Guapo excepted,—had they not been already talking about +it.</p> + +<p>“Oh, yonder's another!” cried Leon, pointing higher up in the +tree; and, sure enough, there was, for the aï is usually found in +company with its mate. The other was a copy of the one already +observed, with some slight difference in size—no doubt it was the +female one. Both had observed the approach of the party, and now +uttered their melancholy “Ayee—a-ee!” that sounded anything but +agreeable. In fact, so very disagreeable is the voice of this creature, +that it has been considered its best weapon of defence. Beside the +utterance of their cry, neither of them made any effort to escape +or defend themselves.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo and the rest were about to pass on and leave the aïs +to their leaf diet, but Guapo had other notions on that subject. +Ugly as these creatures were, Guapo intended to have one of them +for his dinner. He, therefore, begged Don Pablo to stop a moment +until he should get them down. How was this to be done? Would +he climb up and drag them from the tree? That is not so easily +accomplished, for the aïs, with their crescent claws, can hold on with +terrible force. Besides, they were out upon the slender branches, +where it would have been difficult to get at them.</p> + +<p>But Guapo did not intend to climb. The tree was a slender one—he +had his axe with him—and the next moment its keen blade was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">233</a></span> +crashing through the bark of the ambaïba wood. A few minutes +served to bring the tree down, and down it came, the aïs screaming +as it fell. Guapo now approached to seize them, but about this he +used some caution. Both finding themselves without hope of escape, +prepared for defence. Buffon asserts that they make none. That +is not true, as was seen by all the party.</p> + +<p>Throwing themselves on their backs, they struck out with their +fore-arms in a sort of mechanical manner. These with the long +horny claws they kept playing in front of their bodies, striking +alternately with them, and rapidly, as a dog will do when suddenly +plunged into water. Guapo did not put his hands near them. He +knew they would not bite, but he also knew that he might get +a scratch with the sharp claws, and that he did not wish for. But +Guapo had a way to take them, and that he now put in practice. +Lopping a couple of branches from the tree, he held one out to each +of the aïs, and touched them with it on the breast.</p> + +<p>Each, as soon as it felt the branch, clutched it tightly between its +powerful fore-arms and held on as if for life and death. It would +have taken a stronger man than Guapo to have pulled either of the +branches away again. The thing was now done. Giving his axe to +Leon to carry for him, Guapo lifted an aï, still clinging to the +branch, in each hand, and carried them off as if they had been a pair +of water-pots. He did not wish to kill them until he got them +home, alleging that they were better for eating when freshly +butchered.</p> + +<p>The bark-hunters now continued their route, and shortly after +entered a little glade or opening in the forest, about an acre in size. +When they had reached the middle of this, Guapo threw his aïs +upon the ground and marched on.</p> + +<p>“Why do you leave them?” inquired the others.</p> + +<p>“No fear for them,” replied Guapo; “they'll be there when we +come back. If I carried them into the woods, they might steal off +while we were at work, but it would take them six hours to get to +the nearest tree.” All laughed at this, and went on, leaving the aïs +to themselves. Before passing out from the glade, they stopped +a moment to look at the great, conical nests of the termites, or +white ants, several of which, like soldiers' tents, stood near the edge +of the glade. It was yet early, the air was chilly, and the ants were +not abroad; so that, after gazing for a while on these singular +habitations, the bark-gatherers pursued their way, and were soon +under the shadow of the cinchona trees.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE BARK-HUNTERS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">I</span>n a few minutes the work began—that work which was to occupy +them, perhaps, for several years. The first blow of Guapo's axe was +the signal to begin the making of a fortune. It was followed by +many others, until one of the cinchonas lay along the sward. Then +Guapo attacked another, as near the root as was convenient for +chopping.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo's part of the work now began. Armed with a sharp +knife, he made circular incisions round the trunk, at the distance of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">234</a></span> +several feet from each other, and a single longitudinal one intersecting +all the others. The branches were also served in a similar way, +and then the tree was left as it lay. In three or four days they would +return to strip off the bark both from trunk and branches, and this +would be spread out under the sun to dry. When light and dry it +would be carried to the storehouse. So the work went merrily on. +The trees were taken as they stood—the very young ones alone being +left, as the bark of these is useless for commerce.</p> + +<p>The Doña Isidora sat upon a fallen trunk, and, conversing with her +husband, watched the proceedings with interest. A new and happy +future seemed at no great distance off. Little Leona stood beside +Guapo, watching the yellow chips as they flew, and listening to some +very fine stories with which Guapo was regaling her. Guapo loved +little Leona. He would have risked his life for her, would Guapo, +and Leona knew it.</p> + +<p>Leon was not particularly engaged on that day. When the bark +was ready for peeling he intended to take a hand with the rest. He +could then employ himself in spreading it, or could lead the mule in +carrying it to the storehouse. Leon did not intend to be idle, but +there happened to be no work for him just then; and after watching +the bark-cutters for awhile, he sauntered back along the path, in +order to have a little fun with the aïs. Leon had no very great confidence +that he would find them in the place where they had been +left, and yet he believed in Guapo. But it was hard to understand +that two animals, each endowed with a full set of legs and feet, should +not be able to make their way for a distance of twenty paces, and +escape! After the rough handling they had had, too! He would +have a peep at them, anyhow, to see how they were coming on. So +back he went.</p> + +<p>On getting near the glade their voices reached him. They were +there, after all! He could hear them utter their pitiful “ay-ee—ay-ee!” +and, as he thought, in a louder and more distressing tone +than ever. What could be the matter? They had been silent for +some time, he was sure, for such cries as they now uttered could have +been heard easily where the rest were. What could be the meaning +of this fresh outburst? Had some new enemy attacked them? It +seemed like enough.</p> + +<p>Leon stole forward, and peeped into the glade. No—there was +nothing near them! But what was the matter with the creatures? +Instead of lying quietly, as they had done when left behind, they +were now rolling and tumbling backward and forward, and pitching +about, and dancing first on their feet and then on their heads, and +cutting all sorts of strange capers! Could it be for their own +amusement? No; their lamentable cries precluded that supposition; +besides, their odd attitudes and contortions bespoke terror and +pain!</p> + +<p>“Carrambo!” muttered Leon. “What's the matter with them?”</p> + +<p>They seemed inclined to escape towards the trees; but, after making +a few lengths, they would fall to the ground, tumble about, and +then, getting up again, head in the opposite direction!</p> + +<p>Leon was puzzled,—no wonder. He looked around for a solution +of this queer conduct on the part of the aïs. No explanation appeared. +At length he bethought himself of going up to them. Perhaps, when +nearer, he might learn what set them a-dancing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">235</a></span></p> + +<p>“Ha!” he ejaculated, struck with some sudden thought. “I know +now; there's a snake at them.”</p> + +<p>This conjecture—for it was only a conjecture—caused him to stop +short. It might be some venomous snake, thought he. The grass +was not long, and he could have seen a very large snake; but still a +small coral snake, or the little poisonous viper, might have been there. +He fancied he saw something moving; but to get a better view he +passed slowly around the edge of the glade, until he was nearly on +the opposite side to that where he had entered. He still kept at a +good distance from the aïs, but as yet discovered no snake.</p> + +<p>To his great surprise, the aïs now lay stretched along the grass, +their struggles appeared each moment to grow less violent, and their +melancholy cries became weaker and weaker. Their contortions at +length came to an end. A feeble effort to raise themselves alone +could be perceived,—then a spasmodic motion of their long crooked +limbs,—their cries became indistinct; and, after a while, both lay +motionless and silent! Were they dead? Surely so, thought Leon.</p> + +<p>He stood gazing at them for some minutes. Not a motion of their +bodies could be perceived. Surely they had no longer lived! But, +then, what could have killed them? There was no snake to be seen; +no animal of any kind except themselves! Had they been taken with +some sudden disease,—some kind of convulsions that had ended +fatally? This seemed the most probable thing, judging from the odd +manner in which they had acted. Maybe they had eaten some sort +of plant that had poisoned them!</p> + +<p>These conjectures passed rapidly through the mind of Leon. Of +course, he resolved to satisfy himself as to the cause of their death, if +dead they actually were. He began to draw nearer, making his +advances with stealth and caution—as he was still apprehensive about +the snake.</p> + +<p>After he had made a few paces in a forward direction, he began to +perceive something moving around the bodies of the animals. Snakes? +No. What then? A few paces nearer. See! the whole ground is in +motion. The bodies of the aïs, though dead, are covered with living, +moving objects! Ha! <i>it is a “chacu” of the white ants</i>.</p> + +<p>Leon now comprehended the whole affair. The ground was literally +alive with the terrible <i>termites</i>. They had made their foray, or +“chacu,” as it is called, from the neighbouring cones; they had +attacked the helpless aïs, and put them to death, with their poisonous +stings! Already they were tearing them to pieces, and bearing them +off to their dark caves! So thick were they on the bodies of the +animals, that the latter had suddenly changed their colour, and now +appeared to be nothing more than living heaps of crawling insects!</p> + +<p>It was a hideous sight to behold, and Leon felt his flesh creep as he +looked upon it. Still he felt a curiosity to witness the result, and he +stood watching the busy crowd that had gathered about the aïs. He +had heard strange accounts of these white ants; how that, in a few +minutes, they will tear the carcasses of large animals to pieces, and +carry them away to their dens; and he was determined to prove the +truth of this by observation. He did not go any nearer, for he was +not without some dread of these ugly creatures; but, happening to +find himself beside a small tree, with low horizontal branches, he +climbed up, and sat down upon one of the branches, resting his feet +upon another. He was inclined to take the thing as easily as possible.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">236</a></span></p> + +<p>His perch commanded a full view of the operations of the termites, +and for a long time he sat watching them with interest. He could +see that it was not the same set that were always on the carcasses of +the aïs. On the contrary, one host were always leaving the spot, +while another took their places, and from the great conical houses +fresh bands appeared to issue. In fact, two great parallel belts of +them, like army columns, stretched from the “hills” to the aïs, going +in opposite directions.</p> + +<p>Those which travelled towards the cells presented a very different +appearance to the others. These were loaded with pieces of torn +flesh, or skin with tufts of hair adhering to it; and each ant carried +a piece by far larger than its own body. Their bodies, in fact, were +quite hidden under their disproportionate burdens. The others—those +which were coming from the conical hills—were empty-handed, +and presented the appearance of a whittish stream flowing along the +surface of the ground!</p> + +<p>It was a most singular sight; and Leon sat watching the creatures +until his head was giddy, and he felt as though the ground itself was +in motion.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE PUMA AND THE GREAT ANT-BEAR.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span>ll at once the attention of the boy was called away from the crawling +millions. A rustling among some dead leaves was heard. It +appeared to proceed from the edge of the glade, not far from the ant-hills. +The branches of the underwood were seen to move, and the +next moment a slender cylindrical object, about a foot and a half in +length, was protruded out from the leaves. Had there not been a +pair of small eyes and ears near the farther end of this cylindrical +object, no one would have taken it for the head and snout of an +animal. But Leon saw the little sparkling black eyes, and he therefore +conjectured that it was some such creature.</p> + +<p>The next moment the body came into view, and a singular creature +it was. It was about the size of a very large Newfoundland dog, +though of a different shape. It was covered all over with long brownish +hair, part of which looked so coarse as to resemble dry grass or +bristles. On each shoulder was a wide strip of black, bordered with +whitish bands; and the tail, which was full three feet long, was +clothed with a thick growth of coarse hair, several inches in length, +that looked like strips of whalebone. This was carried aloft, and +curving over the back. But the most curious feature of the animal +was its snout.</p> + +<p>Talk of the nose of a grey hound. It would be a “pug” in comparison! +That of this animal was full twice as long, and not half so +thick, with a little mouth not over an inch in size, and without a +single tooth! It was certainly the oddest snout Leon had ever seen. +The legs, too, were remarkable. They were stout and thick, the +hinder ones appearing much shorter than the fore-legs; but this was +because the creature in its hind-feet was <i>plantigrade</i>, that is, it +walked with the whole of its soles touching the surface, which only +bears and a few other sorts of quadrupeds do.</p> + +<p>Its fore-feet, too, were oddly placed upon the ground. They had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">237</a></span> +four long claws upon each, but these claws, instead of being spread +out, as in the dog or cat, were all folded backward along the sole, and +the creature, to avoid treading on them, actually walked on the sides +of its feet! The claws were only used for scraping up the ground, +and then it could bring them forward in a perpendicular position, +like the blade of a hoe, or the teeth of a garden-rake. Of course, +with feet furnished in such an out-of-the-way fashion, the animal +moved but slowly over the ground. In fact it went very slowly, and +with a stealthy pace.</p> + +<p>Although Leon had never seen the creature before, he had read +about it, and had also seen pictures of it. He knew it, therefore, at +a glance. That proboscis-looking snout was not to be mistaken. It +could belong to no other creature than the <i>tamanoir</i>, or <i>great ant-eater</i>, +by the people of South America called the <i>ant-bear</i>. It was, in fact, +that very thing; but to Leon's astonishment, as soon as it got fairly +out of the bushes, he noticed a singular-looking hunch upon its back, +just over the shoulder. At first he could not make out what this +was, as he had never heard of such a protuberance, besides, the tail +half hid it from his view. All of a sudden the animal turned its head +backwards, touched the hunch with its snout, gave itself a shake, +and then the odd excrescence fell to the ground, and proved to be a +young ant-eater, with bushy tail and long snout, the “very image of +its mother.” The large one was thus seen to be a female that had +been carrying her infant upon her shoulders.</p> + +<p>It was close to one of the ant-hills where the old tamanoir placed +her young upon the ground, and turning away from it, she approached +the great cone. Erecting herself upon her hind-feet, she stood with +the fore ones resting against the hill, apparently examining it, and +considering in what part of it the shell or roof was thinnest and +weakest. These cones, composed of agglutinated sand and earth, +are frequently so stoutly put together that it requires a pick-axe or +crowbar to break them open.</p> + +<p>But the ant-eater knew well that her fore-feet were armed with an +implement equal to either pick or crow, and she would certainly +have made a hole there and then, had she not noticed, on looking +around to the other side, that the inhabitants of the hill were all +abroad upon one of their forays. This seemed to bring about a +sudden change in her determination, and, dropping her fore-feet to +the ground, she once more threw up her great tail, and returned to +where she had left her young one. Partly pushing it before her with +her snout, and partly lifting it between her strong fore-arms, she +succeeded in bringing the latter to the border of the path along +which travelled the ants.</p> + +<p>Here she squatted down, and placed herself so that the point of +her nose just touched the selvedge of the swarming hosts, having +caused the youngster by her side to do the same. Then throwing out +a long worm-like tongue, which glittered with a viscous coating, she +drew it back again covered with ants. These passed into her mouth, +and thence, of course, into her capacious stomach. The tongue, +which was more than a foot in length, and nearly as thick as a quill, +was again thrown out, and again drawn back, and this operation she +continued, the tongue making about two “hauls” to every second +of time! Now and then she stopped eating, in order to give +some instructions to the little one that was seen closely imitating<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">238</a></span> +her, and with its more slender tongue dealing death among the +<i>termites</i>.</p> + +<p>So very comic was the sight that Leon could not help laughing at +it, as he sat upon his perch.</p> + +<p>An end, however, was put to his merriment, by the sudden appearance +of another animal—one of a different character. It was a large +cat-like creature, of a reddish-yellow, or tawny colour, long body and +tail, round head, with whiskers, and bright gleaming eyes. Leon +had seen that sort of animal before. He had seen it led in strings +by Indians through the streets of Cuzco, and he at once recognised +it. It was the <i>Puma</i>—the maneless lion of America.</p> + +<p>The specimens which Leon had seen with the Indians had been +rendered tame and harmless. He knew that, but he had also been +told that the animal in its wild state is a savage and dangerous +beast. This is true of the puma in some districts, while in others the +creature is cowardly, and will flee at the sight of man. In all cases, +however, when the puma is brought to bay, it makes a desperate +fight, and both dogs and men have been killed in the attack.</p> + +<p>Leon had not been frightened at the tamanoir. Even had it been +a savage creature, he knew it could not climb a tree—though there +are two smaller species of ant-bears in South America that can—and +he therefore knew he was quite safe on his perch. But his feelings +were very different when the red body of the puma came in sight. +It could run up the smoothest trunk in the forest with as much ease +and agility as a cat, and there would be no chance of escaping from +it if it felt disposed to attack him. Of this the boy was fully conscious, +and no wonder he was alarmed.</p> + +<p>His first thought was to leap down, and make for the cinchona-trees, +where the others were; but the puma had entered the glade +from that side, and it was therefore directly in his way: he would +have run right in its teeth by going toward the cinchona-trees. He +next thought of slipping quietly down, and getting into the woods +behind him. Unfortunately, the tree on which he was stood out in +the glade quite apart from any others, the puma would see him go off, +and, of course, could overtake him in a dozen leaps. These thoughts +passed through the boy's mind in a few seconds of time; and in a few +seconds of time he was convinced that his best course would be to +remain where he was, and keep quiet. Perhaps the puma would not +notice him—as yet he had not.</p> + +<p>No doubt he would have done so, had there been nothing else on +the spot to take off his attention; but just as he came into the open +ground, his eyes fell upon the ant-eaters, where they lay squatted and +licking up the termites. He had entered the glade in a sort of +skulking trot, but the moment he saw the tamanoirs he halted, drew +his body into a crouching attitude, and remained thus for some +moments, while his long tail oscillated from side to side, as that of a +cat when about to spring upon a mouse or a sparrow.</p> + +<p>Just at this moment the tamanoir, having turned round to address +some conversation to her young companion, espied him, and sprang +to her feet. She recognised in the puma—as in others of his race—a +deadly enemy. With one sweep of her fore-arm she flung the young +one behind her, until it rested against the wall of the ant-hill, and +then, following in all haste, threw herself into an erect attitude in +front of her young, covering it with her body.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">239</a></span></p> + +<p>She was now standing firm upon her hind-feet—her back resting +against the mud wall—but her long snout had entirely disappeared! +That was held close along her breast, and entirely concealed by the +shaggy tail, which for this purpose had been brought up in front. +Her defence rested in her strong fore-arms, which, with the great +claws standing at right angles, were now held out in a threatening +manner. The young one, no doubt aware of some danger, had drawn +itself into its smallest bulk, and was clewed up behind her.</p> + +<p>The puma dashed forward, open-mouthed, and began the attack. +He looked as though he would carry everything by the first assault; +but a sharp tear from the tamanoir's claws drew the blood from his +cheek, and although it rendered him more furious, it seemed to +increase his caution. In the two or three successive attempts he kept +prudently out of reach of these terrible weapons. His adversary held +her fore-legs wide open, as though she was desirous of getting the +other to rush between them, that she might clutch him, after the +manner of the bears. This was exactly what she wanted, and in this +consists the chief mode of defence adopted by these animals. The +puma, however, seemed to be up to her trick.</p> + +<p>This thrust-and-parry game continued for some minutes, and might +have lasted longer, had it not been for the young tamanoir. This +foolish little creature, who up to that moment was not very sure +what the fuss was all about, had the imprudent curiosity to thrust +out its slender snout. The puma espied it, and making a dart +forward, seized the snout in his great teeth, and jerked the animal +from under. It uttered a low squall, but the next moment its head +was “crunched” between the muscular jaws of the puma.</p> + +<p>The old one now appeared to lose all fear and caution. Her tail +fell down. Her long snout was unsheathed from under its protection, +and she seemed undecided what to do. But she was not allowed +much time to reflect. The puma, seeing the snout, the most vulnerable +part, uncovered, launched himself forward like an arrow, and +caught hold of it in his bristling fangs. Then having dragged his +victim forward, he flung her upon her breast, and mounting rapidly +on her back, proceeded to worry her at his pleasure.</p> + +<p>Although Leon pitied the poor tamanoir, yet he dared not interfere, +and would have permitted the puma to finish his work, but at that +moment a sharp pain, which he suddenly felt in his ankle, caused him +to start upon his seat, and utter an involuntary scream.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">ATTACK OF THE WHITE ANTS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">L</span>eon looked down to ascertain what had caused him such a sudden +pain. The sight that met his eyes made his blood run cold. The +ground below was alive and moving. A white stratum of ants covered +it on all sides to the distance of several yards. <i>They were ascending +the tree!</i> Nay, more; a string of them had already crawled up; the +trunk was crowded by others coming after; and several were upon +his feet, and legs, and thighs! It was one of these that had stung +him!</p> + +<p>The fate of the aïs—which he had just witnessed—and the sight of +the hideous host, caused him again to scream out. At the same time<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">240</a></span> +he had risen to his feet, and was pulling himself up among the upper +branches. He soon reached the highest; but he had not been a +moment there, when he reflected that it would be no security. The +creatures were crawling upwards as fast as they could come.</p> + +<p>His next thought was to descend again, leap from the tree, and +crushing the vermin under his feet, make for the bark-cutters. He +had made up his mind to this course, and was already half-down, +when <i>he remembered the puma</i>! In his alarm at the approach of the +ants he had quite forgotten this enemy, and he now remembered that +it was directly in the way of his intended escape. He turned his eyes +in that direction. It was not there! The ant-bears were still upon +the ground—the young one dead, and the mother struggling in her +last agonies; but no puma!</p> + +<p>The boy began to hope that his cries had frightened him off. His +hope was short-lived; for on glancing around the glade, he now +beheld the fierce brute crouching among the grass, and evidently +coming towards him! What was to be done? Would the puma +attack him in the tree? Surely he would; but what better would he +be on the ground? No better, but worse. At all events he had not +time for much reflection, for before two seconds the fierce puma was +close to the tree. Leon was helpless—he gave himself up for lost. +He could only cry for help, and he raised his voice to its highest +pitch.</p> + +<p>The puma did not spring up the tree at once, as Leon had expected. +On the contrary, it crouched round and round with glaring eyes and +wagging tail, as if calculating the mode of attack. Its lips were red—stained +with the blood of the ant-eaters—and this added to the +hideousness of its appearance. But it needed not that, for it was +hideous enough at any time.</p> + +<p>Leon kept his eyes upon it, every moment expecting it to spring +up the tree. All at once he saw it give a sudden start, and at the +same instant he heard a hissing noise, as if something passed rapidly +through the air. Ha! something sticking in the body of the puma! +It is an arrow,—a poisoned arrow! The puma utters a fierce growl—it +turns upon itself—the arrow is crushed between its teeth. Another +“hist!”—another arrow! Hark! a well-known voice—well-known +voices—the voices of Don Pablo and Guapo! See! they burst into +the glade—Don Pablo with his axe, and Guapo with his unerring +gravatána!</p> + +<p>The puma turns to flee. He has already reached the border of the +wood; he staggers—the poison is doing its work. Hurrah! he is +down; but the poison does not kill him, for the axe of Don Pablo is +crashing through his skull. Hurrah! the monster is dead, and Leon +is triumphantly borne off on the shoulders of the faithful Guapo!</p> + +<p>Don Pablo dragged the puma away, in order that they might get +his fine skin. The ant-eaters, both of which were now dead, he left +behind, as he saw that the termites were crawling thickly around +them, and had already begun their work of devastation. Strange to +say, as the party returned that way, going to dinner, not a vestige +remained either of the aïs or the ant-eaters, except a few bones and +some portions of coarse hair. The rest of all these animals had been +cleared off by the ants, and carried into the cells of their hollow cones!</p> + +<p>It was, no doubt, the noise of the bark-hunters that had started +the ant-eaters abroad, for these creatures usually prowl only in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">241</a></span> +night. The same may have aroused the fierce puma from his lair, +although he is not strictly a nocturnal hunter.</p> + +<p>A curious incident occurred as they approached the glade on their +way home. The male tamanoir was roused from his nest among the +dry leaves, and Guapo, instead of running upon him and killing the +creature, warned them all to keep a little back, and he would show +them some fun. Guapo now commenced shaking the leaves, so that +they rattled as if rain was falling upon them. At this the ant-eater +jerked up its broad tail, and appeared to shelter itself as with an +umbrella! Guapo then went towards it, and commenced driving it +before him just as if it had been a sheep or goat, and in this manner +he took it all the way to the house. Of course Guapo took care not +to irritate it; for, when that is done, the ant-eater will either turn +out of his way or stop to defend itself.</p> + +<p>The tamanoir is not so defenceless a creature as might at first sight +be imagined by considering his small toothless mouth and slow +motions. His mode of defence is that which has been described, and +which is quite sufficient against the tiger-cat, the ocelot, and all the +smaller species of feline animals. No doubt the old female would +have proved a match for the puma had she not been thrown off her +guard by his seizing upon her young. It is even asserted that the +great ant-bear sometimes hugs the jaguar to death; but this I believe +to be a mistake, as the latter is far too powerful and active to be +thus conquered. Doubtless the resemblance of the jaguar to some of +the smaller spotted cats of these countries, leads to a great many +misconceptions concerning the prowess of the <i>American tiger</i>.</p> + +<p>Besides the tamanoir there are two, or perhaps three, other species +of <i>ant-bears</i> in the forests of South America. These, however, are so +different in habits and appearance, that they might properly be +classed as a separate genus of animals. They are <i>tree-climbers</i>, which +the tamanoir is not, spite of his great claws. They pursue the ants +that build their nests upon the high branches, as well as the wasps +and bees; and to befit them for this life, they are furnished with +<i>naked prehensile tails</i>, like the opossums and monkeys. These are +characteristics entirely distinct from those of the <i>Myrmecophaga +jubata</i>, or <i>great</i> ant-eater.</p> + +<p>One of these species is the <i>tamandua</i>, called by the Spano-Americans +<i>Osso hormiguero</i> (ant-bear). The tamandua is much less than the +tamanoir, being only three and a half feet in length, while the latter +is over seven. The former is of a stouter build, with neither so long +a snout in proportion, nor such claws. The claws, moreover, are +made for tree-climbing, and are not so much in the way when the +animal walks on the ground. It is, therefore, a more active creature, +and stands better upon its limbs. Its fur is short and silky, but the +tail is nearly naked, and, as already stated, highly prehensile, although +it does not sleep hanging by the tail as some other animals do.</p> + +<p>The tamandua is usually of a dull straw-colour, although it varies +in this respect, so that several species have been supposed to exist. +It spends most of its time upon the trees; and in addition to its ant-diet, +it feeds upon wild honey, and bees too, whenever it can catch +them. The female, like the tamanoir, produces only one young at a +birth, and like the other species, carries it upon her back until it is +able to provide for itself. The tamandua has sometimes been called +<i>tridactyla</i>, or the “three-toed ant-eater,” because it has only three<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">242</a></span> +claws upon each of its fore-feet, whereas the tamanoir is provided +with four.</p> + +<p>Another species of “ant-bear,” differing from both in size and in +many of its habits, is the “little ant-eater.” This one has only two +claws on each fore-foot, hence its specific name. It is a very small +creature—not larger than the common grey squirrel—with a prehensile +tail like the tamandua. The tail, however, is not entirely +naked—only on the under side near the point. It is not so good a +walker as the three-toed kind, though more active on its feet than the +tamanoir. Standing upon its hind-feet, and supporting itself also by +the tail—which it has already thrown around some branch—the little +ant-eater uses its fore-feet as hands to carry food to its mouth. It +lives among the trees, and feeds upon wasps, bees, and especially the +larvæ of both; but it does not use the tongue to any great extent. +It is, on this account, an essentially different sort of animal.</p> + +<p>The little ant-eater is usually of a bright yellow colour, brownish +on the back; but there are many varieties in this respect, and some +are of a snowy whiteness. Its fur is soft and silky, sometimes slightly +curled or matted at the points, and the tail fur is annulated, or +ringed, with the prevailing colours of the body.</p> + +<p>So much for the ant-bears of America.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE ANT-LION.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span>nts are disagreeable insects in any country, but especially so in +warm tropical climates. Their ugly appearance, their destructive +habits, but, above all, the pain of their sting, or rather bite—for ants +do not sting as wasps, but bite with the jaws, and then infuse poison +into the wound—all these render them very unpopular creatures. A +superficial thinker would suppose that such troublesome insects could +be of no use, and would question the propriety of Nature in having +created them.</p> + +<p>But when we give the subject a little attention, we find that they +were not created in vain. Were it not for these busy creatures, +what would become of the vast quantities of decomposing substances +found in some countries? What would be done with the decaying +vegetation and the dead animal matter? Why, in many places, were +it not consumed by these insects, and reorganised into new forms of +life, it would produce pestilence and death; and surely these are far +more disagreeable things than ants.</p> + +<p>Of ants there are many different kinds; but the greatest number +of species belong to warm countries, where, indeed, they are most +useful. Some of these species are so curious in their habits, that +whole volumes have been written about them, and naturalists have +spent a life-time in their study and observation. Their social and +domestic economy is of the most singular character, more so than +that of the bees; and I am afraid here to give a single trait of their +lives, lest I should be led on to talk too much about them. I need +only mention the wonderful nests or hills which some species build—those +great cones of twenty feet in height, and so strong that wild +bulls run up their sides and stand upon their tops without doing +them the least injury!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">243</a></span></p> + +<p>Others make their houses of cylindrical form, rising several feet +from the surface. Others, again, prefer nesting in the trees, where +they construct large cellular masses of many shapes, suspending them +from the highest branches; while many species make their waxen +dwellings in hollow trunks, or beneath the surface of the earth. +There is not a species, however, whose habits, fully observed and described, +would not strike you with astonishment. Indeed, it is difficult +to believe all that is related about these insects by naturalists +who have made them their study. One can hardly understand how +such little creatures can be gifted with so much intelligence, or +<i>instinct</i>, as some choose to call it.</p> + +<p>Man is not the only enemy of the ants. If he were so, it is to be +feared that these small insignificant creatures would soon make the +earth too hot for him. So prolific are they, that if left to themselves +our whole planet would, in a short period, become a gigantic ants' +nest!</p> + +<p>Nature has wisely provided against the over increase of the ant +family. No living thing has a greater variety of enemies than they. +In all the divisions of animated nature there are ant-destroyers—<i>ant-eaters</i>! +To begin with the mammalia, man himself feeds upon +them—for there are tribes of Indians in South America, the principal +part of whose food consists of dried termites, which they bake into a +kind of “paste!” There are quadrupeds that live exclusively on +them, as the ant-bear, already described, and the <i>pangolins</i>, or scaly +ant-eaters of the Eastern continent. There are birds, too, of many +sorts that devour the ants; and there are even some who make them +exclusively their food, as the genus <i>Myothera</i>, or “ant-catchers.” +Many kinds of reptiles, both snakes and lizards, are ant-eaters; and, +what is strangest of all, there are <i>insects</i> that prey upon them!</p> + +<p>No wonder, then, with such a variety of enemies that the ants are +kept within proper limits, and are not allowed to overrun the earth.</p> + +<p>The observations just made are very similar to those that were +addressed by Doña Isidora to the little Leona, one day when they +were left alone. The others had gone about their usual occupation of +bark-cutting, and these, of course, remained at home to take care of +the house and cook the dinner. That was already hanging over a +fire outside the house: for in these hot countries it is often more +convenient to do the cooking out-of-doors.</p> + +<p>Doña Isidora, busy with some sewing, was seated under the shadow +of the banana-trees, and the pretty little Leona was playing near her. +Leona had been abusing the ants, partly on account of their having +so frightened Leon, and partly because one of the red species had +bitten herself the day before; and it was for this reason that her +mother had entered into such explanations regarding these creatures, +with a view of exculpating them from the bitter accusations urged +against them by Leona. Talking about ants very naturally led them +to cast their eyes to the ground to see if any of the creatures were +near; and sure enough there were several of the red ones wandering +about. Just then the eyes of Doña Isidora rested upon a very different +insect, and she drew the attention of her daughter to it.</p> + +<p>It was an insect of considerable size, being full an inch in length, +with an elongated oval body, and a small flat head. From the head +protruded two great horny jaws, that bore some resemblance to a +pair of calliper compasses. Its legs were short and very unfitted for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">244</a></span> +motion. Indeed they were not of much use for that purpose, as it +could make very little way on them, but crawled only sidewards, or +backwards, with great apparent difficulty. The creature was of a +greyish or sand colour; and in the sand, where it was seated, it +might not have been observed at all had not the lady's eyes been +directed upon the very spot. But Doña Isidora, who was a very +good entomologist, recognised it; and, knowing that it was a very +curious insect, on this account called the attention of her daughter to it.</p> + +<p>“What is it, mamma?” inquired the little Leona, bending forward +to examine it.</p> + +<p>“The <i>ant-lion</i>.”</p> + +<p>“The ant-lion! Why, mamma, it is an insect! How then can it +be called lion?”</p> + +<p>“It is a name given it,” replied the lady, “on account of its fierce +habits, which, in that respect, assimilate it to its powerful namesake,—the +king of the beasts; and, indeed, this little creature has +more strength and ferocity in proportion to its size than even the +lion himself.”</p> + +<p>“But why the <i>ant</i>-lion, mamma?”</p> + +<p>“Because it preys principally on ants. I have said there are insect +ant-eaters. This is one of them.”</p> + +<p>“But how can such a slow creature as that get hold of them? +Why, the ants could crawl out of its way in a moment!”</p> + +<p>“That is true. Nevertheless it manages to capture as many as it +requires. Remember 'the race is not always to the swift.' It is by +stratagem it succeeds in taking its prey—a very singular stratagem +too. If you will sit back and not frighten it, I have no doubt it will +soon give you an opportunity of seeing how it manages the matter.”</p> + +<p>Leona took a seat by the side of her mother. They were both at +just such a distance from the ant-lion that they could observe every +movement it made; but for a considerable time it remained quiet; +no doubt, because they had alarmed it. In the interval Doña Isidora +imparted to her daughter some further information about its natural +history.</p> + +<p>“The ant-lion,” said she, “is not an insect in its perfect state, but +only the <i>larva</i> of one. The perfect insect is a very different creature, +having wings and longer legs. It is one of the <i>neuropterous</i> tribe, or +those with nerved wings. The wings of this species rest against +each other, forming a covering over its body, like the roof upon +a house. They are most beautifully reticulated like the finest lace-work, +and variegated with dark spots, that give the insect a very +elegant appearance. Its habits are quite different to those which it +follows when a larva, or in that state when it is the ant-lion. It +flies but little during the day, and is usually found quietly sitting +amongst the leaves of plants, and seems to be one of the most pacific +and harmless of insects. How very different with the larva—the +very reverse—See!”</p> + +<p>Doña Isidora pointed to the ant-lion that was just then beginning +to bestir itself, and both sat silent regarding it attentively.</p> + +<p>First, then, the little creature going backwards, and working with +its callipers, traced a circle on the surface of the sand. This circle +was between two and three inches in diameter. Having completed +it, it now commenced to clear out all the sand within the circle. +To accomplish this, it was seen to scrape up the sand with one of its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">245</a></span> +fore-feet, and shovel a quantity of it upon its flat head; then, giving +a sudden jerk of the neck, it pitched the sand several inches outside +the traced circumference.</p> + +<p>This operation it repeated so often, and so adroitly, that in a very +short time a round pit began to show itself in the surface of the +ground. Whenever it encountered a stone, this was raised between +its callipers and pitched out beyond the ring. Sometimes stones +occurred that were too large to be thrown out in this way. These it +managed to get upon its back, and, then crawling cautiously up the +sides of the pit, it tumbled them upon the edge and rolled them +away. Had it met with a stone so large as to render this impossible, +it would have left the place, and chosen another spot of ground. +Fortunately this was not the case, and they had an opportunity of +watching the labour to its conclusion.</p> + +<p>For nearly an hour they sat watching it—of course not neglecting +their other affairs—and, at the end of that time, the ant-lion had +jerked out so much sand, that a little funnel-shaped pit was formed +nearly as deep as it was wide. This was its trap, and it was now +finished and ready for action.</p> + +<p>Having made all its arrangements, it had nothing more to do than +remain at the bottom of the pit, and wait patiently until some +unfortunate ant should chance to come that way and fall in; and +where these insects were constantly wandering over the ground, +such an accident would, sooner or later, be certain to take place.</p> + +<p>Lest the ant should peep into the pit, discover its hideous form +below, and then retreat, this ant-lion had actually the cunning to +bury its body in the sand, leaving only a small portion of its head +to be seen.</p> + +<p>Both Doña Isidora and the little Leona remained watching with +increased interest. They were very anxious to witness the result. +They were not kept long in suspense. I have already stated that +many ants were crawling about. There were dozens of them +“quatering” the ground in every direction in search of their own +prey; and they left not an inch of it unsearched. At last one was +seen to approach the trap of the ant-lion. Curiosity brings it to +the very edge of that terrible pit-fall. It protrudes its head and +part of its body over the brink—it is not such a terrible gulf to look +into—if it should slip down, it could easily crawl out again.</p> + +<p>Ha! it little knows the enemy that is ambushed there. It +perceives something singular—an odd something—perhaps it might +be something good to eat. It is half resolved to slide down and +make a closer examination of this something. It is balancing on the +brink, and would, no doubt, have gone down voluntarily, but that is +no longer left to its own choice. The mysterious object at the +bottom of the funnel suddenly springs up and shows itself—it is the +ant-lion in all its hideous proportions; and before the little ant can +draw itself away, the other has flung around it a shower of sand +that brings it rolling down the side of the pit. Then the sharp +callipers are closed upon the victim—all the moisture in his body +is sucked out—and his remains, now a dry and shapeless mass, are +rested for a moment upon the head of the destroyer, and then jerked +far outside the pit!</p> + +<p>The ant-lion now dresses his trap, and, again burying himself in +the sand, awaits another victim.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">246</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE TATOU-POYOU AND THE DEER CARCASS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">D</span>oña Isidora and Leona had watched all the manœuvres of the +ant-lion with great interest, and Leona, after the bite she had had, +was not in any mood to sympathise with the ants. Indeed, she felt +rather grateful to the ant-lion, ugly as he was, for killing them.</p> + +<p>Presently Leon returned from the woods, and was shown the trap +in full operation; but Leon, upon this day, was full of adventures +that had occurred upon the hills to himself, Guapo, and Don Pablo. +In fact, he had hastened home before the others to tell his mamma of +the odd incidents to which he had been a witness.</p> + +<p>That morning they had discovered a new <i>mancha</i> of cinchona +trees. When proceeding towards them they came upon the dead +carcass of a deer. It was a large species, the <i>Cervus antisensis</i>, but, +as it had evidently been dead several days, it was swollen out to +twice its original size, as is always the case with carcasses of animals +left exposed in a warm climate. It was odd that some preying +animals had not eaten it up. A clump of tall trees, that shaded it, +had, no doubt, concealed it from the sharp sight of the vultures, and +these birds, contrary to what has so often been alleged, can find +no dead body by the smell. Neither ants nor animals that prey +upon carrion had chanced to come that way, and there lay the deer +intact.</p> + +<p>So thought Don Pablo and Leon. Guapo, however, was of a +different opinion, and, going up to the body, he struck it a blow +with his axe. To the surprise of the others, instead of the dead +sound which they expected to hear, a dry crash followed the blow, +and a dark hole appeared where a piece of thin shell-like substance +had fallen off. Another blow from Guapo's axe, and the whole side +went in. Not a bit of carcass was there; there were bones—clean +bones—and dry hard skin, but no flesh, not an atom of flesh!</p> + +<p>“Tatou-poyou!” quietly remarked Guapo.</p> + +<p>“What!” said Don Pablo, “an armadillo, you think?” recognising, +in Guapo's words, the Indian name for one of the large species of +armadillos.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” replied Guapo. “All eaten by the tatou-poyou. See! +there's his hole.”</p> + +<p>Don Pablo and Leon bent over the sham carcass, and, sure enough, +under where its body had been they could see a large hole in the +ground. Outside the carcass, also, at the distance of several feet +was another.</p> + +<p>“This is where he entered,” said Guapo, pointing to the second. +“He's not about here now,” continued he, “no, no,—ate all the meat, +and gone long ago.”</p> + +<p>This was evident, as the hollow skeleton was quite dry, and had +evidently been empty for a good while.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo was pleased at this incident, as it gave him an +opportunity of verifying a curious habit of the armadillos. These +creatures are among the finest burrowers in the world, and can bury +themselves in the earth in a few seconds time; but, being badly +toothed,—some of them altogether without teeth,—they can only +feed upon very soft substances. Putrid flesh is with them a favourite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">247</a></span> +“dish,” and in order to get at the softest side of a carcass, they +burrow under, and enter it from below, rarely leaving their horrid +cave until they have thoroughly cleared it out.</p> + +<p>The bark-hunters now passed on, Don Pablo making many inquiries +about the armadillos, and Guapo giving replies, while Leon listened +with interest. Guapo knew a good deal about these curious creatures, +for he had eaten many a dozen of them in his time, and as many +different kinds of them too. Their feeding upon carrion had no effect +on Guapo's stomach, and, indeed, white people in South America +relish them as much as Indians. The white people, however, make a +distinction in the species, as they suppose some kinds to be more +disposed to a vegetable diet than others.</p> + +<p>There are some in the neighbourhood of the settlements, that +<i>occasionally pay a visit to the graveyards or cemeteries</i>, and these kinds +do not go down well. All of them will devour almost any sort of +trash that is soft and pulpy, and they are more destructive to the ant +than even the ant-eaters themselves. How so? Because, instead of +making a nice little hole in the side of the ant-hill, as the tamanoirs +do, and through this hole eating the ants themselves, the armadillos +break down a large part of the structure and devour the <i>larvæ</i>. Now +the ants love these <i>larvæ</i> more than their own lives, and when these +are destroyed, they yield themselves up to despair, refuse to patch up +the building, the rain gets in, and the colony is ruined and breaks up.</p> + +<p>It does not follow, however, that the flesh of the armadillo should +be “queer” because the animal itself eats queer substances. Among +carnivorous creatures the very opposite is sometimes the truth; and +some animals—as the tapir, for instance—that feed exclusively on +sweet and succulent vegetables, produce a most bitter flesh for themselves. +About this there is no standing law either way.</p> + +<p>The flesh of the armadillo is excellent eating, not unlike young +pork, and, when “roasted in the shell” (the Indian mode of cooking +it), it is quite equal, if not superior, to a baked “pig,” a dish very +much eaten in our own country.</p> + +<p>Guapo did not call them armadillos—he had several Indian names +for different kinds of them. “Armadillo” is the Spanish name, and +signifies the “little armed one,” the diminutive of “armado” or +“armed.” This name is peculiarly appropriate to these animals, as +the hard bony casing which covers the whole upper parts of their +bodies, bears an exceeding resemblance to the suits of plate armour +worn in the days of Cortez and chivalry.</p> + +<p>On the head there is the helmet, the back is shielded by a corslet, +and even the limbs are covered with greaves. Of course, this armour +is arranged differently in the different species, and there is more or +less hair upon all, between the joinings of the plates.</p> + +<p>These points were not touched upon by Guapo, but others of equal +interest were. He went on to say that he knew many different kinds +of them;—some not bigger than a rat, and some as large as a full-grown +sheep; some that were slow in their paces, and others that +could outrun a man; some that were flat, and could squat so close as +hardly to be seen against the ground,—(these were <i>tatou-poyous</i>, the +sort that had hollowed out the deer); and some again that were high-backed +and nearly globe-shaped. Such was Guapo's account of these +curious animals which are found only in the warmer regions of North +and South America.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">248</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">AN ARMADILLO HUNT.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">C</span>onversing in this way, the bark-hunters, at length, reached the +cinchona-trees, and then all talk about armadillos was at an end. +They went lustily to their work—which was of more importance—and, +under Guapo's axe, several of the cinchonas soon “bit the dust.”</p> + +<p>There was a spot of open ground just a little to one side of where +these trees stood. They had noticed, on coming up, a flock of zamuros, +or black vultures, out upon this ground, clustered around some object. +It was the carcass of another deer. The first blow of the axe startled +the birds, and they flapped a short way off. They soon returned, +however, not being shy birds, but the contrary.</p> + +<p>There was nothing in all this to create surprise, except, perhaps, +the dead deer. What had been killing these animals? Not a beast +of prey, for that would have devoured them, unless, indeed, it might +be the puma, that often kills more than he can eat.</p> + +<p>The thought had occurred to Don Pablo that they might have died +from the poisoned arrows of an Indian. This thought somewhat +disquieted him, for he knew not what kind of Indians they might be,—they +might be friendly or hostile;—if the latter, not only would all +his plans be frustrated, but the lives of himself and party would be +in danger. Guapo could not assure him on this head; he had been +so long absent from the Great Montaña that he was ignorant of the +places where the tribes of these parts might now be located. These +tribes often change their homes.</p> + +<p>He knew that the Chunchos sometimes roamed so far up, and they +were the most dangerous of all the Indians of the Montaña,—haters +of the whites, fierce and revengeful. It was they who several times +destroyed the settlements and mission stations. If Chunchos were in +the woods they might look out for trouble. Guapo did not think +there were any Indians near. He would have seen some traces of +them before now, and he had observed none since their arrival. This +assurance of the knowing Indian quite restored Don Pablo's confidence, +and they talked no longer on the subject. After a while, +their attention was again called to the vultures. These filthy creatures +had returned to the deer, and were busily gorging themselves, when, +all at once, they were seen to rise up as if affrighted. They did not +fly far,—only a few feet,—and stood with outstretched necks looking +towards the carrion, as if whatever had frightened them was there.</p> + +<p>The bark-hunters could perceive nothing. It was the body of a +small deer, already half eaten, and no object bigger than a man's +hand could have been concealed behind it. The zamuros, however, +<i>had</i> seen something strange—else they would hardly have acted as +they did—and, with this conviction, the bark-hunters stopped their +work to observe them.</p> + +<p>After a while the birds seemed to take fresh courage, hopped back +to the carrion, and recommenced tearing at it. In another moment +they again started and flew back, but, this time, not so far as before, +and then they all returned again, and, after feeding another short +while, started back a third time.</p> + +<p>This was all very mysterious, but Guapo, guessing what was the +matter, solved the mystery by crying out,—<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">249</a></span></p> + +<p>“<i>Tatou-poyou</i>!”</p> + +<p>“Where?” inquired Don Pablo.</p> + +<p>“Yonder, master, yonder in the body of the beast.”</p> + +<p>Don Pablo looked, and, sure enough, he could see something moving; +it was the head and shoulders of an armadillo. It had burrowed +and come up through the body of the deer, thus meeting the vultures +half-way! No doubt, it was the mysterious mode by which it had +entered on the stage that had frightened them.</p> + +<p>They soon, however, got over their affright, and returned to their +repast.</p> + +<p>The armadillo—a very large one—had, by this time, crept out into +the open air, and went on eating.</p> + +<p>For a while the zamuros took no heed of him, deeming, perhaps, +that, although he had come in by the back-door, he might have as +good a right upon the premises as themselves. Their pacific attitude, +however, was but of short duration; something occurred to ruffle their +temper—some silent affront, no doubt, for the bark-hunters heard +nothing. Perhaps the <i>tatou</i> had run against the legs of one, and +scraped it with the sharp edge of his corslet. Whether this was the +cause or no, a scuffle commenced, and the beast in armour was attacked +by all the vultures at once.</p> + +<p>Of course he did not attack in turn, he had no means; he acted +altogether on the defensive; and this he was enabled to do by simply +drawing in his legs and flattening himself upon the ground. He was +then proof, not only against the beaks and weak talons of a vulture, +but he might have defied the royal eagle himself.</p> + +<p>After flapping him with their wings, and pecking him with their +filthy beaks, and clawing him with their talons, the zamuros saw it +was all to no purpose, and desisted. If they could not damage him, +however, they could prevent him from eating any more of the deer; +for the moment he stretched out his neck, several vultures sprang at +him afresh, and would have wounded him in the tender parts of his +throat had he not quickly drawn in his head again. Seeing that his +feast was at an end—at least above ground—he suddenly raised his +hind-quarters, and in a brace of seconds buried himself in the earth. +The vultures pecked him behind as he disappeared, but the odd +manner of his exit, like that of his <i>entrée</i>, seemed to mystify them, +and several of them stood for some moments in neck-stretched +wonder.</p> + +<p>This scene had scarcely ended when a pair of fresh armadillos were +espied, coming from the farther edge of the opening, and, in fact, +from the edge of a precipice, for the river flowed close by, and its +channel was at that point shut in by cliffs. These two were large +fellows, and were making speedily towards the carrion, in order to +get up before it was all gone. Guapo could stand it no longer. +Guapo had tasted roast armadillo, and longed for more. In an +instant, therefore, axe in hand, he was off to intercept the new-comers. +Don Pablo and Leon followed to see the sport and assist in +the capture.</p> + +<p>The armadillos, although not afraid of the vultures, seeing the +hunters approach, turned tail and made for the precipice. Guapo +took after one, while Don Pablo and Leon pursued the other. Guapo +soon overhauled his one, but, before he could lay his hands upon it, +it had already half buried itself in the dry ground. Guapo, however,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">250</a></span> +seized the tail and held on; and, although not able to drag it out, he +was resolved it should get no deeper.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 350px;"> +<img src="images/illus-250.jpg" width="350" height="500" alt="THE ESCAPE OF THE ARMADILLO." title="THE ESCAPE OF THE ARMADILLO." /> +<span class="caption">THE ESCAPE OF THE ARMADILLO.</span></div> + +<p>The one pursued by Don Pablo had got close to the edge of the +precipice, before either he or Leon could come up with it. There it +stood for a moment, as if in doubt what plan to pursue. Don Pablo +and Leon were congratulating themselves that they had fairly +“cornered” it, for the cliff was a clear fall of fifty feet, and, of course, +it could get no farther in that direction, while they approached it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">251</a></span> +from two sides so as to cut off its retreat. They approached it with +caution, as they were now near the edge, and it would not do to +move too rashly. Both were bent forward with their arms outstretched +to clutch their prey; they felt confident it was already in +their grasp. Judge their astonishment, then, at seeing the creature +suddenly clew itself into a round ball, and roll over the cliff!</p> + +<p>They looked below. They saw it upon the ground; they saw it +open out again, apparently unharmed, for, the next moment, it +scuttled off and hid itself among the rocks by the edge of the water!</p> + +<p>They turned toward Guapo, who was still holding his one by the +tail, and calling for help. Although it was but half buried, all three +of them could not have dragged it forth by the tail. That member +would have pulled out before the animal could have been dislodged; +and such is not an unfrequent occurrence to the hunters of the armadillo. +Don Pablo, however, took hold of the tail and held fast until +Guapo loosened the earth with his axe, and then the creature was +more easily “extracted.” A blow on its head from Guapo made all +right, and it was afterwards carried safely to the house, and “roasted +in the shell.”</p> + +<p>That was a great day among the “armadillos.”</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE OCELOT.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">D</span>uring the whole summer, Don Pablo, Guapo, and Leon, continued +bark-gathering. Every day they went out into the woods, excepting +Sunday of course. That was kept as a day of rest; for, although far +from civilised society, there was not the less necessity for their being +Christians. God dwells in the wilderness as well as in the walled +city, and worship to Him is as pleasing under the shadow of the +forest leaves, as with sounding organ beneath the vaulted dome of +the grand cathedral.</p> + +<p>During week-days, while the others were abroad, Doña Isidora and +the little Leona were not idle at home; yet their whole time was +not taken up by the mere concerns of the <i>cuisine</i>. They had an +industry of their own, and, in fact, one that promised to be almost as +profitable in its results as the bark-gathering. This was neither more +nor less than preparing <i>vanilla</i>.</p> + +<p>Some days after arriving in the valley, while exploring a wood that +lay at the back of the cultivated ground, Don Pablo discovered that +every tree carried a creeper or parasite of a peculiar kind. It was a +small creeper not unlike ivy, and was covered with flowers of a +greenish-yellow colour, mixed with white. Don Pablo at once recognised +in this parasitical plant one of the many species of lianas +that produce the delicious and perfumed vanilla. It was, in fact, the +finest of the kind—that which, among the French, is called <i>leq</i> +vanilla; and, from the fact that every tree had a number of these +parasites, and no other climbing vines, Don Pablo came to the conclusion +that they had been planted by the missionaries. It is thus +that vanilla is usually cultivated, by being set in slips at the root of +some tree which may afterwards sustain it.</p> + +<p>In the course of the summer, these vanilla vines exhibited a different +appearance. Instead of flowers, long bean-like capsules made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">252</a></span> +their appearance. These capsules or pods were nearly a foot in +length, though not much thicker than a swan's quill. They were a +little flattish, wrinkled, and of a yellow colour, and contained inside, +instead of beans, a pulpy substance, surrounding a vast quantity of +small seeds, like grains of sand. These seeds are the perfumed vanilla +so much prized, and which often yield the enormous price of fifty +dollars a pound! To preserve these, therefore, was the work of Doña +Isidora and Leona; and they understood perfectly how to do it.</p> + +<p>First, they gathered the pods before they were quite ripe. These +they strung upon a thread, taking care to pass the thread through +that end nearest the footstalk. The whole were next plunged for +an instant into boiling water, which gave them a blanched appearance. +The thread was then stretched from tree to tree, and the pods, +hanging like a string of candles, were then exposed to the sun for +several hours. Next day, they were lightly smeared with an oiled +feather, and then wrapped in oiled cotton of the <i>Bombax ceiba</i>, to +prevent the valves from opening.</p> + +<p>When they had remained in this state for a few days, the string +was taken out, and passed through the other ends, so that they +should hang in an inverted position. This was to permit the discharge +of a viscid liquid from the footstalk end; and in order to +assist this discharge, the pods were several times lightly pressed +between the fingers. They now became dry and wrinkled. They +had also shrunk to less than half their original size, and changed +their colour to a reddish-brown. Another delicate touch of the oil-feather, +and the vanilla was ready for the market. Nothing remained +but to pack them in small cases, which had already been prepared +from the leaf of a species of palm-tree.</p> + +<p>In such a way did the lady Isidora and her daughter pass their +time; and before the summer was out they had added largely to the +stock of wealth of our exiles.</p> + +<p>Although these two always remained by the house, they were not +without <i>their</i> adventures as well, one of which I shall describe. It +occurred while they were getting in their crop of vanilla. Leona +was in the porch in front, busy among the vanilla-beans. She had a +large needle and a thread of palm-leaf fibre, with which she was +stringing the long pods, while her mother was inside the house +packing some that had been already dried.</p> + +<p>Leona rested for a moment, and was looking over the water, when, +all at once, she exclaimed,</p> + +<p>“Maman—Maman! come out and see! oh! what a beautiful cat!”</p> + +<p>The exclamation caused Doña Isidora to start, and with a feeling +of uneasiness. The cause of her uneasiness was the word “cat.” She +feared that what the innocent child had taken for a “beautiful cat” +might prove to be the dreaded jaguar. She ran at once out of the +door, and looked in the direction pointed out by Leona. There, sure +enough, on the other side of the water, was a spotted creature, looking +in the distance, very much like a cat; but Doña Isidora saw at a +glance that it was a far larger animal.</p> + +<p>Was it the jaguar? It was like one, in its colour and markings. +It was of a yellowish colour, and covered all over with black spots, +which gave it the semblance of the jaguar. Still Doña Isidora +thought that it was not so large as these animals usually are; and +this, to some extent, restored her confidence. When first seen, it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">253</a></span> +close down to the water's edge, as if it had come there to drink; and +Doña Isidora was in hopes that, after satisfying its thirst, it would +go away again. What was her consternation to see it make a forward +spring, and, plunging into the water, swim directly for the +house!</p> + +<p>Terrified, she seized Leona by the hand, and retreated inside. She +shut the door, and bolted it. If it were a jaguar, what protection +would that be? Such a creature could dash itself through the frail +bamboo wall, or tear the door to pieces with his great claws in a +moment. “If it be a jaguar,” thought she, “we are lost!”</p> + +<p>Doña Isidora was a woman of courage. She was determined to +defend the lives of herself and daughter to the last. She looked +around the house for a weapon. The pistols of Don Pablo were +hanging against the wall. She knew they were loaded. She took +them down, and looked to the flints and priming, and then stationed +herself at a place where she could see out through the interstices of +the bamboos. The little Leona kept by her side, though she knew, +that in a struggle with a ferocious jaguar, she could give no help.</p> + +<p>By this time the animal had crossed the river, and she could see it +spring out on the bank, and come on towards the house. In a few +seconds it was close to the porch, where it halted to reconnoitre. +Doña Isidora saw it very plainly, and would now have had a very +good chance to fire at it; but she did not wish to begin the combat. +Perhaps it might go away again, without attempting to enter the +house. In order not to draw its attention, she stood perfectly quiet, +having cautioned Leona to do the same.</p> + +<p>It was not a large animal, though its aspect was fierce enough to +terrify any one. Its tiger-like eyes, and white teeth, which it showed +at intervals, were anything but pleasant to look upon. Its size, however, +was not so formidable; and Doña Isidora had understood the +jaguar to be a large animal; but there is also a smaller species of +jaguar. This might be the one.</p> + +<p>After halting a moment, the creature turned to one side, and then +proceeded at a skulking trot around the house. Now and then it +stopped and looked toward the building, as if searching for some +aperture by which it might get in. Doña Isidora followed it round +on the inside. The walls were so open that she could mark all its +movements; and, with a pistol in each hand, she was ready for the +attack, determined to fire the moment it might threaten to spring +against the bamboos.</p> + +<p>On one side of the house, at a few paces distance, stood the mule. +The horse had been taken to the woods, and the mule was left alone. +This animal was tied to a tree, which shaded her from the sun. As +soon as the fierce creature got well round the house, it came in full +view of the mule, which now claimed its attention. The latter, on +seeing it, had started, and sprung round upon her halter, as if badly +terrified by the apparition.</p> + +<p>Whether the beast of prey had ever before seen a mule was a question. +Most likely it had not; for, half-innocently, and half as if with +the intention of making an attack, it went skulking up until it was +close to the heels of the latter. It could not have placed itself in a +better position to be well kicked; and well kicked it was, for, just +at that moment, the mule let fling with both her heels, and struck it +upon the ribs. A loud “thump” was heard by those within the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">254</a></span> +house, and Doña Isidora, still watching through the canes, had the +satisfaction to see the spotted creature take to its heels, and gallop +off as if a kettle had been tied to its tail! It made no stop, not even +to look back; but having reached the edge of the water, plunged in, +and swam over to the opposite shore. They could see it climb out on +the other side, and then, with a cowed and conquered look, it trotted +off, and disappeared among the palm-trees.</p> + +<p>Doña Isidora knew that it was gone for good; and having now no +further fear went on with her work as before. She first, however, +carried out a large measure of the <i>murumuru</i> nuts, and gave them to +the mule, patting the creature upon the nose, and thanking her for +the important service she had rendered.</p> + +<p>When Don Pablo and the rest returned, the adventure was, of +course, related; but from the description given of the animal, neither +Don Pablo nor Guapo believed it could have been the jaguar. It was +too small for that. Besides a jaguar would not have been cowed and +driven off by a mule. He would more likely have killed the mule, +and dragged its body off with him across the river, or perhaps have +broken into the house, and done worse.</p> + +<p>The animal was, no doubt, the “ocelot,” which is also spotted, or +rather marked with the eye-like rosettes which distinguish the skin of +the jaguar. Indeed, there are quite a number of animals of the cat +genus in the forests of the Montaña; some spotted like the leopard, +others striped as the tiger, and still others of uniform colour all over +the body. They are, of course, all preying animals, but none of them +will attack man, except the jaguar and the puma. Some of the +others, when brought to bay, will fight desperately, as would the +common wild cat under like circumstances; but the largest of them +will leave man alone, if unmolested themselves. Not so with the +jaguar, who will attack either man or beast, and put them to death, +unless he be himself overpowered.</p> + +<p>The jaguar, or, as he is sometimes called, “ounce,” and by most +Spanish-Americans “tiger,” is the largest and most ferocious of all +the American <i>Felidæ</i>. He stands third in rank as to these +qualities—the lion and tiger of the Eastern continent taking precedence of +him. Specimens of the jaguar have been seen equal in size to the +Asiatic tiger; but the average size of the American animal is much +less. He is strong enough, however, to drag a dead horse or ox to +his den—often to a distance of a quarter of a mile—and this feat has +been repeatedly observed.</p> + +<p>The jaguar is found throughout all the tropical countries of Spanish +America, and is oftener called tiger than jaguar. This is a misapplied +name; for although he bears a considerable likeness to the +tiger, both in shape and habits, yet the markings of his skin are +quite different. The tiger is striated or striped, while the black on +the jaguar is in beautiful eye-like rosettes. The leopard is more like +the jaguar than any other creature; and the panther and cheetah of +the Eastern continent also resemble him. The markings of the +jaguar, when closely examined, differ from all of these. The spots +on the animals of the old world are simple spots or black rings, while +those of the American species are rings with a single spot in the +middle, forming <i>ocellæ</i>, or eyes. Each, in fact, resembles a rosette.</p> + +<p>Jaguars are not always of the same colour. Some have skins +of an orange yellow, and these are the most beautiful. Others are<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">255</a></span> +lighter-coloured; and individuals have been killed that were nearly +white. But there is a “black jaguar,” which is thought to be of a +different species. It is larger and fiercer than the other, and is found +in the very hottest parts of the Great Montaña. Its skin is not +quite jet-black, but of a deep maroon brown; and upon close inspection, +the spots upon it can be seen of a pure black. This species +is more dreaded by the inhabitants of those countries than the +other; and it is said always to attack man wherever it may encounter +him.</p> + +<p>In the forests of South America, the jaguar reigns with undisputed +sway. All the other beasts fear, and fly from him. His roar produces +terror and confusion among the animated creation, and causes +them to fly in every direction. It is never heard by the Indian +without some feeling of fear,—and no wonder; for a year does not +pass without a number of these people falling victims to the savage +ferocity of this animal.</p> + +<p>There are those, however, among them who can deal single-handed +with the jaguar,—regular “jaguar-hunters” by profession,—who do +not fear to attack the fierce brute in his own haunts. They do not +trust to fire-arms, but to a sharp spear. Upon this they receive his +attack, transfixing the animal with unerring aim as he advances. +Should they fail in their first thrust, their situation is one of peril; +yet all hope is not lost. On their left arm they carry a sort of +sheep-skin shield. This is held forward, and usually seized by the +jaguar; and while he is busy with it, the hunter gains time for a +second effort, which rarely fails to accomplish his purpose.</p> + +<p>The jaguars are killed for many reasons. Their beautiful skins +sell for several dollars; besides, in many places a price is set upon +their heads, on account of their destructive habits. Thousands are +destroyed every year. For all this, they do not seem to diminish in +numbers. The introduction of the large mammalia into America has +provided them with increased resources; and in many places, where +there are herds of half-wild cattle, the number of the jaguars is said +to be greater than formerly. It is difficult for one, living in a +country where such fierce animals are unknown, to believe that they +may have an influence over man to such an extent as to prevent his +settling in a particular place; yet such is the fact. In many parts +of South America, not only plantations, but whole villages, have been +abandoned solely from fear of the jaguars!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A FAMILY OF JAGUARS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span>s yet none of the exiles had seen any tracks or indications of the +terrible jaguar, and Don Pablo began to believe that there were none +in that district of country. He was not allowed to remain much +longer in this belief, for an incident occurred shortly after proving +that at least one pair of these fierce animals was not far off.</p> + +<p>It was near the end of the summer, and the cinchona-trees on the +side of the river on which stood the house had been all cut down and +“barked.” It became necessary, therefore, to cross the stream in +search of others. Indeed, numerous “manchas” had been seen on the +other side, and to these the “cascarilleros” now turned their attention.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">256</a></span> +They, of course, reached them by crossing the tree-bridge, and then +keeping up the stream on the farther side.</p> + +<p>For several days they had been at work in this new direction, and +were getting bark in by the hundred-weight.</p> + +<p>One day Guapo and Leon had gone by themselves—Guapo to fell +the trees as usual, and Leon who was now an expert bark-peeler, to +use the scalping-knife. Don Pablo had remained at home, busy with +work in the great magazine, for there was much to do there in the +packing and storing.</p> + +<p>An hour or two after, Guapo was seen to return alone. He had +broken the handle of his axe, and having, several spare ones at the +house, he had returned to get one. Leon had remained in the woods.</p> + +<p>Now Leon had finished his operations on such trees as Guapo had +already cut down, and not finding a good seat near, had walked +towards the precipice which was farther up the hill, and sat down +upon one of the loose rocks at its base. Here he amused himself by +watching the parrots and toucans that were fluttering through the +trees over his head.</p> + +<p>He noticed that just by his side there was a large hole or cave in +the cliff. He could see to the further end of it from where he sat, but +curiosity prompted him to step up to its mouth, and gave it a closer +examination. On doing so, he heard a noise, not unlike the mew of a +cat. It evidently came from the cave, and only increased his curiosity +to look inside. He put his head to the entrance, and there, in a sort +of nest, upon the bottom of the cave, he perceived two creatures, +exactly like two spotted kittens, only larger. They were about half +as big as full-grown cats.</p> + +<p>“Two beauties!” said Leon to himself; “they are the kittens of +some wild cat—that's plain. Now we want a cat very much at home. +If these were brought up in the house, why shouldn't they do? I'll +warrant they'd be tame enough. I know mamma wants a cat. I've +heard her say so. I'll give her an agreeable surprise by taking this +pair home.—The beauties!”</p> + +<p>Without another word Leon climbed up, and taking hold of the two +spotted animals, returned with them out of the cave. They were +evidently very young creatures, yet for all that they growled, and +spat, and attempted to scratch his hands; but Leon was not a boy to +be frightened at trifles, and after getting one under each arm, he set +off in triumph, intending to carry them direct to the house.</p> + +<p>Guapo was in front of the house busy in new-hafting his axe. Don +Pablo was at his work in the store-room. Doña Isidora and the little +Leona were occupied with some affair in the porch. All were +engaged one way or other. Just then a voice sounded upon their +ears, causing them all to stop their work, and look abroad. It even +brought Don Pablo out of the storehouse. It was the voice of Leon, +who shouted from the other side of the lake, where they all saw him +standing, with a strange object under each arm.</p> + +<p>“Hola!” cried he. “Look, mamma! See what I've got! I've +brought you a couple of cats—beauties, ain't they?” And as he said +this, he held the two yellow bodies out before him.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo turned pale, and even the coppery cheek of Guapo +blanched at the sight. Though at some distance, both knew at a +glance what they were. Cats, indeed! <i>They were the cubs of the +jaguar!</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">257</a></span></p> + +<p>“My God!” cried Don Pablo, hoarse with affright. “My God! the +boy will be lost!” and as he spoke he swept the upper edge of the +lake with an anxious glance.</p> + +<p>“Run, little master!” shouted Guapo. “Run for your life; make +for the bridge—for the bridge!”</p> + +<p>Leon seemed astonished. He knew by the words of Guapo, and the +earnest gestures of the rest, that there was some danger:—but of +what? Why was he to run? He could not comprehend it. He +hesitated, and might have stayed longer on the spot, had not his +father, seeing his indecision, shouted out to him in a loud voice—</p> + +<p>“Run, boy! run! The jaguars are after you!”</p> + +<p>This speech enabled Leon to comprehend his situation for the first +time, and he immediately started off towards the bridge, running as +fast as he was able.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo had not seen the jaguars when he spoke, but his words +were prophetic, and that prophecy was speedily verified. They had +hardly been uttered when two yellow bodies, dashing out of the brushwood, +appeared near the upper end of the lake. There was no +mistaking what they were. Their orange flanks and ocellated sides +were sufficiently characteristic. <i>They were jaguars!</i></p> + +<p>A few springs brought them to the edge of the water, and they +were seen to take the track over which Leon had just passed. They +were following by the scent—sometimes pausing—sometimes one +passing the other—and their waving tails and quick energetic movements +showed that they were furious and excited to the highest +degree. Now they disappeared behind the palm-trunks, and the +next moment their shining bodies shot out again like flashes of light.</p> + +<p>Doña Isidora and the little Leona screamed with affright. Don +Pablo shouted words of encouragement in a hoarse voice. Guapo +seized his axe—which fortunately he had finished hafting—and ran +towards the bridge, along the water's edge. Don Pablo followed with +his pistols, which he had hastily got his hands upon.</p> + +<p>For a short moment there was silence on both sides of the river. +Guapo was opposite Leon, both running. The stream narrowed as it +approached the ravine, and Leon and Guapo could see each other, +and hear every word distinctly. Guapo now cried out,—</p> + +<p>“Drop one! young master—<i>only one</i>!”</p> + +<p>Leon heard, and, being a sharp boy, understood what was meant. +Up to this moment he had not thought of parting with his “cats”—in +fact, it was because he had <i>not</i> thought of it. Now, however, at +the voice of Guapo, he flung one of them to the ground, without +stopping to see where it fell. He ran on, and in a few seconds again +heard Guapo cry out—</p> + +<p>“<i>Now the other!</i>”</p> + +<p>Leon let the second slip from his grasp, and kept on for the bridge.</p> + +<p>It was well he had dropped the cubs, else he would never have +reached that bridge. When the first one fell the jaguars were not +twenty paces behind him. They were almost in sight, but by good +fortune the weeds and underwood hid the pursued from the pursuers.</p> + +<p>On reaching their young, the first that had been dropped, both +stopped, and appeared to lick and caress it. They remained by it +but a moment. One parted sooner than the other—the female it was, +no doubt, in search of her second offspring. Shortly after the other +started also, and both were again seen springing along the trail in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">258</a></span> +pursuit. A few stretches brought them to where the second cub lay, +and here they again halted, caressing this one as they had done the +other.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo and Doña Isidora, who saw all this from the other side, +were in hopes that having recovered their young, the jaguars might +give over their chase, and carry them off. But they were mistaken +in this. The American tiger is of a very different nature. Once +enraged, he will seek revenge with relentless pertinacity. It so +proved. After delaying a moment with the second cub. Both left it, +and sprang forward upon the trail, which they knew had been taken +by whoever had robbed them.</p> + +<p>By this time Leon had gained the bridge—had crossed it—and was +lifted from its nearer end by Guapo. The latter scarce spoke a word—only +telling Leon to hurry towards the house. For himself he had +other work to do than run. The bridge he knew would be no protection. +The jaguars would cross over it like squirrels, and then——</p> + +<p>Guapo reflected no further, but bending over the thick branch, +attacked it with his axe. His design was apparent at once. He was +going to cut it from the cliff!</p> + +<p>He plied the axe with all his might. Every muscle in his body +was at play. Blow succeeded blow. The branch was already creaking, +when, to his horror, the foremost of the jaguars appeared in +sight on the opposite side! He was not discouraged. Again fell the +axe—again and again; the jaguar is upon the bank; it has sprung +upon the root of the tree! It pauses a moment—another blow of +the axe—the jaguar bounds upon the trunk—its claws rattle along +the bark—it is midway over the chasm! Another blow—the branch +crackles—there is a crash—it parts from the cliff—it is gone! Both +tree and jaguar gone—down—down to the sharp rocks of the +foaming torrent!</p> + +<p>A loud yell from the Indian announced his triumph. But it was +not yet complete. It was the female jaguar—the smaller one that +had fallen. The male still remained—where was he? Already upon +the opposite brink of the chasm!</p> + +<p>He had dashed forward, just in time to see his mate disappearing +into the gulf below. He saw, and seemed to comprehend all that +had passed. His eyes glared with redoubled fury. There was +vengeance in his look, and determination in his attitude.</p> + +<p>For a moment he surveyed the wide gulf that separated him from +his enemies. He seemed to measure the distance at a glance. His +heart was bold with rage and despair. He had lost his companion—his +faithful partner—his wife. Life was nothing now—he resolved +upon revenge or death!</p> + +<p>He was seen to run a few paces back from the edge of the chasm, +and then turning suddenly, set his body for the spring.</p> + +<p>It would have been beautiful to have beheld the play of his +glistening flanks at that moment had one been out of danger; but +Guapo was not, and he had no pleasure in the sight. Guapo stood +upon the opposite brink, axe in hand, ready to receive him.</p> + +<p>The Indian had not long to wait. With one desperate bound the +jaguar launched his body into the air, and, like lightning, passed to +the opposite bank. His fore-feet only reached it, and his claws +firmly grasped the rock. The rest of his body hung over, clutching +the cliff!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">259</a></span></p> + +<p>In a moment he would have sprung up, and then woe to his +antagonist! but he was not allowed that moment, for he had +scarcely touched the rock when the Indian leaped forward and +struck at his head with the axe. The blow was not well aimed, and +although it stunned the jaguar, he still clung to the cliff. In setting +himself for a second blow, Guapo came too near, and the next +moment the great claws of the tiger were buried in his foot!</p> + +<p>It is difficult to tell what might have been the result. It would, +no doubt, have been different. Guapo would have been dragged +over, and that was certain death; but at this moment a hand was +protruded between Guapo's legs—the muzzle of a pistol was seen +close to the head of the jaguar—a loud crack rang through the +ravine, and when the smoke cleared away the jaguar was seen no +more!</p> + +<p>Guapo, with his foot badly lacerated, was drawn back from the +cliff into the arms of Don Pablo.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE RAFT.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>his was the most exciting day that had been passed since their +arrival in the Montaña; and considering the result it was well that +the occurrence had taken place. It had rid them of a pair of bad +neighbours—there would soon have been four—that some time or +other would have endangered the lives of some of the party. It was +the opinion of Guapo that they need not, at least for a while, have +any fear of jaguars. It was not likely there was another pair in that +district; although, from the roaming disposition of this animal, +fresh ones might soon make their appearance; and it was deemed +best always to act as though some were already in the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>The cubs were disposed of. It was not deemed advisable to bring +them up as “cats.” After what had occurred that was voted, even +by Leon, a dangerous experiment—too dangerous to be attempted. +They were still on the other side of the river, and the bridge was +now gone. If left to themselves, no doubt they would have +perished, as they were very young things. Perhaps some carnivorous +creature—wolf, coati, eagle, or vulture—would have devoured them, +or they might have been eaten up by the ants. But this was not +to be their fate. Guapo swam across, and strangled them. Then +tying them together, he suspended the pair over his shoulders, and +brought them with him to be exhibited as a curiosity. Moreover +Guapo had a design upon their skins.</p> + +<p>It was not long after that a pleasanter pet than either of them +was found, and this was a beautiful little saïmiri monkey, about the +size of a squirrel, which Guapo and Leon captured one day in the +woods. They heard a noise as they were passing along, and going +up to the spot, saw on the branch of a low tree nearly a dozen little +monkeys all rolled up together in a heap with their tails wrapped +round each other as if to keep themselves warm.</p> + +<p>Nearly another dozen were running about, whining and apparently +trying to get in among the rest. Guapo and Leon made a sudden +rush upon them, and were able to capture three or four before<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">260</a></span> +the creatures could free themselves; but only one lived, and that +became a great pet and favourite. It was a beautiful little creature—a +true saïmiri, or squirrel-monkey, called the “titi.” Its silky fur +was of a rich olive-green colour; and its fine large eyes expressed +fear or joy—now filling with tears, and now brightening again—just +like those of a child.</p> + +<p>During the summer our bark-gatherers continued their labour +without interruption, and on account of the great plenty of the +cinchona-trees, and their proximity to the house, they were enabled +to accumulate a very large store. They worked like bees.</p> + +<p>Although this forest life was not without its pleasures and excitements, +yet it began to grow very irksome both to Don Pablo and +Doña Isidora. Life in the wilderness, with its rude cares and rude +enjoyments, may be very pleasant for a while to those who seek it +as amateurs, or to that class who as colonists intend to make it +a permanent thing. But neither Don Pablo nor his wife had ever +thought of colonisation. With them their present industry was the +result of accident and necessity. Their tastes and longings were +very different. They longed to return to civilised life; and though +the very misfortune which had driven them forth into the wilderness +had also guided them to an opportunity of making a fortune, it is +probable they would have passed it by, had they not known that, +penniless as they were, they would have fared still worse in any city +to which they might have gone.</p> + +<p>But before the first year was out, they yearned very much to +return to civilisation, and this desire was very natural. But there +were other reasons that influenced them besides the mere <i>ennui</i> of +the wilderness. The lives of themselves and their children were +constantly in danger from jaguars, pumas, and poisonous reptiles. +Even man himself might at any moment appear as their destroyer. +As yet no Indian—not even a trace of one—had been seen. But this +was not strange.</p> + +<p>In the tangled and impenetrable forests of the Great Montaña two +tribes of Indians may reside for years within less than a league's +distance of each other, without either being aware of the other's +existence! Scarcely any intercourse is carried on, or excursions +made, except by the rivers—for they are the only roads—and where +two of these run parallel, although they may be only at a short +distance from each other, people residing on one may never think of +crossing to the other.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding that no Indians had yet appeared to disturb +them, there was no certainty that these might not arrive any day, +and treat them as enemies. On this account, Don Pablo and Doña +Isidora were never without a feeling of uneasiness.</p> + +<p>After mutual deliberation, therefore, they resolved not to prolong +their stay beyond the early part of spring, when they would carry +out their original design of building a <i>balza</i> raft, and commit themselves +to the great river, which, according to all appearance, and to +Guapo's confident belief, flowed directly to the Amazon. Guapo had +never either descended or ascended it himself, and on their first +arrival was not so sure about its course; but after having gone down +to its banks, and examined its waters, his recollections revived, and +he remembered many accounts which he had heard of it from Indians +of his own tribe. He had no doubt but it was the same which, under<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">261</a></span> +the name of the “Purus,” falls into the Amazon between the mouths +of the Madeira and the Coary.</p> + +<p>Upon this stream, therefore, in a few months they would embark. +But these intervening months were not spent in idleness. Although +the season for bark-gathering was past, another source of industry +presented itself. The bottom lands of the great river were found to +be covered with a network of underwood, and among this underwood +the principal plant was a well-known briar, <i>Smilax officinalis</i>. This +is the creeping plant that yields the celebrated “sarsaparilla;” and +Don Pablo, having made an analysis of some roots, discovered it to be +the most valuable species—for it is to be remembered, that, like the +cinchona, a whole genus, or rather several genera, furnish the article +of commerce.</p> + +<p>The briar which produces the sarsaparilla is a tall creeping plant, +which throws out a large number of long wrinkled roots of a uniform +thickness, and about the size of a goose-quill. Nothing is required +further than digging and dragging these roots out of the ground, +drying them a while, and then binding them in bundles with a small +“sipo,” or tough forest creeper. These bundles are made up, so as to +render the roots convenient for packing and transport.</p> + +<p>During several months this branch of industry occupied Don Pablo, +Guapo, and Leon; so that when the time drew nigh for their departure, +what with the cinchona-bark, the sarsaparilla, and the +vanilla-beans, there was not an empty inch in the large storehouse.</p> + +<p>Guapo had not been all the time with them. For several days +Gruapo was not to be seen at the house, nor anywhere around it. +Where had Guapo been all this time? I will tell you; Guapo <i>had +been to the mountains</i>!</p> + +<p>Yes, Don Pablo had sent him on an important mission, which he +had performed with secrecy and despatch. Don Pablo, before braving +the dangers of the vast journey he had projected, had still a lingering +hope that something might have happened—some change in the +government of Peru—perhaps a new Viceroy—that might enable him +to return with safety to his native land. To ascertain if such had +taken place, Guapo had made his journey to the mountains.</p> + +<p>He went no farther than the Puna—no farther than the hut of his +friend the vaquero—who, by a previous understanding with Guapo, +had kept himself informed about political matters.</p> + +<p>There was no hope; the same Council, the same Viceroy, the same +price upon the head of Don Pablo—who, however, was believed to +have escaped in an American ship, and to have taken refuge in the +great Republic of the North.</p> + +<p>With this news Guapo returned, and now the preparations for the +river voyage were set about in earnest. A balza raft was built out of +large trunks of the <i>Bombax ceiba</i>, which, being light wood, was the +best for the purpose. Of course these trunks had been cut long ago +with a view to using them in this way. A commodious cabin, or +“toldo,” was constructed on the raft, built of palm and bamboos, and +thatched with the broad leaves of the bussu. A light canoe was also +hollowed out, as a sort of tender to the raft, and a couple of very +large canoes for the purpose of giving buoyancy to it, were lashed +one upon each side. The “merchandise” was carefully “stowed” and +covered with “tarpaulins” of palm-leaves, and the stores laid in with +every providential care and calculation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">262</a></span></p> + +<p>You will be wondering what was done with the horse and mule,—those +creatures who had served the exiles so faithfully and so well? +Were they left behind to become a prey to the jaguars and the large +blood-sucking bats, that kill so many animals in these parts? No—they +were not to be left to such a fate. One of them—the mule—had +been already disposed of. It was a valuable beast, and partly on that +account, and partly from gratitude felt towards it for the well-timed +kick it had given the ocelot, it was to be spared. Guapo had taken +both the mule and the horse on his mountain journey, and presented +the former to his friend the vaquero.</p> + +<p>But the horse was still on hand. What was to be done with him? +Leave him behind? That would be certain death, for no horse, that +was not cared for, could exist in the Montaña ten days without being +eaten up by the fierce creatures that inhabit it. The bats would +surely have destroyed him. Well, what was done? He could not be +carried on the raft. But he was, though,—<i>in a way</i>.</p> + +<p>Guapo was resolved that the bats should not have him, nor the +jaguars neither. He was in fine condition—fat as a pig. The fruit of +the murumuru had agreed with him. He was just in the condition +in which an Indian thinks a horse “good for killing,” and <i>Guapo +killed him</i>! Yes, Guapo killed him! It is true it was a sort of a +Virginius tragedy, and Guapo had great difficulty in nerving himself +for the task. But the blow-gun was at length levelled, and the <i>curare</i> +did its work. Then Guapo skinned him, and cut him into strips, and +dried him into “charqui,” and carried him on board the raft. That +was the closing scene.</p> + +<p>All left the house together, carrying with them the remains of their +hastily-created <i>penates</i>. On reaching the end of the valley, they +turned and threw back a last glance at a home that had to them been +a happy one; and then, continuing their journey, they were soon +upon the balza. The only living creature that accompanied them +from their valley home was the pretty saïmiri, carried on the shoulder +of the little Leona.</p> + +<p>The cable of piassaba-palm was carefully taken in and coiled, the +raft was pushed out, and the next moment floated lightly upon the +broad bosom of the river.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE GUARDIAN BROTHER.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he current of the river flowed at the rate of about four miles an +hour, and at this speed they travelled. They had nothing to do but +guide the raft in the middle part of the stream. This was effected by +means of a large stern-oar fixed upon a pivot, and which served the +purpose of a rudder. One was required to look after this oar, and +Don Pablo and Guapo took turns at it. It was not a very troublesome +task, except where some bend had to be got round, or some eddy +was to be cleared, when both had to work at it together. At other +times the balza floated straight on, without requiring the least effort +on the part of the crew; and then they would all sit down and chat +pleasantly, and view the changing scenery of the forest-covered shores.</p> + +<p>Sometimes tall palms lined the banks, and sometimes great forest +trees netted together by thick parasites that crept from one to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">263</a></span> +other, and twined around the trunks like monster serpents. Sometimes +the shores were one unbroken thicket of underwood, where it +would have been almost impossible to make a landing had they wished +it. At other places there were sand-bars, and even little islets with +scarce any vegetation upon them; and they also passed many other +islets and large islands thickly wooded. The country generally +appeared to be flat, though at one or two places they saw hills that +ran in to the banks of the river.</p> + +<p>Of course the change of scenery, and the many fresh vistas continually +opening before them, rendered their voyage both cheerful and +interesting. The many beautiful birds too, and new kinds of trees +and animals which they saw, were a constant source of varied enjoyment, +and furnished them with themes of conversation.</p> + +<p>During the first day they made a journey of full forty miles. +Having brought their balza close to the shore, and secured it to a +tree, they encamped for the night. There was no opening of any +extent, but for some distance the ground was clear of underwood, and +the trunks of great old trees rose like columns losing themselves +amidst the thick foliage overhead. A dark forest only could be seen, +and, as night drew on, the horrid cries of the alouattes, or howling +monkeys, mingling with the voices of other nocturnal animals, filled +the woods. They had no fear of monkeys, but now and then they +thought they could distinguish the cry of the jaguar, and of him they +had fear enough. Indeed the jaguar possesses the power of imitating +the cry of the other animals of the forest, and often uses it to draw +them within reach of him.</p> + +<p>In addition to the fire upon which they had cooked their supper, +as soon as night had fairly set in, they kindled others, forming a sort +of semicircle, the chord of which was the bank of the river itself. +Within this semicircle the hammocks were stretched from tree to +tree; and, as all were fatigued with the day's exertions, they climbed +into them at an early hour, and were soon asleep. One alone sat up +to keep watch. As they thought they had heard the jaguar, this was +deemed best; for they knew that fire will not always frighten off that +fierce animal. As the neighbourhood looked suspicious, and also as it +was their first encampment, they, like all travellers at setting out, of +course were more timid and cautious.</p> + +<p>To Leon was assigned the first watch; for Leon was a courageous +boy, and it was not the first time he had taken his turn in this way. +He was to sit up for about two hours, and then wake Guapo, who +would keep the midnight watch; after which Don Pablo's turn would +come, and that would terminate in the morning at daybreak. Leon +was instructed to rouse the others in case any danger might threaten +the camp.</p> + +<p>Leon from choice had seated himself by the head of the hammock +in which slept the little Leona; in order, no doubt, to be nearer her, +as she was the most helpless of the party, and therefore required +more immediate protection. He had both the pistols by him—ready +to his hand and loaded—and in case of danger he knew very well +how to use them.</p> + +<p>He had been seated for about half-an-hour, now casting his eyes +up to the red and wrinkled trunks of the trees, and then gazing into +the dark vistas of the surrounding forest, or at other times looking +out upon the glistening surface of the river. Many a strange sound<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">264</a></span> +fell upon his ear. Sometimes the whole forest appeared to be alive +with voices—the voices of beasts and birds, reptiles, and insects—for +the tree-frogs and ciendas were as noisy as the larger creatures. At +other times a perfect stillness reigned, so that he could distinctly +hear the tiny hum of the mosquito; and then, all at once, would fall +upon his ear the melancholy wailing of the night-hawk—the “<i>alma +perdida</i>,” or “lost soul”—for such is the poetical and fanciful name +given by the Spanish Americans to this nocturnal bird.</p> + +<p>While thus engaged Leon began to feel very drowsy. The heavy +day's work, in which he had borne part, had fatigued him as well as +the others; and, in spite of the odd voices that from time to time fell +upon his ear, he could have lain down upon the bare ground and +slept without a feeling of fear. Snakes or scorpions, or biting lizards +or spiders, would not have kept him from going to sleep at that +moment. It is astonishing how the desire of sleep makes one indifferent +to all these things, which at other times we so much dread. +Leon did not fear them a bit, but kept himself awake from a feeling +of pride and honour. He reflected that it would never do to be unfaithful +to the important trust confided to him. No; that would +never do. He rubbed his eyes, and rose up, and approached the +bank, and dipped his hands in the water, and came back to his former +place, and sat down again. Spite of all his efforts, however, he felt +very heavy. Oh! when would the two hours pass that he might +rouse Guapo?</p> + +<p>“Car-r-ambo! I nev-er was so s-s-sleepy. <i>Vamos</i>! Leon! you +mustn't give in!”</p> + +<p>And striking himself a lively slap on the chest, he straightened +his back, and sat upright for a while.</p> + +<p>He was just beginning to get bowed about the shoulders again, +and to nod a little, when he was startled by a short sharp exclamation +uttered by the little Leona. He looked up to her hammock. +He could perceive it had moved slightly, but it was at rest again, +and its occupant was evidently asleep.</p> + +<p>“Poor little sis! she is dreaming,” he muttered half aloud. “Perhaps +some horrid dream of jaguars or serpents. I have half a mind +to awake her. But, no, she sleeps too soundly; I might disturb +them all;” and with these reflections Leon remained upon his seat.</p> + +<p>Once more his head was beginning to bob, when the voice of Leona +again startled him, and he looked up as before. The hammock moved +slightly, but there was no appearance of anything wrong. From +where he sat he could not see well into it, but the outlines of the +child's body were easily discernible through the elastic netting; and +at the farther end he could just perceive one of her little feet, where +it had escaped from the covering, and rested partly over the edge.</p> + +<p>As he continued to gaze upon the delicate member, thinking +whether he had not better cover it against the mosquitoes, all at +once his eye was attracted by something red—a crooked red line that +traversed from the toe downward along the side of the foot. It was +red and glittering—it was <i>a stream of blood</i>!</p> + +<p>His first feeling was one of horror. His next was a resolve to +spring to his feet and rouse the camp, but this impulse was checked +by one of greater prudence. Whatever enemy had done it, thought +he, must still be about the hammock; to make a noise would, perhaps, +only irritate it, and cause it to inflict some still more terrible<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">265</a></span> +wound. He would remain quiet, until he had got his eyes upon the +creature, when he could spring upon it, or fire his pistol before it +could do further harm.</p> + +<p>With these ideas, quickly conceived, he rose silently to his feet, +and standing, or rather crouching forward, bent his eyes over the +hammock.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE VAMPIRE.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">L</span>eon's head was close to that of the sleeper, whose sweet breath he +felt, and whose little bosom rose and fell in gentle undulation. He +scanned the inside of the hammock from head to foot. He gazed +anxiously into every fold of the cover. Not an object could he see +that should not have been there—no terrible creature—no serpent—for +it was this last that was in his mind. But something must have +been there. What could have caused the stream of blood, that now +being closer he could more plainly see trickling over the soft blue +veins? Some creature must have done it!</p> + +<p>“Oh! if it be the small viper,” thought he, “or the coral snake, or +the deadly macaurel! If these——”.</p> + +<p>His thoughts at this moment were interrupted. A light flapping +of wings sounded in his ear—so light, that it appeared to be made by +the soft pinions of the owl, or some nocturnal bird. It was not by +the wings of a bird that that sound was produced, but by the wings +of a hideous creature. Leon was conscious, from the continued +flapping, that something was playing through the air, and that it +occasionally approached close to his head. He gazed upward and +around him, and at length he could distinguish a dark form passing +between him and the light; but it glided into the darkness again, +and he could see it no more.</p> + +<p>Was it a bird? It looked like one—it might have been an owl—it +was full as large as one; but yet, from the glance he had had of it, it +appeared to be black or very dark, and he had never heard of owls of +that colour. Moreover, it had not the look nor flight of an owl. +Was it a bird at all? or whatever it was, was it the cause of the +blood? This did not appear likely to Leon, who still had his +thoughts bent upon the snakes.</p> + +<p>While he was revolving these questions in his mind, he again +turned and looked toward the foot of the hammock. The sight +caused him a thrill of horror. There was the hideous creature, +which, he had just seen, right over the bleeding foot. It was not +perched, but suspended in the air on its moving wings, with its long +snout protruded forward and pressed against the toe of the sleeper! +Its sharp white teeth were visible in both jaws, and its small vicious +eyes glistened under the light of the fires. The red hair covering its +body and large membranous wings added to the hideousness of its +aspect, and a more hideous creature could not have been conceived. +<i>It was the vampire</i>,—the blood-sucking <i>phyllostoma</i>!</p> + +<p>A short cry escaped from the lips of Leon. It was not a cry of +pain, but the contrary. The sight of the great bat, hideous as the +creature was, relieved him. He had all along been under the painful +impression that some venomous serpent had caused the blood to flow,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">266</a></span> +and now he had no further fear on that score. He knew that there +was no poison in the wound inflicted by the phyllostoma—only the +loss of a little blood; and this quieted his anxieties at once. He +resolved, however, to punish the intruder; and not caring to rouse +the camp by firing, he stole a little closer, and aimed a blow with the +butt of his pistol.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 347px;"> +<img src="images/illus-266.jpg" width="347" height="500" alt="THE VAMPIRE BAT." title="THE VAMPIRE BAT." /> +<span class="caption">THE VAMPIRE BAT.</span></div> + +<p>The blow was well aimed, and brought the bat to the ground, +but its shrill screeching awoke everybody, and in a few moments the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">267</a></span> +camp was in complete confusion. The sight of the blood on the foot +of the little Leona quite terrified Doña Isidora and the rest; but +when the cause was explained, all felt reassured and thankful that +the thing was no worse. The little foot was bound up in a rag; and +although, for two or three days after, it was not without pain, yet no +bad effects came of it.</p> + +<p>The “blood-sucking” bats do not cause death either to man, or any +other animal, by a single attack. All the blood they can draw out +amounts to only a few ounces, although after their departure, the +blood continues to run from the open wound. It is by repeating +their attacks night after night that the strength of an animal becomes +exhausted, and it dies from sheer loss of blood and consequent faintness. +With animals this is far from being a rare occurrence. +Hundreds of horses and cattle are killed every year in the South +American pastures. These creatures suffer, perhaps, without knowing +from what cause, for the phyllostoma performs its cupping +operation without causing the least pain—at all events the sleeper is +very rarely awakened by it.</p> + +<p>It is easy to understand how it sucks the blood of its victim, for its +snout and the leafy appendage around its mouth—from whence it +derives the name “phyllostoma”—are admirably adapted to that end. +But how does it make the puncture to “let” the blood? That is as +yet a mystery among naturalists, as it also is among the people +who are habitually its victims. Even Guapo could not explain the +process. The large teeth—of which it has got quite a mouthful—seem +altogether unfitted to make a hole such as is found where the +“phyllostoma” has been at work. Their bite, moreover, would awake +the soundest sleeper.</p> + +<p>Besides these, it has neither fangs, nor stings, nor proboscis, that +would serve the purpose. How then does its reach the blood? Many +theories have been offered; some assert that it rubs the skin with its +snout until its brings it to bleeding: others say that it sets the sharp +point of one of its large tusks against the part, and then by plying +its wings wheels round and round, as upon a pivot, until the point +has penetrated—that during this operation the motion of the wings +fans and cools the sleeping victim, so that no pain is felt. It may be +a long while before this curious question is solved, on account of the +difficulty of observing a creature whose habits are nocturnal, and +most of whose deeds are “done in the dark.”</p> + +<p>People have denied the existence of such a creature as the blood-sucking +bat—even naturalists have gone so far. They can allege no +better grounds for their incredulity than that the thing has an air of +the fabulous and horrible about it. But this is not philosophy. +Incredulity is the characteristic of the half-educated. It may be +carried too far, and the fables of the vulgar have often a stratum of +truth at the bottom. There is one thing that is almost intolerable, +and that is the conceit of the “closet-naturalist,” who sneers at +everything as untrue that seems to show the least <i>design</i> on the part +of the brute creation—who denies everything that appears at all +singular or fanciful, and simply because it appears so. With the +truthful observations that have been made upon the curious domestic +economy of such little creatures as bees, and wasps, and ants, we +ought to be cautious how we reject statements about the habits of +other animals, however strange they may appear.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">268</a></span></p> + +<p>Who doubts that a mosquito will perch itself upon the skin of a human +being, pierce it with its proboscis, and suck away until it is gorged +with blood! Why does it appear strange that a bat should do the same?</p> + +<p>Now your closet-naturalist will believe that the bat <i>does</i> suck the +blood of cattle and horses, but denies that it will attack man! This +is sheer nonsense. What difference to the vampire, whether its +victim be a biped or quadruped? Is it fear of the former that would +prevent it from attacking him? Perhaps it may never have seen a +human being before: besides, it attacks its victim while asleep, and +is rarely ever caught or punished in the act. Where these creatures +are much hunted or persecuted by man, they may learn to fear him, +and their original habits may become changed, but that is quite +another thing.</p> + +<p>As nature has formed them, the blood-sucking bats will make their +attack indifferently, either upon man or large quadrupeds. There +are a thousand proofs to be had in all the tropical regions of America. +Every year animals are killed by the <i>phyllostoma hastatum</i>, not in +hundreds, but in thousands. It is recorded that on one extensive +cattle-farm several hundred head were killed in the short period of +six months by the bats; and the vaqueros, who received a bounty +upon every bat they should capture, in one year succeeded in destroying +the enormous number of <i>seven thousand</i>! Indeed, “bat-hunting” +is followed by some as a profession, so eager are the owners +of the cattle-farms to get rid of these pests.</p> + +<p>Many tribes of Indians and travellers suffer great annoyance from +the vampire-bats. Some persons never go to sleep without covering +themselves with blankets, although the heat be ever so oppressive. +Any part left naked will be attacked by the “phyllostoma”, but they +seem to have a preference for the tip of the great toe—perhaps because +they have found that part more habitually exposed. Sometimes +one sleeper is “cupped” by them, while another will not be +molested; and this, I may observe, is true also of the mosquitoes. +There may be some difference as to the state of the blood of two individuals, +that leads to this fastidious preference. Some are far more +subject to their attack than others—so much so that they require to +adopt every precaution to save themselves from being bled to death. +Cayenne pepper rubbed over the skin is used to keep them off, and +also to cure the wound they have made; but even this sometimes +proves ineffective.</p> + +<p>Of course there are many species of bats in South America besides +the vampire; in fact, there is no class of mammalia more numerous +in genera and species, and no part of the world where greater numbers +are found than in the tropical regions of America. Some are insect-eaters, +while others live entirely on vegetable substances; but all have +the same unsightly and repulsive appearance. The odour of some kinds +is extremely fetid and disagreeable.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding this, they are eaten by many tribes of Indians, +and even the French Creoles of Guiana have their “bat-soup,” which +they relish highly. The proverb “<i>De gustibus non disputandum est</i>,” +seems to be true for all time. The Spanish Americans have it in the phrase +“<i>Cada uno a su gusto</i>;” “<i>Chacun à son goût</i>,” say the French; +and on hearing these tales about “ant-paste,” and “roast monkey,” +and “armidillo done in the shell,” and “bat-soup,” you, boy reader, +will not fail to exclaim “Every one to his liking.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">269</a></span></p> + +<p>The vampire appeared to be to Guapo's liking. It was now his +turn to keep watch, and as the rest of them got into their hammocks, +and lay awake for a while, they saw him take up the bat, spit it upon +a forked stick, and commence broiling it over the fire. Of course <i>he +ate it</i>!</p> + +<p>When morning came, and they had got up, what was their astonishment +to see no less than fourteen bats lying side by side! +They were dead, of course: Guapo had killed them all during his +watch. They had appeared at one period of the night in alarming +numbers, and Guapo had done battle manfully without awaking +anybody.</p> + +<p>Another curious tableau came under their notice shortly after. +Just as they were about to embark, a singular looking tree was observed +growing near the bank of the river. At first they thought the tree +was covered with birds'-nests, or pieces of some kind of moss. Indeed, +it looked more like a tree hung over with rags than anything else. +Curiosity led them to approach it. What was their astonishment to +find that the nests, moss, or rags, were neither more or less than a +vast assemblage of bats suspended, and asleep! They were hanging +in all possible positions; some with their heads down, some by the +claws upon either wing, and some by both, while a great many had +merely hooked over the branch the little horny curvature of their +tails. Some hung down along the trunk, suspended by a crack in the +bark, while others were far out upon the branches.</p> + +<p>It was certainly the oddest “roost” that any of the party (Guapo, +perhaps, excepted) had ever witnessed; and, after gazing at it for +some time, they turned away without disturbing the sleepers, and +getting on board once more, floated adown the stream swiftly and +silently.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE MARIMONDAS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>hat day they made good progress, having dropped down the river +a distance of fifty miles at least. They might even have gone farther, +but a good camping-place offered, and they did not like to pass it, as +they might not find another so convenient. It was a muddy bank, +or rather a promontory that ran out into the river, and was entirely +without trees, or any other vegetation, as it was annually overflowed, +and formed, in fact, part of the bed of the river. At this time the +mud was quite dry and smooth, and appeared as if it had been +paddled and beaten down by the feet of animals and birds. This +was, in fact, the case, for the point was a favourite resting-place for +the “chiguires,” or “capivaras,” on their passage to and from the +water. There were tracks of tapirs, too, and peccaries, and many +sorts of wading birds, that had been there while the mud was still +soft.</p> + +<p>There were no trees to which to hang their hammocks, but the +ground was smooth and dry, and they could sleep well enough upon +it. They would not be troubled with the bats, as these creatures +keep mostly in the dark shadowy places of the forest; and snakes +would not likely be found out on the bare ground. They thought +they would there be safer from jaguars, too. In fact, it was from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">270</a></span> +these considerations that they had chosen the place for their camp. +They could go to the woods for an armful or two of sticks to cook +supper with, and that would suffice.</p> + +<p>The balza was brought close in on the upper side of the promontory, +so as to be out of the current; and then all landed and made +their preparations for passing the night. Guapo marched off with +his axe to get some firewood, and Leon accompanied him to assist +in carrying it. They had not far to go—only a hundred yards or so, +for up at the end of the promontory the forest began, and there +were both large trees and underwood.</p> + +<p>As they walked forward one species of trees caught their attention. +They were palm-trees, but of a sort they had not yet met with. They +were very tall, with a thick, globe-shaped head of pinnate, plume-like +leaves. But what rendered these trees peculiar was the stem. +It was slender in proportion to the height of the tree, and was +thickly covered with long needle-shaped spines, not growing irregularly, +but set in bands, or rings, around the tree. This new palm +was the “pupunha,” or “peach-palm,” as it is called, from the +resemblance which its fruits bear to peaches. It is also named +“pirijao” in other parts of South America, and it belongs to the +genus “<i>Gullielma</i>.”</p> + +<p>At the tops of these trees, under the great globe of leaves, Guapo +and Leon perceived the nuts. They were hanging in clusters, as +grapes grow; but the fruits were as large as apricots, of an oval, +triangular shape, and of a beautiful reddish yellow colour. That +they were delicious eating, either roasted or boiled, Guapo well +knew; and he was determined that some of them should be served +at supper. But how were they to be reached? No man could climb +such a tree as they grew upon! The needles would have torn the +flesh from any one who should have attempted it.</p> + +<p>Guapo knew this. He knew, moreover, that the Indians, who are +very fond of the fruit of this tree,—so much so that they plant large +<i>palmares</i> of it around their villages—have a way of climbing it to +get at the ripe clusters. They tie cross pieces of wood from one tree +to the other, and thus make a sort of step-ladder, by which they +ascend to the fruit. It is true, they might easily cut down the trees, +as the trunks are not very thick; but that would be killing the +goose that gave the golden eggs.</p> + +<p>Guapo, however, had no farther interest in this wild orchard than +to make it serve his turn for that one night; so, laying his axe to +one of the “pupunhas,” he soon levelled its majestic stem to the +ground. Nothing more remained than to lop off the clusters, any one +of which was as much as Leon could lift from the ground. Guapo +found the wood hard enough even in its green state, but when old it +becomes black, and is then so hard that it will turn the edge of an +axe. There is, perhaps, no wood in all South America harder than +that of the pirijao palm.</p> + +<p>It is with the needle-like spines of this species that many tribes of +Indians puncture their skins in tattooing themselves, and other uses +are made by them of different parts of this noble tree. The macaws, +parrots, and other fruit-eating birds, are fonder of the nuts of the +pupunha than perhaps any other species; and so, too, would be the +fruit-eating quadrupeds if they could get at them. But the thorny +trunk renders them quite inaccessible to all creatures without wings,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">271</a></span> +excepting man himself. No; there is one other exception, and that +is a creature closely allied to man, I mean the <i>monkey</i>.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the thorny stem, which even man cannot scale +without a contrivance; notwithstanding the apparently inaccessible +clusters—inaccessible from their great height—there is a species of +monkey that manages now and then to get a meal of them. How do +these monkeys manage it? Not by climbing the stem, for the thorns +are too sharp even for them. How then? Do the nuts fall to the +ground and allow the monkeys to gather them? No. This is not the +case. How then? We shall see!</p> + +<p>Guapo and Leon had returned to the camp, taking with them the +pupunha fruit and the firewood. A fire was kindled, the cooking-pot +hung over it on a tripod, and they all sat around to wait for its +boiling.</p> + +<p>While thus seated, an unusual noise reached their ears coming +from the woods. There were parrots and macaws among the palms +making noise enough, and fluttering about, but it was not these. +The noise that had arrested the attention of our travellers was a +mixture of screaming, and chattering, and howling, and barking, +as if there were fifty sorts of creatures at the making of it. The +bushes, too, were heard “switching about,” and now and then a dead +branch would crack, as if snapped suddenly. To a stranger in these +woods such a blending of sounds would have appeared very mysterious +and inexplicable. Not so to our party. They knew it was only +a troop of monkeys passing along upon one of their journeys. From +their peculiar cries, Guapo knew what kind of monkeys they were.</p> + +<p>“<i>Marimondas</i>,” he said.</p> + +<p>The marimondas are not true “howlers,” although they are of the +same tribe as the “howling monkeys.” They belong to the genus +<i>Ateles</i>, so called because they want the thumb, and are therefore +<i>imperfect</i> or <i>unfinished</i> as regards the hands. But what the ateles +want in hands is supplied by another member—the tail, and this +they have to all perfection. It is to them a fifth hand, and apparently +more useful than the other four. It assists them very materially in +travelling through the tree-tops. They use it to bring objects +nearer them. They use it to suspend themselves in a state of repose, +and thus suspended, they sleep—nay more, thus suspended they often +die! Of all the monkey tribe the ateles are those that have most +prehensile power in their tails.</p> + +<p>There are several species of them known—the coaita, the white-faced, +the black cayou, the beelzebub, the chamek, the black-handed, +and the marimonda. The habits of all are very similar, though the +species differ in size and colour.</p> + +<p>The marimonda is one of the largest of South American monkeys, +being about three feet standing upon its hind-legs, with a tail of +immense length, thick and strong near the root, and tapering to +a point. On its under side, for the last foot or so from the end, +there is no hair, but a callous skin, and this is the part used for +holding on to the branches. The marimonda is far from being a +handsome monkey. Its long, thin arms and thumbless hands give it +an attenuated appearance, which is not relieved by the immense +disproportioned tail. It is reddish, or of a parched coffee colour, on +the upper part of the body, which becomes blanched on the throat, +belly, and insides of the thighs. Its colour, in fact, is somewhat<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">272</a></span> +of the hue of the half-blood Indian and Negro,—hence the marimonda +is known in some parts of Spanish America by the name of “mono zambo,” +or “zambo” monkey—a “zambo” being the descendant +of Indian and Negro parents.</p> + +<p>The noise made by the marimondas which had been heard by our +party seemed to proceed from the bank of the river, some distance +above the promontory; but it was evidently growing louder every +minute, and they judged that the monkeys were approaching.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes they appeared in sight, passing along the upper +part of a grove of trees that stood close to the water. Our travellers +had now an excellent view of them, and they sat watching them +with interest. Their mode of progression was extremely curious. +They never came to the ground, but where the branches interlocked +they ran from one to the other with the lightning speed of squirrels, +or, indeed, like birds upon the wing.</p> + +<p>Sometimes, however, the boughs stood far apart. Then the marimonda, +running out as far as the branch would bear him, would +wrap a few inches of his tail around it and spring off into the air. +In the spring he would give himself such an impetus as would cause +the branch to revolve, and his body following this circular motion, +with the long thin arms thrown out in front, he would grasp the first +branch that he could reach. This, of course, would land him on a +new tree, and over that he would soon spring to the next.</p> + +<p>Among the troop several females were perceived with their young. +The latter were carried on the backs of the mothers, where they +held on by means of their own little tails, feeling perfectly secure. +Sometimes the mothers would dismount them, and cause them to +swing themselves from branch to branch, going before to show them +the way. This was witnessed repeatedly. In other places, where +the intervening space was too wide for the females with their young +to pass over, the males could be seen bending down a branch of +the opposite tree, so as to bring it nearer, and assist them in crossing. +All these movements were performed amidst a constant +gabble of conversation, and shouting, and chattering, and the noise +of branches springing back to their places.</p> + +<p>The grove through which the troop was passing ended just by the +edge of the promontory. The palm-trees succeeded, with some trees +of large size that grew over them.</p> + +<p>The marimondas at length reached the margin of the grove, and +then they were all seen to stop, most of them throwing themselves, +heads down, and hanging only by their tails. This is the position in +which they find themselves best prepared for any immediate action; +and it is into this attitude they throw themselves when suddenly +alarmed. They remained so for some minutes; and from the chattering +carried on among them, it was evident that they were engaged in +deliberation. A loud and general scream proclaimed the result; and +all of them, at one and the same instant, dropped down to the ground, +and were seen crossing over among the palm-trees.</p> + +<p>They had to pass over a piece of open ground with only some weeds +upon it; but their helplessness on the ground was at once apparent. +They could not place their palms on the surface, but doubled them +up and walked, as it were, on the backs of their hands in the most +awkward manner. Every now and again, they flung out their great +tails, in hopes of grasping something that would help them along;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">273</a></span> +and even a large weed was a welcome support to them. On the +ground they were evidently “out of their element.” In fact, the +<i>ateles</i> rarely descend from the trees, which are their natural +<i>habitat</i>.</p> + +<p>At length they reached the palms; and, seated in various attitudes, +looked up at the tempting fruit, all the while chattering away. How +were they to reach it? Not a tree that was not covered with long +needles—not a bunch of the luscious fruit that was not far above the +height of the tallest marimonda! How were they to get at it?—that +was the question. It might have been a puzzling question to so +many boys—to the monkeys it was not; for in less than a score of +seconds they had settled it in their minds how the pupunhas were to +be plucked.</p> + +<p>Rising high over the palms grew a large tree, with long out-reaching +branches. It was the “zamang” tree—a species of <i>mimosa</i>, +and one of the most beautiful trees of South America. Its trunk +rose full seventy feet without a branch; and then it spread out in +every direction in numerous horizontal limbs, that forked and forked +again until they became slender boughs. These branches were clad +with the delicate pinnate leaves that characterise the family of the +mimosas.</p> + +<p>Many of the pupunha palms grew under the shadow of this zamang, +but not the tallest ones. These were farther out. There were some, +however, whose tufted crowns reached within a few yards of the +lower limbs of the mimosa.</p> + +<p>The monkeys, after a short consultation, were seen scampering up +the zamang. Only some of the old and strong ones went—the rest +remained watching below.</p> + +<p>From the earnestness of their looks it was evident they felt a lively +interest in the result. So, too, did the party of travellers; for these +watched so closely, that the pot was in danger of boiling over.</p> + +<p>The marimondas, having climbed the trunk, ran out upon the +lowermost limbs, until they were directly above the palms. Then +one or two were seen to drop off, and hang down by their tails. But, +although, with their fore-arms at full stretch, they hung nearly five +feet from the branch, they could not even touch the highest fronds +of the palms, much less the fruit-clusters that were ten or twelve feet +farther down. They made repeated attempts; suspending themselves +over the very tallest palms, but all to no purpose.</p> + +<p>One would have supposed they would have given it up as a bad +job. So thought Doña Isidora, Leon, and the little Leona. Don +Pablo knew better by his reading, and Guapo by his experience. +When they saw that no one of them could reach the nuts, several +were seen to get together on one of the branches. After a moment +one dropped down head-foremost as before, and hung at his full +length. Another ran down the body of this one, and taking a turn +of his tail round his neck and fore-arm, skipped off and also hung +head downwards. A third joined himself on to the second in a +similar manner, and then a fourth. The fore-arms of the fourth +rested upon the fruit-cluster of the pupunha!</p> + +<p>The chain was now long enough for the purpose. In a few minutes +the last monkey on the chain, with his teeth and hands, had separated +the footstalk of the spathes, and the great clusters—two of them +there were—fell heavily to the bottom of the tree. The marimondas<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">274</a></span> +on the ground ran forward; and, in the midst of loud rejoicings +began to pull off the “peaches” and devour them.</p> + +<p>But the monkeys above did not cease their labours. There were many +mouths to feed, and they wanted more nuts. Without changing +their position, they, by means of their arms and legs, threw +themselves into a vibrating motion, and by this means the last on +the string soon seized upon another pupunha, and also detached its +fruit. In this way they continued, until they had stripped every +tree within their reach; when, judging they had got enough, the +lowermost monkey <i>climbed back upon himself</i>, then up his companions +to the branch, and in the same style was followed by the other three +in succession. As soon as they were clear of one another, the whole +party came down by the trunk to the ground, and joined their comrades +below in the luxurious repast.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE MONKEY MOTHER.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">N</span>ow you will, perhaps, imagine that Guapo, having sat so quiet +during all this scene, had no desire for a bit of roast-monkey to +supper. In that fancy, then, you would be quite astray from the +truth. Guapo had a <i>strong</i> desire to eat roast marimonda that very +night; and, had he not been held back by Don Pablo, he would +never have allowed the monkeys to get quietly out of the zamang—for +it being an isolated tree, it would have afforded him a capital +opportunity of “treeing” them. His blow-gun had been causing his +fingers to itch all the time; and as soon as Don Pablo and the rest +were satisfied with observing the monkeys, Guapo set out, blow-gun, +in hand, followed by Leon.</p> + +<p>There was no cover by which he might approach the group; and, +therefore, no course was left for him but to run up as quickly forward +as possible, and take his chance of getting a shot as they made off.</p> + +<p>This course he pursued; but, before he was within anything like +fair range, the monkeys, uttering their shrill screams, scampered +over the open ground, much faster than before, and took to the +grove, from which they had approached the spot.</p> + +<p>Guapo followed at a slashing pace, and was soon under the trees, +Leon at his heels. Here they were met by a shower of sticks, pieces +of bark, half-eaten “peaches,” and something that was far less +pleasant to their olfactory nerves! All these came from the tops of +the trees—the very tallest ones—to which the monkeys had retreated, +and where they were now hidden among the llianas and +leaves.</p> + +<p>You may fancy that it is easy to pursue a troop of monkeys in a +forest. But it is not easy—in most cases it is not <i>possible</i>. The +tangled underwood below puts a stop to the chase at once, as the +monkeys can make their way through the branches above much +quicker than the hunter can through the creeping plants below.</p> + +<p>The pursuit would have been all up with Guapo, for the marimondas +had soon got some way beyond the edge of the grove; but +just as he was turning to sulk back, his keen Indian eye caught sight +of one that was far behind the rest—so far, indeed, that it seemed +determined to seek its safety rather by hiding than by flight. It had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">275</a></span> +got under cover of a bunch of leaves, and there it lay quiet, uttering +neither sound nor syllable. Guapo could just see a little bit of its +side, and at this in an instant the gravatána was pointed. Guapo's +chest and cheeks were seen to swell out to their fullest extent, and +off went the arrow. A shriek followed—the monkey was hit—beyond +a doubt. Guapo coolly waited the result.</p> + +<p>A movement was visible among the leaves; the marimonda was +seen to turn and double about, and pluck something from its side; +and then the broken arrow came glancing among the twigs, and fell +to the ground. The monkey was now perceived to be twisting and +writhing upon the branches, and its wild death-screams was answered +by the voices of the others farther off.</p> + +<p>At length its body was seen more distinctly; it no longer thought of +concealment; but lay out along the limb; and the next moment it +dropped off. It did not fall to the ground, though. It had no design +of gratifying its cruel destroyer to that extent. No; it merely +dropped to the end of its tail, which, lapped over the branch, held it +suspended. A few convulsive vibrations followed, and it hung down +dead!</p> + +<p>Guapo was thinking in what way he might get it down, for he +knew that unless he could reach it by some means, it would hang +there until the weather rotted it off, or until some preying bird or +the tree-ants had eaten it. He thought of his axe—the tree was not +a very thick one, and it was a soft-wood tree. It would be worth the +labour of cutting it down.</p> + +<p>He was about turning away to get the axe, when his eye was +attracted by the motion of some object near the monkey.</p> + +<p>“Another!” he muttered, and sure enough, another,—a little tiny-creature,—ran +out from among the leaves, and climbed down the tail +and body of the one already shot, threw it arms around her neck and +whined piteously. It was the young one—Guapo had shot the +mother!</p> + +<p>The sight filled Leon with pity and grief; but Guapo knew nothing +of these sentiments. He had already inserted another arrow into his +gravatána, and was raising his tube to bend it, when, all at once, +there was a loud rustling among the leaves above—a large marimonda +that had returned from the band was seen springing out upon the +branch—he was the husband and father!</p> + +<p>He did not pause a moment. Instinct or quick perception taught +him that the female was dead: his object was to save the young one.</p> + +<p>He threw his long tail down, and grasped the little creature in its +firm hold, jerked it upward; and then mounting it on his back, bore +it off among the branches!</p> + +<p>All this passed so quickly, that Guapo had not time to deliver his +second arrow. Guapo saw them no more.</p> + +<p>The Indian, however, was not to be cheated out of his supper of +roasted-monkey. He walked quietly back for his axe; and bringing +it up, soon felled the tree, and took the marimond mother with him +to the camp.</p> + +<p>His next affair was to skin it, which he did by stripping the pelt +from the head, arms, legs, and all; so that after being skinned, the +creature bore a most hideous resemblance to a child!</p> + +<p>The process of cooking came next, and this Guapo made more +tedious than it might have been, as he was resolved to dress the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">276</a></span> +marimonda after the manner practised by the Indians, and which by +them is esteemed the best. He first built a little stage out of split +laths of the pupunha palm. For this a hard wood that will resist +fire a long time is necessary, and the pupunha was just the thing.</p> + +<p>Under this stage Guapo kindled a fire of dry wood, and upon the +laths he placed his monkey in a sitting posture, with its arms crossed +in front, and its head resting upon them. The fire was then blown +upon, until it became a bright blaze, which completely enveloped the +half-upright form of the monkey. There was plenty of smoke; but +this is nothing in the eyes of a South American Indian, many of +whom prefer the “smoky flavour” in a roast monkey.</p> + +<p>Guapo had now no more to do, but wait patiently until the body +should be reduced to a black and charred mass, for this is the condition +in which it is eaten by these strange people. When thus +cooked, the flesh becomes so dry that it will keep for months without +spoiling.</p> + +<p>The white people who live in the <i>monkey countries</i> eat roast monkey +as well as the Indians. Many of them, in fact, grow very fond of it. +They usually dress it, however, in a different manner. They take off +the head and hands before bringing it to the table; so that the +“child-like” appearance is less perceptible.</p> + +<p>Some species of monkeys are more delicate food than others, and +there are some kinds that <i>white</i> monkey-eaters will not touch.</p> + +<p>As for the Indians, it seems with them to be “all fish,” &c.; and +they devour all kinds indifferently, whether they be “howlers,” or +“ateles,” or “capuchins,” or “ouistitis,” or “sajous,” or “sakis,” or +whatever sort. In fact, among many Indian tribes, monkey stands +in the same place that mutton does in England; and they consider +it their staple article of flesh meat. Indeed, in these parts, no other +animal is so common as the monkey; and, with the exception of +birds and fish, they have little chance of getting any other species of +animal food. The best “Southdown” would, perhaps, be as distasteful +to them as monkey meat would be to you; so here again we are +met by that same eternal proverb,—<i>Chacun à son goût</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">AN UNEXPECTED GUEST.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">G</span>uapo sat by the fire patiently awaiting the “doing” of the marimonda. +The rest had eaten their supper, and were seated some +distance apart. They were looking out upon the broad river, and +watching the movements of the various birds. They could see tall +scarlet flamingoes on the farther shore, and smaller birds of the ibis +kind. They could see the “tiger crane,” so called from its colour and +spots resembling the markings of the jaguar. Among some tall +canes on the banks the “ciganos,” or gipsy birds, fluttered about with +their great crest, looking like so many pheasants, but far inferior to +these creatures in their flesh. In fact, the flesh of the “cigano” is so +bitter and disagreeable that even <i>Indians will not eat it</i>.</p> + +<p>Sitting upon a naked branch that projected over the water they +noticed the solitary sky-blue king-fisher. Over the water swept the +great harpy eagle—also a fisher like his white-headed cousin of the +North; and now and then flocks of muscovy ducks made the air<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">277</a></span> +resound with their strong broad wings. They saw also the “boat-bill,” +or “crab-eater,” a curious wading bird of the heron kind, with +a large bill shaped like two boats laid with their concave sides +against each other. This, like the king-fisher, sat solitarily upon a +projecting stump, now and then dashing into the shallow water, and +scooping up the small fishes, frogs, and crustacea with its huge +mandibles.</p> + +<p>Another curious bird was observed, which had something of the +appearance of the water-hen—to which kind it is also assimilated in +its habits. It was the “faithful jacana” or “chuza,” as it is called in +some places. There are several species of “jacana” in South America, +and also some species in the tropical countries of the East. That +known as the “faithful jacana” has a body about the size of a +common fowl; but its legs and neck are longer, so that when standing +it is a foot and a half in height. The body is of a brownish colour; +and there is a crest of twelve black feathers on the nape of the +neck, three inches in length. At the bend of the wings there are +horny spurs, half an inch long, with which the bird can defend itself +when attacked. It is, however, a pacific bird, and only uses them in +defence.</p> + +<p>The most singular character of the jacana is its long toes and +claws. There are four upon each foot: three in front, and one +directed backwards, and when standing these cover a base nearly as +large as the body of the bird; and, indeed, upon ordinary ground +they interfere with the freedom of its walking. But these spreading +feet were not designed for ordinary ground. They were given it to +enable it to pass lightly over the leaves of water-lilies, and other +yielding surfaces, through which a narrow-footed bird would at once +sink. Of course, as nature designed them for this purpose, they +answer admirably, and the jacana skims along the surface of lily-covered +ponds or streams without sinking. From the leaves it picks +up such insects and larvæ as lodge there, and which form its principal +food.</p> + +<p>The jacana utters a singular cry when alarmed. It remains silent +during the whole day, and also at night, unless disturbed by the approach +of some danger, when it utters its “alarm cry.” So quick is +its ear, that it can detect the least noise or rustling caused by any +one approaching. For this reason some tribes of Indians have tamed +the jacana, and use it as a sentinel or “watch-dog,” to apprise them +of the approach of their enemies during the darkness of the night. +Another use is also made of it by the Spanish-Americans. It is +tamed and allowed to go about along with the domestic poultry. +When these are attacked by hawks or other birds of prey, the jacana +defends them with its sharp wing-spurs, and generally succeeds in +beating off the enemy. It never deserts the flock, but accompanies +it in all its movements, and will defend its charge with great fury +and courage.</p> + +<p>Besides the water-birds which were noticed by our travellers, many +kinds were seen by them upon the shore and fluttering among the +trees. There were parrots in flocks, and macaws in pairs—for these +birds usually go in twos—there were trogons, and great billed toucans, +and their kindred the aracaris; and there, too, were “umbrella-chatterers,” +of which there is a species quite white; and upon a +fruit-covered tree, not far off, they saw a flock of the snow-white<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">278</a></span> +“bell-birds” (<i>Casmarhynchos</i>). These are about as large as blackbirds, +with broad bills, from the base of which grows a fleshy tubercle +that hangs down to the length of nearly three inches, like that of the +turkey-cock. The name of “bell-birds” is given to them on account +of the clear, bell-like ring of their note, which they utter about the +middle of the day, when most other creatures of the tropical world +are in silence or asleep.</p> + +<p>Of course Don Pablo as a naturalist was interested in all those +birds, and observed their habits and movements with attention. +There was none of them about which he had not some strange story +to tell, and in this way he was beguiling the after-supper hour. It +was too early for them to go to rest—indeed it was not quite sunset; +and Guapo for one had not yet had his supper, although that meal +was now very near at hand. The marimonda was becoming charred +and black, and would soon be ready for mastication.</p> + +<p>Guapo sat by the fire, now and again raking up the cinders with a +long pole which he held in his hand, while his eyes from time to time +rested on the marimonda that was directly in front of him, <i>vis-à-vis</i>.</p> + +<p>At length the monkey appeared to him to be “done to a turn,” and +with his <i>macheté</i> in one hand, and a forked stick in the other, he was +just bending forward to lift it off the fire, when, to his horror, the +ground was felt to move beneath him, causing him to stagger, and +almost throwing him from his feet! Before he could recover himself, +the surface again heaved up, and a loud report was heard, like the +explosion of some terrible engine. Then another upheaval—another +report—the ground opened into a long fissure—the staging of palms, +and the half-burned cinders, and the charred monkey, were flung in +all directions, and Guapo himself went sprawling upon his back!</p> + +<p>Was it an earthquake? So thought the others, who were now on +their feet running about in great consternation—the females screaming +loudly. So, too, thought Guapo for the moment.</p> + +<p>Their belief in its being an earthquake, however, was of short +duration. The shocks continued; the dried mud flew about in large +pieces, and the burnt wood and splinters were showered in the air. +The smoke of these covered the spot, and prevented a clear view; but +through the smoke the terrified spectators could perceive that some +large body was in motion—apparently struggling for life! In another +moment it broke through the bending stratum of mud, causing a long +rift, and there was displayed before their eyes the hideous form of a +gigantic crocodile!</p> + +<p>Though not quite so terrible as an earthquake, it was a fearful +monster to behold. It was one of the largest, being nearly twenty +feet in length, with a body thicker than that of a man. Its immense +jaws were of themselves several feet long, and its huge tusks, plainly +seen, gave it a most frightful appearance. Its mouth was thrown +open, as though it gasped for air, and a loud bellowing proceeded +from its throat that sounded like a cross between the grunting of a +hog and the lowing of a bull.</p> + +<p>The air was filled with a strong musky odour, which emanated from +the body of the animal; and, what with the noise made by the +crocodile itself, the screams and shouts of the party, the yelling of the +various birds—for they, too, had taken up the cue—there was for +some moments an utter impossibility of any voice being heard above +the rest. It was, indeed, a scene of confusion. Don Pablo and his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">279</a></span> +companions were running to and fro—Guapo was tumbling about +where he had fallen—and the great lizard was writhing and flapping +his tail, so that pots, pans, half-burnt faggots, and even Guapo's +monkey, were being knocked about in every direction.</p> + +<p>Of course such a violent scene could not be of long duration. It +must end one way or the other. Guapo, who soon came to himself, +now that he saw what it was that had pitched him over, had already +conceived a plan for terminating it. He ran for his axe, which +fortunately lay out of the range of the crocodile's tail, and having +laid his hands upon it, he approached in a stealthy manner with the +intention of striking a blow.</p> + +<p>He directed himself towards the root of the reptile's tail, for he +knew that that was the only place where a blow of the axe would +cripple it; but, just as he was getting within reach, the crocodile +suddenly shifted himself round, making his tail fly like a piece of +sprung whalebone. Guapo leaped hastily back—as hastily, I will +make bold to say, as any Indian of his years could have done, but not +quick enough to clear himself quite. He wanted about eight inches; +but in this case inches were as good as miles for the crocodile's purpose, +for about eight inches of the tip of his tail came “smack” across +Guapo's naked shins, and sent the old Indian head over heels.</p> + +<p>It was just an accident that Guapo's shanks were not broken like +sticks of sealing-wax; and had the blow been directed with the +crocodile's full force, such would have been the unhappy result. As +it was they were only “scratched,” and Guapo, leaping to his feet, +ran to recover his axe, for that weapon had flown several yards out of +his hands at the blow.</p> + +<p>By the time he laid hold of it, however, the <i>saurian</i>, was no longer +on dry ground. His newly-opened eyes—opened, perhaps, for the +first time for months—caught sight of the water close by, and crawling +forward a step or two, he launched his ugly, mud-bedaubed carcass +into the welcome element. The next moment he had dived, and was +out of sight.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE CROCODILE AND CAPIVARAS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">G</span>uapo was in no humour for enjoying the conversation of that evening. +The crocodile had “choused” him out of his favourite supper. +The monkey was literally knocked to “smithereens,” and the pieces +that still adhered together were daubed all over with mud. It wasn't +fit meat—even for an Indian—and Guapo had to content himself with +a dried plantain and a stew of jerked horse-flesh.</p> + +<p>Of course Don Pablo and the rest examined with curiosity the great +hole in the mud that had contained the crocodile. There it had lain +during months of the dry season in a state of torpidity, and would, +no doubt, have remained still longer, but that it was aroused by the +big fire that Guapo had built over it. The irritation produced by this +had been the cause of its sudden resurrection, for the crocodiles that +thus bury themselves usually come out after the beginning of the +heavy rains.</p> + +<p>It was a true long-snouted crocodile, as Don Pablo had observed in +the short opportunity he had had; and not an alligator—for it must<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">280</a></span> +be here remarked, that the true crocodile is found in many parts of +Spanish America, and also in many of the West Indian Islands. For +a long time it was believed that only alligators existed in America, +and that the crocodiles were confined to the Eastern Continent. It +is now known that at least one species of crocodile is an American +animal, and several distinct species of alligators are inhabitants of +the New World.</p> + +<p>There is the alligator of the Mississippi—which is the “caïman” or +“cayman” of the Spanish Americans; there is the spectacled alligator, +a southern species, so called from a pair of rings around its +eyes having a resemblance to spectacles; and there is a still smaller +species called the “bava,” which is found in Lake Valencia, and in +many South American rivers. The last kind is much hunted by the +Indians, who, although they eat parts of all these creatures, are fonder +of the flesh of the bava than of any of the others.</p> + +<p>They had not intended to keep watch this night, as the naked +promontory seemed to be a safe place to sleep upon; but now, after +their adventure with the crocodile, they changed their minds, and +they resolved to mount guard as before. The monster might easily +crawl out of the water again, and, judging from the size of his +mouth, it is not improbable to suppose that he might have swallowed +one of the smaller individuals of the party at a single effort. Lest +he might return to use either his teeth or his tail, the watch was +set as on other nights—Leon taking the first turn, Guapo the second, +and Don Pablo sitting it out till daybreak. The night passed +through, however, without any unusual disturbance; and although +an occasional plunge was heard in the water close by, no more was +seen of the crocodile until morning.</p> + +<p>I have said <i>until</i> morning—for he was seen then. Yes! indeed. +That beauty was not going to let them off without giving them +another peep at him—not he.</p> + +<p>They were awake and up before day; and as the fire had been kept +burning all night, they had now nothing more to do than rake up +the embers, and hang on the coffee-kettle. It was not yet bright +day when breakfast was already cooked, and they sat down to eat +it.</p> + +<p>While engaged in this operation, they noticed a string of flamingoes +on the muddy promontory, at the end where it joined the land. +They were ranged in line, like soldiers, some of them balanced on one +long thin leg, as these birds do. They appeared in the grey light to be +unusually tall; but when it became a little clearer, our travellers +could perceive that they were not upon the ground, but standing +upon an old log. This, of course, made them look taller. They +were just in the very track by which Guapo and Leon had passed to +get the wood the evening before. Now, neither Guapo nor Leon +remembered any log. They were certain there was none there, else +they would have cut it up for firewood, that was a sure thing; and +it was very mysterious who could have rolled a log there during the +night!</p> + +<p>While discussing this point it became clearer; and, to the astonishment +of all, what they had taken to be an old log turned out to be +nothing else than their old friend the crocodile! I have said to the +astonishment of all—that is not strictly correct. Guapo saw nothing +to astonish him in that sight. He had witnessed a similar one many<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">281</a></span> +a time, and so does every one who travels either on the Amazon or +the Orinoco.</p> + +<p>These flamingoes were perfectly safe, so far as the crocodile was +concerned, and they knew it. As long as they kept out of the reach +of his jaws and tail, he could not hurt them. Although he could +bend himself to either side, so as to “kiss” the tip of his own tail, he +could not reach any part of his back, exert himself as he might. This +the flamingoes and other birds well know, and these creatures being +fond of a place to perch upon, often avail themselves of the long +serrated back of the crocodile, or the caïman.</p> + +<p>As the day became brighter the flamingoes sat still—not appearing +to be alarmed by the movements at the camp, which was about an +hundred yards distant from their perch. It was likely they had +never been frightened by the hunter, for these birds in districts +where they are hunted are exceedingly shy. All at once, however, +as if by a given signal, the whole flock rose together, and flew off +with loud screams. The crocodile, too, was seen to move, but it was +not this which had scared them off. It was after they had gone that +he had stirred himself; and even, had it not been so, they would not +have regarded his movements, as these birds are often seen perched +upon a <i>crawling</i> crocodile!</p> + +<p>No. Something else had affrighted them, and that was a noise in +the bushes beyond, which was now distinctly heard at the camp. +There was a rustling of leaves and a crackling of branches, as if more +than one creature made the noise. So it appeared, for the next +moment nearly a score of animals dashed out of the bushes, and ran +on towards the water.</p> + +<p>These creatures were odd enough to fix the attention of the party +at the camp. They were about the size of small hogs—very much of +the same build—and covered with a thin sandy bristly hair, just like +some hogs are. They were not “pig-headed,” however. Their heads +were exactly like those of the grey rabbit, and instead of hoofs they +were toed and clawed. This gave them altogether a lighter appearance +than hogs, and yet they did not run as fast, although when +first noticed they appeared to be doing their best.</p> + +<p>Our travellers knew them at once, for they were animals that are +common upon the rivers in all the warm parts of South America. +They were “<i>capivaras</i>,” or “chiguires,” as they are also called. These +creatures are peculiar to the American continent. They are, in fact, +“guinea-pigs” on a large scale, and bear the greatest resemblance +to those well-known animals, except in size and colour; for the +capivaras are of uniform sandy brown.</p> + +<p>They are of the same genus as the guinea-pigs, though the systematizers +have put them into a separate one, and have also made a +third genus to suit another animal of very similar shape and habits. +This is the “moco,” which is between the guinea-pig and capivara in +size, and of a greyish olive colour. All three are natives of South +America, and in their wild state are found only there, though from +the absurd name “guinea-pig,” you may be led to think that this +little creature came originally from Africa.</p> + +<p>The three are all “rodent” animals, and the capivara is the largest +“rodent” that is known. It, moreover, is amphibious, quite as much +so as the tapir, and is found only near the banks of rivers. It is +more at home in the water than on dry land, or perhaps it has more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">282</a></span> +numerous enemies on land; though, poor, persecuted creature! it is +not without some in either element, as will be seen by what follows.</p> + +<p>The drove of the capivaras counted nearly a score, and they were +making for the water as fast as their legs could carry them. The +crocodile lay directly across their path, but their black eyes, large +and prominent, seemed to be occupied with something behind; and +they had run up almost against the body of the reptile before they +saw it. Uttering a sort of squeak they made a half-pause. Some +sprang up and leaped over—others attempted to go round. All +succeeded except one; but the crocodile, on seeing their approach—no +doubt it was for this he had been in wait all the morning—had +thrown himself into the form of a half-moon; and as they passed +he let fly at them. His powerful tail came “flap” against the +nearest, and it was pitched several yards, where, after a kick or two, +it lay upon its side as dead as a herring, a door-nail, or even Julius +Cæsar—take your choice.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">FIGHT OF THE JAGUAR AND CROCODILE.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he chiguires that escaped past the crocodile, the next instant +plunged into the river, and disappeared under the water. They +would come to the surface for breath in ten or twelve minutes, but +at such a distance off that they needed no longer fear pursuit from +the same enemy.</p> + +<p>Our travellers took no notice of them from the moment they were +fairly out of the bushes. They saw that the crocodile had knocked +one of them over; but the eyes of Guapo and Don Pablo were +directed upon a different place—the point at which the chiguires had +sallied out of the underwood. These knew that the animals had +not issued forth in their natural way, as if they were going to the +stream to drink, or in search of food. No—quite different. Their +bristles were erect—they were excited—they were terrified—beyond +a doubt they were pursued!</p> + +<p>Who or what was their pursuer? It might be an ocelot, or the +yaguarundi, or some one of the smaller cats; for many of these prey +on the defenceless capivara. It <i>might</i> be one of these, thought Don +Pablo and Guapo; but what if it was not? What else could it be? +What else? <i>The jaguar!</i></p> + +<p>It <i>was</i> the jaguar? As they stood gazing with looks full of +apprehension, the leaves of the underwood were seen to move, and +then a beautiful but terrible object, the spotted head of a jaguar, +was thrust forth. It remained a moment as if reconnoitring, and +then the whole body, bright and glistening, glided clear of the +leaves, and stood boldly out in front of the underwood. Here it +halted another moment—only a moment. The crocodile had turned +itself, and was about closing its jaws upon the body of the chiguire, +when the jaguar seeing this, uttered a loud scream, and making one +bound forward, seized the dead animal almost at the same instant.</p> + +<p>They were now face to face,—the great lizard and the great cat; +and their common prey was between them. Each had a firm hold +with his powerful jaws, and each appeared determined to keep +what he had got. The yellow eyes of the jaguar seemed to flash fire,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">283</a></span> +and the black sunken orbs of the saurian glared with a lurid and +deadly light. It was a terrible picture to look upon.</p> + +<p>For some seconds both remained apparently gazing into each +other's eyes, and firmly holding the prey between them. The tail +of the jaguar vibrated in sudden angry jerks, while that of the +crocodile lay bent into a semicircle, as if ready to be sprung at +a moment's notice.</p> + +<p>This inaction did not last long. The fury of the jaguar was +evidently on the increase. He was indignant that he, the king of +the American forest, should thus meet with opposition to his will; +and, indeed, the crocodile was about the only creature in all the +wide Montaña that dare oppose him in open fight. But he was +determined to conquer even this enemy, and for that purpose he +prepared himself.</p> + +<p>Still holding on to the capivara, and watching his opportunity, +he sprang suddenly forward, throwing one of his great paws far in +advance. His object was to <i>claw the eye</i> of his adversary; for he +well knew that the latter was vulnerable neither upon its long +snout, nor its gaunt jaws, nor even upon the tough scaly skin of its +throat. Its eyes alone could be injured, and these were the objects +of the jaguar's attack.</p> + +<p>The thrust was a failure. The crocodile had anticipated such +a manœuvre, and suddenly raising himself on his fore-legs, threw up +one of his great scaly hands and warded off the blow. The jaguar +fearing to be clutched between the strong fore-arms of the saurian, +drew back to his former position.</p> + +<p>This manœuvre, and its counter-manœuvre, were repeated several +times, and although each time the struggle lasted a little longer +than before, and there was a good deal of lashing of tails and tearing +of teeth, and scratching of claws, still neither of the combatants +seemed to gain any great advantage. Both were now at the height +of their fury, and a third enemy approaching the spot would not +have been heeded by either.</p> + +<p>From the first the head of the crocodile had been turned to the +water, from which he was not distant over ten feet. He had, in fact, +been carrying his prey towards it when he was interrupted by the +attack of the jaguar; and now at every fresh opportunity he was +pushing on, bit by bit, in that direction. He knew that in his own +proper element he would be more than a match for his spotted +assailant, and no doubt he might have escaped from the contest by +surrendering his prey. Had he been a smaller crocodile he would +have been only too glad to have done so; but trusting to his size +and strength, and perhaps not a little to the justice of his cause, he +was determined not to go without taking the capivara along with +him.</p> + +<p>The jaguar, on the other hand, was just as determined he should +not. He, too, had some rights. The capivara would not have been +killed so easily, had he not frightened it from behind; besides, the +crocodile was out of his element. He was poaching on the domain +of the forest monarch.</p> + +<p>Bit by bit, the crocodile was gaining ground—at each fresh pause +in the struggle he was forging forward, pushing the chiguire before +him, and of course causing his antagonist to make ground backwards.</p> + +<p>The jaguar at length felt his hind-feet in the water; and this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">284</a></span> +seemed to act upon him like a shock of electricity. All at once he +let go his hold of the capivara, ran a few feet forward, and then +flattening his body along the ground, prepared himself for a mighty +spring. Before a second had passed, he launched his body high into +the air, and descended upon the back of the crocodile just over his +fore-shoulders! He did not settle there, but ran nimbly down the +back of the saurian towards its hinder part, and its claws could +be heard rattling against its scaly skin.</p> + +<p>In a moment more he was seen close-squatted along the crocodile's +body, and with his teeth tearing fiercely at the root of its tail. He +knew that after the eyes this was the most vulnerable part of his +antagonist, and if he had been allowed but a few minutes' time, he +would soon have disabled the crocodile; for to have seriously +wounded the root of his tail, would have been to have destroyed his +essential weapon of offence.</p> + +<p>The jaguar would have succeeded had the encounter occurred only +a dozen yards farther from the water. But the crocodile was close +to the river's edge, and perceiving the advantage against him, and +that there was no hope of dismounting his adversary, he dropped +the capivara, and crawling forward, plunged into the water. When +fairly launched, he shot out from the shore like an arrow, carrying +the jaguar along, and the next moment he had dived to the depth of +the stream. The water was lashed into foam by the blows of his feet +and tail; but in the midst of the froth, the yellow body of the jaguar +was seen rising to the surface, and after turning once or twice, as if +searching for his hated enemy, the creature headed for the bank and +climbed out. He stood for a moment looking back into the stream. +He appeared less cowed than angry and disappointed. He seemed +to vow a future revenge; and then seizing the half-torn carcass of +the capivara, he threw it lightly over his shoulder and trotted off +into the thicket.</p> + +<p>Our travellers had not watched this scene either closely or continuously. +They had been too busy all the time. From its commencement +they had been doing all in their power to get away from +the spot; for they dreaded lest the jaguar might either first overpower +the crocodile and then attack them, or being beaten off by +the latter, might take it into his head to revenge himself by killing +whatever he could. With these apprehensions, therefore, they had +hastily carried everything aboard, and drawing in their cable, pushed +the balza from the shore. When the fight came to an end, they had +got fairly into the current, and just as the jaguar disappeared, the +raft was gliding swiftly down the broad and rippling stream.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XL.</h2> + +<div class="cap">ADVENTURE WITH AN ANACONDA.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">F</span>or several days they voyaged down-stream, without any occurrence +of particular interest. Once or twice they saw Indians upon the +shore; but these, instead of putting off in their canoes, seemed +frightened at so large a craft, and remained by their “maloccas,” or +great village-houses, in each of which several families live together. +Not caring to have any dealings with them, our travellers were only +too glad to get past without molestation; and, therefore, when they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">285</a></span> +passed any place where they thought they observed the signs of +Indians on the bank, they kept on for hours after, without stopping.</p> + +<p>A curious incident occurred one evening as they were bringing the +balza to her moorings, which compelled them to drop a little farther +down-stream, and, in fact, almost obliged them to float all night, +which would have been a dangerous matter, as the current at the +place happened to be sharp and rapid.</p> + +<p>They had been on the look-out for some time for a good camping-place, +as it was their usual hour to stop. No opening, however, appeared +for several miles. The banks on both sides were thickly-wooded +to the river's edge, and the branches of the trees even +drooped into the water. At length they came in sight of a natural +raft that had been formed by driftwood in a bend of the stream; +and as the logs lay thickly together, and even piled upon each other, +it appeared an excellent place to encamp on. It was, at all events, +better than to attempt to penetrate the thick jungles which met +them everywhere else; and so the balza was directed towards the +raft, and soon floated alongside it.</p> + +<p>They had already got ashore on the raft, which was dry and firm, +and would have served their purpose well enough; when, all at +once, Guapo was heard uttering one of those exclamations, which +showed that all was not right. The rest looked towards him for +an explanation. He was standing by the edge of the floating +timber, just where the balza touched it, with his arms stretched out +in an attitude that betokened trouble. They all ran up. They saw +what was the matter at a glance. Thousands of red ants were +climbing from the raft to the balza! Thousands,—nay, it would be +nearer the truth to say millions!</p> + +<p>At one glance Don Pablo saw that it would be a terrible calamity, +should these creatures gain a lodgment on the balza. Not only were +they the dreaded stinging ants, but in a short time nothing on board +would be left. In a few hours they would have eaten all his stores,—his +bark, his vanilla, and his roots. Already quite a number had got +upon the canoe, and were crossing it toward the body of the balza.</p> + +<p>Without saying another word, he ordered all to get on board as +quickly as possible, each taking some utensil that had already been +carried on shore. He and Guapo flew to the poles; and, having +hastily unfastened and drawn in the cable, they pushed the balza +out into the stream. Then while Guapo managed the great oar, Don +Pablo, assisted by Leon and by Doña Isidora, went to work with +scoops and pails, dashing water upon the ants; until every one of +them had disappeared, drowned in the canoe or washed off into the +river. Fortunate for them, they had observed this strange enemy +in time. Had they not done so—in other words, had they gone to +sleep, leaving the balza where it was during the night—they would +have awakened in the morning to find their stores completely destroyed, +their labour of a year brought to nothing in the space of a +single night. This is no uncommon occurrence to the merchant or +the colonist of tropical America.</p> + +<p>They had made a narrow escape, but a fortunate one. They were +not without their troubles, however. No open ground could be found +for miles below; and, as it was growing dark, they approached the +thickly-wooded bank; and, after a good deal of scratching among +the branches, at length succeeded in making the cable fast to a tree.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">286</a></span> +The balza then swung round, and floated at the end of the cable, +half of it being buried under the long hanging branches.</p> + +<p>They spent their night on board, for it was no use attempting to +to get on shore through the underwood; and even if they had, they +could not have encamped very comfortably in a thicket. On the +other hand, the balza did not afford the best accommodation for +sleeping. The little “toldo,” or cabin, was not large enough to swing +a hammock in. It would only contain a few persons seated close together; +and it had been built more for the purpose of keeping the +sun off during the hot hours of the day than for sleeping in. The +rest of the balza was occupied with the freight; and this was so +arranged with sloping sides, thatched with the bussu-leaves, that +there was no level place where one could repose upon it. The night, +therefore, was passed without very much sleep having been obtained +by any one of the party. Of course, the moment the first streaks of +day began to appear along the Eastern sky, they were all awake and +ready to leave their disagreeable anchorage.</p> + +<p>As they were making preparations to untie the cable, they noticed +that just below where the balza lay, a horizontal limb stretched far +out over the river. It was the lowermost limb of a large zamang-tree, +that stood on the bank close to the edge of the water. It was +not near the surface, but a good many feet above. Still it was not +certain that it was high enough for the roof of the toldo to clear it. +That was an important question; for although the current was not +very rapid just there, it was sufficiently so to carry the balza under +this branch before they could push it out into the stream. Once the +cable was let go, they must inevitably pass under the limb of the +zamang; and if that caught the toldo, it would sweep off the frail +roof like so much spider's-web. This would be a serious damage; +and one to be avoided, if possible.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo and Guapo went to the end of the balza nearest the +branch, and stood for some time surveying it. It was about eight or +ten yards distant; but in the gray dawn they could not judge +correctly of its height, and they waited till it grew a little clearer. +At length they came to the conclusion that the branch was high +enough. The long pendulous leaves—characteristic of this great +<i>mimosa</i> and the drooping branchlets hung down much below the +main shaft; but these, even if they touched the roof, would do no +injury. It was, therefore, determined to let go the cable.</p> + +<p>It was now clear day, for they had been delayed a good while; but +at length all was ready, and Guapo untied the cable, and drew the +end on board. The balza began to move; slowly at first, for the +current under the bushes was very slight.</p> + +<p>All at once the attention of the voyagers was called to the strange +conduct of the pet monkey. That little creature was running to and +fro, first upon the roof of the toldo, then down again, all the while +uttering the most piercing shrieks as if something was biting off its +tail! It was observed to look forward and upward toward the +branch of the zamang, as if the object it dreaded was in that quarter. +The eyes of all were suddenly bent in the same direction. What was +their horror on beholding, stretched along the branch, the hideous +body of an enormous serpent! Only part of it could be seen; the +hinder half and the tail were hidden among the bromelias and vines +that in huge masses clustered around the trunk of the zamang, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">287</a></span> +the head was among the leaflets of the mimosa; but what they saw +was enough to convince them that it was a snake of the largest size—the +great “<i>water boa</i>”—the <i>anaconda</i>!</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 342px;"> +<img src="images/illus-287.jpg" width="342" height="500" alt="ADVENTURE WITH AN ANACONDA." title="ADVENTURE WITH AN ANACONDA." /> +<span class="caption">ADVENTURE WITH AN ANACONDA.</span></div> + +<p>That part of the body in sight was full as thick as a man's thigh, +and covered with black spots or blotches upon a ground of dingy +yellow. It was seen to glisten as the animal moved, for the latter +was in motion, crawling along the branch <i>outward</i>! The next moment +its head appeared under the pendulous leaves; and its long forking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">288</a></span> +tongue, protruding several inches from its mouth, seemed to feel the +air in front of it. This tongue kept playing backwards and forwards, +and its viscid covering glittered under the sunbeam, adding to the +hideous appearance of the monster.</p> + +<p>To escape from passing within its reach would be impossible. The +balza was gliding directly under it! It could launch itself aboard at +will. It could seize upon any one of the party without coming from +the branch. It could coil its body around them, and crush them with +the constricting power of its muscles. It could do all this; for it had +crushed before now the tapir, the roebuck, perhaps even the jaguar +himself.</p> + +<p>All on board the boat knew its dangerous power too well; and, of +course, terror was visible in every countenance.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo seized the axe, and Guapo laid hold of his <i>macheté</i>. Doña +Isidora, Leon, and the little Leona, were standing—fortunately they +were—by the door of the toldo; and, in obedience to the cries and +hurried gestures of Don Pablo and the Indian, they rushed in and +flung themselves down. They had scarcely disappeared inside, when +the forward part of the balza upon which stood Don Pablo and Guapo, +came close to the branch, and the head of the serpent was on a level +with their own. Both aimed their blows almost at the same instant; +but their footing was unsteady, the boa drew back at the moment, +and both missed their aim. The next moment the current had carried +them out of reach, and they had no opportunity of striking a second +blow.</p> + +<p>The moment they had passed the hideous head again dropped down, +and hung directly over, as if waiting. It was a moment of intense +anxiety to Don Pablo. His wife and children! Would it select one +as its victim, and leave the others? or——</p> + +<p>He had but little time for reflection. Already the head of the snake +was within three feet of the toldo door. Its eyes were glaring—it was +about to dart down.</p> + +<p>“Oh, God, have mercy!” exclaimed Don Pablo, falling upon his +knees. “Oh, God!”</p> + +<p>At that moment a loud scream was heard. It came from the toldo; +and, at the same instant, the saïmiri was seen leaping out from the +door. Along with the rest, it had taken shelter within; but just as +the head of the snake came in sight, a fresh panic seemed to seize +upon it; and, as if under the influence of fascination, it leaped +screaming in the direction of the terrible object. It was met half +way. The wide jaws closed upon it, its shrieks were stifled, and the +next moment its silken body, along with the head of the anaconda, +disappeared among the leaves of the mimosa. Another moment passed, +and the balza swept clear of the branch, and floated triumphantly +into the open water.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo sprang to his feet, ran into the toldo, and, after embracing +his wife and children, knelt down and offered thanks to God for +their almost miraculous deliverance.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XLI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A BATCH OF CURIOUS TREES.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">O</span>f course the escape from danger so imminent, after the first moments +were over, produced a sort of reaction in the feelings of all and they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">289</a></span> +were now rather joyous than otherwise. But with all there was a +mixture of regret when they thought of the fate of little “titi.” It +had been their only pet, and had grown to be such a favourite that its +loss was now mourned by every one, and its absence caused them to +feel as though one of the company had been left behind. Several times +during that day poor “titi” was the subject of conversation; indeed, +they could hardly talk about anything else. Little Leona was quite +inconsolable; for the pretty creature had loved Leona, and used to +perch on her shoulder by the hour, and draw her silken ringlets +through its tiny hand, and place its dainty little nose against the rich +velvet of her cheek, and play off all sorts of antics with her ears. Many +an hour did “titi” and Leona spend together. No wonder that the +creature was missed.</p> + +<p>During the whole of that day they travelled through a country +covered with dense forest. The river was a full half-mile wide, but +sometimes there were islands, and then the current became narrowed +on each side, so that in passing, the balza almost touched the trees on +one side or the other. They saw many kinds of trees growing together, +and rarely a large tract covered with any one species of timber, for +this, as already remarked, is a peculiarity of the Amazon forest.</p> + +<p>Many new and curious trees were noticed, of which Don Pablo gave +short botanical descriptions to the others, partly to instruct them, and +partly to while away the hours. Guapo, at the rudder, listened to +these learned lectures, and sometimes added some information of his +own about the properties of the trees, and the uses to which they were +put by the Indians. This is what is termed the popular part of the +science of botany, and, perhaps, it is more important than the mere +classification of genera and species, which is usually all the information +that you get from the learned and systematic botanists.</p> + +<p>Among the trees passed to-day was one called the “volador.” This +is a large forest tree, with lobed leaves, of a heart-shape. But it is +the seeds which are curious, and which give to the tree the odd name +of “volador,” or “flier.” These seeds have each a pair of membranaceous +and striated wings, which, when the seeds fall, are turned +to meet the air at an angle of 45°; and thus a rotatory motion is produced, +and the falling seeds turn round and round like little fly-wheels. +It is altogether a curious sight when a large volador is shaken in calm +weather, to see the hundreds of seeds whirling and wheeling towards +the ground, which they take a considerable time in reaching. The +volador is not confined to South America, I have seen it in Mexico, +and other parts of North America.</p> + +<p>Another singular tree noticed was a tree of the barberry family +known among the Spanish-Americans as <i>barba de tigre</i>, or “tiger's +beard.” This name it derives from the fact of its trunk—which is very +large and high—being thickly set all over with sharp, branching thorns, +that are fancied to resemble the whiskers of the jaguar, or South +American “tiger.”</p> + +<p>A third remarkable tree (or bush) observed was the <i>Bixa orellana</i>, +which yields the well-known <i>arnatto</i> dye. This bush is ten or twelve +feet in height, and its seeds grow in a burr-like pericarp. These seeds +are covered with a reddish pulp, which produces the dye. The mode +of making it is simple. The Indian women throw the seeds into a +vessel of hot water, and stir them violently for about an hour, until +they have taken off the pulp. The water is then poured off, and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">290</a></span> +deposit, separated from the seeds, is mixed with oil of turtle-eggs, or +crocodile fat, and kneaded into cakes of three or four ounces weight.</p> + +<p>It is then “anoto,” sometimes written “arnatto,” sometimes “arnotto,” +sometimes “onoto,” and sometimes “anato.” The first is the proper +spelling. In Brazil it is called “urucu,” whence the French name +“rocou;” and the Peruvians have still another designation for it, +“achoté.” Of course each tribe of Indians calls it by a separate name. +The botanic name, <i>Bixa</i>, is the ancient name by which it was known +to the Indians of Hayti, for it is found in most parts of tropical +America growing wild, although it is also cultivated. It is an article +in great demand among all the Indians of South America, who use it +for painting their bodies, and dyeing the cotton cloth of which they +make their garments.</p> + +<p>But these people are very skilful in drawing pigments from plants +and trees of many kinds; in fact, their practical chemistry, so far as +it relates to dyes and poisons, is quite surprising, and from time to +time Guapo pointed out trees that were used by them, for such purposes.</p> + +<p>One was a climbing plant, whose tendrils reached to the tops of the +highest trees. It had beautiful violet-coloured flowers, an inch long, +and Don Pablo saw that it was a species of <i>bignonia</i>. Guapo called it +“chica.” When in fruit it carries a pod two feet in length, full of +winged seeds. But Guapo said it was not from the seeds that the dye +was obtained, but from the leaves, which turn red when macerated in +water. The colouring matter comes out of the leaves in the form of a +light powder, and is then shaped into cakes, which sell among the +Indians for the value of a dollar each. This colour has a tinge of lake +in it, and is prized even more highly than the anoto. Indeed, red dyes +among all savage nations seem to hold a higher value than those of +any other colour.</p> + +<p>Another dye-tree was the “huitoc.” This one is a slender tree, about +twenty feet high, with broad leaves shooting out from the stem, and +nuts growing at their bases, after the manner of the bread-fruit. +These nuts resemble black walnuts, and are of a russet colour outside; +but the pulp inside, which produces the huitoc, is of a dark blue, or +purple tint.</p> + +<p>The “wild indigo tree,” was also seen growing in the woods, with a +leaf narrow at the base, and broad at the extremity. With these and +many other dyes the Indians of the Montaña paint their bodies in +fantastic modes. So much are they addicted to these customs, that, +among the Indians who labour at the missions, some have been known +to work nearly a month to procure paint enough to give their body a +single coat, and the missionaries have made a merchandise of this +gigantic folly. But the paint is not always to be looked upon in the +light of a mere folly, or vanity. Sometimes it is used to keep off the +“zancudos,” or mosquitoes, so numerous and annoying in these regions.</p> + +<p>Another singular tree was observed, which Guapo called the +“marima,” or “shirt-tree.” The use of this he explained. The tree +stands fifty or sixty feet high, with a diameter of from two to three. +When they find them of this size, the Indians cut them down, and +then separate the trunk into pieces of about three feet long. From +these pieces they strip the bark, but without making any longitudinal +incision, so that the piece of bark when taken off is a hollow cylinder. +It is thin and fibrous, of a red colour, and looks like a piece of coarsely-woven<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">291</a></span> +sack-cloth. With this the shirt is made, simply by cutting +two holes in the sides to admit the arms, and the body being passed +into it, it is worn in time of rain. Hence the saying of the old +missionaries, that in the “forests of America garments were found +ready-made on the trees.”</p> + +<p>Many other trees were noticed valuable for their fruits, or leaves, +or bark, or roots, or their wood. There was the well-known “seringa,” +or India-rubber tree; the great courbaril, the “dragon's-blood” tree, +not that celebrated tree of the East but one of a different genus from +whose white bark flows a red blood-like juice.</p> + +<p>They saw, also, a species of cinnamon-tree though not the cinnamon +of commerce; the large tree that bears the Brazilian nut-meg (the +Puxiri); and that one, also, a large forest tree, that bears the nuts +known as “Tonka beans,” and which are used in the flavouring of +snuff.</p> + +<p>But of all the trees which our travellers saw on that day, none made +such a impression upon them as the “juvia,” or Brazil-nut tree. This +tree is not one with a thick trunk; in fact, the largest ones are not +three feet in diameter, but it rises to a height of 120 feet. Its trunk +is branchless for more than half that height, and the branches then +spread out and droop, like the fronds of the palm. They are naked +near their bases, but loaded towards the top with tufts of silvery green +leaves, each two feet in length. The tree does not blossom until its +fifteenth year, and then it bears violet-coloured flowers; although +there is another species, the “sapucaya,” which has yellow ones. But +it is neither the trunk, nor the branches, nor the leaves, nor yet the +flowers of this tree, that render it such an object of curiosity. It is +the great woody and spherical pericarps that contain the nuts or fruits +that are wonderful. These are often as large as the head of a child, +and as hard as the shell of the cocoa-nut! Inside is found a large +number—twenty or more—of those triangular-shaped nuts which you +may buy at any Italian warehouse under the name of “Brazil-nuts.”</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XLII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE FOREST FESTIVAL.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">I</span>n consequence of their having rested but poorly on the preceding +night, it was determined that they should land at an early hour; and +this they did, choosing an open place on the shore. It was a very +pretty spot, and they could see that the woods in the background +were comparatively open, as though there were some meadows or +prairies between.</p> + +<p>These openings, however, had been caused by fire. There had been +a growth of cane. It had been burned off and as yet was not grown +up again, though the young reeds were making their appearance like +a field of green wheat. Some places, and especially near the river, +the ground was still bare. This change in the landscape was quite +agreeable to our travellers; so much so, that they resolved to exercise +their limbs by taking a short stroll; and, having finished their late +dinner they set out. They all went together, leaving the balza and +camp to take care of themselves.</p> + +<p>After walking a few hundred yards their ears were assailed by a +confused noise, as if all the animals in the forest had met and were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">292</a></span> +holding a <i>conversazione</i>. Some low bushes prevented them from seeing +what it meant, but on pushing their way through, they saw whence +and from what sort of creatures the noise proceeded.</p> + +<p>Standing out in the open ground was a large and tall juvia-tree. +Its spreading branches were loaded with great globes as big as human +heads—each one, of course, full of delicious nuts. These were now +ripe, and some of them had already fallen to the ground.</p> + +<p>Upon the ground an odd scene presented itself to the eyes of our +travellers. Between birds and animals assembled there, there were +not less than a dozen kinds, all as busy as they could be.</p> + +<p>First, then, there were animals of the rodent kind. These were +pacas, agoutis and capivaras. The pacas were creatures a little larger +than hares, and not unlike them, except that their ears were shorter. +They were whitish on the under parts, but above were of a dark +brown colour, with rows of white spots along each side. They had +whiskers like the cat, consisting of long white bristles; and their +tails, like those of hares, were scarcely visible. The agoutis bore a +considerable resemblance to the pacas. Like these, they are also +rodent animals, but less in size; and instead of being spotted, they +are of a nearly uniform dark colour mixed with reddish brown.</p> + +<p>Both pacas and agoutis are found in most parts of tropical America. +There are several species of each, and with the chinchillas and +viscachas already described, they occupy the place in those regions +that the hares and rabbits do in northern climates. Indeed, European +settlers usually know them by the names of hare or rabbit, and hunt +them in the same way. The flesh of most species is very good eating, +and they are therefore much sought after both by the natives and +colonists.</p> + +<p>Along with these, near the juvia-tree, were several capivaras, already +noticed. But still more singular creatures on the ground were the +monkeys. Of these there were different kinds; but that which first +drew the attention of our party was the great Capuchin monkey. +This creature is not less than three feet in height and of a reddish +maroon colour. Its body is entirely different from the “ateles” +monkeys, being stouter and covered with a fuller coat of hair; and +its tail is large and bushy, without any prehensile power. It is, in +fact, less of a tree monkey than the <i>ateles</i>, although it also lives among +the branches. The most striking peculiarities of the Capuchin are +its head and face. In these it bears a stronger resemblance to the +human being than any other monkey in America.</p> + +<p>The top of its head is covered with a crop of coarse hair, that lies +somewhat after the fashion of human hair; but, what most contributes +to the human expression is a large full beard and whiskers +reaching down to the breast, and arranged exactly after the fashion +of the huge beards worn by Orientals and some Frenchmen. There +were only two of these Capuchins on the ground—a male and female, +for this species does not associate in bands. The female one was +easily distinguished by her smaller size, and her beard was considerably +less than that of the male. The beards seemed to be objects of +special attention with both—especially the male, as every now and +then he was observed to stroke it down with his hand, just as a dandy +may be seen doing with his moustache or his well-brushed whiskers.</p> + +<p>Another peculiar habit of the Capuchins was noticed. There was a +little pool of water close by. Every now and then they ran to this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">293</a></span> +pool and took a drink from it. But in drinking they did not apply +their lips to the pool or lap like a dog. No; they lifted the water in +the hollow of their hands—hence their specific name of <i>chiropotes</i>, or +“hand-drinking monkeys.” They raised the water to their lips with +great care, taking pains not to let a drop of it fall on their precious +beards. From this habit of going so often to quench their thirst, the +Capuchin monkeys have in some parts got the name of “hard-drinking +monkeys.”</p> + +<p>Apart from these was a troop of monkeys of a very different species. +They were nearly of the same size, but more of the shape of the +“ateles;” and their long tails, naked underneath and curling downward +near the points, showed that, like them too, they possessed +prehensile power in that member. Such was the fact, for they were +“howling monkeys;” and some species of these can use the tail +almost as adroitly as the “ateles” themselves. Those that our +travellers saw were the “guaribas,” nearly black in colour, but with +their hands covered with yellow hair, whence their name among the +naturalists of “yellow-handed howler.”</p> + +<p>They were seated in a ring when first observed, and one—apparently +the chief of the band—was haranguing the rest; but so rapid were +his articulations, and so changeable the tones of his voice, that any +one would have thought the whole party were chattering together. +This, in effect, did occur at intervals, and then you might have heard +them to the distance of more than a mile. These creatures are +enabled to produce this vast volume of voice in consequence of a +hollow bony structure at the root of the tongue, which acts as a drum, +and which gives them the appearance of a swelling, or goitre, in the +throat. This is common to all the howling monkeys as well as the +guaribas.</p> + +<p>Besides the howlers there were other species—there were tamarins, +and ouistitis, and the black coaitas of the genus “ateles,” all assembled +around the juvia-tree. There were parrots, and macaws, and other +nut-eating birds. High above in the air soared the great eagle +watching his opportunity to swoop down on the pacas or agoutis, his +natural prey. It was altogether a singular assemblage of wild +animals—a zoological garden of the wilderness.</p> + +<p>Our party, concealed by bushes, looked on for some time. They +noticed that not one of all the living things was <i>under</i> the tree. On +the contrary, they formed—monkeys, cavies, parrots, and all—a sort +of ring around it, but at such a distance that none of the branches +were above them! Why was this? Guapo knew the reason well, +and before leaving their place of observation the others had an explanation +of it.</p> + +<p>While they stood gazing, one of the great globes was seen to fall +from the tree above. The loud report as it struck the earth could +have been heard a long way off. It caused the whole assemblage of +living creatures to start. The macaws flapped their wings, the +monkeys ran outward and then stopped, and a simultaneous cry +from the voices of both birds and beasts echoed on all sides; and +then there was a general chattering and screaming, as though the +fall of the great pericarp had given pleasure to all parties.</p> + +<p>It was very evident from this circumstance why both beasts and +birds kept so far out from the tree. One of these fruits coming down +like a nine-pound shot would have crushed any of them to atoms.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">294</a></span> +Indeed, so heavy are they, that one of them falling from a height of +fifty or sixty feet will dash out the brains of a man; and the Indians +who gather them go under the trees with great wooden helmets that +cover both the head and shoulders! It would be no boy's play to +“go a nutting” in a wood of juvia-trees.</p> + +<p>But how did the monkeys and birds get at the nuts? Neither of +these could break open the outer shell. This is full half an inch +thick, and so hard that it can scarcely be cut with a saw. How could +either monkeys or birds open it?—that was the question put to +Guapo.</p> + +<p>“Watch them,” said Guapo.</p> + +<p>All kept their eyes bent attentively on what was going on; and +to their astonishment they observed that neither the monkeys nor +the birds had anything to do with the opening of the shells. That +was entirely the work of the rodent animals, the pacas, cavies, and +agoutis. These with their fine cutting teeth laid open the thick +pericarps, and whenever one was seen to have succeeded, and the +triangular nuts were scattered upon the ground, then there was a +general rush, and macaws, parrots, and monkeys scrambled for a +share.</p> + +<p>The monkeys, however, did their part of the work. Whenever a +fruit fell from the tree, one or two of them, deputed by the others, +were seen to run in and roll it out, all the while exhibiting symptoms +of great terror. They would then lift it in their hands, several of +them together, and dash it repeatedly upon a stone. Sometimes, +when the shell was not a strong one, they succeeded in breaking it +in this way; but oftener they were not able, and then it was left to +the rodent animals, who were watched at their operations, and +usually robbed of the fruits of their labour. Such were the singular +incidents witnessed at this festival of juvia-nuts.</p> + +<p>But the scene was brought to a sudden termination. A cry was +heard that rose far above all the other noises—a cry more terrible +than the screams of the parrots, or the shrieks of the howling +monkeys—it was the cry of the jaguar! It came from a piece of +wood close to the juvia-trees, and the branches were heard to crackle +as the dreaded utterer advanced.</p> + +<p>In a moment the ground was cleared of every creature. Even the +winged birds had flew up from the spot, and perched upon the +branches; the cavies took to the water; the pacas and agouties to +their burrows; and the monkeys to the tops of the adjacent trees; +and nothing remained on the ground but the empty shells of the +juvias.</p> + +<p>Our party did not stay to notice the change. They, too, had been +warned by the roar of the tiger, and hastily leaving the spot, returned +to their place of encampment. On reaching it, they kindled a large +circle of fire to keep them in safety during the night. They saw no +more of the jaguar, although at intervals through the midnight +hours, they were awakened by his loud and savage cry, resounding +through the openings of the forest.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">295</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XLIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">ACRES OF EGGS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he next evening our travellers encamped on a sand-bar, or rather +a great bank of sand, that ran for miles along one side of the river. +Of course they had nothing to hang their hammocks to, but that +was a matter of no importance, for the sand was dry and soft, and +of itself would make a comfortable bed, as pleasant to sleep on as a +hair-mattress. They only wanted wood enough to cook with, and +to keep up their fire during the night—so as to frighten off the wild +beasts.</p> + +<p>This night they kept watch as usual, Leon taking the first turn. +In fact, they found that they must do so every night—as in each of +the camps where they had slept some danger had threatened; and +they thought it would be imprudent for all to go to sleep at the +same time. The heaviest part of the sentinel's duty fell to Guapo's +share; but Guapo had long accustomed himself to go without sleep, +and did not mind it; moreover Don Pablo took longer spells at the +stern-oar during the day, and allowed Guapo many a “cat-nap.”</p> + +<p>Leon seated himself upon a pile of sand that he had gathered up, +and did his best to keep awake, but in about an hour after the rest +were asleep he felt very drowsy—in fact, quite as much so as on the +night of the adventure with the vampire. He used pretty much the +same means to keep himself awake, but not with so good success, for +on this occasion he fell into a nap that lasted nearly half-an-hour, +and might have continued still longer, had he not slid down the +sand-hill and tumbled over on his side. This awoke him; and feeling +vexed with himself, he rubbed his eyes as if he was going to push +them deeper into their sockets.</p> + +<p>When this operation was finished, he looked about to see if any +creature had ventured near. He first looked towards the woods—for +of course that was the direction from which the tigers would +come, and these were the only creatures he feared; but he had +scarcely turned himself when he perceived a pair of eyes glancing at +him from the other side of the fire. Close to them another pair, +then another and another, until having looked on every side, he saw +himself surrounded by a complete circle of glancing eyes! It is true +they were small ones, and some of the heads which he could see by +the blaze, were small—they were not jaguars, but they had an ugly +look—they looked like the heads of serpents! Was it possible that +an hundred serpents could have surrounded the camp?</p> + +<p>Brought suddenly to his feet, Leon stood for some moments uncertain +how to act. He fully believed they were snakes—anacondas, +or water-snakes no doubt—that had just crept out of the river; and +he felt that a movement on his part would bring on their united and +simultaneous attack upon the sleeping party. Partly influenced by +this fear, and again exhibiting that coolness and prudence which we +have already noticed as a trait of his character, he remained for some +moments silent and motionless.</p> + +<p>Having already risen to his feet, his eyes were now above the level +of the blaze, and, as they got the sleep well scared out of them, he +could see things more distinctly. He now saw that the snake-like +heads were attached to large oval-shaped bodies, and that, besides<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">296</a></span> +the half hundred or so that had gathered around the fires, there +were whole droves of the same upon the sandy beach beyond. The +white surface was literally covered as far as he could see on all sides +of him with black moving masses; and where the rays of the moon +fell upon the beach, there was a broad belt that glistened and +sparkled as though she shone upon pieces of glass kept constantly in +motion!</p> + +<p>A singular sight it was; and to Leon, who had never heard of +such before, a most fearful one. For the life of him he could not +make out what it all meant, or by what sort of odd creatures they +were surrounded. He had but an indistinct view of them, but he +could see that their bodies were not larger than those of a small +sheep, and from the way in which they glistened under the moon he +was sure they were water-animals, and had come out of the river!</p> + +<p>He did not stay to speculate any longer upon them. He resolved +to wake Guapo; but in doing so the whole party were aroused, and +started to their feet in some alarm and confusion. The noise and +movement had its effect on the nocturnal visitors; for before Leon +could explain himself, those immediately around the fires and for +some distance beyond rushed to the edge, and were heard plunging +by hundreds into the water.</p> + +<p>Guapo's ear caught the sounds, and his eye now ranging along the +sandy shore, took in at a glance the whole thing.</p> + +<p>“Carapas,” he said laconically.</p> + +<p>“Carapas?” inquired Leon.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” said Don Pablo, who understood him. “Turtles is it?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, master,” replied Guapo. “This is, I suppose, one of their +great hatching-places. They are going to lay their eggs somewhere +in the sand above. They do so every year.”</p> + +<p>There was no danger from the turtles, as Guapo assured everybody, +but the fright had chased away sleep, and they all lay awake for +some time listening to Guapo's account of these singular creatures, +which we shall translate into our own phraseology.</p> + +<p>These large turtles, which in other parts of South America are +called “arraus,” or simply “tortugas,” assemble every year in large +armies, from all parts of the river. Each one of these armies chooses +for itself a place to breed—some sandy island, or great sand-bank. +This they approach very cautiously—lying near it for some days, and +reconnoitring it with only their heads above the water. They then +crawl ashore at night in vast multitudes—just as the party saw them—and +each turtle, with the strong crooked claws of her hind feet, +digs a hole for herself in the sand. These holes are three feet in +diameter and two deep. In this she deposits her eggs—from seventy +to one hundred and twenty of them—each egg being white, hard-shelled, +and between the size of a pigeon's and pullet's. She then +covers the whole with sand, levelling it over the top so that it may +look like the rest of the surface, and so that the precious treasure +may not be found by vultures, jaguars, and other predatory creatures. +When this is done the labour of the turtle is at an end.</p> + +<p>The great army again betakes itself to the water, and scatters in +every direction. The sun acting upon the hot sand does the rest; +and in less than six weeks the young turtles, about an inch in +diameter, crawl out of the sand, and at once make for the water. +They are afterwards seen in pools and lakes, where the water is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">297</a></span> +shallow, far from the place where they have been hatched; and +it is well known that the first years of their life are not spent in the +bed of the great river. How they find these pools, or whether +the mothers distinguish their own young and conduct them thither, +as the crocodiles and alligators do, is a mystery. With these last +the thing is more easy, as the crocodile mothers deposit their eggs in +separate places, and each returns for her young when they are +hatched, calls them by her voice, and guides them to the pool where +they are to remain until partly grown.</p> + +<p>But among the thousands of little turtles hatched at one place and +time, and that seek the water altogether, how would it be possible +for the turtle mother to distinguish her own young? Yet an old +female turtle is frequently seen swimming about with as many as +a hundred little ones after her! Now are these her own, or are they +a collection picked up out of the general progeny? That is an +undetermined question. It would seem impossible that each turtle +mother should know her own young, yet amidst this apparent +confusion there may be some maternal instinct that guides her to +distinguish her own offspring from all the rest. Who can say?</p> + +<p>It is not often, however, that the turtle is permitted to have offspring +at all. These creatures are annually robbed of their eggs +in millions. They have many enemies, but man is the chief. When +a turtle hatching place is discovered, the Indians assemble, and as +soon as all the eggs have been deposited, they uncover and collect +them. They eat them—but that is not the principal use to which +they are put. It is for the making of oil, or “tortoise-butter,” they +are collected.</p> + +<p>The eggs are thrown into a large trough or canoe, where they are +broken up with a wooden spade and stirred about for awhile. They +then remain exposed to the sun, until the oily part collects on the +surface, which is then skimmed off and well boiled. The “tortoise-butter” +is now made, and after being poured into earthen jars or +bottles, it is ready for market. The oil is clear, of a pale yellow +colour, and some regard it as equal to the best olive oil, both for +lamps and for cooking. Sometimes, however, it has a putrid smell, +because many of the eggs are already half hatched before the +gathering takes place.</p> + +<p>What would be the result were these eggs not gathered by the +Indians? Perhaps in the different rivers of South America more +than an hundred millions of them are deposited every year! In the +Orinoco alone, in three principal hatching places, it has been +calculated that at least thirty three millions are annually destroyed +for the making of tortoise-butter! Fancy, then, one hundred +millions of animals, each of which grows to the weight of fifty or +sixty pounds, being produced every year, and then the increase +in production which these would make if left to themselves! Why +the rivers would be crowded; and it would be true what old Father +Gumilla once asserted, that “It would be as difficult to count the +grains of sand on the shores of the Orinoco, as to count the immense +number of tortoises that inhabit its margins and waters. Were it +not for the vast consumption of tortoises and their eggs, the river, +despite its great magnitude, would be unnavigable, for vessels would +be impeded by the enormous multitude of the tortoises.”</p> + +<p>But nature has provided against this “over-population” of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">298</a></span> +turtles by giving them a great many enemies. The jaguars, the +ocelots, the crocodiles, the cranes, and the vultures, all prey upon +them; and, perhaps, if man were to leave them alone, the result +would be, not such a great increase in the number of the turtles, but +that the creatures who prey upon them would come in for a larger +share.</p> + +<p>The “carapa,” or arrau turtle, is, when full grown, forty or fifty +pounds in weight. It is of a dark green colour above and orange +beneath, with yellow feet. There are many other species of fresh-water +turtles in the rivers of South America, but these breed separately, +each female choosing her own place, and making her deposit +alone. Indeed, some of the smaller species, as the “terekay,” are +more esteemed both for their flesh and eggs; but as a large quantity +of these eggs is never found together, they are not collected as +an article of trade, but only to be roasted and eaten. The white +does not coagulate in roasting or boiling, and only the yolk is eaten, +but that is esteemed quite as palatable as the eggs of the common +fowl.</p> + +<p>The flesh of all kinds is eaten by the Indians, who fry it in pots, +and then pour it with its own oil into other vessels and permit it +to cool. When thus prepared, it will keep for a long time, and +can be taken out when required for use.</p> + +<p>Most of the above particulars were communicated by Guapo; and +when he had finished talking, all the others went to sleep, leaving +Guapo to his midnight vigil.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XLIV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A FIGHT BETWEEN TWO VERY SCALY CREATURES.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">W</span>hen they awoke in the morning they found Guapo busy over the +fire. He had already been at the turtles' nests, and had collected a +large basketful of the eggs, some of which he was cooking for breakfast. +In addition to the eggs, moreover, half-a-dozen large turtles +lay upon their backs close by. The flesh of these Guapo intended to +scoop out and fry down, so as to be carried away as a sort of stock of +preserved meat;—and a very excellent idea it was. He had caught +them during his watch as they came out of the water.</p> + +<p>All the turtles had gone off, although this is not always the case; +for frequently numbers that have not finished covering their eggs +during the night may be seen hard at work in the morning, and so +intent on it, that they do not heed the presence of their worst +enemies. These the Indians denominate “mad tortoises.”</p> + +<p>This morning, however, no “mad tortoises” were to be seen; but +when our travellers cast their eyes along the beach they saw quite a +number that appeared to be turned upon their backs just like those +that Guapo had capsized. They were at some distance from the +camp, but curiosity prompted our travellers to walk along the beach +and examine them. Sure enough there were nearly a dozen large +tortoises regularly laid on their backs, and unable to stir; but, besides +these, there were several tortoise-shells out of which the flesh had +been freshly scooped, and these were as neatly cleaned out as if the +work had been done by an anatomist. All this would have been a +mystery but for the experience of Guapo; but Guapo knew it was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">299</a></span> +the jaguar that had turned the tortoises on their backs, and that had +cleaned out and eaten the flesh from the empty shells!</p> + +<p>Now, it is no easy thing for a man, provided with the necessary +implements, to separate the flesh of a tortoise from its shell, and yet +the jaguar, with his paw, can in a few minutes perform this operation +most adroitly, as our travellers had full proof. All that they +saw had been done that same night; and it gave them no very +pleasant feeling to know that the jaguar had been at work so near +them.</p> + +<p>This animal, as Guapo said, in attacking the turtles, first turns +them over, so as to prevent their escape—for the “carapas” are of +those tortoises that once upon their backs on level ground cannot +right themselves again. He then proceeds to tear out the flesh, and +eats it at his leisure. Oftentimes he capsizes a far greater number +than he can eat, and even returns to the spot to have a second meal +of them; but frequently the Indians wandering along the river, find +the tortoises he has turned over, and of course make an easy capture +of them.</p> + +<p>Guapo, upon this occasion, took advantage of the jaguar's skill, +and carried to the camp all that the latter had left. It was Guapo's +design to make a large quantity of “turtle sausage-meat,” so that +they might have a supply for many days, as by this time even Guapo +himself was getting tired of the horse-flesh “charqui.”</p> + +<p>They were about returning to camp, when their attention was +drawn to two dark objects upon the sand-beach a little farther on. +These objects were in motion, and at first they believed they were a +pair of “mad tortoises” that had not yet returned to the water, +although they were close to its edge.</p> + +<p>Led on by curiosity our party approached them, and saw that one +only was a tortoise, and one of the largest kind, being nearly three +feet in diameter. The other animal was a small caïman or alligator.</p> + +<p>As our travellers drew near they saw that these two creatures were +engaged in a fierce and deadly combat. Now, it is a curious fact +that the larger alligators and crocodiles are among the most destructive +enemies which the turtles have, eating thousands of the +latter while they are still tiny little creatures and unable to defend +themselves; and, on the other hand, that the turtles prey extensively +on the young of both alligators and crocodiles, eating them whenever +they can catch them! I say this is a curious fact in natural history, +and it seems a sort of retaliatory principle established between these +two kinds of reptiles, as if they ate one another's offspring <i>en +revanche</i>.</p> + +<p>There is no feeling of revenge, however, in the matter. It is +merely an instinct of appetite by which both kinds will eat almost +any small fry they come across. In fact, the alligators and crocodiles +not only eat the young of the turtles, but their own young as +well. That is, the <i>old males</i> do; and it has been stated, that the +males of some species of tortoises have a similar unnatural appetite.</p> + +<p>The turtle of which we are speaking is one of the most carnivorous +of the whole race, and one of the fiercest in its nature too; so much +so, that it has earned the name of the “fierce tortoise.” It will eat +fish and small crustacea, and almost any living thing it finds in the +water, which is not too large for it. It is extremely expert in +catching its prey. It lies concealed at the bottom among the roots<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">300</a></span> +of flags and nymphæ; and when any small fish chances to pass it, by +means of its long neck darts out its head and seizes upon its unsuspecting +victim. Once the bill of the “fierce turtle” has closed upon +any object its hold is secure. You may cut its head off, but otherwise +it cannot be forced to let go, until it has either captured its prey +or taken the piece with it. It will “nip” a stout walking-cane +between its mandibles, as if it was no more than a rush.</p> + +<p>A very good story is told of a thief and a tortoise. The thief was +prowling about the larder of an hotel in search of plunder, when he +came upon a large market-basket filled with provisions. He immediately +inserted his hand to secure the contents, when he felt himself +suddenly seized by the fingers, and bitten so severely, that he +was fain to draw back his hand in the most hasty manner possible. +But along with the hand he drew out a “snapping” turtle. To get +rid of the “ugly customer” was his next care; but, in spite of all +his efforts, the turtle held on, determined to have the finger. The +scuffle, and the shouts which pain compelled the thief to give utterance +to, awoke the landlord and the rest of the household; and +before the thief could disengage himself and escape, he was secured +and given into custody.</p> + +<p>Well, it was just a tortoise of this species, a “snapping turtle,” and +one of the largest size, that our travellers now saw doing battle with +the caïman. The caïman was not one of large size, else the turtle +would have fled from it, not that even the largest caïmans are feared +by the full-grown <i>carapas</i>. No; the strong plate-armour of the +latter protects them both from the teeth and tail of this antagonist. +The jaguar, with his pliable paws and sharp subtle claws, is to them +a more dreaded assailant than the crocodile or caïman.</p> + +<p>The one in question was some six or seven feet long, and altogether +not much heavier than the turtle itself. It was not for the purpose +of eating each other they fought. No—their strife was evidently on +other grounds. No doubt the caïman had been attempting to plunder +the new-laid eggs of the tortoise, and the latter had detected him in +the act. At all events, the struggle must have been going on for +some time, for the sand was torn up, and scored, in many places, by +the sharp claws of both.</p> + +<p>The battle appeared to be still at its height when our party +arrived on the spot. Neither tortoise nor caïman paid any attention +to their presence, but fought on pertinaciously. The aim of the +caïman appeared to be to get the head of the tortoise in his mouth; +but whenever he attempted this, the latter suddenly drew his head +within the shell, and repeatedly disappointed him. The tortoise, on +its part, rose at intervals upon its hind-feet, and making a dash forward, +would dart forth its long neck, and clutch at the softer parts +of its antagonist's body just under the throat. Several times it had +succeeded in this manœuvre, and each time it had brought the piece +with it, so that the caïman was already somewhat mangled. Another +manœuvre of the tortoise was to seize the tail of its antagonist. +Instinct seemed to teach it that this was a vulnerable part, and for +the purpose of reaching the tail, it constantly kept crawling and +edging round towards it.</p> + +<p>Now, there is no movement so difficult for a reptile of the crocodile +kind as to turn its body on dry land. The peculiar formation of the +vertebræ, both of its neck and spine, renders this movement difficult;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">301</a></span> +and in “changing front,” the reptile is forced to describe a full circle +with its unwieldy body—in fact to turn “all of a piece.” The tortoise, +therefore, had the advantage, and, after several efforts, he at +length succeeded in outflanking his antagonist, and getting right +round to his rear. He lost no time, but, raising himself to his full +height and making a dart forward, seized the tail and held on. He +had caught by the very tip, and it was seen that his horny mandibles +had taken a proper hold.</p> + +<p>Now commenced a somewhat ludicrous scene. The caïman, though +but a small one, with the immense muscular power which he possessed +in his tail, if not able to detach his antagonist, was able to +give him a sound shaking, and the turtle was seen vibrating from +side to side, dragged along the sand. He held his broad yellow feet +spread out on all sides, so as to preserve his equilibrium, for he well +knew that to lose that would be to lose his life. Should he get +turned on his back it would be all over with him; but he carefully +guarded against such a fatal catastrope. Of course there were +intervals when the caïman became tired, and remained still for a +moment; and at each of these intervals the tortoise renewed his +hold, and, in fact, as our party now perceived, was slowly, though +surely, <i>eating the tail</i>!</p> + +<p>When this had continued a short while, the great saurian seemed +to despair. The pain, no doubt, caused him to weep “crocodile's +tears,” though none were seen, but his eyes glared with a lurid light, +and he began to look around for some means of escape from his painful +position. His eye fell upon the water. That promised something, +although he knew full well the turtle was as much at home there as +he. At all events, his situation could not be a worse one, and with +this, or some such reflection, he made a “dash” for the water. He +was but a few feet from it, but it cost him a good deal of pulling and +dragging, and clawing the sand, before he could get into it. In fact, +the tortoise knew that its position could not be benefited by the +change, and would have preferred fighting it out on dry land, and to +do this he set <i>his</i> claws as firmly as possible, and pulled the tail in +the opposite direction!</p> + +<p>The strength of the caïman at length prevailed. He got his body +into the water, and, with a few strokes of his webbed feet, jerked the +turtle after, and both were now fairly launched. Once in the river, +the caïman seemed to gain fresh vigour. His tail vibrated violently +and rapidly, throwing the tortoise from side to side until the foam +floated around them, and then both suddenly sank to the bottom.</p> + +<p>Whether they continued “attached,” or became “separated” there, +or whether the turtle killed the lizard, or the lizard the turtle, or +“each did kill the other,” no one ever knew, as it is highly probable +that no human eye ever saw either of them again.</p> + +<p>At all events, no one of <i>our</i> party saw any more of them; and, +having watched the surface for some time, they turned in their steps +and walked back to the camp.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XLV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A PAIR OF VALIANT VULTURES.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>hey had got into a part of the river that seemed to be a favourite +resort with turtles and crocodiles, and creatures of that description.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">302</a></span> +At different times they saw turtles of different kinds; among others, +the “painted turtle,” a beautiful species that derives its name from +the fine colouring of its shell, which appears as if it had been painted +in enamel. Of crocodiles, too, they saw three or four distinct species, +and not unfrequently, the largest of all, the great black crocodile +(<i>Jacare nigra</i>). This was sometimes seen of the enormous length of +over twenty feet! Terrible-looking as these crocodiles are, they are +not masters of every creature upon the river. There are even birds +that can sorely vex them, and compel them to take to the water to +save themselves from a fearful calamity—blindness.</p> + +<p>One day, while descending the river, our travellers were witness to +an illustration of this.</p> + +<p>They were passing a wide sand-bank that shelved back from the +river, with a scarcely perceptible slope, when they saw, at a distance +of about two hundred yards from the water's edge, a crocodile +making for the river. He looked as though he had just awoke from +his torpid sleep, for his body was caked all over with dry mud, and +he seemed both hungry and thirsty. It was like enough he was +coming from some inland pond, where the water had dried up, and +he was now on his way to the river.</p> + +<p>All at once two dark shadows were seen passing over the white +surface of the sand-bank. In the heaven two large birds were +wheeling about, crossing each other in their courses, and holding +their long necks downwards, as if the crocodile was the object of +their regard.</p> + +<p>The latter, on seeing them, paused; and lowered his body into a +squatted or crouching attitude, as if in the birds he recognised an +enemy. And yet what could such a large creature fear from a pair +of “king-vultures?” for king vultures they were, as was easily seen +by their red-orange heads and cream-coloured plumage. What could +a crocodile, full ten feet long, fear from these, even had they been +eagles, or the great condor himself? No matter; he was evidently +frightened at them; and each time that they drew near in their +flight, he stopped and flattened his body against the sand, as if that +might conceal him. As soon as they flew off again to a more distant +point of their aërial circle, he would once more elevate himself on his +arms, and make all haste toward the water.</p> + +<p>He had got within about an hundred yards of the river, when the +birds made a sudden turn in the sky, and swooping down, alighted +upon the sand directly before the snout of the crocodile. The latter +stopped again, and kept his eyes fixed upon them. They did not +leave him long to rest; for one of them, making a few hops towards +him, came so close, that it might have been supposed the crocodile +could have seized it in his jaws. This, in fact, he attempted to do; +but the wary bird threw up its broad wings, and flapped to one side +out of his reach.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the other had hopped close up to his opposite shoulder; +and while the crocodile was engaged with the first one, this made a +dash forward, aiming its great open beak at the eye of the reptile. +The crocodile parried the thrust by a sudden turn of his head; but +he had scarcely got round, when the second vulture, watching its +opportunity, rushed forward at the other eye. It must have succeeded +in pecking it, for the great lizard roared out with the pain; +and rushing forward a bit, writhed and lashed the sand with his tail.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">303</a></span></p> + +<p>The vultures paid no attention to these demonstrations, but only +kept out of the way of the teeth and claws of their antagonist; and +then, when he became still again, both returned to the attack as +before. One after the other was seen dashing repeatedly forward—using +both legs and wings to effect their object, and each time +darting out their great beaks towards the eyes of the reptile. The +head of the latter kept continuously moving from side to side; but +move where it would, the beaks of the vultures were ready to meet +it, and to pierce into the sockets of those deep lurid eyes.</p> + +<p>This terrible contest lasted all the time the balza was floating by. +It was a slow current at this place, and our travellers were a long +time in passing, so that they had a good opportunity of witnessing +the strange spectacle. Long after they had glided past, they saw +that the conflict continued. They could still perceive the black body +of the reptile upon the white sand-bank, writhing and struggling, +while the flapping wings of the vultures showed that they still kept +up their terrible attack. But the head of the crocodile was no longer +directed towards the water.</p> + +<p>At the first onset the reptile had used every effort to retreat in +that direction. He knew that his only safety lay in getting into the +river, and sinking beyond the reach of his adversaries. At every +interval between their assaults, he had been seen to crawl forward, +stopping only when compelled to defend himself. Now, however, +his head was seen turned from the water; sometimes he lay parallel +with the stream; and sometimes he appeared to be heading back for +the woods, while his struggles and contortions betrayed the agony +he was undergoing. But his turning in this way was easily accounted +for. He knew not in what direction lay the river. He could no +longer see. His eyes were mutilated by the beaks of the birds. +<i>He was blind!</i></p> + +<p>Guapo said the vultures would not leave him until they had made +a meal of his eyes, and that was all they wanted. He would then +remain on shore, perhaps without finding his way back to the water, +and most likely be attacked by jaguars, or other preying creatures, +who could conquer him the easier now that he was deprived of his +sight!</p> + +<p>As the balza glided on, Guapo told our travellers many strange +stories of crocodiles. He stated, what is well known to be true, that +in the rivers of South America many people are every year killed by +these ravenous creatures; in fact, far more than have ever fallen +victims to the salt-sea sharks. In some places they are much fiercer +than in others; but this may arise from different species being the +inhabitants of these different places. There is the true crocodile, +with long sharp snout, and large external tusks; and the caïman, +with a snout broader and more pike-shaped; and the former is a +much more courageous and man-eating creature. Both are often +found in the same river; but they do not associate together, but +keep in distinct bands or societies; and they are often mistaken for +each other.</p> + +<p>This may account for the difference of opinion that exists in regard +to the fierceness of these reptiles—many asserting that they are utterly +harmless, and will not attack man under any circumstances; while +others, who have witnessed their attacks, of course bearing testimony +to the contrary. There are many places in South America, where the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">304</a></span> +natives will fearlessly enter a lake or river known to be full of crocodiles, +and drive these creatures aside with a piece of a stick; but there are +other districts where nothing will tempt an Indian to swim across a +river infested with these reptiles. In the Amazon districts, in every +Indian village, several people may be seen who have been maimed by +crocodiles. No wonder that among author-travellers there should be +such a difference of opinion.</p> + +<p>Guapo stated, that when an Indian has been seized by a crocodile +in its great jaws, he has only one chance of escape, and that is, by +thrusting his fingers into the eyes of the reptile. This will invariably +cause it to let go its hold, and generally frighten it, so as to enable the +person to escape. It, of course, requires great presence of mind to +effect this, as the person who has been seized will himself be in great +pain from the tearing teeth of the monster, and, perhaps, will have +been drawn under the water, before he can gather his senses. But it +has often occurred that Indians, and even women, have escaped in this +way.</p> + +<p>The eyes of the crocodile are its most tender parts,—in fact, the only +parts that can be made to feel pain. A crocodile may be disabled by +cutting at the root of its tail, but it can only be frightened by an +attack upon the eyes; and this appears to be a well-known fact, not +only to the Indians, but to all its other enemies among the birds and +quadrupeds.</p> + +<p>The young crocodiles are often attacked, and have their eyes pecked +out, by the small gallinazo or “zamuro” vultures just in the same +way that we have seen one of a larger size become the victim of the +more powerful king vultures.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XLVI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE “GAPO.”</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span>fter many days of rafting our travellers arrived in a most singular +country. They were now approaching the mighty Amazon, and the +river upon which they had hitherto been travelling appeared to divide +into many branches, where it formed <i>deltas</i> with the Amazon. Every +day, and sometimes two or three times in the day, they passed places +where the river forked, as though each branch passed round an island, +but our travellers perceived that these branches did not meet again; +and they conjectured that they all fell into the Amazon by separate +embouchures. They were often puzzled to know which one to take, +as the main river was not always broadest, and they might get into +one that was not navigable below. A curious region it was through +which they passed; for, in fact, they were now travelling in the +country of the “Gapo.”</p> + +<p>What is the “Gapo?” you will ask. The “Gapo,” then, is the name +given to vast tracts of country upon the Amazon and some of its +tributary streams, that are annually inundated, and remain under +water for several months in the year. It extends for hundreds of +miles along the Amazon itself, and up many of the rivers, its tributaries +also, for hundreds of miles.</p> + +<p>But the whole country does not become one clear sheet of water, as +is the case with floods in other parts of the world. On the contrary, +high as is the flood, the tree-tops and their branches rise still higher,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">305</a></span> +and we have in the “Gapo” the extraordinary spectacle of a flooded +forest, thousands of square miles in extent!</p> + +<p>In this forest the trees do not perish, but retain life and verdure. +In fact, the trees of this part are peculiar, most of them differing in +kind from the trees of any other region. There are species of palms +growing in the “Gapo” that are found nowhere else; and there are +animals and birds, too, that remain in this region during the whole +season of flood. It has been further asserted that there are tribes of +“Gapo” Indians, who live in the middle of the inundation, making +their dwellings upon the trees, and who can pass from branch to branch +and tree to tree almost as nimbly as monkeys.</p> + +<p>This may or may not be true. It would not be a new thing, if true, +for it is well known that the Guarano Indians, at the mouth of the +Orinoco, dwell among the tops of the murichi palms during many +months of the season of flood. These people build platforms on the +palms, and upon these erect roofs, and sling their hammocks, and, +with little fireplaces of mud, are enabled to cook their provisions upon +them. But they have canoes, in which they are able to go from place +to place, and capture fish, upon which they principally subsist. The +murichi palm furnishes them with all the other necessaries of life.</p> + +<p>This singular tree is one of the noblest of the palms. It rises to a +height of more than one hundred feet, and grows in immense <i>palmares</i>, +or palm-woods, often covering the bank of the river for miles. It is +one of those called “fan-palm”—that is, the leaves, instead of being +pinnate or feathery, have long naked stalks, at the end of which the +leaflets spread out circularly, forming a shape like a fan. One of the +murichi leaves is a grand sight. The leaf-stalk, or petiole, is a foot +thick where it sprouts from the trunk; and before it reaches the +leaflets it is a solid beam of ten or twelve feet long, while the circular +fan or leaf itself is nine or ten in diameter! A single leaf of the +murichi palm is a full load for a man.</p> + +<p>With a score of such leaves,—shining and ever verdant as they are,—at +the top of its column-like trunk, what a majestic tree is the +murichi palm!</p> + +<p>But it is not more beautiful than useful. Its leaves, fruit, and stem, +are all put to some use in the domestic economy of the Indians. The +leaf-stalk, when dried, is light and elastic, like the quill of a bird—owing +to the thin, hard, outer covering and soft internal pith. Out +of the outer rind, when split off, the Indian makes baskets and +window-blinds. The pithy part is separated into laths, about half an +inch thick, with which window-shutters, boxes, bird-cages, partitions, +and even entire walls, are constructed.</p> + +<p>The epidermis of the leaves furnishes the strings for hammocks and +all kinds of cordage. From the fruits a favourite beverage is produced, +and these fruits are also pleasant eating, somewhat resembling apples. +They are in appearance like pine-cones, of a red colour outside and +yellow pulp. The trunk itself furnishes a pith or marrow that can be +used as sago; and out of the wood the Indian cuts his buoyant canoe! +In short, there are tribes of Indians that not only live, in a literal +sense, <i>on</i> the murichi palms, but that almost subsist on them.</p> + +<p>Although the flood had, to a considerable extent, subsided, the river +in most places was still beyond its banks; and this made it difficult +for our travellers to find a place for their night-camps. Several nights +they were obliged to sleep, as they best could, on the balza,—the latter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">306</a></span> +being secured to a tree. Sometimes, by pushing some distance up the +mouth of an “igaripé,” or creek, they were able to find dry ground, +on which to encamp. During their passage through this labyrinth of +rivers, they travelled but very slowly, and their provisions were fast +running out. There was no chance for increasing their stock, as they +could not find either wild-hogs (peccaries) or capivaras. These +creatures, although they can swim well enough, would only be found +upon the banks of the river, when it returned within its proper +channel.</p> + +<p>Now and then Guapo brought down a parrot, a macaw, or an aracari, +with his blow-gun; but these were only temporary supplies. They +had often heard howling monkeys in the trees, but had not been able +to see them; and none of the party would have refused to eat roast-monkey +now, as they had all tried it and found it quite palatable. +Guapo, blow-gun in hand, was continually peering up among the tree-tops +in search of monkeys or other game. He was, at length, rewarded +for his vigilance.</p> + +<p>One night they had pushed the balza up an “igaripé” for a hundred +yards or so, where a dry bank gave them an opportunity of landing. +The creek itself was not much wider than the balza, and tall trees +stood upon both banks. In one or two places the thorny “jacitara” +palm—which is a sort of climbing plant, often hanging over the +branches of other trees—nearly reached across the stream. These +curious palms had even to be cautiously pushed to one side as the balza +passed,—for the arrowy claws upon them, if once hooked into the +clothes of passengers, would either have dragged the latter from off +the raft, or have torn out the piece of cloth.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XLVII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE ARAGUATOES.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">O</span>ur party had passed several of these jacitaras, made the balza fast, +landed, and were just cooking their scanty supper, when they heard +a band of howling monkeys afar off in the woods. There was nothing +unusual in this; for these creatures are heard at all times among the +forests of the Amazon, especially at sunrise and before sunset, or +whenever there is any appearance of the approach of a rain-storm.</p> + +<p>Our travellers would not have noticed their voices on this occasion, +but that they seemed to be approaching in that direction; and as +they were coming along the bank of the main river, Guapo concluded +that on arriving at the “igaripé” they would turn up it and pass near +where the balza was, and thus he might have them within reach of +his gravatána. It was certain they were coming down the river side—of +course upon the tree-tops, and would, no doubt, turn up as Guapo +expected, for the trees on the opposite side of the igaripé stood too +far apart even for monkeys to spring across.</p> + +<p>After waiting for half-an-hour or so, the hideous howling of the +monkeys could be heard at no great distance, and they were taking +the desired route. In fact, in a few minutes after, the troop appeared +upon some tall trees that stood on the edge of the creek, not fifty +yards from where the balza was moored. They were large animals, +of that lanky and slender shape that characterises the prehensile-tailed +monkeys; but these were different from the <i>ateles</i> already<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">307</a></span> +mentioned. They were true howlers, as they had already proved by +the cries they had been uttering for the half-hour past.</p> + +<p>There are several species of howling monkeys, as we have already +stated. Those that had arrived on the igaripé Guapo pronounced to +be <i>araguatoes</i>. Their bodies are of a reddish-brown colour on the +body and shoulders, lighter underneath, and their naked wrinkled +faces are of a bluish black, and with very much of the expression of +an old man. Their hair is full and bushy, and gives them some +resemblance to a bear, whence their occasional name of “bear-ape,” +and also their zoological designation, <i>Simia ursina</i>. The araguato is +full three feet without the tail, and that powerful member is much +longer.</p> + +<p>When the band made its appearance on the igaripé, they were seen +to come to a halt, all of them gathering into a great tree that stood +by the water's edge. This tree rose higher than the rest, and the +most of the monkeys having climbed among the top branches, were +visible from the balza. There were about fifty in the troop, and one +that seemed larger than any of the others appeared to act as leader. +Many of them were females, and there were not a few that had young +ones, which they carried upon their backs just as the Indian mothers +and those of other savage nations carry their children.</p> + +<p>Most of the little monkeys lay along the backs of their mothers, +clasping them around the neck with their fore-arms, while their hind +ones girdled the middle of the body. But it was in their tails the +little fellows seemed to place most reliance. The top parts of these +were firmly lapped around the thick base of the tails of the old ones, +and thus not only secured their seat, but made it quite impossible for +them to drop off. No force could have shaken them from this hold, +without dragging out their tails or tearing their bodies to pieces, +indeed, it was necessary they should be thus firmly seated, as the +exertions of the mothers,—their quick motions and long springing +leaps from tree to tree—would otherwise have been impossible.</p> + +<p>On reaching the bank of the igaripé, the araguatoes were evidently +at fault. Their intention had been to proceed down along the main +river, and the creek now interfered. Its water lay directly across +their course, and how were they to get over it? Swim it, you may, +say. Ha! little do you know the dread these creatures have of water. +Yes; strange to say, although many species of them pass their lives +upon trees that overhang water, or even grow out of it, they are as +much afraid of the water beneath them as if it were fire. A cat is not +half so dainty about wetting her feet as some monkeys are; and +besides a cat can swim, which the monkeys cannot—at best so badly +that in a few minutes they would drown.</p> + +<p>Strange, is it not, that among animals, those that approach nearest +to man, like him are not gifted by nature with the power of swimming? +It is evident, then, that that is an art left to be discovered +by the intellect of man. To fall into the water would be a sad mishap +for a monkey, not only on account of the ducking, but of the danger. +There is not much likelihood of an araguato falling in. Even though +one branch may have broken and failed it, in the great concave +sphere which it can so quickly trace around it by means of its five +long members, it is sure of finding a second. No; the araguatoes +might spend a life-time in the flooded forest without even wetting a +hair farther than what is wetted by the rain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">308</a></span></p> + +<p>From their movements, it was evident the igaripé had puzzled them; +and a consultation was called among the branches of the tall tree +already mentioned. Upon one of the very highest sat the large old +fellow who was evidently leader of the band. His harangue was loud +and long, accompanied by many gestures of his hands, head, and tail. +It was, no doubt, exceedingly eloquent. Similar speeches delivered +by other old araguato chiefs, have been compared to the creaking of +an ungreased bullock-cart, mingled with the rumbling of the wheels!</p> + +<p>Our party thought the comparison a just one. The old chief finished +at length. Up to this point not one of the others had said a word. +They all sat silent, observing perfect decorum; indeed, much greater +than is observed in the great British Parliament or the Congress of +America. Occasionally one of the children might utter a slight +squeak, or throw out its hand to catch a mosquito; but in such cases +a slap from the paw of the mother, or a rough shaking, soon reduced +it to quiet.</p> + +<p>When the chief had ended speaking, however, no debate in either +Congress or Parliament could have equalled the noise that then arose. +Every araguato seemed to have something to say, and all spoke at +the same time. If the speech of the old one was like the creaking of +a bullock-cart, the voices of all combined might appropriately be +compared to a whole string of these vehicles, with half the quantity +of grease and a double allowance of wheels!</p> + +<p>Once more the chief, by a sign, commanded silence, and the rest +became mute and motionless as before.</p> + +<p>This time the speech of the leader appeared to refer to the business +in hand—in short, to the crossing of the igaripé. He was seen repeatedly +pointing in that direction, as he spoke, and the rest followed +his motions with their eyes.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XLVIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">BRIDGING AN IGARIPÉ.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he tree upon which the araguatoes were assembled stood near the +edge of the water, but there was another still nearer. This was also +a tall tree free of branches for a great way up. On the opposite bank +of the igaripé was a very similar tree, and the long horizontal branches +of the two were separated from each other by a space of about twenty +feet. It was with these two trees that the attention of the araguatoes +appeared to be occupied; and our travellers could tell by their looks +and gestures that they were conversing about, and calculating, the +distance between their upper branches. For what purpose?</p> + +<p>Surely they do not expect to be able to make a crossing between +them? No creature without wings could pass from one to the other! +Such were the questions and doubts expressed by Leon, and indeed +by all except Guapo, but Guapo had seen araguatoes before, and knew +some of their tricks. Guapo, therefore, boldly pronounced that it +was their intention to cross the igaripé by these two trees. He was +about to explain the manner in which they would accomplish it, when +the movement commenced, and rendered his explanation quite unnecessary.</p> + +<p>At a commanding cry from the chief, several of the largest and +strongest monkeys swung themselves into the tree that stood on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">309</a></span> +edge of the water. Here, after a moment's reconnoissance, they were +seen to get upon a horizontal limb—one that projected diagonally +over the igaripé. There were no limbs immediately underneath it on +the same side of the tree; and for this very reason had they selected +it. Having advanced until they were near its top, the foremost of the +monkeys let himself down upon his tail, and hung head downward. +Another slipped down the body of the first, and clutched him around +the neck and fore-arms with his strong tail, with his head down also. +A third succeeded the second, and a fourth the third, and so on until +a string of monkeys dangled from the limb.</p> + +<p>A motion was now produced by the monkeys striking other branches +with their feet, until the long string oscillated back and forwards like +the pendulum of a clock. This oscillation was gradually increased, +until the monkey at the lower end was swung up among the branches +of the tree on the opposite side of the igaripé. After touching them +once or twice, he discovered that he was within reach; and the next +time when he had reached the highest point of the oscillating curve, +he threw out his long thin fore-arms, and firmly clutching the +branches, held fast.</p> + +<p>The oscillation now ceased. The living chain stretched across the +igaripé from tree to tree, and, curving slightly, hung like a suspension-bridge! +A loud screaming, and gabbling, and chattering, and +howling, proceeded from the band of araguatoes, who, up to this +time, had watched the manœuvres of their comrades in silence—all +except the old chief, who occasionally had given directions both with +voice and gestures. But the general gabble that succeeded was, no +doubt, an expression of the satisfaction of all that the <i>bridge was +built</i>.</p> + +<p>The troop now proceeded to cross over, one or two old ones going +first, perhaps to try the strength of the bridge. Then went the +mothers carrying their young on their backs, and after them the +rest of the band.</p> + +<p>It was quite an amusing scene to witness, and the behaviour of +the monkeys would have caused any one to laugh. Even Guapo +could not restrain his mirth at seeing those who formed the bridge +biting the others that passed over them, both on the legs and tails, +until the latter screamed again!</p> + +<p>The old chief stood at the near end and directed the crossing. +Like a brave officer, he was the last to pass over. When all the +others had preceded him, he crossed after, carrying himself in a +stately and dignified manner. None dared to bite at <i>his</i> legs. They +knew better than play off their tricks on <i>him</i>, and he crossed quietly +and without any molestation.</p> + +<p>Now the string still remained suspended between the trees. How +were the monkeys that formed it to get themselves free again? Of +course the one that had clutched the branch with his arms might +easily let go, but that would bring them back to the same side from +which they had started, and would separate them from the rest of +the band. Those constituting the bridge would, therefore, be as far +from crossing as ever!</p> + +<p>There seemed to be a difficulty here—that is, to some of our +travellers. To the monkeys themselves there was none. They knew +well enough what they were about, and they would have got over +the apparent difficulty in the following manner:—The one at the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">310</a></span> +tail end of the bridge would simply have let go his hold, and the +whole string would then have swung over and hung from the tree on +the opposite bank, into which they could have climbed at their +leisure. I say they <i>would</i> have done so had nothing interfered to +prevent them from completing the manœuvre. But an obstacle +intervened which brought the affair to a very different termination.</p> + +<p>Guapo had been seated along with the rest, gravatána in hand. +He showed great forbearance in not having used the gravatána long +before, for he was all the while quite within reach of the araguatoes; +but this forbearance on his part was not of his own freewill. Don +Pablo had, in fact, hindered him, in order that he and the others, +should have an opportunity of witnessing the singular manœuvres of +the monkeys. Before the scene was quite over, however, the Indian +begged Don Pablo to let him shoot, reminding him how much they +stood in need of a little “monkey-meat.” This had the effect Guapo +desired; the consent was given, and the gravatána was pointed +diagonally upwards. Once more Guapo's cheeks were distended—once +more came the strong, quick puff—and away went the arrow. +The next moment it was seen sticking in the neck of one of the +monkeys.</p> + +<p>Now, the one which Guapo had aimed at and hit was that which +had grasped the tree on the opposite side with its arms. Why did +he chose this more than any other? Was it because it was nearer, or +more exposed to view? Neither of these was the reason. It was, +that had he shot any of the others in the string—they being supported +by their tails—it would not have fallen; the tail, as we have +already seen, still retaining its prehensile power even to death. But +that one which held on to the tree by its fore-arms would in a second +or two be compelled from weakness to let go, and the whole chain +would drop back on the near side of the igaripé. This was just what +Guapo desired, and he waited for the result. It was necessary only +to wait half-a-dozen seconds. The monkey was evidently growing +weak under the influence of the <i>curare</i>, and was struggling to retain +its hold. In a moment it must let go.</p> + +<p>The araguato at the “tail-end” of the bridge, not knowing what +had happened, and thinking all was right for swinging himself +across, slipped his tail from the branch just at the very same instant +that the wounded one let go, and the whole chain fell “souse” into +the water! Then the screaming and howling from those on shore, +the plunging and splashing of the monkeys in the stream, mingled +with the shouts of Leon, Guapo, and the others, created a scene of +noise and confusion that lasted for several minutes. In the midst +of it, Guapo threw himself into the canoe, and with a single stroke +of his paddle shot right down among the drowning monkeys. One or +two escaped to the bank, and made off; several went to the bottom;, +but three, including the wounded one, fell into the clutches of the +hunter.</p> + +<p>Of course roast-monkey was added to the supper; but none of the +travellers slept very well after it, as the araguatoes, lamenting their +lost companions, kept up a most dismal wailing throughout the +whole of the night.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">311</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XLIX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE MANATI.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he araguatoes, with dried plantains and cassava, were the food of +our travellers for several days after. On the evening of the third +day they had a change. Guapo succeeded in capturing a very large +turtle, which served for relish at several meals. His mode of taking +the turtle was somewhat curious, and deserves to be described.</p> + +<p>The balza had been brought to the bank, and they were just +mooring it, when something out on the water attracted the attention +of Leon and Leona. It was a small, darkish object, and would not +have been observed but for the ripple that it made on the smooth +surface of the river, and by this they could tell that it was in motion.</p> + +<p>“A water-snake!” said Leon.</p> + +<p>“Oh!” ejaculated the little Leona, “I hope not, brother Leon.”</p> + +<p>“On second thoughts,” replied Leon, “I don't think it is a snake.”</p> + +<p>Of course the object was a good distance off, else Leon and Leona +would not have talked so coolly about it. But their words had +reached the ear of Doña Isidora, and drawn her attention to what +they were talking about.</p> + +<p>“No; it is not a snake,” said she. “I fancy it is a turtle.”</p> + +<p>Guapo up to this had been busy with Don Pablo in getting the +balza made fast. The word “turtle,” however, caught his ear at +once, and he looked up, and then out on the river in the direction +where Leon and Leona were pointing. As soon as his eye rested +upon the moving object he replied to the remark of Doña Isidora.</p> + +<p>“Yes, my mistress,” said he, “it is a turtle, and a big one too. +Please all keep quiet—I think I can get him.”</p> + +<p>How Guapo was to get the turtle was a mystery to all. The +latter was about thirty paces distant, but it would be difficult, if not +impossible, to hit his small snout—the only part above water—with +the arrow of the blow-gun. Moreover, they thought that the arrow +would not penetrate the hard, bony substance, so as to stick there +and infuse its poison into the wound.</p> + +<p>These conjectures were true enough, but his gravatána was not +the weapon which Guapo was about to use. He had other weapons +as well—a fish-spear or harpoon, and a regular bow and arrows, +which he had made during his leisure hours in the valley.</p> + +<p>The latter was the weapon with which the tortoise was to be killed.</p> + +<p>Taking the bow, and adjusting an arrow to the string, Guapo +stepped forward to the water's edge. All watched him, uttering +their hopes of his success. It was still not clear with them how +the turtle was to be killed by an arrow shot from a bow any more +than by one sent from a blow-gun. Would it not glance from the +shell even should he succeed in hitting it under water! Surely it +would!</p> + +<p>As they stood whispering their conjectures to one another, they +observed Guapo, to their great astonishment, <i>pointing his arrow +upward</i>, and making as if he was going to discharge it in the air! +This he, in fact, <i>did</i> do a moment after; and they would have +been puzzled by his apparently strange conduct, had they not observed, +in the next instant, that the arrow, after flying high up,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">312</a></span> +came down again head-foremost and stuck upright in the back of the +turtle!</p> + +<p>The turtle dived at once, and all of them expected to see the +upright arrow carried under water. What was their surprise as well +as chagrin to see that it had fallen out, and was floating on the +surface! Of course the wound had only been a slight one, and the +turtle would escape, and be none the worse for it.</p> + +<p>But Guapo shared neither their surprise nor chagrin. Guapo felt +sure that the turtle was his, and said nothing; but, jumping into +the canoe, began to paddle himself out to where the creature had +been last seen. What could he be after? thought they.</p> + +<p>As they watched him, they saw that he made for the floating +arrow. “Oh!” said they, “he is gone to recover it.”</p> + +<p>That seemed probable enough, but, to their astonishment, as he +approached the weapon it took a start, and ran away from him! +Something below dragged it along the water. That was clear, and +they began to comprehend the mystery. The <i>head</i> of the arrow was +still sticking in the shell of the turtle. It was only the shaft that +floated, and that was attached to the head by a string! The latter +had been but loosely put on, so that the pressure of the water, as +the turtle dived, should separate it from the shaft, leaving the shaft +with its cord to act as a buoy, and discover the situation of the turtle.</p> + +<p>Guapo, in his swift canoe, soon laid hold of the shaft, and after +a little careful manœuvring, succeeded in landing his turtle high and +dry upon the bank. A splendid prize it proved. It was a “jurara” +tortoise—the “tataruga,” or great turtle of the Portuguese, and its +shell was full three feet in diameter.</p> + +<p>Guapo's mode of capturing the “jurara” is the same as that +generally practised by the Indians of the Amazon, although strong +nets and the hook are also used. The arrow is always discharged +upwards, and the range calculated with such skill, that it falls +vertically on the shell of the turtle, and penetrates deep enough +to stick, and detach itself from the shaft. This mode of shooting +is necessary, else the jurara could not be killed by an arrow, because +it never shows more than the tip of its snout above water, and any +arrow hitting it in a direct course would glance harmlessly from its +shell. A good bowman among the Indians will rarely miss shooting +in this way,—long practice and native skill enabling him to guess +within an inch of where his weapon will fall.</p> + +<p>In the towns of the Lower Amazon, where turtles are brought to +market, a small square hole may be observed in the shells of these +creatures. That is the mark of the arrow-head.</p> + +<p>Guapo lost no time in turning his turtle inside out, and converting +part of it into a savoury supper, while the remainder was fried into +sausage-meat, and put away for the following day.</p> + +<p>But on that following day a much larger stock of sausage-meat +was procured from a very different animal, and that was a “cow.”</p> + +<p>“How?” you exclaim,—“a cow in the wild forests of the Amazon! +Why, you have said that no cattle—either cows or horses—can exist +there without man to protect them, else they would be devoured by +pumas, jaguars, and bats. Perhaps they had arrived at some +settlement where cows were kept?”</p> + +<p>Not a bit of it; your conjecture, my young friend, is quite astray. +There was not a civilised settlement for many hundreds of miles<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">313</a></span> +from where Guapo got his cow—nor a cow neither, of the sort you +are thinking of. But there are more kinds of cows than one; and, +perhaps, you may have heard of a creature called the “fish-cow?” +Well, that is the sort of cow I am speaking of. Some term it the +“sea-cow,” but this is an improper name for it, since it also inhabits +fresh-water rivers throughout all tropical America. It is known as +the <i>Manati</i>, and the Portuguese call it “<i>peixe boi</i>,” which is only +“fish-cow” done into Portuguese.</p> + +<p>It is a curious creature the fish-cow, and I shall offer you a short +description of it. It is usually about seven feet in length, and five +round the thickest part of the body, which latter is quite smooth, +and tapers off into a horizontal flat tail, semicircular in shape. +There are no hind-limbs upon the animal, but just behind the head +are two powerful fins of an oval shape. There is no neck to be +perceived; and the head, which is not very large, terminates in +a large mouth and fleshy lips, which are not unlike those of a cow: +hence its name of “cow-fish.” There are stiff bristles on the upper +lip, and a few thinly scattered hairs over the rest of the body. +Behind the oval fins are two <i>mammæ</i>, or breasts, from which, when +pressed, flows a stream of beautiful white milk. Both eyes and ears +are very small in proportion to the size of the animal, but, nevertheless, +it has full use of these organs, and is not easily approached +by its enemy.</p> + +<p>The colour of the skin is a dusky lead, with some flesh-coloured +marks on the belly, and the skin itself is an inch thick at its thickest +part, on the back. Beneath the skin is a layer of fat, of great, +thickness, which makes excellent oil when boiled. As we have said, +the manati has no appearance of hind-limbs. Its fore-limbs, however, +are highly developed for a water animal. The bones in them +correspond to those in the human arm, having five fingers with the +joints distinct, yet so enclosed in an inflexible sheath that not a joint +can be moved.</p> + +<p>The cow-fish feeds on grass, coming in to the borders of the lakes +and rivers to procure it. It can swim very rapidly by means of its +flat tail and strong fins, and is not so easily captured as might be +supposed. All the art of the hunter is required to effect its destruction. +The harpoon is the weapon usually employed, though sometimes +they are caught in strong nets stretched across the mouths of +rivers or the narrow arms of lakes. The flesh of the manati is much +esteemed, and tastes somewhat between beef and pork, altogether +different from “fish.” Fried in its own oil, and poured into pots or +jars, it can be preserved for many months.</p> + +<p>As already stated, on the day after Guapo shot the turtle—in fact, +the next morning—just as they were going to shove off, some of the +party, in gazing from the edge of the balza, noticed a queer-looking +animal in the clear water below. It was no other than a “fish-cow;” +and, as they continued to examine it more attentively, they were +astonished to observe that, with its short paddle-like limbs, it +hugged two miniature models of itself close to its two breasts. +These were the “calves” in the act of suckling, for such is the mode +in which the manati nourishes her young.</p> + +<p>All the others would have watched this spectacle for a while, +interested in the maternal and filial traits thus exhibited by a +subaqueous creature, but while they stood looking into the water,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">314</a></span> +something glanced before their eyes, and glided with a plunge to +the bottom. It was the harpoon of Guapo.</p> + +<p>Blood rose to the surface immediately, and there was a considerable +splashing as the strong manati made its attempt to escape; but +the head of the harpoon was deeply buried in its flesh, and, with the +attached cord, Guapo soon hauled the animal ashore. It was as +much as he and Don Pablo could do to drag it on dry land; but the +knife soon took it to pieces; and then several hours were spent in +making it fit for preservation. Its fat and flesh yielded enough to +fill every spare vessel our travellers had got; and, when all were +filled, the balza was pushed off, and they continued their voyage +without any fear of short rations for some time to come.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER L.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE CLOSING CHAPTER.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span>fter many days of difficult navigation the balza floated upon the +broad and mighty Amazon, whose yellowish-olive flood flowed yet +fifteen hundred miles farther to the Atlantic Ocean.</p> + +<p>The current was in most places over four miles an hour, and the +navigation smooth and easy—so that our travellers rarely made less +than fifty miles a-day. There was considerable monotony in the +landscape, on account of the absence of mountains, as the Amazon, +through most of its course, runs through a level plain. The numerous +bends and sudden windings of the stream, however, continually +opening out into new and charming vistas, and the ever-changing +variety of vegetation, formed sources of delight to the travellers.</p> + +<p>Almost every day they passed the mouth of some tributary river—many +of these appearing as large as the Amazon itself. Our travellers +were struck with a peculiarity in relation to these rivers—that is, +their variety of colour. Some were whitish, with a tinge of olive, +like the Amazon itself; others were blue and transparent; while +a third kind had waters as black as ink. Of the latter class is the +great river of the Rio Negro—which by means of a tributary (the +Cassiquiare) joins the Amazon with the Orinoco.</p> + +<p>Indeed, the rivers of the Amazon valley have been classed into +<i>white</i>, <i>blue</i>, and <i>black</i>. <i>Red</i> rivers, such as are common in the northern +division of the American continent, do not exist in the valley of the +Amazon.</p> + +<p>There appears to be no other explanation for this difference in the +colour of rivers, except by supposing that they take their hue from +the nature of the soil through which these channels run.</p> + +<p>But the <i>white</i> rivers, as the Amazon itself, do not appear to be of +this hue merely because they are “muddy.” On the contrary, they +derive their colour, or most of it, from some impalpable substance +held in a state of irreducible solution. This is proved from the fact, +that even when these waters enter a reservoir, and the earthy matter +is allowed to settle, they still retain the same tinge of yellowish olive. +There are some white rivers, as the Rio Branco, whose waters are +almost as white as milk itself!</p> + +<p>The <i>blue</i> rivers of the Amazon valley are those with clear transparent +waters, and the courses of these lie through rocky countries where +there is little or no alluvium to render them turbid.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">315</a></span></p> + +<p>The <i>black</i> streams are the most remarkable of all. These, when deep, +look like rivers of ink; and when the bottom can be seen, which is +usually a sandy one, the sand has the appearance of gold. Even when +lifted in a vessel, the water retains its inky tinge, and resembles that +which may be found in the pools of peat-bogs. It is a general supposition +in South America that the black-water rivers get their colour +from the extract of sarsaparilla roots growing on their banks. It is +possible the sarsaparilla roots may have something to do with it, in +common with both the roots and leaves of many other vegetables. No +other explanation has yet been found to account for the dark colour +of these rivers, except the decay of vegetable substances carried in +their current; and it is a fact that all the black-water streams run +through the most thickly wooded regions.</p> + +<p>A curious fact may be mentioned of the black rivers; that is, that +mosquitoes—the plague of tropical America—are not found on their +banks. This is not only a curious, but an important fact, and might +be sufficient to determine any one on the choice of a settlement. You +may deem a mosquito a very small thing, and its presence a trifling +annoyance. Let me tell you that settlements have been broken up +and deserted on account of the persecution experienced from these +little insects! They are the real “wild beasts” of South America, far +more to be dreaded than pumas, or crocodiles, or snakes, or even the +fierce jaguar himself.</p> + +<p>Day after day our travellers kept on their course, meeting with +many incidents and adventures—too many to be recorded in this little +volume. After passing the mouth of the Rio Negro, they began to +get a peep now and then of high land, and even mountains, in the +distance; for the valley of the Amazon, on approaching its mouth, +assumes a different character from what it has farther up-stream. +These mountains bend towards it both from the Brazilian country on +the south, and from Guiana on the north, and these are often visible +from the bosom of the stream itself.</p> + +<p>It was about a month from their entering the main stream of the +Amazon, and a little more than two from the first launching of their +vessel, when the balza was brought alongside the wharf of Grand Para, +and Don Pablo and his party stepped on shore at this Brazilian town. +Here, of course, Don Pablo was a free man—free to go where he pleased—free +to dispose of his cargo as he thought best. But he did <i>not</i> dispose +of it at Grand Para.</p> + +<p>A better plan presented itself. He was enabled to freight part of a +vessel starting for New York, and thither he went, taking his family +and cargo along with him. In New York he obtained a large price +for his bark, roots, and beans; in fact, when all were disposed of, he +found himself nearly twenty thousand dollars to the good. With this +to live upon, he determined to remain in the great Republic of the +North until such time as his own dear Peru might be freed from the +Spanish oppressor.</p> + +<p>Ten years was the period of his exile. At the end of that time the +Spanish-American provinces struck almost simultaneously for liberty; +and in the ten years' struggle that followed, not only Don Pablo, but +Leon—now a young man—bore a conspicuous part. Both fought by +the side of Bolivar at the great battle of Junin, which crowned the +patriot army with victory.</p> + +<p>At the close of the War of Independence, Don Pablo was a general<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">316</a></span> +of division, while Leon had reached the grade of a colonel. But as +soon as the fighting was over, both resigned their military rank, as +they were men who did not believe in soldiering as a <i>mere profession</i>. +In fact, they regarded it as an unbecoming profession in time of peace, +and in this view <i>I</i> quite agree with them.</p> + +<p>Don Pablo returned to his studies; but Leon organised an expedition +of <i>cascarilleros</i>, and returned to the Montaña, where for many +years he employed himself in “bark-hunting.” Through this he became +one of the richest of Peruvian “ricos.”</p> + +<p>Guapo, who at this time did not look a year older than when first +introduced, was as tough and sinewy as ever, and was at the head of +the cascarilleros; and many a <i>coceada</i> did Guapo afterwards enjoy +with his mountain friend the “vaquero” while passing backward and +forward between Cuzco and the Montaña.</p> + +<p>Doña Isidora lived for a long period an ornament to her sex, and +the little Leona had <i>her</i> day as the “belle of Cuzco.”</p> + +<p>But Leon and Leona both got married at length; and were you to +visit Cuzco at the present time, you might see several little Leons +and Leonas, with round black eyes, and dark waving hair—all of +them descendants from our family of—</p> + +<div class="center">“<span class="smcap">Forest Exiles</span>.”</div> +<br /><br /> + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">317</a></span></p> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="cap2">THE BUSH-BOYS,</div> +<br /> +<div class="cap">OR</div> +<br /> +<div class="cap">ADVENTURES IN THE WILDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA.</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE BOERS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">H</span>endrik Von Bloom was a <i>boer</i>.</p> + +<p>When I called Hendrik Von Bloom a boer, I did not mean him +any disrespect. Quite the contrary.</p> + +<p>All the same it may be well to explain that Mynheer Hendrik had +not always been a boer. He could boast of a somewhat higher +condition—that is, he could boast of a better education than the +mere Cape farmer usually possesses, as well as some experience in +wielding the sword. He was not a native of the colony, but of +Holland; and he had found his way to the Cape, not as a poor +adventurer seeking his fortune, but as an officer in a Dutch regiment +then stationed there.</p> + +<p>His soldier-service in the colony was not of long duration. A +certain cherry-cheeked, flaxen-haired Gertrude—the daughter of a +rich boer—had taken a liking to the young lieutenant; and he in +his turn became vastly fond of her. The consequence was, that they +got married. Gertrude's father dying shortly after, the large farm, +with its full stock of horses, and Hottentots, broad-tailed sheep, and +long-horned oxen, became hers. This was an inducement for her +soldier-husband to lay down the sword and turn “vee-boer,” or +stock farmer, which he consequently did.</p> + +<p>These incidents occurred many years previous to the English becoming +masters of the Cape colony. When that event came to pass, +Hendrik Von Bloom was already a man of influence in the colony +and “field-cornet” of his district, which lay in the beautiful county +of Graaf Reinet. He was then a widower, the father of a small +family. The wife whom he had fondly loved,—the cherry-cheeked, +flaxen-haired Gertrude—no longer lived.</p> + +<p>History will tell you how the Dutch colonists, discontented with +English rule, rebelled against it. The ex-lieutenant and field-cornet +was one of the most prominent among these rebels. History will +also tell you how the rebellion was put down; and how several of +those compromised were brought to execution. Von Bloom escaped +by flight; but his fine property in the Graaf Reinet was confiscated +and given to another.</p> + +<p>Many years after we find him living in a remote district beyond +the great Orange River, leading the life of a “trek-boer,”—that is, a +nomade farmer, who has no fixed or permanent abode, but moves +with his flocks from place to place, wherever good pastures and water +may tempt him.</p> + +<p>From about this time dates my knowledge of the field-cornet and +his family. Of his history previous to this I have stated all I know, +but for a period of many years after I am more minutely acquainted<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">318</a></span> +with it. Most of its details I received from the lips of his own son. +I was greatly interested, and indeed instructed, by them. They were +my first lessons in African zoology.</p> + +<p>Believing, boy reader, that they might also instruct and interest +you, I here lay them before you. You are not to regard them as +merely fanciful. The descriptions of the wild creatures that play +their parts in this little history, as well as the acts, habits, and +instincts assigned to them, you may regard as true to Nature. Young +Von Bloom was a student of Nature, and you may depend upon the +fidelity of his descriptions.</p> + +<p>Disgusted with politics, the field-cornet now dwelt on the remote +frontier—in fact, beyond the frontier, for the nearest settlement was +an hundred miles off. His “kraal” was in a district bordering the +great Kalihari desert—the Saära of Southern Africa. The region +around, for hundreds of miles, was uninhabited, for the thinly-scattered, +half-human Bushmen who dwelt within its limits, hardly +deserved the name of inhabitants any more than the wild beasts that +howled around them.</p> + +<p>I have said that Von Bloom now followed the occupation of a +“trek-boer.” Farming in the Cape colony consists principally in the +rearing of horses, cattle, sheep, and goats; and these animals form +the wealth of the boer. But the stock of our field-cornet was now a +very small one. The proscription had swept away all his wealth, +and he had not been fortunate in his first essays as a nomade grazier. +The emancipation law, passed by the British Government, extended +not only to the Negroes of the West India Islands, but also to the +Hottentots of the Cape; and the result of it was that the servants of +Mynheer Von Bloom had deserted him. His cattle, no longer +properly cared for, had strayed off. Some of them fell a prey to wild +beasts—some died of the <i>murrain</i>. His horses, too, were decimated +by that mysterious disease of Southern Africa, the “horse-sickness;” +while his sheep and goats were continually being attacked and +diminished in numbers by the earth-wolf, the wild hound, and the +hyena. A series of losses had he suffered until his horses, oxen, +sheep, and goats, scarce counted altogether an hundred head. A +very small stock for a vee-boer, or South African grazier.</p> + +<p>Withal our field-cornet was not unhappy. He looked around upon +his three brave sons—Hans, Hendrik, and Jan. He looked upon his +cherry-cheeked, flaxen-haired daughter, Gertrude, the very type and +image of what her mother had been. From these he drew the hope +of a happier future.</p> + +<p>His two eldest boys were already helps to him in his daily occupations; +the youngest would soon be so likewise. In Gertrude,—or +“Trüey,” as she was endearingly styled,—he would soon have a +capital housekeeper. He was not unhappy therefore; and if an +occasional sigh escaped him, it was when the face of little Trüey +recalled the memory of that Gertrude who was now in heaven.</p> + +<p>But Hendrik Von Bloom was not the man to despair. Disappointments +had not succeeded in causing his spirits to droop. He only +applied himself more ardently to the task of once more building up +his fortune.</p> + +<p>For himself he had no ambition to be rich. He would have been +contented with the simple life he was leading, and would have cared +but little to increase his wealth. But other considerations weighed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">319</a></span> +upon his mind—the future of his little family. He could not suffer +his children to grow up in the midst of the wild plains without +education.</p> + +<p>No; they must one day return to the abodes of men, to act their +part in the drama of social and civilised life. This was his design.</p> + +<p>But how was this design to be accomplished? Though his so called +act of treason had been pardoned, and he was now free to return +within the limits of the colony, he was ill prepared for such a purpose. +His poor wasted stock would not suffice to set him up within +the settlements. It would scarce keep him a month. To return +would be to return a beggar!</p> + +<p>Reflections of this kind sometimes gave him anxiety. But they +also added energy to his disposition, and rendered him more eager +to overcome the obstacles before him.</p> + +<p>During the present year he had been very industrious. In order +that his cattle should be provided for in the season of winter he had +planted a large quantity of maize and buckwheat, and now the crops +of both were in the most prosperous condition. His garden, too, +smiled, and promised a profusion of fruits, and melons, and kitchen +vegetables. In short, the little homestead where he had fixed himself +for a time, was a miniature oäsis; and he rejoiced day after day, +as his eyes rested upon the ripening aspect around him. Once more +he began to dream of prosperity—once more to hope that his evil +fortunes had come to an end.</p> + +<p>Alas! It was a false hope. A series of trials yet awaited him—a +series of misfortunes that deprived him of almost everything he possessed, +and completely changed his mode of existence.</p> + +<p>Perhaps these occurrences could hardly be termed misfortunes, +since in the end they led to a happy result.</p> + +<p>But you may judge for yourself, boy reader, after you have heard +the “history and adventures” of the “trek-boer” and his family.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE KRAAL.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he ex-field-cornet was seated in front of his <i>kraal</i>—for such is the +name of a South African homestead. From his lips protruded a large +pipe, with its huge bowl of <i>meerschaum</i>. Every boer is a smoker.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the many losses and crosses of his past life, there +was contentment in his eye. He was gratified by the prosperous +appearance of his crops. The maize was now “in the milk,” and the +ears, folded within the papyrus-like husks, looked full and large. +It was delightful to hear the rustling of the long green blades, and +see the bright golden tassels waving in the breeze. The heart of the +farmer was glad as his eye glanced over his promising crop of +“mealies.”</p> + +<p>But there was another promising crop that still more gladdened +his heart—his fine children. There they are—all around him.</p> + +<p>Hans—the oldest—steady, sober Hans, at work in the well-stocked +garden; while the diminutive but sprightly imp Jan, the youngest, +is looking on, and occasionally helping his brother. Hendrik—the +dashing Hendrik, with bright face and light curling hair—is busy +among the horses, in the “horse-kraal;” and Trüey—the beautiful,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">320</a></span> +cherry-cheeked, flaxen-haired Trüey—is engaged with her pet—a +fawn of the springbok gazelle—whose bright eyes rival her own in +their expression of innocence and loveliness.</p> + +<p>Yes, the heart of the field-cornet is glad as he glances from one to +the other of these his children—and with reason. They are all fair +to look upon,—all give promise of goodness. If their father feels an +occasional pang, it is, as we have already said, when his eye rests +upon the cherry-cheeked, flaxen-haired Gertrude.</p> + +<p>But time has long since subdued that grief to a gentle melancholy. +Its pang is short-lived, and the face of the field-cornet soon lightens +up again as he looks around upon his dear children, so full of hope +and promise.</p> + +<p>Hans and Hendrik are already strong enough to assist him in his +occupations,—in fact, with the exception of “Swartboy,” they are +the only help he has.</p> + +<p>Who is Swartboy?</p> + +<p>Look into the horse-kraal, and you will there see Swartboy engaged, +along with his young master Hendrik, in saddling a pair of +horses. You may notice that Swartboy appears to be about thirty +years old, and he is full that; but if you were to apply a measuring +rule to him, you would find him not much over four feet in height! +He is stoutly built, however, and would measure better in a horizontal +direction. You may notice that he is of a yellow complexion, +although his name might lead you to fancy he was black—for +“Swartboy” means “black-boy.”</p> + +<p>You may observe that his nose is flat and sunk below the level of +his cheeks; that his cheeks are prominent, his lips very thick, his +nostrils wide, his face beardless, and his head almost hairless—for +the small kinky wool-knots thinly scattered over his skull can +scarcely be designated hair. You may notice, moreover, that his +head is monstrously large, with ears in proportion, and that the eyes +are set obliquely, and have a Chinese expression. You may notice +about Swartboy all those characteristics that distinguish the “Hottentots” +of South Africa.</p> + +<p>Yet Swartboy is not a Hottentot—though he is of the same race. +He is a Bushman.</p> + +<p>How came this wild Bushman into the service of the ex-field-cornet +Von Bloom? About that there is a little romantic history. Thus:—</p> + +<p>Among the savage tribes of Southern Africa there exists a very +cruel custom,—that of abandoning their aged or infirm, and often +their sick or wounded, to die in the desert. Children leave their +parents behind them, and the wounded are often forsaken by their +comrades with no other provision made for them beyond a day's food +and a cup of water!</p> + +<p>The Bushman Swartboy had been the victim of this custom. He +had been upon a hunting excursion with some of his own kindred, +and had been sadly mangled by a lion. His comrades, not expecting +him to live, left him on the plain to die; and most certainly would +he have perished had it not been for our field-cornet. The latter, as +he was “trekking” over the plains, found the wounded Bushman, +lifted him into his wagon, carried him on to his camp, dressed his +wounds, and nursed him till he became well. That is how Swartboy +came to be in the service of the field-cornet.</p> + +<p>Though gratitude is not a characteristic of his race, Swartboy was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">321</a></span> +not ungrateful. When all the other servants ran away, he remained +faithful to his master; and since that time had been a most efficient +and useful hand. In fact, he was now the only one left, with the +exception of the girl, Totty—who was, of course, a Hottentot; and +much about the same height, size, and colour, as Swartboy himself.</p> + +<p>We have said that Swartboy and the young Hendrik were saddling +a pair of horses. As soon as they had finished that job, they mounted +them, and riding out of the kraal, took their way straight across the +plain. They were followed by a couple of strong, rough-looking +dogs.</p> + +<p>Their purpose was to drive home the oxen and the other horses +that were feeding a good distance off. This they were in the habit +of doing every evening at the same hour,—for in South Africa it is +necessary to shut up all kinds of live stock at night, to protect them +from beasts of prey. For this purpose are built several enclosures +with high walls,—“kraals,” as they are called,—a word of the same +signification as the Spanish “corral,” and I fancy introduced into +Africa by the Portuguese—since it is not a native term.</p> + +<p>These kraals are important structures about the homestead of a +boer, almost as much so as his own dwelling-house, which of itself +also bears the name of “kraal.”</p> + +<p>As young Hendrik and Swartboy rode off for the horses and cattle, +Hans, leaving his work in the garden, proceeded to collect the sheep +and drive them home. These browsed in a different direction; but, +as they were near, he went afoot, taking little Jan along with him.</p> + +<p>Trüey having tied her pet to a post, had gone inside the house to +help Totty in preparing the supper. Thus the field-cornet was left +to himself and his pipe, which he still continued to smoke.</p> + +<p>He sat in perfect silence, though he could scarce restrain from +giving expression to the satisfaction he felt at seeing his family thus +industriously employed. Though pleased with all his children, it +must be confessed he had some little partiality for the dashing +Hendrik, who bore his own name, and who reminded him more of +his own youth than any of the others. He was proud of Hendrik's +gallant horsemanship, and his eyes followed him over the plain until +the riders were nearly a mile off, and already mixing among the +cattle.</p> + +<p>At this moment an object came under the eyes of Von Bloom, that +at once arrested his attention. It was a curious appearance along +the lower part of the sky, in the direction in which Hendrik and +Swartboy had gone, but apparently beyond them. It resembled a +dun-coloured mist or smoke, as if the plain at a great distance was +on fire!</p> + +<p>Could that be so? Had some one fired the <i>karoo</i> bushes? Or was +it a cloud of dust?</p> + +<p>The wind was hardly strong enough to raise such a dust, and yet +it had that appearance. Was it caused by animals? Might it not +be the dust raised by a great herd of antelopes,—a migration of the +springboks, for instance? It extended for miles along the horizon, +but Von Bloom knew that these creatures often travel in flocks of +greater extent than miles. Still he could not think it was that.</p> + +<p>He continued to gaze at the strange phenomenon, endeavouring to +account for it in various ways. It seemed to be rising higher against +the blue sky—now resembling dust, now like the smoke of a widely-spread<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">322</a></span> +conflagration, and now like a reddish cloud. It was in the +west, and already the setting sun was obscured by it. It had +passed over the sun's disc like a screen, and his light no longer fell +upon the plain. Was it the forerunner of some terrible storm?—of +an earthquake?</p> + +<p>Such a thought crossed the mind of the field-cornet. It was not +like an ordinary cloud,—it was not like a cloud of dust,—it was not +like smoke. It was like nothing he had ever witnessed before. No +wonder that he became anxious and apprehensive.</p> + +<p>All at once the dark-red mass seemed to envelope the cattle upon +the plain, and these could be seen running to and fro as if affrighted. +Then the two riders disappeared under its dun shadow!</p> + +<p>Von Bloom rose to his feet, now seriously alarmed. What could +it mean?</p> + +<p>The exclamation to which he gave utterance brought little Trüey +and Totty from the house; and Hans with Jan had now got back +with the sheep and goats. All saw the singular phenomenon, but +none of them could tell what it was. All were in a state of alarm.</p> + +<p>As they stood gazing, with hearts full of fear, the two riders +appeared coming out of the cloud, and then they were seen to gallop +forward over the plain in the direction of the house. They came on +at full speed, but long before they had got near, the voice of Swartboy +could be heard crying out,—</p> + +<p>“Baas Von Bloom! <i>da springaans are comin'!—da springaan!—da +springaan!</i>”</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE SPRING-HAAN.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“A</span>h <i>the springaan</i>!” cried Von Bloom, recognising the Dutch name +for the far-famed migratory locust.</p> + +<p>The mystery was explained. The singular cloud that was spreading +itself over the plain was neither more nor less than a flight of +locusts!</p> + +<p>It was a sight that none of them, except Swartboy, had ever +witnessed before. His master had often seen locusts in small quantities, +and of several species,—for there are many kinds of these +singular insects in South Africa. But that which now appeared was +a true migratory locust (<i>Gryllus devastatorius</i>); and upon one of its +great migrations—an event of rarer occurrence than travellers would +have you believe.</p> + +<p>Swartboy knew them well; and, although he announced their +approach in a state of great excitement, it was not the excitement +of terror.</p> + +<p>Quite the contrary. His great thick lips were compressed +athwart his face in a grotesque expression of joy. The instincts of +his wild race were busy within him. To them a flight of locusts +is not an object of dread, but a source of rejoicing—their coming +as welcome as a take of shrimps to a Leigh fisherman, or harvest to +the husband-man.</p> + +<p>The dogs, too, barked and howled with joy, and frisked about +as if they were going out upon a hunt. On perceiving the cloud, +their instinct enabled them easily to recognise the locusts. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">323</a></span> +regarded them with feelings similar to those that stirred Swartboy—for +both dogs and Bushmen eat the insects with avidity!</p> + +<p>At the announcement that it was only locusts, all at once recovered +from their alarm. Little Trüey and Jan laughed, clapped their +hands, and waited with curiosity until they should come nearer. +All had heard enough of locusts to know that they were only +grasshoppers that neither bit nor stung any one, and therefore no +one was afraid of them.</p> + +<p>Even Von Bloom himself was at first very little concerned about +them. After his feelings of apprehension, the announcement that +it was a flight of locusts was a relief, and for a while he did not +dwell upon the nature of such a phenomenon, but only regarded it +with feelings of curiosity.</p> + +<p>Of a sudden his thoughts took a new direction. His eye rested +upon his fields of maize and buckwheat, upon his garden of melons, +and fruits, and vegetables: a new alarm seized upon him; the +memory of many stories which he had heard in relation to these +destructive creatures rushed into his mind, and as the whole truth +developed itself, he turned pale, and uttered new exclamations of alarm.</p> + +<p>The children changed countenance as well. They saw that their +father suffered; though they knew not why. They gathered +inquiringly around him.</p> + +<p>“Alas! alas! Lost! lost!” exclaimed he; “yes, all our crop—our +labour of the year—gone, gone! O my dear children!”</p> + +<p>“How lost, father?—how gone?” exclaimed several of them in +a breath.</p> + +<p>“See the springaan! they will eat up our crop—all—all!”</p> + +<p>“'Tis true, indeed,” said Hans, who being a great student had +often read accounts of the devastations committed by the locusts.</p> + +<p>The joyous countenances of all once more wore a sad expression, +and it was no longer with curiosity that they gazed upon the distant +cloud, that so suddenly had clouded their joy.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom had good cause for dread. Should the swarm come on, +and settle upon his fields, farewell to his prospects of a harvest. +They would strip the verdure from his whole farm in a twinkling. +They would leave neither seed, nor leaf, nor stalk behind them.</p> + +<p>All stood watching the flight with painful emotions. The swarm +was still a full half-mile distant. They appeared to be coming no +nearer,—good!</p> + +<p>A ray of hope entered the mind of the field-cornet. He took off +his broad felt hat, and held it up to the full stretch of his arm. The +wind was blowing from the north, and the swarm was directly to the +west of the kraal. The cloud of locusts had approached from the +north, as they almost invariably do in the southern parts of Africa.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Hendrik, who having been in their midst could tell +what way they were drifting, “they came down upon us from a +northerly direction. When we headed our horses homewards, we +soon galloped out from them, and they did not appear to fly after +us; I am sure they were passing southwards.”</p> + +<p>Von Bloom entertained hopes that as none appeared due north +of the kraal, the swarm might pass on without extending to the +borders of his farm. He knew that they usually followed the +direction of the wind. Unless the wind changed they would not +swerve from their course.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">324</a></span></p> + +<p>He continued to observe them anxiously. He saw that the selvedge +of the cloud came no nearer. His hopes rose. His countenance grew +brighter. The children noticed this and were glad, but said nothing. +All stood silently watching.</p> + +<p>An odd sight it was. There was not only the misty swarm of the +insects to gaze upon. The air above them was filled with birds—strange +birds and of many kinds. On slow, silent wing soared the +brown “oricou,” the largest of Africa's vultures; and along with +him the yellow “chasse fiente,” the vulture of Kolbé. There swept +the bearded “lamvanger,” on broad extended wings. There shrieked +the great “Caffre eagle,” and side by side with him the short-tailed +and singular “bateleur.” There, too were hawks of different sizes +and colours, and kites cutting through the air, and crows and +ravens, and many species of <i>insectivora</i>.</p> + +<p>But far more numerous than all the rest could be seen the little +<i>springhaan-vogel</i>, a speckled bird of nearly the size and form of +a swallow. Myriads of these darkened the air above—hundreds of +them continually shooting down among the insects, and soaring up +again each with a victim in its beak. “Locust-vultures” are these +creatures named, though not vultures in kind. They feed exclusively +on these insects, and are never seen where the locusts are not. They +follow them through all their migrations, building their nests, and +rearing their young, in the midst of their prey!</p> + +<p>It was, indeed, a curious sight to look upon, that swarm of winged +insects, and their numerous and varied enemies; and all stood +gazing upon it with feelings of wonder. Still the living cloud +approached no nearer, and the hopes of Von Bloom continued to +rise.</p> + +<p>The swarm kept extending to the south—in fact, it now stretched +along the whole western horizon; and all noticed that it was gradually +getting lower down—that is, its top edge was sinking in the +heavens. Were the locusts passing off to the west? No.</p> + +<p>“Da am goin roost for da nacht—now we'll get 'em in bag-full,” +said Swartboy, with a pleased look; for Swartboy was a regular +locust-eater, as fond of them as either eagle or kite,—aye, as the +“springhaan-vogel” itself.</p> + +<p>It was as Swartboy had stated. The swarm was actually settling +down on the plain.</p> + +<p>“Can't fly without sun,” continued the Bushman. “Too cold +now. Dey go dead till da mornin.”</p> + +<p>And so it was. The sun had set. The cool breeze weakened the +wings of the insect travellers; and they were compelled to make +halt for the night upon the trees, bushes, and grass.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the dark mist that had hid the blue rim of the +sky, was seen no more; but the distant plain looked as if a fire had +swept over it. It was thickly covered with the bodies of the insects, +that gave it a blackened appearance as far as the eye could reach.</p> + +<p>The attendant birds, perceiving the approach of night, screamed +for awhile, and then scattered away through the heavens. Some +perched upon the rocks, while others went to roost among the low +thickets of mimosa; and now for a short interval both earth and air +were silent.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom now bethought him of his cattle. Their forms were +seen afar off in the midst of the locust-covered plain.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">325</a></span></p> + +<p>“Let 'em feed um little while, baas,” suggested Swartboy.</p> + +<p>“On what?” inquired his master. “Don't you see the grass is +covered!”</p> + +<p>“On de springhaan demself, baas,” replied the Bushman; “good +for fatten big ox—better dan grass—ya, better dan <i>mealies</i>.”</p> + +<p>But it was too late to leave the cattle longer out upon the plain. +The lions would soon be abroad—the sooner because of the locusts, +for the king of the beasts does not disdain to fill his royal stomach +with these insects—when he can find them.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom saw the necessity of bringing his cattle at once to their +kraal.</p> + +<p>A third horse was saddled, which the field-cornet himself mounted, +and rode off, followed by Hendrik and Swartboy.</p> + +<p>On approaching the locusts they beheld a singular sight. The +ground was covered with these reddish-brown creatures, in some +spots to the depth of several inches. What bushes there were were +clustered with them,—all over the leaves and branches, as if swarms +of bees had settled upon them. Not a leaf or blade of grass that +was not covered with their bodies!</p> + +<p>They moved not, but remained silent, as if torpid or asleep. The +cold of the evening had deprived them of the power of flight.</p> + +<p>What was strangest of all to the eyes of Von Bloom and Hendrik, +was the conduct of their own horses and cattle. These were some +distance out in the midst of the sleeping host; but instead of being +alarmed at their odd situation, they were greedily gathering up the +insects in mouthfuls, and crunching them as though they had been +corn!</p> + +<p>It was with some difficulty that they could be driven off; but the +roar of a lion, that was just then heard over the plain, and the +repeated application of Swartboy's <i>jambok</i>, rendered them more +tractable, and at length they suffered themselves to be driven home, +and lodged within their kraals.</p> + +<p>Swartboy had provided himself with a bag, which he carried back +full of locusts.</p> + +<p>It was observed that in collecting the insects into the bag, he acted +with some caution, handling them very gingerly, as if he was afraid +of them. It was not them he feared, but snakes which, upon such +occasions are very plenteous, and very much to be dreaded—as the +Bushman from experience well knew.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A TALK ABOUT LOCUSTS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">I</span>t was a night of anxiety in the kraal of the field-cornet. Should the +wind veer round to the west, to a certainty the locusts would cover +his land in the morning, and the result would be the total destruction +of his crops. Perhaps worse than that. Perhaps the whole vegetation +around—for fifty miles or more—might be destroyed; and then how +would his cattle be fed? It would be no easy matter even to save +their lives. They might perish before he could drive them to any +other pasturage!</p> + +<p>Such a thing was by no means uncommon or improbable. In the +history of the Cape colony many a boer had lost his flocks in this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">326</a></span> +very way. No wonder there was anxiety that night in the kraal of +the field-cornet.</p> + +<p>At intervals Von Bloom went out to ascertain whether there was +any change in the wind. Up to a late hour he could perceive none. +A gentle breeze still blew from the north—from the great Kalihari +desert—whence, no doubt, the locusts had come. The moon was +bright, and her light gleamed over the host of insects that darkly +covered the plain. The roar of the lion could be heard mingling with +the shrill scream of the jackal and the maniac laugh of the hyena. +All these beasts, and many more, were enjoying a plenteous repast.</p> + +<p>Perceiving no change in the wind, Von Bloom became less uneasy, +and they all conversed freely about the locusts. Swartboy took a +leading part in this conversation, as he was better acquainted with +the subject than any of them. It was far from being the first flight +of locusts Swartboy had seen, and many a bushel of them had he +eaten. It was natural to suppose, therefore, that he knew a good deal +about them.</p> + +<p>He knew not whence they came. That was a point about which +Swartboy had never troubled himself. The learned Hans offered an +explanation of their origin.</p> + +<p>“They come from the desert,” said he. “The eggs from which they +are produced, are deposited in the sands or dust; where they lie until +rain falls, and causes the herbage to spring up. Then the locusts are +hatched, and in their first stage are supported upon this herbage. +When it becomes exhausted, they are compelled to go in search of +food. Hence these 'migrations,' as they are called.”</p> + +<p>This explanation seemed clear enough.</p> + +<p>“Now I have heard,” said Hendrik, “of farmers kindling fires +around their crops to keep off the locusts. I can't see how fires would +keep them off—not even if a regular fence of fire were made all round +a field. These creatures have wings, and could easily fly over the +fires.”</p> + +<p>“The fires,” replied Hans, “are kindled, in order that the smoke +may prevent them from alighting; but the locusts to which these +accounts usually refer are without wings, called <i>voetgangers</i> (foot-goers). +They are, in fact, the <i>larvæ</i> of these locusts, before they have +obtained their wings. These have also their migrations, that are +often more destructive than those of the perfect insects, such as we +see here. They proceed over the ground by crawling and leaping +like grasshoppers; for, indeed, they are grasshoppers—a species of +them. They keep on in one direction, as if they were guided by +instinct to follow a particular course. Nothing can interrupt them +in their onward march unless the sea or some broad and rapid river. +Small streams they can swim across; and large ones, too, where they +run sluggishly; walls and houses they can climb—even the chimneys—going +straight over them; and the moment they have reached the +other side of any obstacle, they continue straight onward in the old +direction.</p> + +<p>“In attempting to cross broad rapid rivers, they are drowned in +countless myriads, and swept off to the sea. When it is only a small +migration, the farmers sometimes keep them off by means of fires, as +you have heard. On the contrary, when large numbers appear, even +the fires are of no avail.”</p> + +<p>“But how is that, brother?” inquired Hendrik. “I can understand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">327</a></span> +how fires would stop the kind you speak of, since you say they +are without wings. But since they are so, how do they get through +the fires? Jump them?”</p> + +<p>“No, not so,” replied Hans. “The fires are built too wide and large +for that.”</p> + +<p>“How then, brother?” asked Hendrik. “I'm puzzled.”</p> + +<p>“So am I,” said little Jan.</p> + +<p>“And I,” added Trüey.</p> + +<p>“Well, then,” continued Hans, “millions of the insects crawl into +the fires and put them out!”</p> + +<p>“Ho!” cried all in astonishment. “How? Are they not burned?”</p> + +<p>“Of course,” replied Hans. “They are scorched and killed—myriads +of them quite burned up. But their bodies crowded thickly on the +fires choke them out. The foremost ranks of the great host thus +become victims, and the others pass safely across upon the holocaust +thus made. So you see, even fires cannot stop the course of the locusts +when they are in great numbers.</p> + +<p>“In many parts of Africa, where the natives cultivate the soil, as +soon as they discover a migration of these insects, and perceive that +they are heading in the direction of their fields and gardens, quite a +panic is produced among them. They know that they will lose their +crops to a certainty, and hence dread a visitation of locusts as they +would an earthquake, or some other great calamity.”</p> + +<p>“We can well understand their feelings upon such an occasion,” +remarked Hendrik, with a significant look.</p> + +<p>“The flying locusts,” continued Hans, “seem less to follow a +particular direction than their larvæ. The former seem to be guided +by the wind. Frequently this carries them all into the sea, where +they perish in vast numbers. On some parts of the coast their dead +bodies have been found washed back to land in quantities incredible. +At one place the sea threw them upon the beach, until they lay piled +up in a ridge four feet in height, and fifty miles in length! It has +been asserted by several well-known travellers that the effluvium +from this mass tainted the air to such an extent that it was perceived +one hundred and fifty miles inland!”</p> + +<p>“Heigh!” exclaimed little Jan. “I didn't think anybody had so +good a nose.”</p> + +<p>At little Jan's remark there was a general laugh. Von Bloom did +not join in their merriment. He was in too serious a mood just then.</p> + +<p>“Papa,” inquired little Trüey, perceiving that her father did not +laugh, and thinking to draw him into the conversation,—“Papa! +were these the kind of locusts eaten by John the Baptist when in the +desert? His food, the Bible says, was 'locusts and wild honey.'”</p> + +<p>“I believe these are the same,” replied the father.</p> + +<p>“I think, papa,” modestly rejoined Hans, “they are not exactly the +same, but a kindred species. The locust of Scripture was the true +<i>Gryllus migratorius</i>, and different from those of South Africa, though +very similar in its habits.” “But,” continued he, “some writers dispute +that point altogether. The Abyssinians say that it was beans of the +locust-tree, and not insects, that were the food of St. John.”</p> + +<p>“What is your own opinion, Hans?” inquired Hendrik, who had a +great belief in his brother's book-knowledge.</p> + +<p>“Why, I think,” replied Hans, “there need be no question about it. +It is only torturing the meaning of a word to suppose that St. John ate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">328</a></span> +the locust fruit, and not the insect. I am decidedly of opinion that the +latter is meant in Scripture; and what makes me think so is, that these +two kinds of food, 'locusts and wild honey,' are often coupled together, +as forming at the present time the subsistence of many tribes who are +denizens of the desert. Besides, we have good evidence that both were +used as food by desert-dwelling people in the days of Scripture. It is, +therefore, but natural to suppose that St. John, when in the desert, +was forced to partake of this food; just as many a traveller of +modern times has eaten of it when crossing the deserts that surround +us here in South Africa.</p> + +<p>“I have read a great many books about locusts,” continued Hans; +“and now that the Bible has been mentioned, I must say for my part, +I know no account given of these insects so truthful and beautiful as +that in the Bible itself. Shall I read it, papa?”</p> + +<p>“By all means, my boy,” said the field-cornet, rather pleased at the +request which his son had made, and at the tenor of the conversation.</p> + +<p>Little Trüey ran into the inner room and brought out an immense +volume bound in gemsbok skin, with a couple of brass clasps upon it +to keep it closed. This was the family Bible; and here let me observe, +that a similar book may be found in the house of nearly every boer, +for these Dutch colonists are a Protestant and Bible-loving people—so +much so, that they think nothing of going a hundred miles, four +times in the year, to attend the <i>nacht-maal</i>, or sacramental supper! +What do you think of that?</p> + +<p>Hans opened the volume, and turned at once to the book of the +prophet Joel. From the readiness with which he found the passage, +it was evident he was well acquainted with the book he held in his +hands.</p> + +<p>He read as follows:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>“A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick +darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains; a great people +and a strong: there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any +more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth +before them, and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the +garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; +yea, and nothing shall escape them. The appearance of them is as +the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. Like +the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the +noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people +set in battle array. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens +shall tremble; the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall +withdraw their shining. How do the beasts groan! the herds of +cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of +sheep are made desolate.”</p></div> + +<p>Even the rude Swartboy could perceive the poetic beauty of this +description.</p> + +<p>But Swartboy had much to say about the locusts, as well as the +inspired Joel.</p> + +<p>Thus spoke Swartboy:—</p> + +<p>“Bushman no fear da springhaan. Bushman hab no garden—no +maize—no buckwheat—no nothing for da springhaan to eat. Bushman +eat locust himself—he grow fat on da locust. Ebery thing eat +dem dar springhaan. Ebery thing grow fat in da locust season. Ho! +den for dem springhaan!”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">329</a></span></p> + +<p>These remarks of Swartboy were true enough. The locusts are +eaten by almost every species of animal known in South Africa. Not +only do the <i>carnivora</i> greedily devour them, but also animals and birds +of the game kind—such as antelopes, partridges, guinea-fowls, bustards, +and, strange to say, the giant of all—the huge elephant—will travel +for miles to overtake a migration of locusts! Domestic fowls, sheep, +horses, and dogs, devour them with equal greediness. Still another +strange fact—the locusts eat one another! If any one of them gets +hurt, so as to impede his progress, the others immediately turn upon +him and eat him up!</p> + +<p>The Bushmen and other native races of Africa submit the locusts to +a process of cookery before eating them; and during the whole evening +Swartboy had been engaged in preparing the bagful which he had +collected. He “cooked” them thus:—</p> + +<p>He first boiled, or rather steamed them, for only a small quantity of +water was put into the pot. This process lasted two hours. They +were then taken out, and allowed to dry; and after that shaken about +in a pan, until all the legs and wings were broken off from the bodies. +A winnowing process—Swartboy's thick lips acting as a fan—was next +gone through; and the legs and wings were thus got rid of. The +locusts were then ready for eating.</p> + +<p>A little salt only was required to render them more palatable, when +all present made trial of, and some of the children even liked them. +By many, locusts prepared in this way are considered quite equal to +shrimps!</p> + +<p>Sometimes they are pounded when quite dry into a sort of meal, +and with water added to them, are made into a kind of stirabout.</p> + +<p>When well dried, they will keep for a long time; and they frequently +form the only store of food which the poorer natives have to depend +upon for a whole season.</p> + +<p>Among many tribes—particularly among those who are not agricultural—the +coming of the locusts is a source of rejoicing. These +people turn out with sacks, and often with pack-oxen to collect and +bring them to the villages; and on such occasions vast heaps of them +are accumulated and stored, in the same way as grain!</p> + +<p>Conversing of these things the night passed on until it was time for +going to bed. The field-cornet went out once again to observe the +wind; and then the door of the little kraal was closed, and the family +retired to rest.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE LOCUST-FLIGHT.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he field-cornet slept but little. Anxiety kept him awake. He turned +and tossed, and thought of the locusts. He napped at intervals, and +dreamt about locusts, and crickets, and grasshoppers, and all manner +of great long-legged, goggle-eyed insects. He was glad when the first +ray of light penetrated through the little window of his chamber.</p> + +<p>He sprang to his feet; and, scarce staying to dress himself, rushed +out into the open air. It was still dark, but he did not require to see +the wind. He did not need to toss a feather or hold up his hat. The +truth was too plain. A strong breeze was blowing—it was blowing +<i>from the west</i>!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">330</a></span></p> + +<p>Half distracted, he ran farther out to assure himself. He ran until +clear of the walls that enclosed the kraals and garden.</p> + +<p>He halted and felt the air. Alas! his first impression was correct. +The breeze blew directly from the west—directly from the locusts. +He could perceive the effluvium borne from the hateful insects: there +was no longer cause to doubt.</p> + +<p>Groaning in spirit, Von Bloom returned to his house. He had no +longer any hope of escaping the terrible visitation.</p> + +<p>His first directions were to collect all the loose pieces of linen or +clothing in the house, and pack them within the family chests. What! +would the locusts be likely to eat them?</p> + +<p>Indeed, yes—for these voracious creatures are not fastidious. No +particular vegetable seems to be chosen by them. The leaves of the +bitter tobacco plant appear to be as much to their liking as the +sweet and succulent blades of maize! Pieces of linen, cotton, and +even flannel, are devoured by them, as though they were the tender +shoots of plants. Stones, iron, and hard wood, are about the only +objects that escape their fierce masticators.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom had heard this, Hans had read of it, and Swartboy confirmed +it from his own experience.</p> + +<p>Consequently, everything that was at all destructible was carefully +stowed away; and then breakfast was cooked and eaten in +silence.</p> + +<p>There was a gloom over the faces of all, because he who was the head +of all was silent and dejected. What a change within a few hours! +But the evening before the field-cornet and his little family were in the +full enjoyment of happiness.</p> + +<p>There was still one hope, though a slight one. Might it yet rain? +Or might the day turn out cold?</p> + +<p>In either case Swartboy said the locusts could not take wing—for +they cannot fly in cold or rainy weather. In the event of a cold or +wet day they would have to remain as they were, and perhaps the +wind might change round again before they resumed their flight. Oh, +for a torrent of rain, or a cold cloudy day!</p> + +<p>Vain wish! vain hope! In half-an-hour after the sun rose up in +African splendour, and his hot rays, slanting down upon the sleeping +host, warmed them into life and activity. They commenced to +crawl, to hop about, and then, as if by one impulse, myriads rose +into the air. The breeze impelled them in the direction in which it +was blowing,—in the direction of the devoted maize fields.</p> + +<p>In less than five minutes, from the time they had taken wing, they +were over the kraal, and dropping in tens of thousands upon the +surrounding fields. Slow was their flight, and gentle their descent, +and to the eyes of those beneath they presented the appearance of a +shower of <i>black</i> snow, falling in large feathery flakes. In a few +moments the ground was completely covered, until every stalk of +maize, every plant and bush, carried its hundreds. On the outer +plains too, as far as eye could see, the pasture was strewed thickly; +and as the great flight had now passed to the eastward of the house, +the sun's disk was again hidden by them as if by an eclipse!</p> + +<p>They seemed to move in a kind of <i>echelon</i>, the bands in the rear +constantly flying to the front, and then halting to feed, until in turn +these were headed by others that had advanced over them in a +similar manner.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">331</a></span></p> + +<p>The noise produced by their wings was not the least curious phenomenon; +and resembled a steady breeze playing among the leaves +of the forest, or the sound of a water-wheel.</p> + +<p>For two hours this passage continued. During most of that time, +Von Bloom and his people had remained within the house, with +closed doors and windows. This they did to avoid the unpleasant +shower, as the creatures impelled by the breeze, often strike the +cheek so forcibly as to cause a feeling of pain. Moreover, they did +not like treading upon the unwelcome intruders, and crushing them +under their feet, which they must have done, had they moved about +outside where the ground was thickly covered.</p> + +<p>Many of the insects even crawled inside, through the chinks of the +door and windows, and greedily devoured any vegetable substance +which happened to be lying about the floor.</p> + +<p>At the end of two hours Von Bloom looked forth. The thickest of +the flight had passed. The sun was again shining; but upon what +was he shining? No longer upon green fields and a flowery garden. +No. Around the house, on every side, north, south, east, and west, +the eye rested only on black desolation. Not a blade of grass, not a +leaf could be seen—even the very bark was stripped from the trees, +that now stood as if withered by the hand of God! Had fire swept +the surface, it could not have left it more naked and desolate. There +was no garden, there were no fields of maize or buckwheat, there was +no longer a farm—the kraal stood in the midst of a desert!</p> + +<p>Words cannot depict the emotions of the field-cornet at that +moment. The pen cannot describe his painful feelings.</p> + +<p>Such a change in two hours! He could scarce credit his senses—he +could scarce believe in its reality. He knew that the locusts +would eat up his maize, and his wheat, and the vegetables of his +garden; but his fancy had fallen far short of the extreme desolation +that had actually been produced. The whole landscape was metamorphosed—grass +was out of the question—trees, whose delicate +foliage had played in the soft breeze but two short hours before, now +stood leafless, scathed by worse than winter. The very ground +seemed altered in shape! He would not have known it as his own +farm. Most certainly had the owner been absent during the period +of the locust-flight, and approached without any information of what +had been passing, he would not have recognised the place of his own +habitation!</p> + +<p>With the phlegm peculiar to his race, the field-cornet sat down, +and remained for a long time without speech or movement.</p> + +<p>His children gathered near, and looked on—their young hearts +painfully throbbing. They could not fully appreciate the difficult +circumstances in which this occurrence had placed them; nor did +their father himself at first. He thought only of the loss he had +sustained, in the destruction of his fine crops; and this of itself, +when we consider his isolated situation, and the hopelessness of +restoring them, was enough to cause him very great chagrin.</p> + +<p>“Gone! all gone!” he exclaimed, in a sorrowing voice. “Oh! +Fortune—Fortune—again art thou cruel!”</p> + +<p>“Papa! do not grieve,” said a soft voice; “we are all alive yet, we +are here by your side;” and with the words a little white hand was +laid upon his shoulder. It was the hand of the beautiful Trüey.</p> + +<p>It seemed as if an angel had smiled upon him. He lifted the child<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">332</a></span> +in his arms, and in a paroxysm of fondness pressed her to his heart. +That heart felt relieved.</p> + +<p>“Bring me the Book,” said he, addressing one of the boys.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 356px;"> +<img src="images/illus-332.jpg" width="356" height="500" alt="THE SHOWER OF LOCUSTS." title="THE SHOWER OF LOCUSTS." /> +<span class="caption">THE SHOWER OF LOCUSTS.</span></div> + +<p>The Bible was brought—its massive covers were opened—a verse +was chosen—and the song of praise rose up in the midst of the +desert.</p> + +<p>The Book was closed; and for some minutes all knelt in prayer.</p> + +<p>When Von Bloom again stood upon his feet, and looked around<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">333</a></span> +him, the desert seemed once more to “rejoice and blossom as the +rose.”</p> + +<p>Upon the human heart such is the magic influence of resignation +and humility.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">“INSPANN AND TREK!”</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">W</span>ith all his confidence in the protection of a Supreme Being, Von +Bloom knew that he was not to leave everything to the Divine hand. +That was not the religion he had been taught; and he at once set +about taking measures to extricate himself from the unpleasant +position in which he was placed.</p> + +<p>Unpleasant position! Ha! It was more than unpleasant, as the +field-cornet began to perceive. It was a position of peril!</p> + +<p>The more Von Bloom reflected, the more was he convinced of this. +There they were, in the middle of a black naked plain, that without +a green spot extended beyond the limits of vision. How much +farther he could not guess; but he knew that the devastations of the +migratory locust sometimes cover an area of thousands of miles! It +was certain that the one that had just swept past was on a very +extensive scale.</p> + +<p>It was evident he could no longer remain by his kraal. His +horses, and cattle, and sheep, could not live without food; and should +these perish, upon what were he and his family to subsist? He must +leave the kraal. He must go in search of pasture, without loss of +time,—at once. Already the animals, shut up beyond their usual +hour, were uttering their varied cries, impatient to be let out. They +would soon hunger; and it was hard to say when food could be +procured for them.</p> + +<p>There was no time to be lost. Every hour was of great importance,—even +minutes must not be wasted in dubious hesitation.</p> + +<p>The field-cornet spent but a few minutes in consideration. +Whether should he mount one of his best horses, and ride off alone +in search of pasture? or whether would it not be better to “inspann” +his wagon, and take everything along with him at once?</p> + +<p>He soon decided in favour of the latter course. In any case he +would have been compelled to move from his present location,—to +leave the kraal altogether.</p> + +<p>He might as well take everything at once. Should he go out +alone, it might cost him a long time to find grass and water—for both +would be necessary—and, meantime, his stock would be suffering.</p> + +<p>These and other considerations decided him at once to “inspann” +and “trek” away, with his wagon, his horses, his cattle, his sheep, +his “household goods,” and his whole family circle.</p> + +<p>“Inspann and trek!” was the command: and Swartboy, who was +proud of the reputation he had earned as a wagon-driver, was now +seen waving his bamboo whip like a great fishing-rod.</p> + +<p>“Inspann and trek!” echoed Swartboy, tying upon his twenty-feet +lash a new cracker, which he had twisted out of the skin of the +hartebeest antelope.</p> + +<p>“Inspann and trek!” he repeated, making his vast whip crack like +a pistol; “yes, baas, I'll inspann;” and, having satisfied himself that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">334</a></span> +his “voor-slag” was properly adjusted, Swartboy rested the bamboo +handle against the side of the house, and proceeded to the kraal to +collect the yoke-oxen.</p> + +<p>A large wagon, of a sort that is the pride and property of every +Cape farmer, stood to one side of the house. It was a vehicle of the +first class,—a regular “cap-tent” wagon,—that had been made for +the field-cornet in his better days, and in which he had been used to +drive his wife and children to the “nacht-maal,” and upon <i>vrolykheids</i> +(parties of pleasure). In those days a team of eight fine horses used +to draw it along at a rattling rate. Alas! oxen had now to take +their place; for Von Bloom had but five horses in his whole stud, +and these were required for the saddle.</p> + +<p>But the wagon was almost as good as ever it had been,—almost as +good as when it used to be the envy of the field-cornet's neighbours, +the boers of Graaf Reinet. Nothing was broken. Everything was +in its place,—“voor-kist,” and “achter-kist,” and side-chests. There +was the snow-white cap, with its “fore-clap” and “after-clap,” and +its inside pockets, all complete; and the wheels neatly carved, and +the well-planed boxing and “disselboom,” and the strong “trektow” +of buffalo-hide. Nothing was wanting that ought to be found about +a wagon. It was, in fact, the best part of the field-cornet's property +that remained to him,—for it was equal in value to all the oxen, +cattle, and sheep, upon his establishment.</p> + +<p>While Swartboy, assisted by Hendrik, was catching up the twelve +yoke-oxen, and attaching them to the disselboom and trektow of the +wagon, the “baas” himself, aided by Hans, Totty, and also by Trüey +and little Jan, was loading up the furniture and implements. This +was not a difficult task. The <i>Penates</i> of the little kraal were not +numerous, and were all soon packed either inside or around the +roomy vehicle.</p> + +<p>In about an hour's time the wagon was loaded up, the oxen were +inspanned, the horses saddled, and everything was ready for “trekking.”</p> + +<p>And now arose the question, <i>whither</i>?</p> + +<p>Up to this time Von Bloom had only thought of getting away +from the spot—of escaping beyond the naked waste that surrounded +him.</p> + +<p>It now became necessary to determine the direction in which they +were to travel—a most important consideration.</p> + +<p>Important, indeed, as a little reflection showed. They might go in +the direction in which the locusts had gone, or that in which they +had come? On either route they might travel for scores of miles +without meeting with a mouthful of grass for the hungry animals; +and in such a case these would break down and perish.</p> + +<p>Or the travellers might move in some other direction, and find +grass, but not water. Without water, not only would they have to +fear for the cattle, but for themselves—for their own lives. How +important then it was, which way they turned their faces!</p> + +<p>At first the field-cornet bethought him of heading towards the +settlements. The nearest water in that direction was almost fifty +miles off. It lay to the eastward of the kraal. The locusts had just +gone that way. They would by this time have laid waste the whole +country—perhaps to the water or beyond it!</p> + +<p>It would be a great risk going in that direction.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">335</a></span></p> + +<p>Northward lay the Kalihari desert. It would be hopeless to steer +north. Von Bloom knew of no oäsis in the desert. Besides the +locusts had come from the north. They were drifting southward +when first seen; and from the time they had been observed passing +in this last direction, they had no doubt ere this wasted the plains +far to the south.</p> + +<p>The thoughts of the field-cornet were now turned to the west. It +is true the swarm had last approached from the west; but Von +Bloom fancied that they had first come down from the north, and +that the sudden veering round of the wind had caused them to +change direction. He thought that by trekking westward he would +soon get beyond the ground they had laid bare.</p> + +<p>He knew something of the plains to the west—not much indeed, +but he knew that at about forty miles distance there was a spring +with good pasturage around it, upon whose water he could depend. +He had once visited it, while on a search for some of his cattle, that +had wandered thus far. Indeed, it then appeared to him a better +situation for cattle than the one he held, and he had often thought +of moving to it. Its great distance from any civilized settlement was +the reason why he had not done so. Although he was already far +beyond the frontier, he still kept up a sort of communication with +the settlements, whereas at the more distant point such a communication +would be extremely difficult.</p> + +<p>Now that other considerations weighed with him, his thoughts +once more returned to this spring; and after spending a few minutes +more in earnest deliberation, he decided upon “trekking” westward.</p> + +<p>Swartboy was ordered to head round, and strike to the west. The +Bushman promptly leaped to his seat upon the voor-kist, cracked +his mighty whip, straightened out his long team, and moved off over +the plain.</p> + +<p>Hans and Hendrik were already in their saddles; and having +cleared the kraals of all their live stock, with the assistance of the +dogs, drove the lowing and bleating animals before them.</p> + +<p>Trüey and little Jan sat beside Swartboy on the fore-chest of the +wagon; and the round full eyes of the pretty springbok could be +seen peeping curiously out from under the cap-tent.</p> + +<p>Casting a last look upon his desolate kraal, the field-cornet turned +his horse's head, and rode after the wagon.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">WATER! WATER!</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">O</span>n moved the little caravan, but not in silence. Swartboy's voice +and whip made an almost continual noise. The latter could be +plainly heard more than a mile over the plain, like repeated discharges +of a musket. Hendrik, too, did a good deal in the way of +shouting; and even the usually quiet Hans was under the necessity +of using his voice to urge the flock forward in the right direction.</p> + +<p>Occasionally both the boys were called upon to give Swartboy a +help with the leading oxen when those became obstinate or restive, +and would turn out of the track. At such times either Hans or +Hendrik would gallop up, set the heads of the animals right again, +and ply the “jamboks” upon their sides.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">336</a></span></p> + +<p>This “jambok” is a severe chastener to an obstinate ox. It is an +elastic whip made of rhinoceros or hippopotamus skin,—hippopotamus +is the best,—near six feet long, and tapering regularly from +butt to tip.</p> + +<p>Whenever the led oxen misbehaved, and Swartboy could not reach +them with his long “voor-slag,” Hendrik was ever ready to tickle +them with his tough jambok; and, by this means, frighten them into +good behaviour. Indeed, one of the boys was obliged to be at their +head nearly all the time.</p> + +<p>A leader is used to accompany most teams of oxen in South Africa. +But those of the field-cornet had been accustomed to draw the +wagon without one, ever since the Hottentot servants ran away; +and Swartboy had driven many miles with no other help than his +long whip. But the strange look of everything, since the locusts +passed, had made the oxen shy and wild; besides the insects had +obliterated every track or path which oxen would have followed. +The whole surface was alike,—there was neither trace nor mark. +Even Von Bloom himself could with difficulty recognise the features +of the country, and had to guide himself by the sun in the sky.</p> + +<p>Hendrik stayed mostly by the head of the leading oxen. Hans +had no difficulty in driving the flock when once fairly started. A +sense of fear kept all together, and as there was no herbage upon any +side to tempt them to stray, they moved regularly on.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom rode in front to guide the caravan. Neither he nor +any of them had made any change in their costume, but travelled in +their everyday dress. The field-cornet himself was habited after the +manner of most boers, in wide leathern trousers, termed in that +country “crackers;” a large roomy jacket of green cloth, with ample +outside pockets; a fawn-skin waistcoat; a huge white felt hat, with +the broadest of brims; and upon his feet a pair of brogans of African +unstained leather, known among the boers as “feldt-schoenen” +(country shoes). Over his saddle lay a “kaross,” or robe of leopard-skins, +and upon his shoulder he carried his “roer”—a large smooth-bore +gun, about six feet in length, with an old-fashioned flint-lock,—quite +a load of itself.</p> + +<p>This is the gun in which the boer puts all his trust; and although +an American backwoodsman would at first sight be disposed to +laugh at such a weapon, a little knowledge of the boer's country +would change his opinion of the “roer.” His own weapon—the +small-bore rifle, with a bullet less than a pea—would be almost useless +among the large game that inhabits the country of the boer. +Upon the “karoos” of Africa there are crack shots and sterling +hunters, as well as in the backwoods or on the prairies of America.</p> + +<p>Curving round under the field-cornet's left arm, and resting against +his side, was an immense powder-horn—of such size as could only be +produced upon the head of an African ox. It was from the country +of the Bechuanas, though nearly all Cape oxen grow horns of vast +dimensions. Of course it was used to carry the field-cornet's powder, +and, if full, it must have contained half-a-dozen pounds at least! +A leopard-skin pouch hanging under his right arm, a hunting-knife +stuck in his waist-belt, and a large meerschaum pipe through the +band of his hat, completed the equipments of the trek-boer, Von +Bloom.</p> + +<p>Hans and Hendrik were very similarly attired, armed, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">337</a></span> +equipped. Of course their trousers were of dressed sheep-skin, wide—like +the trousers of all young boers—and they also wore jackets +and “feldt-schoenen,” and broad-brimmed white hats. Hans carried +a light fowling-piece, while Hendrik's gun was a stout rifle of the +kind known as a “yäger” an excellent gun for large game. In this +piece Hendrik had great pride, and had learnt to drive a nail with it +at nearly a hundred paces. Hendrik was <i>par excellence</i> the marksman +of the party. Each of the boys also carried a large crescent-shaped +powder-horn, with a pouch for bullets; and over the saddle +of each was strapped the robe or kaross, differing only from their +father's in that his was of the rarer leopard-skin, while theirs were +a commoner sort, one of antelope, and the other of jackal-skin.</p> + +<p>Little Jan also wore wide trousers, jacket, “feldt-schoenen,” and +broad-brimmed beaver,—in fact, Jan, although scarce a yard high, +was, in point of costume, a type of his father,—a diminutive type of +the boer. Trüey was habited in a skirt of blue woollen stuff, with +a neat bodice elaborately stitched and embroidered after the Dutch +fashion, and over her fair locks she wore a light sun-hat of straw +with a ribbon and strings. Totty was very plainly attired in strong +homespun, without any head-dress. As for Swartboy, a pair of old +leathern “crackers” and a striped shirt were all the clothing he +carried, beside his sheep-skin kaross. Such were the costumes of +our travellers.</p> + +<p>For full twenty miles the plain was wasted bare. Not a bite could +the beasts obtain, and water there was none. The sun during the +day shone brightly,—too brightly, for his beams were as hot as +within the tropics. The travellers could scarce have borne them had +it not been that a stiff breeze was blowing all day long. But this +unfortunately blew directly in their faces, and the dry karoos are +never without dust. The constant hopping of the locusts with their +millions of tiny feet had loosened the crust of earth: and now the +dust rose freely upon the wind. Clouds of it enveloped the little +caravan, and rendered their forward movement both difficult and +disagreeable. Long before night their clothes were covered, their +mouths filled, and their eyes sore.</p> + +<p>But all that was nothing. Long before night a far greater +grievance was felt,—the want of water!</p> + +<p>In their hurry to escape from the desolate scene at the kraal, Von +Bloom had not thought of bringing a supply in the wagon—a sad +oversight, in a country like South Africa, where springs are so rare, +and running streams so uncertain. A sad oversight indeed, as they +now learnt—for long before night they were all crying out for water—all +were equally suffering from the pangs of thirst.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom thirsted, but he did not think of himself, except that +he suffered from self-accusation. He blamed himself for neglecting +to bring a needful supply of water. He was the cause of the +sufferings of all the rest. He felt sad and humbled on account of +his thoughtless negligence.</p> + +<p>He could promise them no relief—at least none until they should +reach the spring. He knew of no water nearer.</p> + +<p>It would be impossible to reach the spring that night. It was late +when they started. Oxen travel slowly. Half the distance would +be as much as they could make by sundown.</p> + +<p>To reach the water they would have to travel all night; but they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">338</a></span> +could not do that for many reasons. The oxen would require to rest—the +more so that they were hungered; and now Von Bloom +thought, when too late, of another neglect he had committed—that +was, in not collecting, during the flight of the locusts, a sufficient +quantity of them to have given his cattle a feed.</p> + +<p>This plan is often adopted under similar circumstances; but the +field-cornet had not thought of it: and as but few locusts fell in the +trails where the animals had been confined, they had therefore been +without food since the previous day. The oxen in particular showed +symptoms of weakness, and drew the wagon sluggishly; so that +Swartboy's voice and long whip were kept in constant action.</p> + +<p>But there were other reasons why they would have to halt when +night came on. The field-cornet was not so sure of the direction. +He would not be able to follow it by night, as there was not the +semblance of a track to guide him. Besides it would be dangerous +to travel by night, for then the nocturnal robber of Africa—the +fierce lion—is abroad.</p> + +<p>They would be under the necessity, therefore, of halting for the +night, water or no water.</p> + +<p>It wanted yet half-an-hour of sundown when Von Bloom had +arrived at this decision. He only kept on a little farther in hopes of +reaching a spot where there was grass. They were now more than +twenty miles from their starting-point, and still the black “spoor” +of the locusts covered the plain. Still no grass to be seen, still the +bushes bare of their leaves, and barked!</p> + +<p>The field-cornet began to think that he was trekking right in +the way the locusts had come. Westward he was heading for +certain; he knew that. But he was not yet certain that the flight had +not advanced from the west instead of the north. If so, they might +go for days before coming upon a patch of grass!</p> + +<p>These thoughts troubled him, and with anxious eyes he swept the +plain in front, as well as to the right and left.</p> + +<p>A shout from the keen-eyed Bushman produced a joyful effect. +He saw grass in front. He saw some bushes with leaves! They +were still a mile off, but the oxen, as if the announcement had been +understood by them, moved more briskly forward.</p> + +<p>Another mile passed over, and they came upon grass, sure enough. +It was a very scanty pasture, though—a few scattered blades +growing over the reddish surface, but in no place a mouthful for +an ox. There was just enough to tantalize the poor brutes without +filling their stomachs. It assured Von Bloom, however, that they +had now got beyond the track of the locusts; and he kept on a little +farther in hopes that the pasture might get better.</p> + +<p>It did not, however. The country through which they advanced +was a wild, sterile plain—almost as destitute of vegetation as that +over which they had hitherto been travelling. It no longer owed its +nakedness to the locusts, but to the absence of water.</p> + +<p>They had no more time to search for pasture. The sun was +already below the horizon when they halted to “outspan.”</p> + +<p>A “kraal” should have been built for the cattle, and another for +the sheep and goats. There were bushes enough to have constructed +them, but who of that tired party had the heart to cut them down +and drag them to the spot?</p> + +<p>It was labour enough—the slaughtering a sheep for supper, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">339</a></span> +collecting sufficient wood to cook it. No kraal was made. The +horses were tied around the wagon. The oxen, cattle, and sheep +and goats, were left free to go where they pleased. As there was no +pasture near to tempt them, it was hoped that, after the fatigue of +their long journey, they would not stray far from the camp-fire, +which was kept burning throughout the night.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE FATE OF THE HERD.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">B</span>ut they did stray.</p> + +<p>When day broke, and the travellers looked around them, not a head +of the oxen or cattle was to be seen. Yes, there was one, and one only—the +milch-cow. Totty, after milking her on the previous night, had +left her tied to a bush where she still remained. All the rest were +gone, and the sheep and goats as well.</p> + +<p>Whither had they strayed?</p> + +<p>The horses were mounted, and search was made. The sheep and +goats were found among some bushes not far off; but it soon appeared +that the other animals had gone clean away.</p> + +<p>Their spoor was traced for a mile or two. It led back on the very +track they had come; and no doubt any longer existed that they had +returned to the kraal.</p> + +<p>To overtake them before reaching that point, would be difficult, if +at all possible. Their tracks showed that they had gone off early in +the night, and had travelled at a rapid rate—so that by this time +they had most likely arrived at their old home.</p> + +<p>This was a sad discovery. To have followed them on the thirsting +and hungry horses would have been a useless work; yet without +the yoke-oxen how was the wagon to be taken forward to the +spring?</p> + +<p>It appeared to be a sad dilemma they were in; but after a short +consultation the thoughtful Hans suggested a solution of it.</p> + +<p>“Can we not attach the horses to the wagon?” inquired he. “The +five could surely draw it on to the spring?”</p> + +<p>“What! and leave the cattle behind?” said Hendrik. “If we do not +go after them, they will be all lost, and then——”</p> + +<p>“We could go for them afterwards,” replied Hans; “but it is not +better first to push forward to the spring; and, after resting the +horses a while, return then for the oxen? They will have reached +the kraal by this time. There they will be sure of water anyhow, +and that will keep them alive till we get there.”</p> + +<p>The course suggested by Hans seemed feasible enough. At all +events, it was the best plan they could pursue; so they at once set +about putting it in execution. The horses were attached to the wagon +in the best way they could think of. Fortunately some old horse-harness +formed part of the contents of the vehicle, and these were +brought out and fitted on, as well as could be done.</p> + +<p>Two horses were made fast to the disselboom as “wheelers;” two +others to the trektow cut to the proper length; and the fifth horse +was placed in front as a leader.</p> + +<p>When all was ready, Swartboy again mounted the voor-kist, +gathered up his reins, cracked his whip, and set his team in motion.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">340</a></span> +To the delight of every one, the huge heavy-laden wagon moved off +as freely as if a full team had been inspanned.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom, Hendrik, and Hans, cheered as it passed them; and +setting the milch-cow and the flock of sheep and goats in motion, +moved briskly after. Little Jan and Trüey still rode in the wagon; +but the others now travelled afoot, partly because they had the flock +to drive, and partly that they might not increase the load upon the +horses.</p> + +<p>They all suffered greatly from thirst, but they would have suffered +still more had it not been for that valuable creature that trotted +along behind the wagon—the cow—“old Graaf,” as she was called. +She had yielded several pints of milk, both the night before and that +morning; and this well-timed supply had given considerable relief to +the travellers.</p> + +<p>The horses behaved beautifully. Notwithstanding that their harness +was both incomplete and ill-fitted, they pulled the wagon along +after them as if not a strap or buckle had been wanting. They +appeared to know that their kind master was in a dilemma, and were +determined to draw him out of it. Perhaps, too, they smelt the +spring-water before them. At all events, before they had been many +hours in harness, they were drawing the wagon through a pretty +little valley covered with green, meadow-looking sward; and in five +minutes more were standing halted near a cool crystal spring.</p> + +<p>In a short time all had drunk heartily, and were refreshed. The +horses were turned out upon the grass, and the other animals browsed +over the meadow. A good fire was made near the spring, and a +quarter of mutton cooked—upon which the travellers dined—and +then all sat waiting for the horses to fill themselves.</p> + +<p>The field-cornet, seated upon one of the wagon-chests, smoked his +great pipe. He could have been contented, but for one thing—the +absence of his cattle.</p> + +<p>He had arrived at a beautiful pasture-ground—a sort of oäsis in the +wild plains, where there were wood, water, and grass,—everything +that the heart of a “vee-boer” could desire. It did not appear to be +a large tract, but enough to have sustained many hundred head of +cattle—enough for a very fine “stock farm.” It would have answered +his purpose admirably; and had he succeeded in bringing on his +oxen and cattle, he would at that moment have felt happy enough. +But without them what availed the fine pasturage? What could he +do there without them to stock it? They were his wealth—at least, +he had hoped in time that their increase would become wealth. They +were all of excellent breeds; and, with the exception of his twelve +yoke-oxen, and one or two long-horned Bechuana bulls, all the others +were fine young cows calculated soon to produce a large herd.</p> + +<p>Of course his anxiety about these animals rendered it impossible +for him to enjoy a moment's peace of mind, until he should start back +in search of them. He had only taken out his pipe to pass the time, +while the horses were gathering a bite of grass. As soon as their +strength should be recruited a little, it was his design to take three +of the strongest of them, and with Hendrik and Swartboy, ride back +to the old kraal.</p> + +<p>As soon, therefore, as the horses were ready for the road again, they +were caught and saddled up; and Von Bloom, Hendrik, and Swartboy, +mounted and set out, while Hans remained in charge of the camp.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">341</a></span></p> + +<p>They rode at a brisk rate, determined to travel all night, and, if +possible, reach the kraal before morning. At the last point on the +route where there was grass, they off-saddled, and allowed their +horses to rest and refresh themselves. They had brought with them +some slices of the roast mutton, and this time they had not forgotten +to fill their gourd-canteens with water—so that they should not again +suffer from thirst. After an hour's halt they continued their journey.</p> + +<p>It was quite night when they arrived at the spot where the oxen +had deserted them; but a clear moon was in the sky, and they were +able to follow back the wheel-tracks of the wagon, that were quite +conspicuous under the moonlight. Now and then to be satisfied, Von +Bloom requested Swartboy to examine the spoor, and see whether the +cattle had still kept the back-track. To answer this gave no great +trouble to the Bushman. He would drop from his horse, and bending +over the ground, would reply in an instant. In every case the answer +was in the affirmative. The animals had certainly gone back to their +old home.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom believed they would be sure to find them there, but +should they find them <i>alive</i>? That was the question that rendered +him anxious.</p> + +<p>The creatures could obtain water by the spring, but food—where? +Not a bite would they find anywhere, and would not hunger have +destroyed them all before this?</p> + +<p>Day was breaking when they came in sight of the old homestead. +It presented a very odd appearance. Not one of the three would +have recognised it. After the invasion of the locusts it showed a very +altered look, but now there was something else that added to the +singularity of its appearance. A row of strange objects seemed to be +placed upon the roof ridge, and along the walls of the kraals. What +were these strange objects, for they certainly did not belong to the +buildings? This question was put by Von Bloom, partly to himself, +but loud enough for the others to hear him.</p> + +<p>“<i>Da vogels</i>!” (the vultures), replied Swartboy.</p> + +<p>Sure enough, it was a string of vultures that appeared along the +walls.</p> + +<p>The sight of these filthy birds was more than ominous. It filled +Von Bloom with apprehension. What could they be doing there? +There must be carrion near?</p> + +<p>The party rode forward. The day was now up, and the vultures +had grown busy. They flapped their shadowy wings, rose from the +walls, and alighted at different points around the house.</p> + +<p>“Surely there must be carrion,” muttered Von Bloom.</p> + +<p>There was carrion, and plenty of it. As the horsemen drew near +the vultures rose into the air, and a score of half-devoured carcasses +could be seen upon the ground. The long curving horns that appeared +beside each carcass, rendered it easy to tell to what sort of animals +they belonged. In the torn and mutilated fragments, Von Bloom +recognised the remains of his lost herd!</p> + +<p>Not one was left alive. There could be seen the remains of all of +them, both cows and oxen, lying near the enclosures and on the +adjacent plain—each where it had fallen.</p> + +<p>But how had they fallen? That was the mystery.</p> + +<p>Surely they could not have perished of hunger, and so suddenly? +They could not have died of thirst, for there was the spring bubbling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">342</a></span> +up just beside where they lay? The vultures had not killed them! +What then?</p> + +<p>Von Bloom did not ask many questions. He was not left long in +doubt. As he and his companions rode over the ground, the mystery +was explained. The tracks of lions, hyenas, and jackals, made everything +clear enough. A large troop of these animals had been upon +the ground. The scarcity of game, caused by the migration of the +locusts, had no doubt rendered them more than usually ravenous, and +in consequence the cattle became their prey.</p> + +<p>Where were they now? The morning light, and the sight of the +house perhaps, had driven them off. But their spoor was quite fresh. +They were near at hand, and would be certain to return again upon +the following night.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom felt a strong desire to be revenged upon the hideous +brutes; and, under other circumstances, would have remained to get +a shot at them. But just then that would have been both imprudent +and unprofitable work. It would be as much as their horses could +accomplish, to get back to camp that night; so, without even entering +the old house, they watered their animals, refilled their calabashes +at the spring, and with heavy hearts once more rode away from the +kraal.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A LION COUCHANT.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>hey had not proceeded an hundred steps when an object appeared +before them that caused all three to draw bridle suddenly and simultaneously. +That object was a lion!</p> + +<p>He was couched upon the plain directly in the path they intended +to take—the very same path by which they had come!</p> + +<p>How was it they had not seen him before? He was under the lee +of a low bush; but, thanks to the locusts, this bush was leafless, and +its thin naked twigs formed no concealment for so large a creature as +a lion. His tawny hide shone conspicuously through them.</p> + +<p>The truth is, he had not been there when the horsemen passed +towards the kraal. He had just fled from among the carcasses, on +seeing them approach; and had skulked around the walls, and then +run to their rear. He had executed this manœuvre to avoid an encounter—for +a lion reasons as a man does, though not to the same +extent. Seeing the horsemen come that way, his reasoning powers +were strong enough to tell him that they were not likely to return by +the same path. It was more natural they should continue on. A man, +ignorant of all the preceding events connected with their journey, +would have reasoned much in the same way. If you have been at all +observant, you have seen other animals—such as dogs, deer, hares, or +even birds—act just as the lion did on this occasion.</p> + +<p>Beyond a doubt the intellectual process described passed through +the mind of this lion; and he had skulked round to shun an encounter +with the three travellers.</p> + +<p>Now a lion will not always act so—though he will in five cases out +of six, or oftener. Hence very erroneous views are held in relation to the +courage of this animal. Some naturalists, led away by what appears +to be a feeling of envy or anger, accuse the lion of downright <i>cowardice</i>,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">343</a></span> +denying him a single noble quality of all those that have from earliest +times been ascribed to him! Others, on the contrary, assert that he +knows no fear, either of man or beast; and these endow him with +many virtues besides courage. Both parties back up their views, not +by mere assertions, but by an ample narration of well-attested facts!</p> + +<p>How is this? There is a dilemma here. Both cannot be right in +their opinions? And yet, odd as it may appear to say so, both <i>are</i> +right in a certain sense.</p> + +<p>The fact is, some lions are cowardly while others are brave.</p> + +<p>The truth of this might be shown by whole pages of facts, but in +this little volume we have no room. I think, however, boy reader, I +can satisfy you with an analogy.</p> + +<p>Answer me—Do you know any species of animal, the individuals of +which are exactly alike in character? Think over the dogs of your +acquaintance! Are they alike, or anything near it? Are not some of +them noble, generous, faithful, brave to the death? Are not others +mean, sneaking, cowardly curs? So is it with lions. Now, you are +satisfied that my statement about the lions may be true.</p> + +<p>There are many causes to affect the courage and ferocity of the lion. +His age—the state of his stomach—the season of the year—the hour +of the day—but, above all, the sort of hunters that belong to the district +he inhabits.</p> + +<p>This last fact appears quite natural to those who believe in the intellect +of animals, which of course <i>I</i> do. It is perfectly natural that +the lion, as well as other animals, should soon learn the character of +his enemy, and fear him or not, as the case may be. Is this not an +old story with us? If I remember aright, we had a talk upon this +subject when speaking of the crocodiles of America. We remarked +that the alligator of the Mississippi rarely attacks man in modern +times; but it has not been always so. The rifle of the alligator-leather +hunter has tamed its ferocity. The very <i>same species</i> in South America +eats Indians by scores every year; and the crocodile of Africa is +dreaded in some parts even more than the lion!</p> + +<p>It is asserted that the lions of the Cape are more cowardly in some +districts than in others. They are less brave in those districts where +they have been “jaged” by the courageous and stalwart boer with his +long loud-cracking “roer.”</p> + +<p>Beyond the frontier, where they have no enemy but the tiny arrow +of the Bushman (who does not desire to kill them!) and the slender +“assegai” of the Bechuana, the lion has little or no fear of man.</p> + +<p>Whether the one, before the eyes of our party, was naturally a brave +one, could not yet be told. He was one with a huge black mane, or +“schwart-fore life,” as the boers term it; and these are esteemed the +fiercest and most dangerous. The “yellow-maned,”—for there is considerable +variety in the colour of the Cape lions—is regarded as +possessing less courage; but there is some doubt about the truth of +this. The young “black-manes” may often be mistaken for the true +yellow variety, and their character ascribed to him to his prejudice,—for +the swarthy colour of the mane only comes after the lion is many +years of age.</p> + +<p>Whether the “schwart-fore life” was a fierce and brave one, Von +Bloom did not stay to think about. It was evident that the edge had +been taken off the animal's appetite. It was evident he did not meditate +an attack; and that had the horsemen chosen to make a détour,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">344</a></span> +and ride peacefully away, they might have continued their journey +without ever seeing or hearing of him again.</p> + +<p>But the field-cornet had no such intention. He had lost his precious +oxen and cattle. <i>That</i> lion had pulled down some of them, at least. +The Dutch blood was up, and if the beast had been the strongest and +fiercest of his tribe, he was bound to be brought out of that bush.</p> + +<p>Ordering the others to remain where they were, Von Bloom advanced +on horseback until within about fifty paces of where the lion lay. +Here he drew up, coolly dismounted, passed the bridle over his arm, +stuck his loading-rod into the ground, and knelt down behind it.</p> + +<p>You will fancy he would have been safer to have kept his saddle, as +the lion cannot overtake a horse. True; but the lion would have been +safer too. It is no easy matter to fire correctly from any horse; but +when the mark happens to be a grim lion, he is a well-trained steed +that will stand sufficiently firm to admit of a true aim. A shot from +the saddle under such circumstances is a mere chance shot; and the +field-cornet was not in the mood to be satisfied with a chance shot. +Laying his roer athwart the loading-rod, and holding the long barrel +steady against it, he took deliberate aim through the ivory sights.</p> + +<p>During all this time the lion had not stirred. The bush was between +him and the hunter; but he could hardly have believed that +it sufficed to conceal him. Far from it. His yellow flanks were distinctly +visible through the thorny twigs, and his head could be seen +with his muzzle and whiskers stained red with the blood of the oxen.</p> + +<p>No—he did not believe himself hid. A slight growl, with one or +two shakes of his tail, proved the contrary. He lay still, however, +as lions usually do, until more nearly approached. The hunter, as +already stated, was full fifty yards from him.</p> + +<p>Excepting the motion of his tail, he made no other until Von +Bloom pulled trigger; and then with a scream he sprang several +feet into the air. The hunter had been afraid of the twigs causing +his bullet to glance off; but it was plain it had told truly, for he saw +the fur fly from the side of the lion where it struck him.</p> + +<p>It was but a wound; and not deadly, as soon appeared.</p> + +<p>With long bounds the angry brute came on—lashing his tail, and +showing his fearful teeth. His mane, now on end, seemed to have +doubled his size. He looked as large as a bull!</p> + +<p>In a few seconds' time he had crossed the distance that separated +him from the hunter, but the latter was gone far from that spot. +The moment he had delivered his fire, he leaped upon his well-trained +horse, and rode off towards the others.</p> + +<p>All three were for a short while together—Hendrik holding his +yäger cocked and ready, while Swartboy grasped his bow and +arrows. But the lion dashed forward before either could fire; and +they were obliged to spur and gallop out of his way.</p> + +<p>Swartboy had ridden to one side, while Von Bloom and Hendrik +took the other; and the game was now between the two parties—both +of which had pulled up at some distance off.</p> + +<p>The lion, after the failure of his charge, halted, and looked first at +one, then at the other—as if uncertain which to pursue.</p> + +<p>His appearance at this moment was terrible beyond expression. +His whole fierce nature was roused. His mane stood erect—his tail +lashed his flanks—his mouth, widely open, showed the firm-set +trenchant teeth—their white spikes contrasting with the red blood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">345</a></span> +that clotted his cheeks and snout, while his angry roaring added +horror to his appearance.</p> + +<p>But none of the three were terrified out of their senses. Hendrik +at this moment covered him with his rifle, took cool aim, and fired; +while at the same instant Swartboy sent an arrow whistling through +the air.</p> + +<p>Both had aimed truly. Both bullet and arrow struck; and the +shaft of the latter could be seen sticking in the lion's thigh.</p> + +<p>The fierce brute that up to this time had exhibited the most +determined courage, now seemed overcome with a sudden fear. +Either the arrow or one of the bullets must have sickened him with +the combat; for, dropping his mop-like tail to a level with the line +of his back, he broke away; and, trotting sulkily forward, sprang in +at the door of the kraal!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER X.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE LION IN THE TRAP.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>here was something singular in the lion seeking shelter in so unusual +a place; but it showed his sagacity. There was no other cover +within convenient distance, and to have reached any bush that would +have afforded him concealment, since the passage of the locusts, +would have been difficult. The mounted hunters could easily have +overtaken him, had he attempted to run off. He was aware that the +house was uninhabited. He had been prowling around it all the night—perhaps +within it—and therefore knew what sort of a place it was.</p> + +<p>The brute's instinct was correct. The walls of the house would +protect him from the guns of his enemies at a distance; and for +these to approach near would be his advantage and their danger.</p> + +<p>An odd incident occurred as the lion entered the kraal. There +was a large window in one end of the house. Of course it was not +glazed—it never had been. A glass window is a rarity in these parts. +A strong wooden shutter alone closed it. This was still hanging on +its hinges, but in the hurried “flitting,” the window had been left +open. The door also had been standing ajar. As the lion sprang in +at the latter, a string of small foxy wolf-like creatures came pouring +out through the former, and ran with all their might across the +plain. They were jackals!</p> + +<p>As it afterwards appeared, one of the oxen had either been chased +into the house by lions or hyenas, and killed there. His carcass had +been overlooked by the larger carnivora, and the cunning jackals had +been making a quiet breakfast upon it, when so unceremoniously +disturbed.</p> + +<p>The entrance of their terrible king in such angry mood, by the +door, caused the fox-wolves to beat a quick retreat by the window; +and the appearance of the horsemen without had still further +frightened these cowardly brutes, so that they ran away from the +kraal at top speed, and never halted until they were out of sight!</p> + +<p>The three hunters could not restrain a laugh; but their tone was +suddenly changed by another incident that happened almost at the +same moment.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom had brought with him his two fine dogs, to assist in +driving back the cattle.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">346</a></span></p> + +<p>During the short halt the party had made by the spring, these had +fastened upon a half-eaten carcass behind the walls; and, being extremely +hungry, had stuck to it, even after the horsemen had ridden +off. Neither of the dogs had seen the lion, until the moment when +the savage brute charged forward, and was making for the kraal. +The shots, the growling of the lion, and the loud wings of the vultures +as they flew off affrighted, told the dogs that something was going on +in front, at which they ought to be present; and, forsaking their +pleasant meal, both came bounding over the walls.</p> + +<p>They reached the open space in front, just as the lion leaped into +the door; and without hesitation the brave noble animals rushed on, +and followed him inside the house.</p> + +<p>For some moments there was heard a confused chorus of noises—the +barking and worrying of the dogs, the growling and roaring of +the lion. Then a dull sound followed as of some heavy object dashed +against the wall. Then came a mournful howl—another, another—a +noise like the crackling of bones—the “purr” of the great brute with +its loud rough bass—and then a deep silence. The struggle was +over. This was evident, as the dogs no longer gave tongue. Most +likely they were killed.</p> + +<p>The hunters remained watching the door with feelings of intense +anxiety. The laugh had died upon their lips, as they listened to +those hideous sounds, the signs of the fearful combat. They called +their dogs by name. They hoped to see them issue forth, even if +wounded. But no. The dogs came not forth—they never came +forth—they were dead!</p> + +<p>A long-continued silence followed the noise of the conflict. Von +Bloom could no longer doubt that his favourite and only dogs had +been killed.</p> + +<p>Excited by this new misfortune he almost lost prudence. He was +about to rush forward to the door, where he might deliver his fire +close to the hated enemy, when a bright idea came into the brain of +Swartboy; and the Bushman was heard calling out,—</p> + +<p>“Baas! baas! we shut him up! we close da skellum up!”</p> + +<p>There was good sense in this suggestion—there was plausibility in +it. Von Bloom saw this; and, desisting from his previous intention, +he determined to adopt Swartboy's plan.</p> + +<p>But how was it to be executed? The door still hung upon its +hinges, as also the window-shutter. If they could only get hold of +these, and shut them fast, they would have the lion secure, and +might destroy him at their leisure.</p> + +<p>But how to shut either door or window in safety? That was the +difficulty that now presented itself.</p> + +<p>Should they approach either, the lion would be certain to see them +from within; and, enraged as he now was, would be sure to spring +upon them. Even if they approached on horseback to effect their +purpose, they would not be much safer. The horses would not stand +quiet while they stretched out to lay hold of latch or handle. All +three of the animals were already dancing with excitement. They +knew the lion was inside, an occasional growl announced his presence +there—they would not approach either door or window with sufficient +coolness; and their stamping and snorting would have the effect of +bringing the angry beast out upon them.</p> + +<p>It was clear, then, that to shut either door or window would be an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">347</a></span> +operation of great danger. So long as the horsemen were in open +ground, and at some distance from the lion, they had no cause to +fear; but should they approach near and get entangled among the +walls, some one of them would be most likely to fall a victim to the +ferocious brute.</p> + +<p>Low as may be the standard of a Bushman's intellect, there is +a species peculiar to him in which he appears to excel. In all +matters of hunter-craft, his intelligence, or instinct you might +almost call it, is quite a match for the more highly-developed mind +of the Caucasian. This arises, no doubt, from the keen and frequent +exercise of those particular faculties,—keen and frequent, because +his very existence often depends on their successful employment.</p> + +<p>Huge ill-shapen head that Swartboy carried on his shoulders, +there was an ample stock of brains in it; and a life of keen endeavour +to keep his stomach supplied had taught him their exercise. At that +moment Swartboy's brains came to the relief of the party.</p> + +<p>“Baas!” he said, endeavouring to restrain the impatience of his +master, “vyacht um bige, mein baas! Leave it to da ole Bushy to +close da door. He do it.”</p> + +<p>“How?” inquired Von Bloom.</p> + +<p>“Vyacht um bige, mein baas! no long to wait,—you see.”</p> + +<p>All three had ridden up together within less than an hundred +yards of the kraal. Von Bloom and Hendrik sat silent, and watched +the proceedings of the Bushman.</p> + +<p>The latter drew from his pocket a clue of small cord, and, having +carefully uncoiled it, attached one end to an arrow. He then rode +up to within thirty yards of the house, and dismounted—not +directly opposite the entrance, but a little to one side—so that the +face of the wooden door, which was fortunately but three-quarters +open, was thus fair before him. Keeping the bridle over his arm, +he now bent his bow, and sent the arrow into the woodwork of the +door. There it was, sticking near the edge, and just under the +latch!</p> + +<p>As soon as Swartboy delivered the shaft, he had leaped back into +his saddle—to be ready for retreat in case the lion should charge +out. He still, however, kept hold of the string, one end of which +was attached to the arrow.</p> + +<p>The “thud” of the arrow, as it struck the door, had drawn the +attention of the lion. Of course, none of them saw him, but his +angry growl told them that it was so. He did not show himself, +however, and was again silent.</p> + +<p>Swartboy now drew the string taut,—first felt it with a steady +pull; and then, satisfied of its strength, gave it a stronger jerk, and +brought the door to. The latch acted beautifully, and the door +remained shut even after the strain was taken off the cord.</p> + +<p>To have opened the door now the lion must have had the sagacity +to lift the latch, or else must have broken through the thick, strong +planks—neither of which things was to be feared.</p> + +<p>But the window still remained open, and through it the lion could +easily leap out. Swartboy, of course, designed closing it in the +same manner as he had done the door.</p> + +<p>But now arose a particular danger. He had only one piece of +cord. That was attached to the arrow that still stuck fast. How +was he to detach and get possession of it?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">348</a></span></p> + +<p>There appeared to be no other way but by going up to the door +and cutting it from the shaft. In this lay the danger; for, should +the lion perceive him and rush out by the window, it would be all +over with the Bushman.</p> + +<p>Like most of his race, Swartboy was more cunning than brave—though +he was far from being a coward. Still he was by no means +inclined at that moment to go up to the door of the kraal.</p> + +<p>The angry growls from within would have made a stouter heart +than Swartboy's quail with fear.</p> + +<p>In this dilemma Hendrik came to his relief. Hendrik had +conceived a way of getting possession of the string, without going +near the door!</p> + +<p>Calling to Swartboy to be on his guard, he rode within thirty +yards of the entrance—but on the other side from where Swartboy +was—and there halted. At the place there stood a post with several +forks upon it, that had been used as a bridle-post.</p> + +<p>Hendrik dismounted, hooked his rein over one of these forks; +rested his yäger across another; and then, sighting the shaft of the +arrow, pulled trigger. The rifle cracked, the broken stick was seen +to fly out from the door, and the string was set free!</p> + +<p>All were ready to gallop off; but the lion, although he growled +fiercely on hearing the shot, still lay close.</p> + +<p>Swartboy now drew in the string; and, having adjusted it to +a fresh arrow, moved round so as to command a view of the window. +In a few minutes the shaft had cut through the air and stuck deep +into the yielding wood, and then the shutter swung round on its +hinges, and was drawn close.</p> + +<p>All three now dismounted, ran silently and rapidly up, and +secured both door and shutter with strong rheins of raw hide.</p> + +<p>“Hurrah! the lion was caged.”</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE DEATH OF THE LION.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">Y</span>es, the fierce brute was fairly in the trap. The three hunters +breathed freely.</p> + +<p>But how was the affair to end? Both door and window-shutter +fitted strongly and closely; and, although it was possible to glance +through the chinks, nothing could be seen inside—since, both being +shut, it was quite dark within.</p> + +<p>Even could the lion have been seen, there was no hole through +which to thrust the muzzle of a gun and fire at him. He was just as +safe as his captors; and, so long as the door remained closed, they +could do him no more harm than he could them.</p> + +<p>They might leave him shut up, and let him starve. He could live +for a while upon what the jackals had left, with the carcasses of the +two dogs, but that would not sustain him long, and in the end he +would have to give up and miserably perish. After all, this did not +seem so certain to Von Bloom and his companions. Finding that he +was caged in earnest, the brute might attack the door, and with his +sharp claws and teeth manage to cut his way through.</p> + +<p>But the angry field-cornet had not the slightest intention of leaving +the lion such a chance. He was determined to destroy the beast<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">349</a></span> +before leaving the ground; and he now set to thinking how this +could be accomplished in the speediest and most effectual manner.</p> + +<p>At first he thought of cutting a hole in the door with his knife, +large enough to see through and admit the barrel of his roer. Should +he not succeed in getting a view of the beast through that one, he +would make another in the window-shutter. The two being on adjacent +sides of the house, would give him the command of the whole +interior—for the former dwelling of the field-cornet comprised only a +single apartment. During his residence there, there had been two, +thanks to a partition of zebra-skins; but these had been removed, +and all was now in one room.</p> + +<p>At first Von Bloom could think of no other plan to get at the +enemy, and yet this one did not quite please him. It was safe +enough, and, if carried out, could only end in the death of the +lion.</p> + +<p>A hole in both door and window-shutter would enable them to fire +at the brute as many bullets as they pleased, while they would be +quite secure from his attack. But the time that would be required +to cut these holes—that was why the plan did not please the field-cornet. +He and his party had no time to spare; their horses were +weak with hunger, and a long journey lay before them ere a morsel +could be obtained. No,—the time could not be spared for making a +breach. Some more expeditious mode of attack must be devised.</p> + +<p>“Father,” said Hendrik, “suppose we set the house on fire?”</p> + +<p>Good. The suggestion was a good one. Von Bloom cast his eyes +up to the roof—a sloping structure with long eaves. It consisted of +heavy beams of dry wood with rafters and laths, and all covered +over with a thatch of rushes, a foot in thickness. It would make a +tremendous blaze, and the smoke would be likely enough to suffocate +the lion even before the blaze could get at him.</p> + +<p>The suggestion of Hendrik was adopted. They prepared to fire +the house.</p> + +<p>There was still a large quantity of rubbish,—the collected firewood +which the locusts had not devoured. This would enable them to +carry out their purpose; and all three immediately set about hauling +it up, and piling it against the door.</p> + +<p>One might almost have fancied that the lion had fathomed their +design; for, although he had been for a long while quite silent, he +now commenced a fresh spell of roaring. Perhaps the noise of the +logs, striking against the door outside, had set him at it; and, +finding himself thus shut up and baited, he had grown impatient. +What he had sought as a shelter had been turned into a trap, and +he was now anxious to get out of it.</p> + +<p>This was evident by the demonstrations he began to make. They +could hear him rushing about—passing from door to window—striking +both with his huge paws, and causing them to shake upon their +hinges—all the while uttering the most fiendish roars.</p> + +<p>Though not without some apprehensions, the three continued +their work. They had their horses at hand, ready to be mounted in +case the lion might make his way through the fire. In fact, they +intended to take to their saddles—as soon as the fire should be fairly +under way—and watch the conflagration from a safe distance.</p> + +<p>They had dragged up all the bush and dry wood, and had piled +them in front of the door. Swartboy had taken out his flint and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">350</a></span> +steel, and was about to strike, when a loud scratching was heard +from the inside, unlike anything that had yet reached their ears. +It was the rattling of the lion's claws against the wall, but it had an +odd sound as if the animal was struggling violently; at the same +time his voice seemed hoarse and smothered, and appeared to come +from a distance.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 357px;"> +<img src="images/illus-350.jpg" width="357" height="500" alt="THE LION IN A FIX." title="THE LION IN A FIX." /> +<span class="caption">THE LION IN A FIX.</span></div> + +<p>What was the brute doing?</p> + +<p>They stood for a moment, looking anxiously in each other's faces.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">351</a></span></p> + +<p>The scratching continued—the hoarse growling at intervals—but +this ended at length; and then came a snort, followed by a roar so +loud and clear, that all three started in affright. They could not +believe that walls were between them and their dangerous enemy!</p> + +<p>Again echoed that horrid cry. Great Heaven! It proceeded no +longer from the inside—it came from above them!</p> + +<p>Was the lion upon the roof?</p> + +<p>All three rushed backward a step or two, and looked up. A sight +was before them that rendered them almost speechless with surprise +and terror.</p> + +<p>Above the funnel of the chimney appeared the head of the lion; +his glaring yellow eyes and white teeth showing more fearful from +contrast with the black soot that begrimed him. He was dragging +his body up. One foot was already above the capstone; and with +this and his teeth he was widening the aperture around him.</p> + +<p>It was a terrible sight to behold—at least to those below.</p> + +<p>As already stated they were alarmed; and would have taken to +their horses, had they not perceived that the animal was stuck fast!</p> + +<p>It was evident that this was the case, but it was equally evident +that in a few moments he would succeed in clearing himself from the +chimney. His teeth and claws were hard at work, and the stones +and mortar were flying in all directions. The funnel would soon be +down below his broad chest, and then——</p> + +<p>Von Bloom did not stay to think what then. He and Hendrik, +guns in hand, ran up near the bottom of the wall. The chimney +was but a score of feet in height; the long roer was pointed upward, +reaching nearly half that distance. The yäger was also aimed. Both +cracked together. The lion's eyes suddenly closed, his head shook +convulsively, his paw dropped loose over the capstone, his jaws fell +open, and blood trickled down his tongue. In a few moments he +was dead!</p> + +<p>This was apparent to every one. But Swartboy was not satisfied, +until he had discharged about a score of his arrows at the head of +the animal, causing it to assume the appearance of a porcupine.</p> + +<p>So tightly had the huge beast wedged himself, that even after +death he still remained in his singular situation.</p> + +<p>Under other circumstances he would have been dragged down for +the sake of his skin. But there was no time to spare for skinning +him; and without further delay, Von Bloom and his companions +mounted their horses and rode off.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE TRAVELLERS BENIGHTED</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">O</span>ur travellers would have talked much about lions, but for the condition +of their horses. This made them feel uneasy. With the exception +of a few hours grazing, the poor brutes had been without +food since the appearance of the locusts. Horses do not travel well +upon soft grass, and of course they were now suffering severely.</p> + +<p>It would be far in the night before the horsemen could reach the +camp—although they were pushing on as fast as the horses could +travel.</p> + +<p>It was quite dark, when they arrived at the spot where they had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">352</a></span> +halted the previous evening. In fact, it was very dark. Neither +moon nor stars were to be seen in the sky; and thick black clouds +covered the whole canopy of the heavens. It looked as though a +rain-storm might be expected—still no rain had as yet fallen.</p> + +<p>It was the intention of the travellers to halt at this place, and let +their horses graze a while. With this view they all dismounted; but, +after trying one or two places, they could find no grass!</p> + +<p>This appeared strange, as they had certainly observed grass at +that very spot the day before. Now there was none!</p> + +<p>The horses put their noses to the ground, but raised them up +again, snorting as they did so, and evidently disappointed. They +were hungry enough to have eaten grass had there been any, for they +eagerly snatched at the leaves of the bushes as they passed along!</p> + +<p>Had the locusts been there also? No. The mimosa-bushes still +retained their delicate foliage, which would not have been the case +had the locusts visited the spot.</p> + +<p>Our travellers were astonished that there was no grass. Surely +there was some the day before? Had they got upon a new track?</p> + +<p>The darkness prevented them from having a view of the ground; +yet Von Bloom could not be mistaken about the route—having +travelled it four times already. Though he could not see the surface, +every now and again he caught a glimpse of some tree or bush, +which he had marked in his former journeys, and these assured him +they were still upon the right track.</p> + +<p>Surprised at the absence of grass where they had so lately observed +it, they would have examined the surface more carefully; but +they were anxious to push on to the spring, and at length gave up +the idea of halting. The water in their gourds had been used up +long before this; and both they and their horses were once more suffering +from thirst.</p> + +<p>Besides, Von Bloom was not without some anxiety about the +children at the wagon. He had been separated from them now a full +day and a half, and many a change might take place—many a danger +might arise in that time. In fact, he began to blame himself for +having left them alone. It would have been better to have let his +cattle perish. So thought he now. A presentiment that all was not +right was gradually forming in his mind; and he grew more anxious +to proceed as he reflected.</p> + +<p>They rode on in silence. It was only on Hendrik expressing a +doubt about the way, that the conversation recommenced. Swartboy +also thought they were taking a wrong course.</p> + +<p>At first Von Bloom assured them they were right; but after going +a little farther, he admitted that he was in doubt; and then, after +another half-mile's travelling, he declared that he had lost the track. +He could no longer recognise any one of the marks or bearings he had +taken.</p> + +<p>The proper thing to be done under these circumstances was to +leave the horses to themselves; and this all three well knew. But +the animals were suffering the pangs of hunger, and when left to +themselves, would not journey forward, but rushed up to the mimosa-bushes, +and eagerly commenced devouring their leaves.</p> + +<p>The consequence was, that their riders were obliged to keep them +going with whip and spur; and in that way there was no certainty +of the horses taking the right direction.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">353</a></span></p> + +<p>After several hours' advancing, all the while in a state of suspense, +and as yet no appearance of either wagon or camp-fire, the travellers resolved +upon coming to a halt. It was of no use going forward. They +believed they could not be far from the camp; but they were now as +likely to be riding from as towards it; and they concluded at length, +that it would be wiser to remain where they were until the day broke.</p> + +<p>They all dismounted therefore, and fastened their horses to the +bushes—so that the animals could browse upon the leaves till morning—which +could not now be very far off. They rolled themselves +up in their karosses, and lay down upon the earth.</p> + +<p>Hendrik and Swartboy were soon asleep. Von Bloom would have +slept too, for he was tired enough; but the heart of the father was +too full of anxiety to allow repose to his eyes, and he lay awake +watching for the dawn.</p> + +<p>It came at length, and at the first light his eyes swept the surface +of the surrounding country. The party had by chance halted on an +eminence that commanded a good view for miles on each side, but +the field-cornet had not glanced half around the circle, when an +object came before his eyes that brought gladness to his heart. It +was the white tent of the wagon!</p> + +<p>The joyful exclamation he uttered awoke the sleepers, who immediately +sprang to their feet; and all three stood gazing at the +welcome sight.</p> + +<p>As they continued to gaze, their joy gradually gave place to +feelings of surprise. Was it their wagon, after all?</p> + +<p>It certainly looked like theirs; but it was a full half-mile off, and +at such a distance one wagon would look just like another. But +what led them to doubt its being theirs? It was the appearance of +the place in which they saw it. Surely it was not the same place in +which they had outspanned!</p> + +<p>Theirs had been left in an oblong valley between two gentle ridges—in +such a valley was this one standing. Near a pool formed by a +spring—here, too, was the same, for they could perceive the water +shining. But in all other respects the situation was different. The +surface of the valley in which their wagon had been left was covered, +both sides and bottom, with a verdant carpet of grass; whereas the +one now before their eyes was brown and bare! Not a blade of +grass was to be seen—the trees seeming to be the only things that +had any verdure. Even the low bushes appeared to be destitute of +leaves! The scene had no resemblance whatever to that where they +had outspanned. It must be the camp of some other travellers, +thought they.</p> + +<p>They had fully arrived at this conclusion, when Swartboy, whose +eyes had been rolling about everywhere, now rested upon the ground +at his feet. After a moment's observation—which the increasing +light now enabled him to make—he turned suddenly to the others, +and directed their attention to the surface of the plain. This they +saw was covered with tracks, as if a thousand hoofs had passed over +it. In fact, it presented the appearance of a vast sheep-pen; so +vast, that as far as their sight extended, they beheld the same +tracked and trampled appearance!</p> + +<p>What could this mean? Hendrik did not know. Von Bloom was +in doubt. Swartboy could tell at the first glance. It was no new +sight to him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">354</a></span></p> + +<p>“All right, baas,” he said, looking up in his master's face. “Da's +da ole wagon!—da same spring an vley—da same place—dar hab +been um trek-boken!”</p> + +<p>“A trek-boken!” cried Von Bloom and Hendrik, in a breath.</p> + +<p>“Ya, baas—a mighty big one too; das da spoor of dem antelope—See!”</p> + +<p>Von Bloom now comprehended all. The bareness of the country, +the absence of the leaves on the lower bushes, the millions of small +hoof-tracks, all were now explained. A migration of the springbok +antelope, a “trek-boken,” had swept over the spot. That it was that +had caused such a mighty change. The wagon they saw was theirs, +after all.</p> + +<p>They lost no time, but, catching their horses, bridled them, and +rode rapidly down the hill.</p> + +<p>Though somewhat relieved at seeing the wagon, Von Bloom was +still apprehensive.</p> + +<p>As they approached, they perceived the two horses standing beside +it, and tied to the wheels, the cow also was there—but neither goats +nor sheep were in the neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>There was a fire burning in the rear of the hind-wheels, and a dark +mass underneath the wagon, but no human form could be observed.</p> + +<p>The hearts of the horsemen beat loudly as they advanced. Their +eyes were bent earnestly upon the wagon. They felt keen anxiety.</p> + +<p>They had got within three hundred yards, and still no one stirred—no +human form made its appearance. Von Bloom and Hendrik now +suffered intensely.</p> + +<p>At this moment the two horses by the wagon neighed loudly; the +dark mass under the wagon moved, rolled outward, rose up, and +stood erect. Totty was recognised!</p> + +<p>And now the “after-clap” of the wagon was hurriedly drawn +aside, and three young faces were seen peeping forth.</p> + +<p>A shout of joy burst from the horsemen, and the next moment +little Jan and Trüey leaped out from the cap-tent into the arms of +their father—while the mutual congratulations of Hans and Hendrik, +Swartboy and Totty, produced for some moments a scene of +joyful confusion quite indescribable.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE TREK-BOKEN.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>hose who remained by the camp had had their adventures too; +and their tale was by no means a merry one, for it disclosed the unpleasant +fact, that the sheep and goats were all lost. The flock had +been carried off, in a most singular manner; and there was but +little hope of their ever being seen again.</p> + +<p>Hans began his tale:—</p> + +<p>“Nothing unusual occurred on the day you left us. I was busy +all the afternoon in cutting 'wait-a-bit' thorns for a kraal. Totty +helped me to drag them up, while Jan and Trüey looked after the +flock. The animals did not stray out of the valley here, as the grass +was good, and they had had enough of trotting lately.</p> + +<p>“Well—Totty and I got the kraal, as you see, all ready. So, when +night came, we drove the flock in; and, after milking the cow and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">355</a></span> +getting our supper, we all went to bed. We were precious tired, and +all of us slept soundly throughout the night without being disturbed. +Both jackals and hyenas came around, but we knew they would not +break into that kraal.”</p> + +<p>Hans pointed to the circular enclosure of thorn-bushes, that had +been well constructed.</p> + +<p>He then proceeded with his narration:—</p> + +<p>“In the morning we found everything right. Totty again milked +the cow; and we had breakfast. The flock was let out upon the +grass, and so were the cow and the two horses.</p> + +<p>“Just about mid-day I began to think what we were to have for +dinner, for the breakfast had cleared up everything. I did not like +to kill another sheep, if it could be helped. So bidding Jan and +Trüey stay close by the wagon, and leaving Totty to look after the +flock, I took my gun and started off in search of game. I took no +horse, for I thought I saw springboks out on the plain; and I would +stalk them better afoot.</p> + +<p>“Sure enough, there were springboks. When I got out of the +valley here, and had a better view, I saw what astonished me, I can +assure you.</p> + +<p>“I could scarce credit my eyes. The whole plain, towards the west, +appeared to be one vast crowd of animals; and by their bright yellow +sides, and the snow-white hair on their rumps, I knew they were +springboks. They were all in motion, some browsing along, while +hundreds of them were constantly bounding up into the air full ten +feet high, and leaping on top of each other. I assure you all it was +one of the strangest sights I ever beheld, and one of the pleasantest +too; for I knew that the creatures that covered the plain, instead of +being fierce wild beasts, were nothing but graceful and beautiful little +gazelles.</p> + +<p>“My first thought was to get near them, and have a shot; and I was +about to start off over the plain, when I perceived that the antelopes +were coming towards me. I saw that they were approaching with +considerable rapidity; and if I only remained where I was, they +would save me the trouble of stalking in upon them. I lay down +behind a bush and waited.</p> + +<p>“I had not very long to wait. In less than a quarter of an hour the +foremost of the herd drew near, and in five minutes more a score of +them were within shot.</p> + +<p>“I did not fire for some time. I knew they would come still nearer; +and I lay watching the motions of those pretty creatures. I took +notice of their light handsome forms, their smooth slender limbs, +their cinnamon-coloured backs, and white bellies, with the band of +chestnut along each side. I looked at the lyre-shaped horns of the +bucks, and above all, at the singular flaps on their croup, that unfolded +each time that they leaped up, displaying a profusion of long +silky hair, as white as snow itself.</p> + +<p>“All these points I noticed, and at length, tired of admiring them, I +singled out a fine-looking doe—for I was thinking of my dinner, and +knew that doe-venison was the most palatable.</p> + +<p>“After aiming carefully, I fired. The doe fell, but, to my astonishment, +and others did not fly off. A few of the foremost only galloped +back a bit, or bounded up into the air; but they again set to browsing +quite unconcerned, and the main body advanced as before!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">356</a></span></p> + +<p>“I loaded as quickly as I could, and brought down another,—this +time a buck—but as before without frightening the rest!</p> + +<p>“I proceeded to load for the third time; but, before I had finished, +the front ranks had passed on both sides of me, and I found myself in +the midst of the herd!</p> + +<p>“I saw no need for covering myself any longer behind the bush, but +rose to my knees, and, firing at the nearest, brought it down also. +Its comrades did not pause, but ran over its body in thousands!</p> + +<p>“I loaded again, and stood right up on my feet.</p> + +<p>“Now for the first time it occurred to me to reflect on the strange +conduct of the springboks; for, instead of making off at my appearance, +they only bounded a little to one side, and then kept on their +course. They seemed possessed by some species of infatuation. I +remembered hearing that such was their way when upon one of their +migrations, or “trek-bokens.” This, then, thought I, must be a “trek-boken.”</p> + +<p>“I was soon convinced of this, for the herd every moment grew +thicker and thicker around me, until at length they became so +crowded, that I began to feel very singularly situated. Not that I +was afraid of the creatures, as they made no demonstration of using +their horns upon me. On the contrary, they did all they could to get +out of my way. But the nearest only were alarmed; and, as my +presence in no way terrified those that were an hundred yards off, +the latter made no attempt to give ground. Of course the nearest +ones could only get a few paces from me, by pushing the others closer, +or springing up over their backs—so that with the ones thus constantly +bounding up into the air there was all the time a ring around +me two deep!</p> + +<p>“I cannot describe the strange feelings I had in this unusual situation, +or how long I might have kept my place. Perhaps I might have +loaded and fired away for some time, but just at the moment the +sheep came into my mind.</p> + +<p>“They'll be carried away, thought I. I had heard that such a thing +was common enough.</p> + +<p>“I saw that the antelopes were heading towards the valley—the +foremost were already into it, and would soon be on the spot, where +I had just seen our little flock feeding!</p> + +<p>“In hopes of yet heading the springboks, and driving the sheep into +the kraal, before the former crowded on them, I started towards the +valley. But, to my chagrin, I could get no faster than the herd was +going!</p> + +<p>“As I approached the creatures, to make my way through their mass, +they leaped about and sprang over one another, but could not for +their lives open a way for me as fast as I wanted one. I was so near +some of them that I could have knocked them down with my gun!</p> + +<p>“I commenced hallooing, and, brandishing the gun about, I was +making a lane more rapidly, when I perceived in front what appeared +to be a large open space. I pushed forward for this, but the nearer +I came to its border the more densely I found the creatures packed. +I could only see that it was an open space by leaping up. I did not +know what was causing it. I did not stay to reflect. I only wished +to get forward as rapidly as possible, thinking about our flock.</p> + +<p>“I continued to clear my way, and at length found myself in the +position I had coveted; while the lane I had made, in getting there,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">357</a></span> +closed instantaneously behind me. I was about to rush on and take +advantage of the bit of clear ground, when, what should I see in the +centre, and directly before me, but a great yellow lion!</p> + +<p>“That accounted for the break in the herd. Had I known what had +been causing it, I should have fought my way in any other direction +but that; but there was I, out in the open ground, the lion not ten +paces from me, and a fence of springboks two deep around both +of us!</p> + +<p>“I need not say I was frightened, and badly too. I did not for some +moments know how to act. My gun was still loaded—for, after thinking +of saving our little flock, I did not care to empty it at the antelopes. +I could get one, thought I, at any time when I had secured the sheep in the kraal. +The piece, therefore, was loaded and with bullets.</p> + +<p>“Should I take aim at the lion, and fire? I asked myself this question, +and was just on the point of deciding in the affirmative, when I +reflected that it would be imprudent. I observed that the lion, whose +back was turned to me, had either not seen, or as yet took no notice +of me. Should I only wound him—and from the position he was in I +was not likely to do more,—how then? I would most likely be torn +to pieces.</p> + +<p>“These were my reflections, all of which scarce occupied a second of +time. I was about to “back out” or back in among the springboks, +and make my way in some other direction, and had even got near the +edge, when, in looking over my shoulder, I saw the lion suddenly halt +and turn round. I halted too, knowing that to be the safest plan; +and, as I did so, I glanced back at the lion's eyes.</p> + +<p>“To my relief, I saw they were not upon me. He seemed to have +taken some fancy in his head. His appetite, perhaps, had returned; +for the next moment he ran a few yards, and then, rising with a +terrific bound, launched himself far into the herd, and came down +right upon the back of one of the antelopes! The others sprang right +and left, and a new space was soon opened around him.</p> + +<p>“He was now nearer than ever to where I stood, and I could see him +distinctly crouched over his victim. His claws held its quivering +body, and his long teeth grasped the poor creature by the neck. But, +with the exception of his tail, he was making not the slightest motion, +and that vibrated gently from side to side, just as a kitten that had +caught a tiny mouse. I could see, too, that his eyes were close shut, +as though he were asleep!</p> + +<p>“Now I had heard that under such circumstances the lion may be +approached without much danger. Not that I wished to go any +nearer—for I was near enough for my gun—but it was this recollection, +I believe, that put me in the notion of firing. At all events, +something whispered me I would succeed, and I could not resist +trying.</p> + +<p>“The broad blind jaw of the brute was fair before me. I took aim, +and pulled trigger; but, instead of waiting to see the effect of my +shot, I ran right off in an opposite direction.</p> + +<p>“I did not halt till I had put several acres of antelopes between +myself and the place where I had last stood; and then I made the +best of my way to the wagon.</p> + +<p>“Long before I had reached it, I could see that Jan, and Trüey, and +Totty, were safe under the tent. That gave me pleasure, but I also +saw that the sheep and goats had got mixed up with the springboks,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">358</a></span> +and were moving off with them as if they belonged to the same +species! I fear they are all lost.”</p> + +<p>“And the lion?” inquired Hendrik.</p> + +<p>“Yonder he lies!” answered Hans, modestly pointing to a yellow +mass out upon the plain, over which the vultures were already +beginning to hover. “Yonder he lies, you could hardly have done it +better yourself, brother Hendrik.”</p> + +<p>As Hans said this, he smiled in such a manner as to show, that he +had no idea of making a boast of his achievements.</p> + +<p>Hendrik was loud in acknowledging that it was a most splendid +feat, and also in regretting that he had not been on the ground to +witness the wonderful migration of the springboks.</p> + +<p>But there was no time for much idle talk. Von Bloom and his party +were in a very unpleasant situation. His flocks were all gone. The +cow and horses alone remained; and for these not a blade of grass had +been left by the antelopes. Upon what were they to be fed?</p> + +<p>To follow the spoor of the migratory springboks with the hope of +recovering their flock would be quite useless. Swartboy assured them +of this. The poor animals might be carried hundreds of miles before +they could separate themselves from the great herd, or bring their +involuntary journey to an end!</p> + +<p>The horses could travel but little farther. There was nought to feed +them on but the leaves of the mimosas, and this was but poor food for +hungry horses. It would be fortunate if they could be kept alive +until they should reach some pasture; and where now was pasture to +be found? Locusts and antelopes between them seemed to have turned +all Africa into a desert!</p> + +<p>The field-cornet soon formed his resolution. He would remain there +for the night, and early on the morrow set out in search of some other +spring.</p> + +<p>Fortunately Hans had not neglected to secure a brace of the springboks; +and their fat venison now came into general use. A roast of +that, and a drink of cool water from the spring, soon refreshed the +three wearied travellers.</p> + +<p>The horses were let loose among the mimosa-trees, and allowed to +shift for themselves; and although under ordinary circumstances they +would have “turned up their noses” at such food as mimosa-leaves, +they now turned them up in a different sense, and cleared the thorny +branches like so many giraffes.</p> + +<p>Some naturalist as the “Buffon” school has stated that neither wolf, +fox, hyena, nor jackal, will eat the carcass of a lion,—that their fear +of the royal despot continues even after his death.</p> + +<p>The field-cornet and his family had proof of the want of truth in +this assertion. Before many hours both jackals and hyenas attacked +the carcass of the king of beasts, and in a very short while there was +not a morsel of him there but his bones. Even his tawny skin was +swallowed by these ravenous creatures, and many of the bones broken +by the strong jaws of the hyenas. The respect which these brutes +entertain for the lion ends with his life. When dead, he is eaten by +them with as much audacity as if he were the meanest of animals.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">359</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">SPOORING FOR A SPRING.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">V</span>on Bloom was in the saddle at an early hour. Swartboy accompanied +him, while all the others remained by the wagon to await his return. +They took with them the two horses that had remained by the wagon, +as these were fresher than the others.</p> + +<p>They rode nearly due westward. They were induced to take this +direction by observing that the springboks had come from the north. +By heading westward they believed they would sooner get beyond the +wasted territory.</p> + +<p>To their great satisfaction an hour's travelling carried them clear +of the track of the antelope migration! and although they found no +water, there was excellent grass.</p> + +<p>The field-cornet now sent Swartboy back for the other horses and +the cow, pointing out a place where he should bring them to graze, +while he himself continued on in search of water.</p> + +<p>After travelling some miles farther, Von Bloom perceived to the +north of him a long line of cliff rising directly up from the plain, and +running westward as far as he could see. Thinking that water would +be more likely to be found near these cliffs, he turned his horse's head +towards them. As he approached nearer to their base, he was charmed +with the beautiful scenery that began to open before his eyes. He +passed through grassy plains of different sizes, separated from each +other by copses of the delicate-leaved mimosa; some of these forming +large thickets, while others consisted of only a few low bushes. Towering +high over the mimosas, grew many trees of gigantic size, and of a +species Von Bloom had never seen before. They stood thinly upon +the ground; but each, with its vast leafy head, seemed a little forest +of itself.</p> + +<p>The whole country around had a soft park-like appearance, which +contrasted well with the dark cliff that rose beyond—the latter stepping +up from the plain by a precipice of several hundred feet in height, +and seemingly as vertical as the walls of a house.</p> + +<p>The fine landscape was gratifying to the eyes of the traveller—such +a fine country in the midst of so much barrenness; for he knew that +most of the surrounding region was little better than a wild karoo. +The whole of it to the north for hundreds of miles was a famous desert—the +desert of Kalihari—and these cliffs were a part of its southern +border. The “vee-boer” would have been rejoiced at such a sight +under other circumstances. But what to him now were all these fine +pastures—now that he was no longer able to stock them?</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the beauty of the scene, his reflections were painful.</p> + +<p>But he did not give way to despair. His present troubles were +sufficiently grievous to prevent him from dwelling much on the future. +His first care was to find a place where his horses might be recruited; +for without them he could no longer move anywhere—without them +he would be helpless indeed.</p> + +<p>Water was the desired object. If water could not be found, all this +beautiful park through which he was passing would be as valueless to +him as the brown desert.</p> + +<p>Surely so lovely a landscape could not exist without that most +essential element!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">360</a></span></p> + +<p>So thought the field-cornet; and at the turning of every new grove +his eyes wandered over the ground in search of it.</p> + +<p>“Ho!” he joyfully exclaimed as a covey of large Namaqua partridges +whirred up from his path. “A good sign that: they are seldom far +from water.”</p> + +<p>Shortly after, he saw a flock of beautiful pintados, or guinea-hens, +running into a copse. This was a still further proof that water was +nigh. But surest of all, on the top of a tall <i>cameel-doorn</i> tree, he next +observed the brilliant plumage of a parrot.</p> + +<p>“Now,” muttered he to himself, “I must be very near to some spring +or pool.”</p> + +<p>He rode cheerfully forward: and after a little while arrived upon +the crest of an elevated ridge. Here he halted to observe the flight +of the birds.</p> + +<p>Presently he noticed a covey of partridges flying in a westerly direction, +and shortly after, another covey going the same way. Both +appeared to alight near a gigantic tree that grew in the plain, about +five hundred yards from the bottom of the cliffs. This tree stood apart +from any of the others, and was by far the largest Von Bloom had yet +seen.</p> + +<p>As he remained gazing at its wonderful dimensions, he observed +several pairs of parrots alighting upon it. These after chattering a +while among its branches, flew down upon the plain not far from its +base.</p> + +<p>“Surely,” thought Von Bloom, “there must be water there. I shall +ride forward and see.”</p> + +<p>But his horse had scarcely waited for him to form this design. The +animal had been already dragging upon the bridle; and as soon as +his head was turned in the direction of the tree, he started forward +with outstretched neck, snorting as he rushed along.</p> + +<p>The rider, trusting to the instinct of his horse, surrendered up the +bridle; and in less than five minutes both horse and rider were drinking +from the sweet water of a crystal fountain that gushed out within +a dozen yards of the tree.</p> + +<p>The field-cornet would now have hastened back to the wagon: but +he thought that by allowing his horse to browse an hour or so upon +the grass, he would make the return-journey with more spirit, and in +quite as good time. He, therefore, took off the bridle, gave the animal +his liberty, while he stretched himself under the shade of the great tree.</p> + +<p>As he lay, he could not help admiring the wonderful production of +nature that towered majestically above him. It was one of the +largest trees he had ever beheld. It was of the kind known as the +“nwana” tree, a species of <i>ficus</i>, with large sycamore-shaped leaves +that grew thickly over its magnificent head. Its trunk was full +twenty feet in diameter, rising to more than that height without a +branch, and then spreading off into numerous limbs that stretched +far out in a horizontal direction. Through the thick foliage Von +Bloom could perceive shining egg-shaped fruits as large as cocoa-nuts; +and upon these the parrots and several other kinds of birds +appeared to be feeding.</p> + +<p>Other trees of the same species stood out upon the plain at long +distances apart; and though they were all taller than the surrounding +timber, none were so large or conspicuous as the one that grew by +the spring.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">361</a></span></p> + +<p>The field-cornet, as he enjoyed the cool shade which its umbrageous +frondage afforded, could not help thinking what an admirable spot +it would be to build a kraal. The inmates of a dwelling placed beneath +its friendly shelter, need never dread the fierce rays of the +African sun; even the rain could scarce penetrate its leafy canopy. +In fact, its dense foliage almost constituted a roof of itself.</p> + +<p>Had his cattle still remained to him, no doubt the vee-boer would +have resolved at once to make this spot his future home. But, +tempting as it was, what now could he do in such a place? To him +it would be only a wilderness. There was no species of industry he +could follow in such a remote quarter. True, he might sustain himself +and his family by hunting. He saw that game was plenteous +all around. But that would be but a sorry existence, with no +promise for the future. What would his children do hereafter? +Were they to grow up with no other end than to become poor +hunters—no better than the wild Bushmen? No! no! no! To +make a home there would be out of the question. A few days to +recruit his wearied horses, and then he would make a struggle and +trek back to the settlements.</p> + +<p>But what after he had got back? He knew not what then. His +future was gloomy and uncertain.</p> + +<p>After indulging in such reflections for an hour or more, he bethought +him that it was time to return to the camp; and having +caught and bridled his horse, he mounted and set forth.</p> + +<p>The animal, refreshed by the sweet grass and cool water, carried +him briskly along; and in less than two hours he came up with +Swartboy and Hendrik where they were pasturing the horses.</p> + +<p>These were taken back to the wagon and harnessed in; and then +the great vehicle once more “treked” across the plains.</p> + +<p>Before the sun had set, the long white cap-tent was gleaming +under the leafy screen of the gigantic “nwana.”</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE TERRIBLE TSETSE.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he verdant carpet that stretched away around them—the green +leaves upon the trees—the flowers by the fountain—the crystal water +in its bed—the black bold rocks towering up at a distance—all combined +to make a lovely picture. The eyes of the wayfarers were glad +as they beheld it; and while the wagon was outspanning, every one +gave utterance to their delightful emotions.</p> + +<p>The place seemed to please every one. Hans loved its quiet and +sylvan beauty. It was just such a place as he would choose to ramble +in, book in hand, and dream away many a pleasant hour. Hendrik +liked it much, because he had already observed what he termed +“extensive spoor” about the spot: in other words, he had noticed +the tracks of many of Africa's largest wild animals.</p> + +<p>Little Trüey was delighted to see so many beautiful flowers. There +were bright scarlet geraniums, and starlike sweet-scented jessamines, +and the gorgeous belladonna lily, with its large blossoms of rose-colour +and white; and there were not only plants in flower, but +bushes, and even trees, covered with gaudy and sweetly-perfumed +blossoms. There was the “sugar-bush,” the most beautiful of its<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">362</a></span> +family, with its large cup-shaped corollas of pink, white, and green; +and there, too, was the “silver-tree” whose soft silvery leaves playing +in the breeze, looked like a huge mass of silken flowers; and there +were the mimosas covered with blossoms of golden yellow that filled +the air with their strong and agreeable perfume.</p> + +<p>Rare forms of vegetation were around or near at hand: the arborescent +aloes, with their tall flower-spikes of coral red, and euphorbias +of many shapes; and <i>zamia</i>, with its palm-like fronds; and the soft-leaved +<i>Strelitzia reginæ</i>. All these were observed in the neighbourhood +of this new-discovered fountain.</p> + +<p>But what received little Trüey's admiration more than any other +was the beautiful blue water-lily, which is certainly one of the +loveliest of Africa's flowers. Close by the spring, but a little farther +in the direction of the plain, was a vley, or pool—in fact, it might +have been termed a small lake—and upon the quiet bosom of its +water the sky-blue corollas lay sleeping in all their gorgeous beauty.</p> + +<p>Trüey, leading her little pet on a string, had gone down on the bank +to look at them. She thought she could never cease gazing at such +pretty things.</p> + +<p>“I hope papa will stay here a long time,” she said to her companion, +little Jan.</p> + +<p>“And I hope so too. Oh! Trüey, what a fine tree yon is! Look! +nuts as big as my head, I declare. Bless me, sis! how are we to +knock some of them down?”</p> + +<p>And so the children conversed, both delighted with the new scenes +around them.</p> + +<p>Although all the young people were inclined to be happy, yet they +were checked in their expression of it, by observing that there was +a cloud on the brow of their father. He had seated himself under +the great tree, but his eyes were upon the ground, as though he were +busy with painful reflections. All of them noticed this.</p> + +<p>His reflections were, indeed, painful—they could not well have been +otherwise. There was but one course left for him—to return to the +settlements, and begin life anew. But how to begin it? What could +he do? His property all gone, he could only serve some of his richer +neighbours; and for one accustomed all his life to independence, this +would be hard indeed.</p> + +<p>He looked towards his five horses, now eagerly cropping the luxuriant +grass that grew under the shadow of the cliffs. When would they +be ready to trek back again? In three or four days he might start. +Fine animals, most of them were—they would carry the wagon +lightly enough.</p> + +<p>So ran the reflections of the field-cornet. He little thought at the +moment that those horses would never draw wagon more, nor any +other vehicle. He little thought that those five noble brutes were +doomed!</p> + +<p>Yet so it was. In less than a week from that time, the jackals and +hyenas were quarrelling over their bones. Even at that very moment +while he watched them browsing, the poison was entering their veins, +and their death-wounds were being inflicted. Alas! alas! another +blow awaited Von Bloom.</p> + +<p>The field-cornet had noticed, now and again, that the horses seemed +uneasy as they fed. At times they started suddenly, whisked their +long tails, and rubbed their heads against the bushes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">363</a></span></p> + +<p>“Some fly is troubling them,” thought he, and had no more uneasiness +about the matter.</p> + +<p>It was just that—just a fly that was troubling them. Had Von +Bloom known what that fly was, he would have felt a very different +concern about his horses. Had he known the nature of that little +fly, he would have rushed up with all his boys, caught the horses in +the greatest hurry, and led them far away from those dark cliffs. +But he knew not the “tsetse” fly.</p> + +<p>It still wanted some minutes of sunset, and the horses were permitted +to browse freely, but Von Bloom observed that they were +every moment getting more excited—now striking their hoofs upon +the turf,—now running a length or two—and at intervals snorting +angrily. At the distance they were off—a quarter of a mile or so—Von +Bloom could see nothing of what was disturbing them; but their +odd behaviour at length induced him to walk up to where they were. +Hans and Hendrik went along with him.</p> + +<p>When they arrived near the spot, they were astonished at what +they then beheld. Each horse seemed to be encompassed by a swarm +of bees!</p> + +<p>They saw, however, they were not bees, but insects somewhat +smaller, of a brown colour, resembling gad-flies, and exceedingly +active in their flight. Thousands of them hovered above each horse, +and hundreds could be seen lighting upon the heads, necks, bodies, +and legs of the animals,—in fact, all over them. They were evidently +either biting or stinging them. No wonder the poor brutes were +annoyed.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom suggested that they should drive the horses farther out +into the plain, where these flies did not seem to haunt. He was +only concerned about the annoyance which the horses received from +them. Hendrik also pitied their sufferings; but Hans, alone of all +the three, guessed at the truth. He had read of a fatal insect that +frequented some districts in the interior of South Africa, and the +first sight of these flies aroused his suspicions that it might be +they.</p> + +<p>He communicated his thoughts to the others, who at once shared +his alarm.</p> + +<p>“Call Swartboy hither!” said Von Bloom.</p> + +<p>The Bushman was called, and soon made his appearance, coming +up from the spring. He had for the last hour been engaged in unpacking +the wagon, and had taken no notice of the horses or the +interest they were exciting.</p> + +<p>As soon, however, as he got near, and saw the winged swarm +whirring around the horses, his small eyes opened to their widest +extent, his thick lips fell, and his whole face yielded itself to an expression +of amazement and alarm.</p> + +<p>“What is it, Swart?” inquired his master.</p> + +<p>“Mein baas! mein baas! der duyvel um da—dar skellum is da +'tsetse!'”</p> + +<p>“And what if it be the tsetse?”</p> + +<p>“Mein Gott!—all dead—dead—ebery horse!”</p> + +<p>Swartboy then proceeded to explain, with a loud and continuous +“clicking,” that the fly which they saw was fatal in its bite, that +the horses would surely die—sooner or later, according to the number +of stings they had already received; but, from the swarm of insects<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">364</a></span> +around them, the Bushman had no doubt they had been badly stung, +and a single week would see all five of the horses dead.</p> + +<p>“Wait, mein baas—morrow show.”</p> + +<p>And to-morrow did show; for before twelve o'clock on the next +day, the horses were swollen all over their bodies and about their +heads. Their eyes were quite closed up; they refused any longer to +eat, but staggered blindly among the luxuriant grass, every now and +then expressing the pain they felt by a low melancholy whimpering. +It was plain to every one they were going to die.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom tried bleeding, and various other remedies; but to no +purpose. There is no cure for the bite of the tsetse fly!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE LONG-HORNED RHINOCEROS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">G</span>reat, indeed, was now the affliction of the field-cornet. Fortune +seemed to be adverse in everything. Step by step he had been sinking +for years, every year becoming poorer in worldly wealth. He +had now reached the lowest point—poverty itself. He owned +nothing whatever. His horses might be regarded as dead. The cow +had escaped from the tsetse by avoiding the cliffs, and keeping out +upon the plain; and this animal now constituted his whole live stock,—his +whole property! True, he still had his fine wagon; but +of what use would that be without either oxen or horses? a wagon +without a team! Better a team without a wagon.</p> + +<p>What could he do? How was he to escape from the position he +was placed in? To say the least, it was an awkward one—nearly +two hundred miles from any civilised settlement, and no means of +getting there,—no means except by walking; and how were his +children to walk two hundred miles? Impossible!</p> + +<p>Across desert tracts, exposed not only to terrible fatigue, but to +hunger, thirst, and fierce carnivorous animals. It appeared impossible +that they could accomplish such a task.</p> + +<p>And what else was there to be done? asked the field-cornet of himself. +Were they to remain there all their lives, subsisting precariously +on game and roots? Were his children to become “Bush-boys,”—himself +a Bushman?</p> + +<p>With these reflections passing through his mind, no wonder that +Von Bloom felt deeply afflicted.</p> + +<p>“Merciful Heaven!” he exclaimed, as he sat with his head between +his hands, “what will become of me and mine?”</p> + +<p>Poor Von Bloom! he had reached the lowest point of his fortunes.</p> + +<p>He had, in reality, reached the lowest point; for on that very day,—even +within that very hour—an incident occurred, that not only +gave relief to his afflicted spirit, but that promised to lay the foundation +of future wealth and prosperity. In one hour from that time +the prospects of the field-cornet had undergone a complete change,—in +one hour from that time he was a happy man, and all around him +were as happy as he!</p> + +<p>You are impatient to hear how this change was effected? What +little fairy had sprung out of the spring, or come down from the cliffs, +to befriend the good field-cornet in his hour of misery? You are +impatient to hear! Then you shall hear.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">365</a></span></p> + +<p>The sun was just going down. They were all seated under the +great tree, and near a fire, upon which they had cooked their supper. +There was no talking, no cheerful conversation,—for the children +saw that their father was in trouble, and that kept them silent. Not +a word passed between them, or only an occasional whisper.</p> + +<p>It was at this moment that Von Bloom gave utterance to his sad +thoughts in words as above.</p> + +<p>As if seeking for an answer, his eyes were raised to heaven, and +then wandered around the plain. All at once they became fixed +upon a singular object, that appeared at some distance off, and was +just emerging from the bushes.</p> + +<p>It was an animal of some kind, and from its vast size Von Bloom +and the others at first took it to be an elephant. None of them, +except Swartboy, were accustomed to elephants in their wild state,—for, +although these animals once inhabited the most southerly portion +of Africa, they have long since deserted the settled districts, and are +now only to be found far beyond the frontier of the colony. But +they knew that there were elephants in these parts—as they had +already observed their tracks—and all now supposed the huge +creature that was approaching must be one.</p> + +<p>Not all, Swartboy was an exception. As soon as his eyes fell upon +the animal he cried out,—</p> + +<p>“Chukuroo—a chukuroo!”</p> + +<p>“A rhinoster, is it?” said Von Bloom, knowing that “chuckuroo” +was the native name for the rhinoceros, or “rhinoster,” as he called +it in Dutch.</p> + +<p>“Ya, baas,” replied Swartboy; “and one o' da big karles—da, +'kobaoba,' da long-horn white rhinoster.”</p> + +<p>What Swartboy meant by this was that the animal in question was +a large species of rhinoceros, known among the natives as the +“kobaoba.”</p> + +<p>Now I dare say, young reader, you have been all your life under +the impression that there was but one species of rhinoceros in the +world—that is <i>the</i> rhinoceros. Is it not so? Yes.</p> + +<p>Well, permit me to inform you, that you have been under a wrong +impression. There are quite a number of distinct species of this very +singular animal. At least eight distinct kinds I know of; and I do +not hesitate to say that when the central parts of Africa have been +fully explored, as well as South Asia and the Asiatic islands, nearly +half as many more will be found to exist.</p> + +<p>In South Africa four distinct species are well known; one in +North Africa differs from all these; while the large Indian rhinoceros +bears but slight resemblance to any of them. A distinct species from +any is the rhinoceros of Sumatra, an inhabitant of that island; and +still another is the Java rhinoceros, found in the island of Java. Thus +we have no less than eight kinds, all specifically differing from one +another.</p> + +<p>The natives of South Africa are acquainted with four distinct +species of rhinoceros, to which they give distinct names; and it may +be remarked that this observation of species by native hunters is far +more to be depended upon than the speculations of mere closet-naturalists, +who draw their deductions from a tubercle, or the tooth, +or a stuffed skin. Gordon Cumming, for example, the most distinguished +of all African hunters has done more to increase the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">366</a></span> +knowledge of African zoology than a whole college full of “speculating” +<i>savans</i>.</p> + +<p>This same Gordon Cumming has written a most interesting account +of his hunting experiences, tells you that there are four kinds of +rhinoceros in Southern Africa; and no man is likely to know better +than he.</p> + +<p>These four kinds are known among the natives as the “borele,” +the “keitloa,” the “muchocho,” and “kobaoba.” The two first are +“black rhinoceroses,”—that is, the general colour of their skin is dark—while +the “muchocho” and “kobaoba” are white varieties, having +the skin of a dingy whitish hue. The black rhinoceroses are much +smaller—scarce half the size of the others, and they differ from them +in the length and set of their horns, as well as in other particulars.</p> + +<p>In the form and length of their neck, the set of their ears, and +other respects, the black rhinoceroses differ materially from the white +ones. In fact, their habits are quite unlike. The former feed chiefly +on the leaves and twigs of thorns, such as the <i>Acacia horrida</i>, or +“wait-a-bits,” while the latter live upon grass. The former are of +fiercer disposition—will attack man or any other animal on sight; +and even sometimes seem to grow angry with the bushes, charging +upon them and breaking them to pieces!</p> + +<p>The white rhinoceroses, although fierce enough when wounded or +provoked, are usually of pacific disposition, and will permit the +hunter to pass without molestation.</p> + +<p>These become very fat, and make excellent eating. The flesh of no +African animal is esteemed superior to the calf of the white rhinoceros, +whereas the black varieties never grow fat, and their flesh is tough +and unpalatable.</p> + +<p>The hide is also used for different purposes, among others for making +the whips known as “jamboks,” though hippopotamus-hide is +superior.</p> + +<p>The skin of the African rhinoceros, as already stated, is without +the plaits, folds, and scutellæ, that characterise its Asiatic congener, +yet it is far from being a soft one. It is so thick and difficult to +pierce, that a bullet of ordinary lead will sometimes flatten upon it. +To ensure its penetrating, the lead must be hardened with solder.</p> + +<p>The rhinoceros, though not a water animal, like the hippopotamus, +is nevertheless fond of that element, and is rarely found at a great +distance from it. All four kinds love to lie and wallow in mud, just +as hogs in a summer's day; and they are usually seen coated all over +with this substance. During the day they may be observed lying +down or standing under the shade of some thick mimosa-tree, either +asleep or in a state of easy indolence; and it is during the night that +they wander about in search of food and water.</p> + +<p>If approached from the lee side they can easily be got at, as their +small sparkling eyes do not serve them well. On the contrary, if the +hunter go to windward, they will scent him at a great distance, as +their sense of smell is most acute. If their eyes were only as keen as +their nostrils, it would be a dangerous game to attack them, for they +can run with sufficient rapidity to overtake a horse in the first charge.</p> + +<p>In charging and running, the black variety far excels the white. +They are easily avoided, however, by the hunter springing quickly to +one side, and letting them rush blindly on.</p> + +<p>The black rhinoceros is about six feet high at the shoulder, and full<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">367</a></span> +thirteen in length; while the white kinds are far larger. The white +rhinoceros is full seven feet high, and fourteen in length!</p> + +<p>No wonder that an animal of these extraordinary dimensions was +at first sight taken for the elephant. In fact, the kobaoba rhinoceros +is the quadruped next to the elephant in size; and with his great +muzzle—full eighteen inches broad—his long clumsy head, his vast +ponderous body, this animal impresses one with an idea of strength +and massive grandeur as great, and some say greater than the elephant +himself. He looks, indeed, like a caricature of the elephant. It was +not such a bad mistake, then, when our people by the wagon took +the “kobaoba” for the “mighty elephant.”</p> + +<p>Swartboy, however, set them all right by declaring that the animal +they saw was the white rhinoceros.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A HEAVY COMBAT.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">W</span>hen they first saw the kobaoba, he was, as stated, just coming out +of the thicket. Without halting, he headed in the direction of the +vley already mentioned; and kept on towards it, his object evidently +being to reach the water.</p> + +<p>This little lake, of course, owed its existence to the spring—though +it was full two hundred yards from the latter—and about the same +from the great tree. It was nearly circular in shape, and about one +hundred yards in diameter, so that its superficial area would thus be +a little over two English acres. It merited, then, the name of “lake;” +and by that name the young people already called it.</p> + +<p>On its upper side—that in the direction of the spring—its shore +was high, and in one or two places rocky, and these rocks ran back +to the spring along the channel of a little rivulet. On the west or +outer side of the lake the land lay lower, and the water at one or two +points lipped up nearly to the level of the plain. For this reason it +was, that upon that side, the bank was paddled all over with tracks +of animals that had been to drink. Hendrik the hunter had observed +among them the footprints of many kinds he knew nothing about.</p> + +<p>It was for the lower end of the lake the kobaoba was making—no +doubt with him an old and favourite drinking place.</p> + +<p>There was a point where the water was easier of access than elsewhere—a +little to one side of where the wash or waste-stream of the +lake ran out. It was a sort of cove with bright sandy beach, and +approachable from the plain by a miniature gorge, hollowed out, no +doubt, by the long usage of those animals who came to drink at the +vley. By entering this cove, the tallest animals might get deep water +and good bottom, so that they could drink without much straining +or stooping. The kobaoba came on in a direct line for the lake; and +as he drew near, they could see him heading for the gorge that led +into the little cove. It proved he had been there before.</p> + +<p>Next moment he passed through the gap, and stood knee-deep in +the water.</p> + +<p>After swallowing several copious draughts—now sneezing, and then +wheezing—he plunged his broad snout, horn and all, into the water, +tossed it till it foamed, and then lying down in it, commenced wallowing +like a hog.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">368</a></span></p> + +<p>The place was shallow, and most of his huge body was above the +surface—though there was deep enough water in the lake to have +given him a bath had he desired it.</p> + +<p>The first thought of Von Bloom, as well as of Hendrik, was how to +“circumvent” the rhinoceros, and of course destroy him. Not that +they simply wished his destruction; but Swartboy had already +represented what fine food the species was, and there was no stock +of provision in camp. Hendrik had another object in wishing the +death of the creature. He wanted a new loading-rod for his rifle; +and he had gazed covetously at the kobaoba's long horn.</p> + +<p>But it was easier to desire the death of the rhinoceros than to +accomplish it. They had no horses—at least, none that could be +mounted—and to attack the animal on foot, would be a game as +dangerous as idle. He would be like enough to impale one of them +on his great spike, or else trample them brutally under his huge feet. +If he did not do one or the other, he would easily make his escape—as +any kind of rhinoceros can outrun a man.</p> + +<p>How were they to manage him then?</p> + +<p>Perhaps they might get near—fire at him from an ambush, and with +a lucky shot stretch him out. A single bullet sometimes kills the +rhinoceros—but only when correctly placed, so as to penetrate the +heart, or some other of the “vitals.”</p> + +<p>This was, probably, the best plan. They might easily get near +enough. There was some bush cover close to the spot. It was probable +the old kobaoba would not perceive them, if they approached +from leeward, particularly as he seemed in the full tide of enjoyment +at that moment.</p> + +<p>They were about to attempt the approach, and had got to their feet +for that purpose, when a sudden fit seemed to have attacked Swartboy. +The latter commenced jumping over the ground, at the same time +muttering in a low voice,—</p> + +<p>“Da klow! da klow!”</p> + +<p>A stranger would have fancied Swartboy in a fit, but Von Bloom +knew that by “Da klow! da klow!” the Bushman meant “The +elephant! the elephant!” and therefore looked in the direction in +which Swartboy was pointing.</p> + +<p>Sure enough, upon the western plain, looming up against the yellow +sky, was a dark mass, that upon examination presented the outlines +of an elephant. Its rounded back was easily distinguished over the +low bushes; and its broad hanging ears were moving as it marched. +All saw at a glance that it was coming towards the lake, and almost +in the same track that the rhinoceros had taken.</p> + +<p>Of course this new apparition quite disarranged the plans of the +hunters. At sight of the mighty elephant, they scarce any longer gave +a thought to the kobaoba. Not that they had formed any very great +hopes of being able to kill the gigantic animal, yet some such thought +was running through their minds. They had determined to try, at all +events.</p> + +<p>Before they could agree upon any plan, however, the elephant had +got up to the edge of the lake. Though moving only at a slow walk, +with his immense strides he soon measured off a large quantity of +ground, and advanced much more rapidly than one would have +supposed. The hunters had scarce time to exchange thoughts, before +the huge creature was up within a few yards of the water.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">369</a></span></p> + +<p>Here he halted, pointed his proboscis in different directions, stood +quite silent, and seemed to listen.</p> + +<p>There was no noise to disturb him—even the kobaoba for the moment +was quiet.</p> + +<p>After standing a minute or so, the huge creature moved forward +again, and entered the gorge already described.</p> + +<p>They at the camp had now a full view of him, at less than three +hundred yards distant. An immense mass he seemed. His body quite +filled the gorge from side to side, and his long yellow tusks projecting +more than two yards from his jaws, curved gracefully upward. He +was an “old bull,” as Swartboy whispered.</p> + +<p>Up to this time the rhinoceros had not had the slightest intimation +of the elephant's approach; for the tread of the latter—big beast as +he is—is as silent as a cat's. It is true that a loud rumbling noise like +distant thunder proceeded from his inside as he moved along; but the +kobaoba was in too high a caper just then to have heard or noticed +any sound that was not very near and distinct.</p> + +<p>The huge body of the elephant coming suddenly into “his sunshine,” +and flinging its dark shadow over the vley, was distinct enough, and +caused the kobaoba to get to his feet with an agility quite surprising +for a creature of his build.</p> + +<p>At the same time a noise, something between a grunt and a whistle +escaped him, as the water was ejected from his nostrils.</p> + +<p>The elephant also uttered his peculiar salute, in a trumpet note, +that echoed from the cliffs; and halted in his tracks as soon as he saw +the rhinoceros.</p> + +<p>No doubt both were surprised at the rencontre; as both stood for +some seconds eyeing each other with apparent astonishment.</p> + +<p>This, however, soon gave place to a different feeling. Symptoms of +anger began to show themselves. It was evident that bad blood was +brewing between them.</p> + +<p>There was, in fact, a little dilemma. The elephant could not get +comfortably at the water unless the rhinoceros left the cove; and the +rhinoceros could not well get out of the cove, so long as the elephant +blocked up the gorge with his immense thick limbs.</p> + +<p>It is true, the kobaoba might have sneaked through among the +other's legs, or he might have swum off and landed at some other point, +and in either way have left the coast clear.</p> + +<p>But of all animals in the world a rhinoceros is, perhaps, the most +unaccommodating. He is, also, one of the most fearless, dreading +neither man nor beast—not even the boasted lion, whom he often +chases like a cat. Hence the old kobaoba had no intention of yielding +ground to the elephant; and from his attitude, it was plain that he +neither intended to sneak off under the other's belly, nor swim a single +stroke for him. No—not a stroke.</p> + +<p>It remained to be seen how the point of honour was to be decided. +The attitude of affairs had become so interesting, that every one by +the camp was gazing with fixed eyes upon the two great bulls—for the +rhinoceros was also a “bull” and of the largest size known of his kind.</p> + +<p>For several minutes they stood eyeing each other. The elephant, +although much the larger, knew his antagonist well. He had met his +“sort” before, and knew better than to despise his powers. Perhaps, +ere now, he had had a touch of that long spit-like excrescence that +stood out from the kobaoba's snout.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">370</a></span></p> + +<p>At all events, he did not rush upon his adversary at once—as he +would have done on some poor antelope that might have crossed him +in the same way.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/illus-370.jpg" width="500" height="357" alt="A DEADLY ENCOUNTER." title="A DEADLY ENCOUNTER." /> +<span class="caption">A DEADLY ENCOUNTER.</span></div> + +<p>His patience, however, became exhausted. His ancient dignity was +insulted—his rule disputed—he wished to have his bath and his drink—he +could bear the insolence of the rhinoceros no longer.</p> + +<p>With a bellow that made the rocks ring again, he charged forward; +placed his tusks firmly under the shoulder of his adversary,—gave a +mighty “lift,” and turned the rhinoceros over in the water!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">371</a></span></p> + +<p>For a moment the latter plunged, and blowed, and snorted, his head +half under water; but in a second's time he was on his feet again, and +charging in turn. The spectators could see that he aimed right at +the elephant's ribs with his horn, and that the latter did all he could +to keep head towards him.</p> + +<p>Again the elephant flung the kobaoba, and again the latter rose and +charged madly upon his huge antagonist; and so both fought until +the water around them was white with foam.</p> + +<p>The contest was carried on in the water, until the elephant, seeming +to think his adversary had an advantage there, backed himself into +the gorge, and stood waiting with his head towards the lake. In this +position the sides of the gorge did not protect him, as perhaps he +fancied. They were too low, and his broad flanks rose far above them. +They only kept him from turning round, and this interfered with the +freedom of his movements.</p> + +<p>It could scarce have been design in the rhinoceros to act as he now +did, though it appeared so to those who were watching. As the +elephant took up his position in the gorge, the kobaoba clambered out +upon the bank; and then, wheeling suddenly, with head to the ground +and long horn projected horizontally, the latter rushed upon his +antagonist and struck him right among the ribs. The spectators saw +that the horn penetrated, and the loud scream that came from the +elephant, with the quick motions of his trunk and tail, told plainly +that he had received a severe wound. Instead of standing any longer +in the gorge he rushed forward, and did not stop until he was knee-deep +in the lake. Drawing the water up into his trunk, he raised it +on high, and pointing it backwards, he discharged large volumes over +his body, and upon the spot where he had received the thrust of the +kobaoba's horn.</p> + +<p>He then ran out of the lake, and charged about in search of the +rhinoceros; but long-horn was no longer to be found!</p> + +<p>Having escaped from the cove without compromising his dignity, +and perhaps believing that he had gained the victory, the rhinoceros, +as soon as he delivered the thrust, had galloped off and disappeared +among the bushes.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE DEATH OF THE ELEPHANT.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he battle between these two large quadrupeds did not continue for +more than ten minutes. During that time the hunters made no advance +towards attacking either of them—so much absorbed were +they in watching the novel contest. It was only after the rhinoceros +had retreated, and the elephant returned to the water, that they once +more began to deliberate on some plan of assaulting this mightiest of +African animals. Hans now laid hold of his gun and joined them.</p> + +<p>The elephant, after looking about for his enemy, had got back, and +was standing knee-deep in the lake. He appeared restless and +highly excited. His tail was continually in motion, and at intervals +he uttered a piercing melancholy scream—far different to the usual +trumpet-like bellow of his voice. He lifted his huge limbs, and then +plunged them back again to the bottom, until the foam gathered +upon the water with his continued churning.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">372</a></span></p> + +<p>But the oddest of his actions was the manner in which he employed +his long tubular trunk. With this he sucked up vast volumes of +water, and then pointing it backwards ejected the fluid over his +back and shoulders, as if from an immense syringe. This shower-bath +he kept repeating time after time, though it was evident he was +not at his ease.</p> + +<p>They all knew he was angry. Swartboy said it would be exceedingly +dangerous to be seen by him at that moment, without having a +horse to gallop out of his way. On this account every one of them +had concealed themselves behind the trunk of the nwana-tree, Von +Bloom peeping past one side, and Hendrik the other, in order to +watch his movements.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the danger, they at length resolved to attack +him. They believed that if they did not do so soon, he would walk +off, and leave them supperless—for they had hoped to sup upon a +slice of his trunk. Time, therefore, had grown precious, and they +resolved to attack him without further ado.</p> + +<p>They intended to creep as near as was safe. All three would fire +together, and then lie close in the bushes until they saw the effect of +their shots.</p> + +<p>Without farther parley, Von Bloom, Hans, and Hendrik, leaving +the tree, crept through the bushes towards the western end of the +lake. It was not a continuous thicket, but only an assemblage of +copses and clumps, so that they required to steal very cautiously +from one to the other. Von Bloom led the way, while the boys kept +in his tracks, following him closely.</p> + +<p>After some five minutes spent in this way, they got under cover of +a little clump near the water's edge, and near enough to the gigantic +game. Upon their hands and knees they now approached the verge +of the underwood; and, having parted the leaves, looked through. +The mighty quadruped was right under their eyes, within twenty +yards of them!</p> + +<p>He was still busy plunging about, and blowing volumes of water +over his body. He gave no sign that he had any suspicion of their +presence. They could take time, therefore, in choosing a part of his +huge body at which to aim their pieces.</p> + +<p>When first seen from their new position, he was standing stern +towards them. Von Bloom did not think it a good time to fire, as +they could not give him a deadly wound in that situation. They +waited, therefore, until he might turn his side, before they should +deliver their volley. They kept their eyes all the while steadily +fixed on him.</p> + +<p>He ceased at length to “churn” with his feet, and no longer raised +water in his trunk; and now the hunters perceived that the lake +was red for a space around him! It was his blood that had reddened +it.</p> + +<p>They no longer doubted that he had been wounded by the rhinoceros; +but whether the wound was a bad one they could not tell. +It was in his side, and as yet they could only see his broad stern from +the position in which he still continued to stand. But they waited +with confidence—as they knew that in turning to get out of the +water, he would have to present his side towards them.</p> + +<p>For several minutes he kept the same position; but they noticed +that his tail no longer switched about, and that his attitude was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">373</a></span> +loose and drooping. Now and then he turned his proboscis to the +spot where he had received the thrust of the kobaoba's horn. It was +evident that the wound was distressing him, and this became more +apparent by the loud painful breathing the creature uttered through +his trunk.</p> + +<p>The three began to grow impatient. Hendrik asked leave to creep +round to another point, and give him a shot that would turn him +round.</p> + +<p>Just at that moment the elephant made a motion, as though he +was about to come out of the water.</p> + +<p>He had got fairly round—his head and fore-part were over dry +land—the three guns were pointed—the eyes of the three hunters +were about to glance through the sights of their pieces, when all at +once he was seen to rock and stagger,—and then roll over! With a +loud plash, his vast body subsided into the water, sending great +waves to every corner of the lake.</p> + +<p>The hunters uncocked their guns, and, springing from their ambush, +rushed forward to the bank. They saw at a glance that the +elephant was dead. They saw the wound upon his side,—the hole +made by the horn of the rhinoceros. It was not very large, but the +terrible weapon had penetrated far into his body, into his very +vitals. No wonder, then, at the result it had produced—the death of +the mightiest of quadrupeds.</p> + +<p>As soon as it became known that the elephant was dead, everybody +was seen rushing forward to the spot. Little Trüey and Jan were +called from their hiding-place—for they had both been hidden in the +wagon—and Totty, too, went down with the rest. Swartboy was +one of the first upon the spot, carrying an axe and a large knife—for +Swartboy had designs upon the carcass—while Hans and Hendrik +both threw off their jackets to assist in the butchering operations.</p> + +<p>And what during this time was Von Bloom about? Ha! That is +a more important question than you think for. That was an important +hour—the hour of a great crisis in the life of the field-cornet.</p> + +<p>He was standing with folded arms on the bank of the lake, directly +over the spot where the elephant had fallen. He appeared to be +wrapt in silent meditation, his eyes bent upon the huge carcass of +the animal. No, not on the carcass. A close observer would have +perceived that his eyes did not wander over that mountain of thick +skin and flesh, but were resting upon a particular spot.</p> + +<p>Was it the wound in the animal's side? And was Von Bloom +meditating how the thrust had caused the death of such a huge +creature?</p> + +<p>Neither one nor the other. His thoughts were upon a very different +theme from either.</p> + +<p>The elephant had fallen so that his head was clear of the water, +and rested upon a little bank of sand; along which, his soft and +limber trunk lay extended to its full length. Curving like a pair of +gigantic scimeters from its base, were the yellow enamelled tusks; +those ivory arms that for years,—aye centuries, perhaps,—had served +him to root up the trees of the forest, and rout his antagonists in +many a dread encounter. Precious and beautiful trophies were they, +but alas! their world-wide fame had cost no less than life to many +thousands of his race.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">374</a></span></p> + +<p>Shining in all their magnificence lay these mated crescents, gently +curved and softly rounded. It was upon these that the eyes of the +field-cornet were bent!</p> + +<p>Aye, and bent too with an eagerness unusual in his glance. His lips +were compressed, his chest was visibly heaving. Oh! there was a world +of thoughts passing through the mind of Von Bloom at that moment.</p> + +<p>Were they painful thoughts? The expression of his face told the +contrary. The cloud that all that day sat perched upon his brow +had vanished. Not a trace of it remained, but in its place could be +seen the lines of hope and joy, and these feelings at length found expression +in words.</p> + +<p>“It is the hand of Heaven!” he exclaimed aloud. “A fortune—a +fortune!”</p> + +<p>“What is it, papa?” inquired little Trüey, who was near him; +“what were you speaking about, dear papa?”</p> + +<p>And then all the others gathered around him, noticing his excited +manner, and pleased at seeing him look so happy.</p> + +<p>“What is it, papa?” asked all together, while Swartboy and Totty +stood eager as the rest to hear the answer.</p> + +<p>In the pleasant excitement of his thoughts, the fond father could +no longer conceal from his children the secret of his new-born happiness. +He would gratify them by disclosing it.</p> + +<p>Pointing to the long crescents he said,—</p> + +<p>“You see those beautiful tusks?”</p> + +<p>Yes, of course, they all did.</p> + +<p>“Well, do you know their value?”</p> + +<p>No. They knew they were worth something. They knew that it +was from elephants' tusks that ivory was obtained, or, more properly, +that elephants' tusks were ivory itself; and that it was used in the +manufacture of hundreds of articles. In fact, little Trüey had a +beautiful fan made out of it, which had been her mother's; and Jan +had a knife with an ivory handle. Ivory was a very beautiful +material, and cost very dear, they knew. All this they knew, but the +value of the two tusks they could not guess at. They said so.</p> + +<p>“Well, my children,” said Von Bloom, “as near as I can estimate +them, they are worth twenty pounds each of English money.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! oh! Such a grand sum!” cried all in a breath.</p> + +<p>“Yes,” continued the field-cornet; “I should think each tusk is one +hundred pounds in weight, and as ivory at present sells for four +shillings and sixpence the pound weight, these two would yield +between forty and fifty pounds of sterling money.”</p> + +<p>“Why, it would buy a full span of best oxen!” cried Hans.</p> + +<p>“Four good horses!” said Hendrik.</p> + +<p>“A whole flock of sheep!” added little Jan.</p> + +<p>“But whom can we sell them to?” asked Hendrik, after a pause. +“We are away from the settlements. Who is to give us either oxen, +or horses, or sheep, for them? It would not be worth while to carry +two tusks all the way——”</p> + +<p>“Not two, Hendrik,” said his father interrupting him; “but twenty +it might,—aye, twice twenty, or three times that number. Now, do +you understand what makes me so gay?”</p> + +<p>“Oh!” exclaimed Hendrik, as well as the others, who now began +to perceive what their father was so joyed about, “you think we can +obtain more tusks in these parts?”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">375</a></span></p> + +<p>“Precisely so. I think there are many elephants here. I feel +certain of it from the quantity of their spoor I have already noticed. +We have our guns, and fortunately, plenty of ammunition. We are +all pretty fair shots—why can we not obtain more of these valuable +trophies?”</p> + +<p>“But we shall,” continued Von Bloom. “I know we shall, because +I recognise the hand of God in sending us this wealth in the midst of +our misery—after we had lost everything. More will come by the +guiding of the same hand. So be of good cheer, my children! We +shall not want—we shall yet have plenty—we may be rich!”</p> + +<p>It was not that any of those young creatures cared much about +being rich, but because they saw their father so happy, that they +broke out into something more than a murmur of applause. It was, +in fact, a cheer, in which both Totty and Swartboy joined. It rang +over the little lake, and caused the birds about settling to roost to +wonder what was going on. There was no happier group in all Africa +than stood at that moment upon the shore of that lonely little vley.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">TURNED HUNTERS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he field-cornet, then, had resolved upon turning hunter by profession—a +hunter of elephants; and it was a pleasant reflection to think, +that this occupation promised, not only exciting sport, but great +profit. He knew that it was not so easy a matter to succeed in killing +such large and valuable game as elephants. He did not suppose that +in a few weeks or months he would obtain any great quantities of +their ivory spoils; but he had made up his mind to spend even years +in the pursuit. For years he should lead the life of a Bushman—for +years his sons would be “Bush-boys,” and he hoped that in time his +patience and toil would be amply rewarded.</p> + +<p>That night around the camp-fire all were very happy and very +merry. The elephant had been left where he lay, to be cut up on the +morrow. Only his trunk had been taken off—part of which was +cooked for supper.</p> + +<p>Although all the flesh of the elephant is eatable, the trunk is +esteemed one of the delicate bits. It tastes not unlike ox-tongue; +and all of them liked it exceedingly. To Swartboy, who had made +many a meal upon “de ole klow,” it was a highly-relished feast.</p> + +<p>They had plenty of fine milk, too. The cow, now upon the best of +pasture, doubled her yield; and the quantity of this, the most delicious +of all drinks, was sufficient to give every one a large allowance.</p> + +<p>While enjoying their new-fashioned dish of roast elephant-trunk, +the conversation naturally turned upon these animals.</p> + +<p>Everybody knows the appearance of the elephant, therefore a +description of him is quite superfluous. But everybody does not +know that there are two distinct kinds of this gigantic quadruped—the +African and Asiatic.</p> + +<p>Until a late period they were thought to be of the same species. +Now they are acknowledged to be, not only distinct, but very different +in many respects. The Asiatic, or, as it is more frequently called, the +“Indian” elephant is the larger of the two; but it is possible that +domestication may have produced a larger kind, as is the rule with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">376</a></span> +many animals. The African species exists only in a wild state; and +it would appear that individuals of this kind have been measured +having the dimensions of the largest of the wild Asiatic elephants.</p> + +<p>The most remarkable points of difference between the two are +found in the ears and tusks. The ears of the African elephant are of +enormous proportions, meeting each other above the shoulders, and +hanging down below the breast. Those of the Indian elephant are +scarce one-third the size. In his grand tusks the former has far the +advantage—these in some individuals weighing nearly two hundred +pounds each—while the tusks of the latter rarely reach the weight of +one hundred. To this, however, there are some exceptions. Of course +a two hundred pound tusk is one of the very largest, and far above +the average even of African elephants. In this species the females +are also provided with tusks—though not of such size as in the males—whereas +the female of the Indian elephant has either no tusks at all, +or they are so small as to be scarcely perceptible outside the skin of +the lips.</p> + +<p>In Africa the elephant exists only in a state of nature. None of +the nations upon this little-known continent tame or train him to +any purpose. He is only prized among them for his precious teeth, +and his flesh as well. Some have asserted that this species is more +fierce than its Indian congener, and could not be domesticated. This +is altogether a mistake. The reason why the African elephant is not +trained, is simply that none of the modern nations of Africa have yet +reached a high enough point of civilisation to avail themselves of the +services of this valuable animal.</p> + +<p>The African elephant may be domesticated and trained to the +“howdah,” or castle, as easily as his Indian cousin. The trial has +been made; but that it can be done no better proof is required than +that at one period it was done, and upon a large scale. The elephants +of the Carthaginian army were of this species.</p> + +<p>The African elephant at present inhabits the central and southern +parts of Africa. Abyssinia on the east, and Senegal on the west, are +his northern limits, and but a few years ago he roamed southward to +the very Cape of Good Hope. The activity of the Dutch ivory-hunters, +with their enormous long guns, has driven him from that +quarter; and he is no longer to be found to the south of the Orange +River.</p> + +<p>Swartboy spoke of a variety well known among the Hottentot +hunters as the “koes-cops.” This kind, he said, differed from the +ordinary ones by its altogether wanting the tusks, and being of a far +more vicious disposition. Its encounter is more dreaded; but as it +possesses no trophies to make it worth the trouble and danger of +killing, the hunters usually give it a wide berth.</p> + +<p>Such was the conversation that night around the camp-fire. Much +of the information here given was furnished by Hans, who of course +had gathered it from books; but the Bushman contributed his quota—perhaps +of a far more reliable character.</p> + +<p>All were destined ere long to make practical acquaintance with the +haunts and habits of this huge quadruped, that to them had now +become the most interesting of all the animal creation.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">377</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">JERKING AN ELEPHANT.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">N</span>ext day was one of severe, but joyful labour. It was spent in +“curing” the elephant, not in a medical sense, but in the language of +the provision-store.</p> + +<p>Although not equal to either beef or mutton, or even pork, the flesh +of the elephant is sufficiently palatable to be eaten. There is no +reason why it should not be, for the animal is a clean feeder, and +lives altogether on vegetable substances—the leaves and tender shoots +of trees, with several species of bulbous roots, which he well knows +how to extract from the ground with his tusks and trunk. It does +not follow from this that his beef should be well tasted—since we +see that the hog, one of the most unclean of feeders, yields most +delicious “pork;” while another of the same family (<i>pachydermata</i>) +that subsists only on sweet succulent roots, produces a flesh both +insipid and bitter. I allude to the South American tapir. The quality +of the food, therefore, is no criterion of the quality of the flesh.</p> + +<p>It is true that the beef of the elephant was not what Von Bloom +and most of his family would have chosen for their regular diet. Had +they been sure of procuring a supply of antelope-venison, the great +carcass might have gone, not to the “dogs,” but to their kindred the +hyenas. But they were not sure of getting even a single antelope, +and therefore decided upon “curing” the elephant. It would be a +safe stock to have on hand, and need not interfere with their eating +venison, or any other dainty that might turn up.</p> + +<p>The first thing done was to cut out the tusks. This proved a tough +job, and occupied full two hours. Fortunately there was a good axe +on hand. But for this and Swartboy's knowledge, double the time +might have been wasted in the operation.</p> + +<p>The ivory having been extracted and put away in a safe place, the +“cutting up” then commenced in earnest. Von Bloom and Swartboy +were the “baas-butchers,” while Hans and Hendrik played the part +of “swabs.” As the carcass lay half under water, they would have +had some difficulty in dealing with the under part. But this they did +not design to touch. The upper half would be amply sufficient to provision +them a long while; and so they set about removing the skin from +that side that was uppermost.</p> + +<p>The rough thick outer coat they removed in broad sheets cut into +sections; and then they peeled off several coats of an under skin, of +tough and pliant nature. Had they needed water-vessels, Swartboy +would have saved this for making them—as it is used for such purposes +by the Bushmen and other natives. But they had vessels enough in +the wagon, and this skin was thrown away.</p> + +<p>They had now reached the pure flesh, which they separated in large +sheets from the ribs; and then the ribs were cut out, one by one, with +the axe. This trouble they would not have taken—as they did not +want the ribs—but they cut them away for another reason, namely, +to enable them to get at the valuable fat, which lies in enormous +quantities around the intestines. Of course for all cooking purposes, +the fat would be to them invaluable, and indeed almost necessary to +render the flesh itself eatable.</p> + +<p>It is no easy matter to get at the fat in the inside of an elephant,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">378</a></span> +as the whole of the intestines have first to be removed. But Swartboy +was not to be deterred by a little trouble; so climbing into the interior +of the huge carcass, he commenced cutting and delving, and every now +and then passing a multitude of “inwards” out to the others, who +carried them off out of the way.</p> + +<p>After a long spell of this work, the fat was secured, and carefully +packed in a piece of clean under-skin; and then the “butchering” +was finished.</p> + +<p>Of course the four feet, which along with the trunk are considered +the “tit-bits,” had already been separated at the fetlock joint; and +stood out upon the bank, for the future consideration of Swartboy.</p> + +<p>The next thing to be done was to “cure” the meat. They had a +stock of salt—that precious, though, as lately discovered, not indispensable +article. But the quantity—stowed away in a dry corner of +the wagon—was small, and would have gone but a short way in curing +an elephant.</p> + +<p>They had no idea of using it for such a purpose. Flesh can be preserved +without salt; and not only Swartboy, but Von Bloom himself, +knew how to preserve it. In all countries where salt is scarce, the +process of “jerking” meat is well understood, and consists simply in +cutting it into thin strips and hanging it out in the sun. A few days +of bright warm sunshine will “jerk” it sufficiently; and meat thus +dried will keep good for months. A slow fire will answer the purpose +nearly as well; and in the absence of sunshine, the fire is often resorted +to.</p> + +<p>Sun-dried meat in South Africa is called “biltongue.” The +Spaniards of Mexico name it “tasajo,” while those of Peru style it +“charqui.” In English it is “jerked” meat.</p> + +<p>Several hours were spent in cutting the elephant-beef into strips, +and then a number of forked poles were set up, others were laid +horizontally over the forks, and upon these the meat was suspended, +and hung down in numberless festoons.</p> + +<p>Before the sun went down, the neighbourhood of the camp presented +a rare appearance. It looked somewhat like the enclosure of a yarn-bleacher, +except that the hanging strips, instead of being white, were +of a beautiful clear ruby colour.</p> + +<p>But the work was not yet completed. The feet remained to be +“preserved,” and the mode of curing these was entirely different. +That was a secret known only by Swartboy, and in the execution of +it the Bushman played first fiddle, with the important air of a <i>chef de +cuisine</i>.</p> + +<p>He proceeded as follows:—</p> + +<p>He first dug a hole in the ground, about two feet deep, and a little +more in diameter—just large enough to admit one of the feet, which +was nearly two feet diameter at the base. The earth which came out of +this hole Swartboy placed in the form of a loose embankment around +the edge.</p> + +<p>By his direction the boys had already collected upon the spot a large +quantity of dried branches and logs. These Swartboy now built over +the hole, into a pyramid of ten feet high, and then set the pile on fire. +He next proceeded to make three other pits precisely similar, and built +over each a fire like the first, until four large fires were burning upon +the ground.</p> + +<p>The fires being now fairly under way, he could only wait until each<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">379</a></span> +had burned down. This would carry the process into the night, and +so it turned out; but Swartboy had a foresight of this. He knew he +would get through with the more important portion of his work before +bedtime.</p> + +<p>When the first fire had burned quite to red cinders, Swartboy's +hardest turn of duty began. With a shovel he lifted the cinders out +of the hole, until it was empty; but he was more than an hour in performing +this apparently simple labour. The difficulty arose from the +intense heat he had to encounter, which drove him back after every +few moments' work; so that he was compelled to retreat at intervals +in order to cool himself.</p> + +<p>The “baas,” as well as Hendrik and Hans, took turns with him, +until all four were perspiring as if they had been shut up for half-an-hour +in a baker's oven.</p> + +<p>When the hole was thoroughly scooped clean of coals, Swartboy, +assisted by Von Bloom, lifted one of the huge feet; and, carrying it +as near as they dare go on account of the scorching heat, they heaved +it in upon its base.</p> + +<p>The sandy earth which had been originally removed, and which +was now as hot as molten lead, was pushed over, and around the foot; +and then the cinders were raked on top, and over that another huge +fire was kindled.</p> + +<p>The same process was gone through with the other three feet, and +all four were to be left in the “oven” until the fires should be burned +down, when they would be found sufficiently “baked.”</p> + +<p>Swartboy would then rake off the cinders, take out the feet with a +sharp wooden spit, beat them well to get rid of the dust, scrape the +sand clear, then pare off the outside skin, when they would be ready +either to be eaten or would keep for a long time.</p> + +<p>Swartboy would do all this as soon as the four huge bonfires should +burn down.</p> + +<p>But that would not be before the morning; so all of them, fatigued +by the extraordinary exertions of the day, finished their suppers of +broiled trunk, and went to rest under the protecting shadow of the +nwana.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE HIDEOUS HYENA.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">F</span>atigued as they were, they would soon have fallen asleep. But +they were not permitted to do so. As they lay with closed eyes in +that half-dreamy state that precedes sleep, they were suddenly +startled by strange voices near the camp.</p> + +<p>These voices were uttered in peals of loud laughter; and no one, +unacquainted with them, would have pronounced them to be anything +else than the voices of human beings. They exactly resembled +the strong treble produced by the laugh of a maniac negro. It +seemed as if some Bedlam of negroes had been let loose, and were +approaching the spot.</p> + +<p>I say approaching, because each moment the sounds grew clearer +and louder; and it was evident that whatever gave utterance to +them was coming nearer to the camp.</p> + +<p>That there was more than one creature was evident—aye, and it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">380</a></span> +was equally evident that there was more than one kind of creature; +for so varied were the voices, it would have puzzled a ventriloquist +to have given imitations of them all. There was howling, and +whining, and grunting, and growling, and low melancholy moaning +as of some one in pain, and hissing, and chattering, and short, sharp +intonations, as if it were the barking of dogs, and then a moment or +two of deep silence, and again that chorus of human-like laughter, +that in point of horror and hideous suggestions surpassed all the +other sounds.</p> + +<p>You will suppose that such a wild concert must have put the camp +in a state of great alarm. Not a bit of it. Nobody was frightened +in the least—not even innocent little Trüey, nor the diminutive Jan.</p> + +<p>Had they been strangers to these sounds, no doubt they would +have been more than frightened. They would have been terrified by +them; for they were calculated to produce such an effect upon any +one to whose ears they were new.</p> + +<p>But Von Bloom and his family had lived too long upon the wild +karoo to be ignorant of those voices. In the howling, and chattering, +and yelping, they heard but the cries of the jackal; and they well +knew the maniac laugh of the hideous hyena.</p> + +<p>Instead of being alarmed, and springing from their beds, they lay +still and listened—not dreading any attack from the noisy creatures.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom and the children slept in the wagon; Swartboy and +Totty upon the ground—but these lay close to the fires, and therefore +did not fear wild beasts of any kind.</p> + +<p>But the hyenas and jackals upon this occasion appeared to be both +numerous and bold. In a few minutes after they were first heard, +their cries rose around the camp on all sides, so near and so loud as +to be positively disagreeable—even without considering the nature +of the brutes that uttered them.</p> + +<p>At last they came so close, that it was impossible to look in any +direction without seeing a pair of green or red eyes gleaming under +the light of the fires! White teeth, too, could be observed, as the +hyenas opened their jaws, to give utterance to their harsh laughter.</p> + +<p>With such a sight before their eyes, and such sounds ringing in +their ears, neither Von Bloom nor any of his people—tired as they +were—could go to sleep. Indeed, not only was sleep out of the +question, but, worse than that, all—the field-cornet himself not excepted—began +to experience some feelings of apprehension, if not +actual alarm.</p> + +<p>They had never beheld a troop of hyenas so numerous and fierce. +There could not be less than two dozen of them around the camp, +with twice that number of jackals.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom knew that although, under ordinary circumstances, the +hyena is not a dangerous animal, yet there are places and times when +he will attack human beings. Swartboy knew this well, and Hans, +too, from having read of it. No wonder, then, that some apprehension +was felt by all of them.</p> + +<p>The hyenas now behaved with such boldness, and appeared so +ravenous, that sleep was out of the question. Some demonstration +must be made to drive the brutes away from the camp.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom, Hans, and Hendrik, laid hold of their guns, and got +out of the wagon, while Swartboy armed himself with his bow and +arrows. All four stood close by the trunk of the nwana, on the other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">381</a></span> +side from that where the fires were. In this place they were in the +shadow, where they could best observe anything that should come +under the light of the fires without being themselves seen. Their +position was well chosen.</p> + +<p>They had scarcely fixed themselves in it, when they perceived a +great piece of neglect they had been guilty of. Now, for the first +time it occurred to them what had brought the hyenas around them +in such numbers. Beyond a doubt it was the flesh of the elephant,—the +<i>biltongue</i>.</p> + +<p>That was what the beasts were after; and all now saw that a mistake +had been committed in hanging the meat too low. The hyenas +might easily get at it.</p> + +<p>This was soon made manifest; for, even at the moment while they +stood watching the red festoons, plainly visible under the light of +Swartboy's fires, a shaggy spotted brute rushed forward, reared up +on his hind-legs, seized one of the pieces, dragged it down from the +pole, and then ran off with it into the darkness.</p> + +<p>A rushing sound could be heard as the others joined him to get a +share of his plunder; and, no doubt, in less than half a minute the +morsel was consumed; for, at the end of that time, glancing eyes and +gleaming teeth showed that the whole troop was back again and +ready to make a fresh seizure.</p> + +<p>None of the hunters had fired, as the nimbleness with which the +brutes moved about rendered it difficult to take aim at any one of +them; and all knew that powder and lead were too precious to be +wasted on a “flying shot.”</p> + +<p>Emboldened by their success, the hyenas had now drawn nearer, +and in a moment more would have made a general charge upon the +scaffolds of flesh, and, no doubt, would have succeeded in carrying +off a large quantity of it. But just then it occurred to Von Bloom +that it would be best to lay aside their guns and remedy the mistake +they had made, by putting the biltongue out of reach. If they +did not do so, they would either have to remain awake all night and +guard it, or else lose every string of it.</p> + +<p>How was it to be put out of reach?</p> + +<p>At first they thought of collecting it into a heap and stowing it +away in the wagon. That would not only be an unpleasant job, but +it would interfere with their sleeping quarters.</p> + +<p>An alternative, however, presented itself. They saw that if the +scaffolds were only high enough, the meat might be easily hung so +as to be out of reach of the hyenas. The only question was, how to +place the cross-poles a little higher. In the darkness they could not +obtain a new set of uprights, and therein lay the difficulty. How +were they to get over it?</p> + +<p>Hans had the credit of suggesting a way; and that was to take +out some of the uprights, splice them to the others, with the forked +ends uppermost, and then rest the horizontal poles on the upper +forks. That would give a scaffold tall enough to hang the meat +beyond the reach of either jackals or hyenas.</p> + +<p>Hans' suggestion was at once adopted. Half of the uprights were +taken up and spliced against the others so as to raise their forks full +twelve feet in the air; and then the cross-poles were rested over +their tops. By standing upon one of the wagon-chests, Von Bloom +was able to fling the strips of meat over the horizontal poles, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">382</a></span> +in such a manner that it hung only a few inches down, and was now +quite beyond the reach of the ravenous brutes.</p> + +<p>When the business was finished, the party resumed their station +under the shadow of the tree, intending to watch for a while, and see +how the wolfish intruders would act.</p> + +<p>They had not long to watch. In less than five minutes the troop +approached the biltongue, howling, and gibbering, as before; only +this time uttering peculiar cries, as if to express disappointment. +They saw at a glance that the tempting festoons were no longer +within their reach.</p> + +<p>They were not going to leave the ground, however, without +assuring themselves of this fact; and several of the largest approached +boldly under the scaffolds, and commenced leaping up to +try the height.</p> + +<p>After several attempts, springing each time as high as they were +able, they appeared to grow discouraged; and no doubt would in +time have imitated the fox with the grapes, and gone quietly away. +But Von Bloom, indignant at being roused after such a fashion, from +his pleasant rest, was determined to take some revenge upon his tormentors; +so he whispered the word to the others, and a volley was +delivered from behind the tree.</p> + +<p>The unexpected discharge caused a quick scattering of both hyenas +and jackals, and the pattering of their numerous feet could be heard +as they ran off. When the ground under the scaffold was examined, +two of the larger of these ravenous quadrupeds, and one of the +smaller, were found to have bitten the dust.</p> + +<p>Swartboy had discharged his arrow along with the guns, and it was +he that had slain the jackal, for the poisoned shaft was seen sticking +between the animal's ribs.</p> + +<p>The guns were again loaded, the party took their stations as before; +but, although they waited another half-hour, neither hyena nor jackal +made their appearance.</p> + +<p>They had not gone far away, however, as their wild music testified; +but the reason they did not return was, that they had now discovered +the half carcass of the elephant that lay in the lake, and upon that +they were making their supper. Their plunging in the water could +be distinctly heard from the camp, and during the whole night they +quarrelled and growled, and laughed and yelled, as they gorged +themselves on their ample prey.</p> + +<p>Of course Von Bloom and his people did not sit up all night to +listen to this medley of noises. As soon as they perceived that the +brutes were not likely to come any more near the camp, they laid +aside their weapons, returned to their respective sleeping-places, and +were all soon buried in the sweet slumber that follows a day of healthy +exercise.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">STALKING THE OUREBI.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">N</span>ext morning the hyenas and jackals had disappeared from the +scene, and, to the surprise of all, not a particle of flesh was left upon +the bones of the elephant. There lay the huge skeleton picked clean, +the bones even polished white by the rough tongues of the hyenas.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">383</a></span> +Nay, still stranger to relate, two of the horses—these poor brutes had +been long since left to themselves,—had been pulled down during the +night, and their skeletons lay at a short distance from the camp as +cleanly picked as that of the elephant!</p> + +<p>All this was evidence of the great number of ravenous creatures +that must have their home in that quarter,—evidence, too, that game +animals abounded, for where these are not numerous the beasts of +prey cannot exist. Indeed, from the quantity of tracks that were +seen upon the shores of the vley, it was evident that animals of +various kinds had drunk there during the night. There was the +round solid hoof of the quagga, and his near congener the dauw; and +there was the neat hoofprint of the gemsbok, and the larger track of +the eland; and among these Von Bloom did not fail to notice the +spoor of the dreaded lion. Although they had not heard his roaring +that night, they had no doubt that there were plenty of his kind in +that part of the country. The presence of his favourite prey,—the +quaggas, the gemsboks, and the elands,—were sure indications that +the king of beasts was not far off.</p> + +<p>Not much work was done that day. The heavy labour of curing +the biltongue, that had occupied them the whole of the preceding +day, and their disturbed rest, had rendered them all listless; and +neither Von Bloom nor the others had any inclination for work. So +they moved around the camp and did very little.</p> + +<p>Swartboy took his elephant's feet from the oven, and cleaned them; +and also let down the biltongue and arranged it so as to be better +exposed to the sun. Von Bloom himself shot the three remaining +horses, having driven them to a good distance from the camp. He +did this to put an end to the suffering of the poor brutes,—for it was +plain to every one that they could survive but a day or two longer; +and to send a bullet through the heart of each was an act of mercy to +them.</p> + +<p>Out of all the live stock of the field-cornet, the cow alone remained, +and she was now tended with the greatest care. Without the precious +milk, which she yielded in such quantity, their diet would have been +savage enough; and they fully appreciated the service she rendered +them. Each day she was driven out to the best pasture, and at night +shut up in a safe kraal of wait-a-bit thorns, that had been built for +her at a little distance from the tree. These thorns had been placed +in such a manner that their shanks all radiated inward, while the +bushy tops were turned out, forming a <i>chevaux-de-frise</i>, that scarce +any animal would have attempted to get through. Such a fence will +turn even the lion, unless when he has been rendered fierce and reckless +by provocation.</p> + +<p>Of course a gap had been left for the cow to pass in and out, and +this was closed by one immense bush, which served all the purpose of +a gate. Such was the kraal of “old Graaf.” Besides the cow, the +only living thing that remained in camp was Trüey's little pet, the +fawn of the gazelle.</p> + +<p>But on that very day another pet was added, a dear little creature, +not less beautiful than the springbok, and of still more diminutive +proportions. That was the fawn of an “ourebi,”—one of the elegant +little antelopes that are found in such variety over the plains and in +the “bush” of Southern Africa.</p> + +<p>It was to Hendrik they were indebted not only for this pet, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">384</a></span> +for a dinner of delicate venison, which they had that day eaten, and +which all of them, except Swartboy, preferred to elephant beef. +Hendrik had procured the venison by a shot from his rifle, and in the +following manner.</p> + +<p>About mid-day he went out—having fancied that upon a large +grassy meadow near the camp he saw some animal. After walking +about half-a-mile, and keeping among bushes, around the edge of the +meadow, he got near enough to be sure that it was an animal he had +observed,—for he now saw two in the place he had marked.</p> + +<p>They were of a kind he had not met with before. They were very +small creatures,—smaller even than springboks,—but, from their +general form and appearance, Hendrik knew they were either antelopes +or deer; and, as Hans had told him there were no deer in +Southern Africa, he concluded they must be some species of antelope. +They were a buck and doe,—this he knew because one of them only +carried horns. The buck was under two feet in height, of slender +make, and pale tawny colour. He was white-bellied, with white +arches above the eyes, and some long white hair under the throat. +Below his knees were yellowish tufts of long hair; and his horns—instead +of being lyrate, like those of the springbok—rose nearly +vertical to the height of four inches. They were black in colour, +round-shaped, and slightly ringed. The doe was without horns, and +was a much smaller animal than her mate.</p> + +<p>From all these marks Hendrik thought the little antelopes were +“ourebis;” and such they were.</p> + +<p>He continued to stalk in upon them, until he was as close as he +could get. But he was still more than two hundred yards from them, +and of course far from being within shooting distance with his small +rifle.</p> + +<p>A thick <i>jong dora</i> bush concealed him, but he dared not go farther +else the game would have taken the alarm. He could perceive that +they were shy creatures.</p> + +<p>Every now and again the buck would raise his graceful neck to its +full stretch, utter a slight bleating call, and look suspiciously around +him. From these symptoms Hendrik drew the inference that it was +shy game, and would not be easily approached.</p> + +<p>He lay for a moment, thinking what he should do. He was to +leeward of the game, as he had purposely gone there; but after a +while, to his chagrin, he saw that they were feeding up the wind, and +of course widening the distance between them and himself.</p> + +<p>It occurred to Hendrik that it might be their habit to browse up +the wind, as springboks and some other species do. If so, he might +as well give it up, or else make a long circuit and head them. To do +this would be a work of labour and of time, and a very uncertain +stalk it would be in the end. After all his long tramping, and creeping, +and crouching, the game would be like enough to scent him +before they came within shot—for it is for this very reason that their +instinct teaches them to browse against, and not with the wind.</p> + +<p>As the plain was large, and the cover very distant, Hendrik was +discouraged and gave up the design he had half formed of trying to +head them.</p> + +<p>He was about to rise to his feet, and return home, when it occurred +to him that perhaps he might find a decoy available. He knew there +were several species of antelopes, with whom curiosity was stronger<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">385</a></span> +than fear. He had often lured the springbok within reach. Why +would not these obey the same impulse?</p> + +<p>He determined to make trial. At the worst he could only fail, and +he had no chance of getting a shot otherwise.</p> + +<p>Without losing a moment he thrust his hand into his pocket. He +should have found there a large red handkerchief, which he had more +than once used for a similar purpose. To his chagrin it was not there!</p> + +<p>He dived into both pockets of his jacket, then into his wide trousers, +then under the breast of his waistcoat. No. The handkerchief was +not to be found. Alas! it had been left in the wagon! It was very +annoying.</p> + +<p>What else could he make use of? Take off his jacket and hold it +up? It was not gay enough in colour. It would not do.</p> + +<p>Should he raise his hat upon the end of his gun? That might be +better, but still it would look too much like the human form, and +Hendrik knew that all animals feared that.</p> + +<p>A happy thought at length occurred to him. He had heard, that +with the curious antelopes, strange forms or movements attract almost +as much as glaring colours. He remembered a trick that was said to +be practised with success by the hunters. It was easy enough, and +consisted merely in the hunter standing upon his hands and head, and +kicking his heels in the air!</p> + +<p>Now Hendrik happened to be one of those very boys who had often +practised this little bit of gymnastics for amusement and he could +stand upon his head like an acrobat.</p> + +<p>Without losing a moment he placed his rifle upon the ground, between +his hands, and hoisting his feet into the air, commenced kicking them +about, clinking them together, and crossing them in the most fantastic +manner.</p> + +<p>He had placed himself so that his face was turned towards the +animals, while he stood upon his head. Of course he could not see +them while in this position, as the grass was a foot high; but, at +intervals, he permitted his feet to descend to the earth; and then, by +looking between his legs, he could tell how the ruse was succeeding.</p> + +<p>It did succeed. The buck, on first perceiving the strange object, +uttered a sharp whistle, and darted off with the swiftness of a bird—for +the “ourebi” is one of the swiftest of African antelopes. The doe +followed, though not so fast, and soon fell into the rear.</p> + +<p>The buck, perceiving this, suddenly halted—as if ashamed of his +want of gallantry—wheeled round, and galloped back, until he was +once more between the doe and the odd thing that had alarmed him.</p> + +<p>What could this odd thing be? he now seemed to inquire of himself. +It was not a lion, nor a leopard, nor a hyena, nor yet a jackal. +It was neither fox, nor fennec, nor earth-wolf, nor wild hound, nor +any of his well-known enemies. It was not a Bushman neither, for +they are not double-headed as it appeared. What could it be? It +had kept its place—it had not pursued him. Perhaps it was not at +all dangerous. No doubt it was harmless enough.</p> + +<p>So reasoned the ourebi. His curiosity overcame his fear. He would +go a little nearer. He would have a better view of the thing before +he took to flight. No matter what it was, it could do no hurt at that +distance; and as to overtaking him, pah! there wasn't a creature, +biped or quadruped in all Africa that he could not fling dust in the +face of.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">386</a></span></p> + +<p>So he went a little nearer, and then a little nearer still, and continued +to advance by successive runs, now this way and now that way, +zigzagging over the plain, until he was within less than a hundred +paces of the odd object that at first sight had so terrified him.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 344px;"> +<img src="images/illus-386.jpg" width="344" height="500" alt="HENDRIK DECOYING THE OUREBIS." title="HENDRIK DECOYING THE OUREBIS." /> +<span class="caption">HENDRIK DECOYING THE OUREBIS.</span></div> + +<p>His companion, the doe, kept close after him; and seemed quite as +curious as himself—her large shining eyes opened to their full extent, +as she stopped to gaze at intervals.</p> + +<p>Sometimes the two met each other in their course; and halted a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">387</a></span> +moment, as though they held consultation in whispers; and asked +each other if they had yet made out the character of the stranger.</p> + +<p>It was evident, however, that neither had done so—as they still +continued to approach it with looks and gestures of inquiry and +wonder.</p> + +<p>At length the odd object disappeared for a moment under the grass; +and then reappeared—but this time in an altered form. Something +about it glanced brightly under the sun, and this glancing quite +fascinated the buck, so that he could not stir from the spot, but stood +eyeing it steadily.</p> + +<p>Fatal fascination! It was his last gaze. A bright flash shot up—something +struck him through the heart, and he saw the shining +object no more!</p> + +<p>The doe bounded forward to where her mate had fallen, and stood +bleating over him. She knew not the cause of his sudden death, but +she saw that he was dead. The wound in his side—the stream of red +blood—were under her eyes. She had never witnessed death in that +form before, but she knew her lover was dead. His silence—his form +stretched along the grass motionless and limber—his glassy eyes—all +told her he had ceased to live.</p> + +<p>She would have fled, but she could not leave him—she could not +bear to part even from his lifeless form. She would remain a while, +and mourn over him.</p> + +<p>Her widowhood was a short one. Again flashed the priming,—again +cracked the shining tube—and the sorrowing doe fell over upon +the body of her mate.</p> + +<p>The young hunter rose to his feet, and ran forward. He did not, +according to usual custom, stop to load before approaching his quarry. +The plain was perfectly level, and he saw no other animal upon it. +What was his surprise on reaching the antelopes, to perceive that there +was a third one of the party still alive!</p> + +<p>Yes, a little fawn, not taller than a rabbit, was bounding about +through the grass, running around the prostrate body of its mother, +and uttering its tiny bleat.</p> + +<p>Hendrik was surprised, because he had not observed this creature +before; but, indeed, he had not seen much of the antelopes until the +moment of taking aim, and the grass had concealed the tiny young +one.</p> + +<p>Hunter as Hendrik was, he could not help feeling strongly as he +regarded the <i>tableau</i> before him. But he felt that he had not +wantonly destroyed these creatures for mere amusement, and that +satisfied his conscience.</p> + +<p>The little fawn would make a famous pet for Jan, who had often +wished for one, to be equal with his sister. It could be fed upon the +cow's milk, and, though it had lost both father and mother, Hendrik +resolved that it should be carefully brought up. He had no difficulty +in capturing it, as it refused to leave the spot where its mother lay, +and Hendrik soon held the gentle creature in his arms.</p> + +<p>He then tied the buck and doe together; and, having fastened +a strong cord round the horns of the latter, he set off dragging the +two antelopes behind him.</p> + +<p>As these lay upon the ground, heads foremost, they were drawn +with the grain of the hair, which made it much easier; and as there +was nothing but grass sward to be passed over, the young hunter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">388</a></span> +succeeded in taking the whole of his game to camp without any +great difficulty.</p> + +<p>The joy of all was great, at seeing such a fine lot of venison, but +Jan's rejoicing was greater than all; and he no longer envied Trüey +the possession of her little gazelle.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">LITTLE JAN'S ADVENTURE.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">I</span>t would have been better that Jan had never seen the little +“ourebi,”—better both for Jan and the antelope, for that night the +innocent creature was the cause of a terrible panic in the camp.</p> + +<p>They had all gone to sleep as on the previous night,—Von Bloom +and the four children in the wagon, while the Bushman and Totty +slept upon the grass. The latter lay under the wagon; but Swartboy +had kindled a large fire a little distance from it, and beside this had +stretched himself, rolled up in his sheep-skin kaross.</p> + +<p>They had all gone to sleep without being disturbed by the hyenas. +This was easily accounted for. The three horses that had been shot +that day occupied the attention of these gentry, for their hideous +voices could be heard off in the direction where the carcasses lay. +Having enough to give them a supper, they found no occasion to +risk themselves in the neighbourhood of the camp, where they had +experienced such a hostile reception on the previous night. So +reasoned Von Bloom, as he turned over and fell asleep.</p> + +<p>He did not reason correctly, however. It was true that the +hyenas were just then making a meal upon the horses; but it was +a mistake to suppose that that would satisfy these ravenous brutes, +who never seem to have enough. Long before morning, had Von +Bloom been awake he would have heard the maniac laugh closer to +the camp, and might have seen the green eyes of the hyena glancing +under the expiring blaze of Swartboy's camp-fire.</p> + +<p>Indeed, he had heard the beasts once that he awoke; but, knowing +that the biltongue had been this night placed out of their reach, and +thinking that there was nothing to which they could do any harm, +he gave no heed to their noisy demonstrations, and went to sleep +again.</p> + +<p>He was awakened, however, by a shrill squeak, as of some animal +in the agonies of death; and then there was a second squeak, that +seemed to be suddenly interrupted by the stifling of the creature's +utterance!</p> + +<p>In these cries Von Bloom, as well as the others—who were now +also awake—recognised the bleat of the ourebi, for they had heard it +several times during the afternoon.</p> + +<p>“The hyenas are killing it!” thought they. But they had not +time to say so, before another and far different cry reached their +ears, and caused them all to start as if a bomb-shell had burst under +the wagon. That cry was the voice of Jan, and sounded in the +same direction whence came the scream of the stifled antelope!</p> + +<p>“O heaven! what could it mean?”</p> + +<p>The child's voice first reached them in a sudden screech—then +there was a confused noise resembling a scuffle—and Jan was again +heard crying aloud for help, while at the same time his voice was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">389</a></span> +interrupted, and each call appeared to come from a greater distance! +Something or somebody was carrying him off!</p> + +<p>This idea occurred to Von Bloom, Hans, and Hendrik, at the same +instant. Of course it filled them with consternation; and, as they +were scarce yet awake, they knew not what to do.</p> + +<p>The cries of Jan, however, soon brought them to their senses; +and to run towards the direction whence these came was the first +thought of all.</p> + +<p>To grope for their guns would waste time, and all three leaped out +of the wagon without them.</p> + +<p>Totty was upon her feet and jabbering, but she knew no more +than they what had happened.</p> + +<p>They did not stop long to question her. The voice of Swartboy, +uttered in loud barks and clicks, summoned them elsewhere; and +they now beheld a red flaming brand rushing through the darkness, +which no doubt was carried in the hands of that worthy.</p> + +<p>They started off in the direction of the blazing torch, and ran as +fast as they could. They still heard the Bushman's voice, and to +their dismay beyond it the screams of little Jan.</p> + +<p>Of course they could not tell what was causing all this. They +only pressed on with fearful apprehensions.</p> + +<p>When they had got within some fifty paces of the torch, they +perceived it suddenly descend, then raised again, and brought down, +in a rapid and violent manner! They could hear the voice of the +Bushman barking and clicking louder than ever, as though he was +engaged in chastising some creature.</p> + +<p>But Jan's voice they no longer heard—he was screaming no more—was +he dead?</p> + +<p>With terrible forebodings they rushed on.</p> + +<p>When they arrived upon the spot, a singular picture presented +itself to their eyes. Jan lay upon the ground, close in by the roots +of some bushes which he was holding tightly in his grasp. From one +of his wrists extended a stout thong, or <i>rheim</i>, which passed through +among the bushes to the distance of several feet; and, fast to its +other end, was the ourebi fawn, dead, and terribly mangled! Over +the spot stood Swartboy with his burning tree, which blazed all the +brighter that he had just been using it over the back of a ravenous +hyena. The latter was not in sight. It had long since skulked off, +but no one thought of pursuit, as all were too anxious about Jan.</p> + +<p>No time was lost in lifting the child to his feet. The eyes of all +ran eagerly over him to see where he was wounded; and an exclamation +of joy soon broke forth when they saw that, except the +scratches of the thorns, and the deep track of a cord upon his wrist, +nothing in the shape of a wound could be discovered upon his +diminutive body. He had now come to himself, and assured them +all that he was not hurt a bit. Hurrah! Jan was safe!</p> + +<p>It now fell to Jan's lot to explain all this mysterious business.</p> + +<p>He had been lying in the wagon along with the rest, but not like +them asleep. No. He could not sleep a wink for thinking on his +new pet, which, for want of room in the wagon, had been left below +tied to one of the wheels.</p> + +<p>Jan had taken it into his head that he would like to have another +look at the ourebi before going to sleep. So, without saying a word +to any one, he crept out of the cap-tent, and descended to where the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">390</a></span> +antelope was tied. He unloosed it gently, and then led it forward +to the light of the fire, where he sat down to admire the creature.</p> + +<p>After gazing upon it for some time with delight, he thought that +Swartboy could not do otherwise than share his feelings; and +without more ado, he shook the Bushman awake.</p> + +<p>The latter had no great stomach for being roused out of sleep to +look at an animal, hundreds of which he had eaten in his time. But +Jan and Swartboy were sworn friends, and the Bushman was not +angry. He, therefore, indulged his young master in the fancy he +had taken; and the two sat for a while conversing about the pet.</p> + +<p>At length Swartboy proposed sleep. Jan would agree to this only +upon the terms that Swartboy would allow him to sleep alongside of +him. He would bring his blanket from the wagon, and would not +trouble Swartboy by requiring part of the latter's kaross.</p> + +<p>Swartboy objected at first; but Jan urged that he had felt cold in +the wagon, and that was partly why he had come down to the fire. +All this was sheer cunning in the little imp. But Swartboy could +not refuse him anything, and at length consented. He could see no +harm in it, as there were no signs of rain.</p> + +<p>Jan then returned to the wagon, climbed noiselessly up, drew out +his own blankets, and brought them to the fire. He then wrapped +himself up, and lay down alongside of Swartboy, with the ourebi +standing near, and in such a situation that he could still have his +eyes upon it, even when lying. To secure it from wandering, he had +fastened a strong rheim around its neck, the other end of which he +had looped tightly upon his own wrist.</p> + +<p>He lay for some time contemplating his beautiful pet. But sleep +at length overcame him, and the image of the ourebi melted before +his eyes.</p> + +<p>Beyond this Jan could tell little of what happened to him. He +was awakened by a sudden jerking at his wrist, and hearing the +antelope scream. But he had not quite opened his eyes, before he +felt himself dragged violently over the ground.</p> + +<p>He thought at first it was Swartboy playing some trick upon him; +but as he passed the fire, he saw by its light that it was a huge black +animal that had seized the ourebi, and was dragging both him and it +along.</p> + +<p>Of course he then began to scream for help, and caught at everything +he could to keep himself from being carried away. But he +could lay hold of nothing, until he found himself among thick bushes, +and these he seized and held with all his might.</p> + +<p>He could not have held out long against the strength of the hyena; +but it was just at that moment that Swartboy came up with his fire-brand, +and beat off the ravisher with a shower of blows.</p> + +<p>When they got back to the light of the fire they found that Jan +was all right. But the poor ourebi—it had been sadly mauled, and +was now of no more value than a dead rat.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A HOUSE AMONG THE TREE-TOPS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">V</span>on Bloom now reflected that the hyenas were likely to prove a +great pest to him. No meat, nor anything, would be safe from them—even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">391</a></span> +his very children would be in danger, if left alone in the camp; +and no doubt he would often be compelled to leave them, as he would +require the older ones upon his hunting excursions.</p> + +<p>There were other animals to be dreaded still more than the hyenas. +Even during that night they had heard the roaring of lions down by +the vley; and when it was morning, the spoor showed that several +of these animals had drunk at the water.</p> + +<p>How could he leave little Trüey—his dear little Trüey—or Jan, +who was not a bit bigger—how could he leave them in an open camp +while such monsters were roving about? He could not think of +doing so.</p> + +<p>He reflected what course he should pursue. At first he thought of +putting up a house. That would necessarily be a work of time. +There was no good building material convenient. A stone house +would cost a great deal of labour—as the stones would have to be +carried nearly a mile, and in their hands too. That would never do, +as Von Bloom might only remain a short while at that place. He +might not find many elephants there, and of course would be under +the necessity of going elsewhere.</p> + +<p>Why not build a log-house? you will say. That would not be so +much of a job, as part of the country was well wooded, and they had +an axe.</p> + +<p>True, part of the country was wooded, but in a particular manner. +With the exception of the nwana-trees, that stood at long distances +apart—and regularly, as if they had been planted—there was nothing +that deserved the name of timber. All the rest was mere “bush,”—a +thorny jungle of mimosas, euphorbias, arborescent aloes, strelitzias, +and the horrid zamia plants, beautiful enough to the eye, but of no +utility whatever in the building of a house. The nwanas, of course, +were too large for house-logs. To have felled one of them would have +been a task equal almost to the building of a house; and to have +made planks of them would have required a steam saw-mill. A log-house +was not to be thought of either.</p> + +<p>Now a frail structure of poles and thatch would not have given +sufficient security. An angry rhinoceros, or elephant, would level +such a house to the ground in a few moments.</p> + +<p>Suppose, too, that there were man-eaters in the neighbourhood. +Swartboy believed that there were, and that that region was notorious +for them. As it was not far from Swartboy's native country, +Von Bloom, who had reason to believe what the Bushman told him, +was inclined to credit this. What protection would a frail house +afford against the man-eater? Not much, indeed.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom was puzzled and perplexed. He could not commence +his hunting excursions until this question was settled. Some place +must be prepared, where the children would be safe during his +absence.</p> + +<p>While revolving the subject in his mind, he happened to cast his +eyes upward among the branches of the nwana-tree. All at once +his attention became fixed upon those huge limbs, for they had +awakened within him a strange memory. He remembered having +heard that, in some parts of the country, and perhaps not very far +from where he then was, the natives live in trees. That sometimes a +whole tribe, of fifty or more, make their home in a single tree; and +do so to secure themselves against savage beasts, and sometimes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">392</a></span> +equally savage men. That they build their houses upon platforms, +which they erect upon the horizontal branches; and that they ascend +by means of ladders, which are drawn up after them at night +when they go to rest.</p> + +<p>All this Von Bloom had heard, and all of it is positively true. Of +course the reflection occurred to him, why could he not do the same? +Why could he not build a house in the gigantic nwana? That would +give him all the security he desired. There they could all sleep with +perfect confidence of safety. There, on going out to hunt, he could +leave the children, with the certainty of finding them on his return. +An admirable idea!—how about its practicability?</p> + +<p>He began to consider this. If he only had planks to make a staging +or platform, the rest would be easy. Any slight roof would be +sufficient up there. The leaves almost formed a roof. But the +flooring—this was the difficulty. Where were planks to be got? +Nowhere, in that neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>His eye, at that moment, chanced to fall upon the wagon. Ha! +there were planks there. But to break up his beautiful wagon? +No—no—no! Such a thing was not to be thought of. But stay! +there was no need to break it up—no need to knock out a single +nail. It would serve every purpose without breaking a splinter off +it. The fine vehicle was made to take to pieces, and put up again +at will.</p> + +<p>He could take it to pieces. The broad bottom alone should remain +whole. That of itself would be the platform. Hurrah!</p> + +<p>The field-cornet, excited with the development of this fine plan, +now communicated it to the others. All agreed that it was just the +thing; and as the day was before them, they made no more ado, but +set about carrying out the design.</p> + +<p>A ladder thirty feet long had first to be constructed. This occupied +a good while; but at length a stout rough article was knocked up, +which served the purpose admirably. It gave them access to the +lowermost limb; and from this they could construct steps to all the +others.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom ascended, and after careful examination chose the site +of the platform. This was to rest upon two strong horizontal limbs +of equal height, and diverging very gradually from each other. The +quantity of thick branches in the great tree afforded him a choice.</p> + +<p>The wagon was now taken to pieces—a work of only a few minutes—and +the first thing hauled up was the bottom. This was no slight +performance, and required all the strength of the camp. Strong +“rheims” were attached to one end, and these were passed over a +limb of the tree, still higher up than those on which the staging was +to rest. One stood above to guide the huge piece of plankwork, +while all the rest exerted their strength upon the ropes below. Even +little Jan pulled with all his might—though a single pound avoirdupois +weight would have been about the measure of his strength.</p> + +<p>The piece was hoisted up, until it rested beautifully upon the supporting +limbs; and then a cheer rose from below, and was answered +by Swartboy among the branches.</p> + +<p>The heaviest part of the work was over. The boxing of the wagon +was passed up, piece by piece, and set in its place just as before. +Some branches were lopped off to make room for the cap-tent; and +then it was also hauled up, and mounted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">393</a></span></p> + +<p>By the time the sun set, everything was in its place; and the aërial +house was ready for sleeping in. In fact, that very night they slept +in it, or, as Hans jocularly termed it, they all went to “roost.”</p> + +<p>But they did not consider their new habitation quite complete as +yet. Next day they continued to labour upon it. By means of long +poles they extended their platform from the wagon quite up to the +trunk of the tree, so as to give them a broad terrace to move about +upon.</p> + +<p>The poles were fast wattled together by rods of the beautiful +weeping-willow (<i>Salix Babylonica</i>), which is a native of these parts, +and several trees of which grew by the side of the vley. Upon the +top of all, they laid a thick coating of clay, obtained from the edge of +the lake; so that, if need be, they could actually kindle a fire, and +cook their suppers in the tree.</p> + +<p>To make a still finer flooring, they procured a quantity of the +material of which the ant-hills are composed; which, being of a +glutinous nature, makes a mortar almost as binding as Roman +cement.</p> + +<p>After the main building had been finished off, Swartboy erected a +platform for himself, and one for Totty in another part of the ample +nwana. Above each of these platforms he had constructed a roof or +screen, to shelter their occupants from rain or dew.</p> + +<p>There was something odd in the appearance of these two screens, +each of which was about the size of an ordinary umbrella. Their +oddity consisted in the fact that they were ears of the elephant!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE BATTLE OF THE WILD PEACOCKS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>here was no longer anything to hinder the field-cornet from commencing +the real business of his new life, viz., the hunting of the +elephant. He resolved, therefore, to begin at once; for until he should +succeed in “bagging” a few of these giant animals, he was not easy +in his mind. He might not be able to kill a single one; and then +what would become of all his grand hopes and calculations? They +would end in disappointment, and he should find himself in as bad a +condition as ever.</p> + +<p>Indeed worse: for to fail in any undertaking is not only to lose +time, but energy of mind. Success begets genius, courage, and self-reliance—all +of which contribute to new successes; while failure +intimidates and leads to despair. In a psychological point of view it +is a dangerous thing to fail in any undertaking; and, therefore, before +undertaking anything, one should be well assured of its being possible +and practicable.</p> + +<p>Now Von Bloom was not sure that the great design he had formed +was practicable. But in this case, he had no choice. No other means +of livelihood was open to him just then; and he had resolved to make +trial of this. He had faith in his calculations, and he had also good +reason to hope he would succeed; but the thing was yet untried. No +wonder he was in haste to begin the business—in haste to know what +were his chances of success.</p> + +<p>By early day, therefore, he was up and out. Hendrik and Swartboy +only accompanied him, for he could not yet bring himself to leave<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">394</a></span> +the children with no other protection than Totty—almost as much a +child as themselves. Hans, therefore, remained by the camp.</p> + +<p>At first the hunters followed the little rivulet that ran from the +spring and vley. They did so, because in this direction there was +more “bush;” and they knew that elephants would be more likely to +be found in woods than in open places. Indeed, it was only near the +banks of the stream that any great quantity of wood was to be seen. +A broad belt of jungle extended upon each side of it. After that, +there were straggling groves and clumps; and then came the open +plains, almost treeless, though covered with a rich carpet of grass for +some distance farther. To this succeeded the wild karoo, stretching +eastward and westward beyond the reach of vision. Along the north, +as already mentioned, trended the line of “bluffs”; and beyond these +there was nothing but the parched and waterless desert. To the +south there lay the only thing that could be called “woods;” and +although such a low jungle could lay no claim to the title of “forest,” +it was, nevertheless, a likely enough haunt for elephants.</p> + +<p>The trees consisted chiefly of mimosas—of several species, upon +the leaves, roots, and tender shoots of which the great ruminant loves +to browse. There were some “cameel-doorn” trees, with their shady +umbrella-like tops. But above all rose the massive heads of the +nwanas, giving a peculiar character to the landscape.</p> + +<p>The hunters noticed, as they went on, that the channel of the +rivulet became wider and larger, and that at times—no doubt after +great rains—a large quantity of water must have run in its bed, +forming a considerable river. But as the channel grew larger, the +reverse was the case with the quantity of running water. The farther +down they proceeded this became less and less; until, at the distance +of a mile from camp, the current ceased altogether.</p> + +<p>For half-a-mile farther on they found water in stagnant pools, but +none running. The wide, dry channel, however, continued on as +before; and the “bush” extended on both sides without interruption, so +thick that they could only make way by keeping in the channel itself.</p> + +<p>As they walked along, several kinds of small game were started. +Hendrik would gladly have taken a shot at some of these, but his +father would not permit him to fire just then. It might frighten +away the great “game” they were in search of, and which they might +fall in with at any moment. On their return Hendrik might do his +best; and then the field-cornet intended to assist him in procuring +an antelope, as there was no fresh venison in the camp. This, however, +was a consideration of secondary importance, and the first thing +to be done was to try and get a pair of tusks.</p> + +<p>There was no objection to Swartboy using his bow, as that silent +weapon would cause no alarm. Swartboy had been taken along to +carry the axe and other implements as well as to assist in the hunt. +Of course he had brought his bow and quiver with him; and he was +constantly on the watch for something at which to let fly one of his +little poisoned arrows.</p> + +<p>He found a mark at length worthy of his attention. On crossing +the plain to avoid a large bend in the channel, they came upon a +glade or opening of considerable size, and in the middle of this glade +a huge bird appeared standing erect.</p> + +<p>“An ostrich!” exclaimed Hendrik.</p> + +<p>“No,” replied Swartboy; “um ar da pauw.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">395</a></span></p> + +<p>“Yes,” said Von Bloom, confirming Swartboy's statement, “it is the +pauw.”</p> + +<p>Now a “pauw” in the Dutch language is a “peacock.” But there +are no peacocks in Africa. The peacock in its wild state inhabits +only Southern Asia and the islands of the Indian Archipelago. The +bird they saw, then, could not be a peacock.</p> + +<p>Neither was it one. And yet it bore some resemblance to a peacock, +with its long heavy tail and wings speckled and ocellated in a very +striking manner, and something like the “marbled” feathers that +adorn the peacock's back. It had none of the brilliant colours, +however, of that proudest of birds, though it was quite as stately, +and much larger and taller. In fact, its great height and erect +attitude was why Hendrik at first glance had taken it for an ostrich. +It was neither peacock nor ostrich, but belonging to a different genus +from either—to the genus <i>Otis</i> or bustard. It was the great bustard +of South Africa—the <i>Otis kori</i>—called “pauw” by the Dutch colonists, +on account of its ocellated plumage and other points of resemblance +to the Indian peacock.</p> + +<p>Now Swartboy, as well as Von Bloom, knew that the pauw was one +of the most delicious of fowls for the table. But they knew at the +same time that it was one of the shyest of birds,—so shy that it is +very difficult to get even a long shot at one. How, then, was it to be +approached within range of the Bushman's arrow? That was the +point to be considered.</p> + +<p>Where it stood, it was full two hundred yards from them; and had +it perceived them, it would soon have widened that distance, by +running off two hundred more. I say running off, for birds of the +bustard family rarely take to wing, but use their long legs to escape +from an enemy. On this account they are often hunted by dogs, and +caught after a severe chase. Although but poor flyers, they are +splendid runners,—swift almost as the ostrich itself.</p> + +<p>The pauw, however, had not observed the hunters as yet. They had +caught a glimpse of it, before appearing out of the bushes, and had +halted as soon as they saw it.</p> + +<p>How was Swartboy to approach it? It was two hundred yards +from any cover, and the ground was as clean as a new-raked meadow. +True, the plain was not a large one. Indeed, Swartboy was rather +surprised to see a pauw upon so small a one, for these birds frequent +only the wide open karoos, where they can sight their enemy at a +great distance. The glade was not large, but, after watching the +bustard for some minutes, the hunters saw that it was resolved to +keep near the centre, and showed no disposition to feed in the direction +of the thicket on either side.</p> + +<p>Any one but a Bushman would have despaired of getting a shot at +this kori; but Swartboy did not despair.</p> + +<p>Begging the others to remain quiet, he crept forward to the edge of +the jungle, and placed himself behind a thick leafy bush. He then +commenced uttering a call, exactly similar to that made by the male +of the kori when challenging an adversary to combat.</p> + +<p>Like the grouse, the bustard is polygamous, and of course terribly +jealous and pugnacious, at certain seasons of the year. Swartboy +knew that it was just then the “fighting season” among the pauws, +and hoped by imitating their challenge to draw the bird—a cock he +saw it was—within reach of his arrow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">396</a></span></p> + +<p>As soon as the kori heard the call, he raised himself to his full height, +spread his immense tail, dropped his wings until the primary feathers +trailed along the grass, and replied to the challenge.</p> + +<p>But what now astonished Swartboy was, that instead of one answer +to his call, he fancied he heard two, simultaneously uttered!</p> + +<p>It proved to be no fancy, for before he could repeat the decoy the bird +again gave out its note of defiance, and was answered by a similar +call from another quarter!</p> + +<p>Swartboy looked in the direction whence came the latter; and there +sure enough, was a second kori, that seemed to have dropped from the +region of the clouds, or, more likely, had run out from the shelter of +the bushes. At all events, it was a good way towards the centre of +the plain, before the hunter had observed it.</p> + +<p>The two were now in full view of each other; and by their movements +any one might see that a combat was certain to come off.</p> + +<p>Sure of this, Swartboy did not call again; but remained silent +behind his bush.</p> + +<p>After a good while spent in strutting, and wheeling round and +round, and putting themselves in the most threatening attitudes, and +uttering the most insulting expressions, the two koris became sufficiently +provoked to begin the battle. They “clinched” in gallant +style, using all three weapons,—wings, beak, and feet. Now they +struck each other with their wings, now pecked with their bills; and +at intervals, when a good opportunity offered, gave each other a smart +kick—which, with their long muscular legs, they were enabled to +deliver with considerable force.</p> + +<p>Swartboy knew that when they were well into the fight, he might +stalk in upon them unobserved; so he waited patiently, till the proper +moment should arrive.</p> + +<p>In a few seconds it became evident, he would not have to move from +his ambush; for the birds were fighting towards him. He adjusted +his arrow to the string, and waited.</p> + +<p>In five minutes the birds were fighting within thirty yards of the +spot where the Bushman lay. The twang of a bowstring might have +been heard by one of the koris, had he been listening. The other +could not possibly have heard it; for before the sound could have +reached him, a poisoned arrow was sticking through his ears. The +barb had passed through, and the shaft remained in his head, piercing +it crosswise!</p> + +<p>Of course the bird dropped dead upon the grass, less astonished than +his antagonist.</p> + +<p>The latter at first imagined he had done it, and began to strut very +triumphantly around his fallen foe.</p> + +<p>But his eye now fell upon the arrow sticking through the head of +the latter. He knew nothing about that. He had not done that! +What the deuce——</p> + +<p>Perhaps if he had been allowed another moment's reflection, he +would have taken to his heels; but before he could make up his mind +about the matter, there was another “twang” of the bowstring +another arrow whistled through the air, and another kori lay stretched +upon the grass!</p> + +<p>Swartboy now rushed forward, and took possession of the game; +which proved to be a pair of young cocks, in prime condition for roasting.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">397</a></span></p> + +<p>Having hung the birds over a high branch, so as to secure them from +jackals and hyenas, the hunters continued on; and shortly after, +having re-entered the channel of the stream, continued to follow it +downward.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">UPON THE SPOOR.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>hey had not gone above an hundred yards farther, when they came +to one of the pools, already spoken of. It was a tolerably large one; +and the mud around its edges bore the hoof-prints of numerous +animals. This the hunters saw from a distance, but on reaching the +spot, Swartboy, a little in the advance, turned suddenly round, and, +with rolling orbs and quivering lips, clicked out the words,—</p> + +<p>“Mein baas! mein baas! da klow! spoor ob da groot olifant!”</p> + +<p>There was no danger of mistaking the spoor of the elephant for that +of any other creature. There, sure enough, were the great round +tracks—full twenty-four inches in length, and nearly as wide—deeply +imprinted in the mud by the enormous weight of the animal's body. +Each formed an immense hole, large enough to have set a gate-post +in.</p> + +<p>The hunters contemplated the spoor with emotions of pleasure—the +more so that the tracks had been recently made. This was evident. +The displaced mud had not yet crusted, but looked damp and fresh. +It had been stirred within the hour.</p> + +<p>Only one elephant had visited the pool that night. There were +many old tracks, but only one fresh spoor,—and that of an old and +very large bull.</p> + +<p>Of course the tracks told this much. To make a spoor twenty-four +inches long, requires the animal to be a very large one; and to be very +large, he should be a bull, and an old one too.</p> + +<p>Well, the older and larger the better, provided his tusks have not +been broken by some accident. When that happens they are never +recovered again. The elephant does cast his tusks, but only in the +juvenile state, when they are not bigger than lobster's claws; and +the pair that succeeds these is permanent, and has to last him for +life—perhaps for centuries—for no one can tell how long the mighty +elephant roams over this sublunary planet.</p> + +<p>When the tusks get broken—a not uncommon thing—he must +remain toothless or “tuskless” for the rest of his life. Although the +elephant may consider the loss of his huge tusks a great calamity, +were he only a little wiser, he would break them off against the first +tree. It would, in all probability, be the means of prolonging his life; +for the hunter would not then consider him worth the ammunition it +usually takes to kill him.</p> + +<p>After a short consultation among the hunters, Swartboy started off +upon the spoor, followed by Von Bloom and Hendrik. It led straight +out from the channel, and across the jungle.</p> + +<p>Usually the bushes mark the course of an elephant, where these are +of the sort he feeds upon. In this case he had not fed; but the Bushman, +who could follow spoor with a hound, had no difficulty in keeping +on the track, as fast as the three were able to travel.</p> + +<p>They emerged into open glades; and, after passing through several<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">398</a></span> +of these, came upon a large ant-hill that stood in the middle of one of +the openings. The elephant had passed close to the ant-hill—he had +stopped there awhile—stay, he must have lain down.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom did not know that elephants were in the habit of +lying down. He had always heard it said that they slept standing. +Swartboy knew better than that. He said that they sometimes +slept standing, but oftener lay down, especially in districts where +they were not much hunted. Swartboy considered it a good sign +that this one had lain down. He reasoned from it that the +elephants had not been disturbed in that neighbourhood, and would +be the more easily approached and killed. They would be less +likely to make off from that part of the country, until they—the +hunters—had had a “good pull” out of them.</p> + +<p>This last consideration was one of great importance. In a district +where elephants have been much hunted, and have learnt what the +crack of a gun signifies, a single day's chase will often set them +travelling; and they will not bring up again, until they have gone +far beyond the reach of the hunters. Not only the particular individuals +that have been chased act in this way; but all the others,—as +though warned by their companions,—until not an elephant remains +in the district. This migratory habit is one of the chief difficulties +which the elephant-hunter must needs encounter; and, when it +occurs, he has no other resource but to change his “sphere of +action.”</p> + +<p>On the other hand, where elephants have remained for a long +time undisturbed, the report of a gun does not terrify them; and +they will bear a good deal of hunting before “showing their heels” +and leaving the place.</p> + +<p>Swartboy, therefore, rejoiced on perceiving that the old bull had +lain down. The Bushman drew a world of conclusions from that +circumstance.</p> + +<p>That the elephant had been lying was clear enough. The abrasion +upon the stiff mud of the ant-heap showed where his back had rested,—the +mark of his body was visible in the dust, and a groove-like +furrow in the turf had been made by his huge tusk. A huge one it +must have been, as the impression of it testified to the keen eyes of +the Bushman.</p> + +<p>Swartboy stated some curious facts about the great quadruped,—at +least, what he alleged to be facts. They were,—that the elephant +never attempts to lie down without having something to lean his +shoulders against,—a rock, an ant-hill, or a tree; that he does this +to prevent himself rolling over on his back,—that when he does +by accident get into that position he has great difficulty in rising +again, and is almost as helpless as a turtle; and, lastly, that he often +sleeps standing beside a tree with the whole weight of his body +leaning against the trunk!</p> + +<p>Swartboy did not think that he leans against the trunk when first +taking up his position; but that he seeks the tree for the shade +it affords, and as sleep overcomes him he inclines towards it, finding +that it steadies and rests him!</p> + +<p>The Bushman stated, moreover, that some elephants have their +favourite trees, to which they return again and again to take a nap +during the hot mid-day hours,—for that is their time of repose. At +night they do not sleep. On the contrary, the hours of night are spent<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">399</a></span> +in ranging about, on journeys to the distant watering-places, and in +feeding; though in remote and quiet districts they also feed by day—so +that it is probable that most of their nocturnal activity is the +result of their dread of their watchful enemy, man.</p> + +<p>Swartboy communicated these facts, as the hunters all together +followed upon the spoor.</p> + +<p>The traces of the elephant were now of a different character, from +what they had been before arriving at the ant-hill. He had been +browsing as he went. His nap had brought a return of appetite; +and the wait-a-bit thorns showed the marks of his prehensile trunk. +Here and there branches were broken off, stripped clean of their +leaves, and the ligneous parts left upon the ground. In several +places whole trees were torn up by their roots, and those, too, of +considerable size. This the elephant sometimes does to get at their +foliage, which upon such trees grows beyond the reach of his proboscis. +By prostrating them of course he gets their whole frondage +within easy distance of his elastic nose, and can strip it off at +pleasure.</p> + +<p>At times, however, he tears up a tree to make a meal of its roots—as +there are several species with sweet juicy roots, of which the +elephant is extremely fond. These he drags out of the ground with +his trunk, having first loosened them with his tusks, used as crowbars. +At times he fails to effect his purpose; and it is only when the +ground is loose or wet, as after great rains, that he can uproot the +larger kinds of mimosas. Sometimes he is capricious; and, after +drawing a tree from the ground, he carries it many yards along with +him, flings it to the ground, root upwards, and then leaves it, after +taking a single mouthful. Destructive to the forest is the passage +of a troop of elephants!</p> + +<p>Small trees he can tear up with his trunk alone, but to the larger +ones he applies the more powerful leverage of his tusks. These he +inserts under the roots, imbedded as they usually are in loose sandy +earth, and then, with a quick jerk, he tosses roots, trunk, and +branches, high into the air,—a wonderful exhibition of gigantic +power.</p> + +<p>The hunters saw all these proofs of it, as they followed the spoor. +The traces of the elephant's strength were visible all along the route.</p> + +<p>It was enough to beget fear and awe, and none of them were free +from such feelings. With so much disposition to commit havoc and +ruin in his moments of quietude, what would such a creature be in +the hour of excitement and anger? No wonder there was fear in +the hearts of the hunters, unpractised as some of them were.</p> + +<p>Still another consideration had its effect upon their minds, +particularly on that of the Bushman. There was every reason to +believe that the animal was a “rover,”—what among Indian hunters +is termed a “rogue.” Elephants of this kind are far more dangerous +to approach than their fellows. In fact, under ordinary circumstances, +there is no more danger in passing through a herd of +elephants than there would be in going among a drove of tame oxen. +It is only when the elephant has been attacked or wounded, that he +becomes a dangerous enemy.</p> + +<p>With regard to the “rover” or “rogue,” the case is quite different. +He is habitually vicious; and will assail either man or any other +animal on sight, and without the slightest provocation. He seems<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">400</a></span> +to take a pleasure in destruction, and woe to the creature who +crosses his path and is not of lighter heels than himself!</p> + +<p>The rover leads a solitary life, rambling alone through the forest, +and never associating with others of his kind. He appears to be +a sort of outlaw from his tribe, banished for bad temper or some +other fault, to become more fierce and wicked in his outlawry.</p> + +<p>There were good reasons for fearing that the elephant they were +spooring was a “rover.” His being alone was of itself a suspicious +circumstance, as elephants usually go, from two to twenty, or even +fifty, in a herd. The traces of ruin he had left behind him, his +immense spoor, all seemed to mark him out as one of these fierce +creatures. That such existed in that district they already had +evidence. Swartboy alleged that the one killed by the rhinoceros +was of this class, else he would not have attacked the latter as he +had done. There was a good deal of probability in this belief of the +Bushman.</p> + +<p>Under these impressions, then, it is less to be wondered, that our +hunters felt some apprehensions of danger from the game they were +pursuing.</p> + +<p>The spoor grew fresher and fresher. The hunters saw trees turned +bottom upward, the roots exhibiting the marks of the elephant's +teeth, and still wet with the saliva from his vast mouth. They saw +broken branches of the mimosa giving out their odour, that had not +had time to waste itself. They concluded the game could not be +distant.</p> + +<p>They rounded a point of timber—the Bushman being a little in +the advance.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Swartboy stopped and fell back a pace. He turned +his face upon his companions. His eyes rolled faster than ever; but, +although his lips appeared to move, and his tongue to wag, he was +too excited to give utterance to a word. A volley of clicks and hisses +came forth, but nothing articulate.</p> + +<p>The others, however, did not require any words to tell them what +was meant. They knew that Swartboy intended to whisper that +he had seen “da oliphant;” so both peeped silently around the bush, +and with their own eyes looked upon the mighty quadruped.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A ROGUE ELEPHANT.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he elephant was standing in a grove of <i>mokhala</i> trees. These, unlike +the humbler mimosas, have tall naked stems, with heads of thick +foliage, in form resembling an umbrella or parasol. Their pinnate +leaves of delicate green are the favourite food of the giraffe, hence +their botanical appellation of <i>Acacia giraffæ</i>; and hence also their +common name among the Dutch hunters of “cameel-doorns” (camel-thorns).</p> + +<p>The tall giraffe, with his prehensile lip, raised nearly twenty feet +in the air, can browse upon these trees without difficulty. Not so +the elephant, whose trunk cannot reach so high; and the latter +would often have to imitate the fox in the fable, were he not possessed +of a means whereby he can bring the tempting morsel within +reach—that is, simply by breaking down the tree. This his vast<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">401</a></span> +strength enables him to do, unless when the trunk happens to be one +of the largest of its kind.</p> + +<p>When the eyes of our hunters first rested upon the elephant, he +was standing by the head of a prostrate mokhala, which he had just +broken off near the root. He was tearing away at the leaves, and +filling his capacious stomach.</p> + +<p>As soon as Swartboy recovered the control over his tongue, he +ejaculated in a hurried whisper:—</p> + +<p>“Pas op! (take care!) baas Bloom,—hab good care—don't go near +um—he da skellum ole klow. My footy! he wicked!—I know de ole +bull duyvel.”</p> + +<p>By this volley of queer phrases, Swartboy meant to caution his +master against rashly approaching the elephant, as he knew him to +be one of the wicked sort—in short, a “rogue.”</p> + +<p>How Swartboy knew this would appear a mystery, as there were +no particular marks about the animal to distinguish him from others +of his kind. But the Bushman, with his practised eye, saw something +in the general physiognomy of the elephant—just as one may +distinguish a fierce and dangerous bull from those of milder disposition, +or a bad from a virtuous man, by some expression that one +cannot define.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom himself, and even Hendrik, saw that the elephant had +a fierce and ruffian look.</p> + +<p>They did not stand in need of Swartboy's advice to act with +caution.</p> + +<p>They remained for some minutes, gazing through the bushes at the +huge quadruped. The more they gazed, the more they became resolved +to make an attack upon him. The sight of his long tusks was +too tempting to Von Bloom, to admit for a moment the thought of +letting him escape without a fight. A couple of bullets he should +have into him, at all events; and if opportunity offered, a good many +more, should these not be sufficient. Von Bloom would not relinquish +those fine tusks without a struggle.</p> + +<p>He at once set about considering the safest mode of attack; but +was not allowed time to mature any plan. The elephant appeared to +be restless, and was evidently about to move forward. He might be +off in a moment, and carry them after him for miles, or, perhaps, in +the thick cover of wait-a-bits get lost to them altogether.</p> + +<p>These conjectures caused Von Bloom to decide at once upon +beginning the attack, and without any other plan than to stalk in as +near as would be safe, and deliver his fire. He had heard that a +single bullet in the forehead would kill any elephant; and if he +could only get in such a position as to have a fair shot at the animal's +front, he believed he was marksman enough to plant his bullet in the +right place.</p> + +<p>He was mistaken as to killing an elephant with a shot in the forehead. +That is a notion of gentlemen who have hunted the elephant +in their closets—though other closet gentlemen—the anatomists—to +whom give all due credit—have shown the thing to be impossible, +from the peculiar structure of the elephant's skull and the position +of his brain.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom at the time was under this wrong impression, and +therefore committed a grand mistake. Instead of seeking a side +shot, which he could have obtained with far less trouble—he decided<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">402</a></span> +on creeping round in front of the elephant, and firing right in the +animal's face.</p> + +<p>Leaving Hendrik and Swartboy to attack him from behind, he +took a circuit under cover of the bushes; and at length arrived in +the path the elephant was most likely to take.</p> + +<p>He had scarcely gained his position, when he saw the huge animal +coming towards him with silent and majestic tread; and although +the elephant only walked, half-a-dozen of his gigantic strides brought +him close up to the ambushed hunter. As yet the creature uttered +no cry; but as he moved, Von Bloom could hear a rumbling gurgling +sound, as of water dashing to and fro in his capacious stomach!</p> + +<p>Von Bloom had taken up his position behind the trunk of a large +tree. The elephant had not yet seen him, and, perhaps, would have +passed on without knowing that he was there, had the hunter permitted +him. The latter even thought of such a thing, for although +a man of courage, the sight of the great forest giant caused him for a +moment to quail.</p> + +<p>But, again, the curving ivory gleamed in his eyes—again he remembered +the object that had brought him into that situation; he +thought of his fallen fortunes—of his resolve to retrieve them—of his +children's welfare.</p> + +<p>These thoughts resolved him. His long roer was laid over a knot +in the trunk—its muzzle pointed at the forehead of the advancing +elephant—his eye gleamed through the sights—the loud detonation +followed—and a cloud of smoke for a moment hid everything from +his view.</p> + +<p>He could hear a hoarse, bellowing, trumpet-like sound—he could +hear the crashing of branches and the gurgling of water; and, when, +the smoke cleared away, to his chagrin he saw that the elephant was +still upon his feet, and evidently not injured in the least!</p> + +<p>The shot had struck the animal exactly where the hunter had +aimed it; but, instead of inflicting a mortal wound, it had only excited +the creature to extreme rage. He was now charging about +striking the trees with his tusks, tearing branches off, and tossing +them aloft with his trunk—though all the while evidently in ignorance +of what had tickled him so impertinently upon the forehead!</p> + +<p>Fortunately for Von Bloom, a good thick tree sheltered him from +the view of the elephant. Had the enraged animal caught sight of +him at that moment, it would have been all up with him; but the +hunter knew this, and had the coolness to remain close and quiet.</p> + +<p>Not so with Swartboy. When the elephant moved forward, he +and Hendrik had crept after through the grove of mokhalas. They +had even followed him across the open ground into the bush, where +Von Bloom awaited him. On hearing the shot, and seeing that the +elephant was still unhurt, Swartboy's courage gave way; and leaving +Hendrik, he ran back towards the mokhala grove, shouting as he +went.</p> + +<p>His cries reached the ears of the elephant, that at once rushed off +in the direction in which he heard them. In a moment he emerged +from the bush, and, seeing Swartboy upon the open ground, charged +furiously after the flying Bushman. Hendrik—who had stood his +ground, and in the shelter of the bushes was not perceived—delivered +his shot as the animal passed him. His ball told upon the +shoulder, but it only served to increase the elephant's fury. Without<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">403</a></span> +stopping, he rushed on after Swartboy, believing, no doubt, that the +poor Bushman was the cause of the hurts he was receiving, and the +nature of which he but ill understood.</p> + +<p>It was but a few moments, from the firing of the first shot, until +things took this turn. Swartboy was hardly clear of the bushes +before the elephant emerged also; and as the former struck out for +the mokhala trees, he was scarce six steps ahead of his pursuer.</p> + +<p>Swartboy's object was to get to the grove, in the midst of which +were several trees of large size. One of these he proposed climbing—as +that seemed his only chance for safety.</p> + +<p>He had not got half over the open ground, when he perceived he +would be too late. He heard the heavy rush of the huge monster behind +him—he heard his loud and vengeful bellowing—he fancied he +felt his hot breath. There was still a good distance to be run. The +climbing of the tree, beyond the reach of the elephant's trunk, would +occupy time. There was no hope of escaping to the tree.</p> + +<p>These reflections occurred almost instantaneously. In ten seconds +Swartboy arrived at the conclusion, that running to the tree would +not save him; and all at once he stopped in his career, wheeled +round, and faced the elephant!</p> + +<p>Not that he had formed any plan of saving himself in that way. +It was not bravery, but only despair, that caused him to turn upon +his pursuer. He knew that, by running on, he would surely be +overtaken. It could be no worse if he faced round; and, perhaps, +he might avoid the fatal charge by some dexterous manœuvre.</p> + +<p>The Bushman was now right in the middle of the open ground; +the elephant rushing straight towards him.</p> + +<p>The former had no weapon to oppose to his gigantic pursuer. He +had thrown away his bow—his axe too—to run the more nimbly. +But neither would have been of any avail against such an antagonist. +He carried nothing but his sheep-skin kaross. That had encumbered +him in his flight; but he had held on to it for a purpose.</p> + +<p>His purpose was soon displayed.</p> + +<p>He stood until the extended trunk was within three feet of his +face; and then, flinging his kaross so that it should fall over the +long cylinder, he sprang nimbly to one side, and started to run back.</p> + +<p>He would, no doubt, have succeeded in passing to the elephant's +rear, and thus have escaped; but as the kaross fell upon the great +trunk it was seized in the latter, and swept suddenly around. Unfortunately +Swartboy's legs had not yet cleared the circle—the kaross +lapped around them—and the Bushman was thrown sprawling upon +the plain.</p> + +<p>In a moment the active Swartboy recovered his feet, and was +about to make off in a new direction. But the elephant, having +discovered the deception of the kaross, had dropped it, and turned +suddenly after him. Swartboy had hardly made three steps, when +the long ivory curve was inserted between his legs from behind; and +the next moment his body was pitched high into the air.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom and Hendrik, who had just then reached the edge +of the glade, saw him go up; but to their astonishment he did not +come to the ground again! Had he fallen back upon the elephant's +tusks? and was he held there by the trunk? No. They saw the +animal's head. The Bushman was not there, nor upon his back, nor +anywhere to be seen. In fact, the elephant seemed as much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">404</a></span> +astonished as they at the sudden disappearance of his victim! The +huge beast was turning his eyes in every direction, as if searching +for the object of his fury!</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/illus-404.jpg" width="500" height="351" alt="SWARTBOY IN A PREDICAMENT." title="SWARTBOY IN A PREDICAMENT." /> +<span class="caption">SWARTBOY IN A PREDICAMENT.</span></div> + +<p>Where could Swartboy have gone? Where? At this moment the +elephant gave a loud roar, and was seen rushing to a tree, which +he now caught in his trunk, and shook violently. Von Bloom and +Hendrik looked up towards its top, expecting to see Swartboy there. +Sure enough he was there, perched among the leaves and branches +where he had been projected! Terror was depicted in his countenance,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">405</a></span> +for he felt that he was not safe in his position. But he had +scarce time to give utterance to his fears; for the next moment +the tree gave way with a crash, and fell to the ground, bringing the +Bushman down among its branches.</p> + +<p>It happened that the tree, dragged down by the elephant's trunk, +fell towards the animal. Swartboy even touched the elephant's +body in his descent, and slipped down over his hind-quarters. The +branches had broken the fall, and the Bushman was still unhurt, but +he felt that he was now quite at the mercy of his antagonist. He +saw no chance of escape by flight. He was lost!</p> + +<p>Just at that moment an idea entered his mind—a sort of despairing +instinct—and springing at one of the hind-legs of the quadruped, he +slung his arms around it, and held fast! He at the same time +planted his naked feet upon the sabots of those of the animal; so +that, by means of this support, he was enabled to keep his hold, let +the animal move as it would!</p> + +<p>The huge mammoth, unable to shake him off, unable to get at him +with his trunk—and, above all, surprised and terrified by this novel +mode of attack—uttered a shrill scream, and with tail erect and +trunk high in air, dashed off into the jungle!</p> + +<p>Swartboy held on to the leg until fairly within the bushes; and +then, watching his opportunity, he slipped gently off. As soon as he +touched <i>terra firma</i> again, he rose to his feet, and ran with all his +might in an opposite direction.</p> + +<p>He need not have run a single step; for the elephant, as much +frightened as he, kept on through the jungle, laying waste the trees +and branches in his onward course. The huge quadruped did not +stop, till he had put many miles between himself and the scene of +his disagreeable adventure!</p> + +<p>Von Bloom and Hendrik had by this time reloaded, and were +advancing to Swartboy's rescue; but they were met right in the +teeth by the swift-flying Bushman, as he returned from his miraculous +escape.</p> + +<p>The hunters, who were now warmed to their work, proposed to +follow up the spoor; but Swartboy, who had enough of that “old +rogue,” declared that there would be not the slightest chance of +again coming up with him without horses or dogs; and as they had +neither, spooring him any farther would be quite useless.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom saw that there was truth in the remark, and now more +than ever did he regret the loss of his horses. The elephant, though +easily overtaken on horseback, or with dogs to bring him to bay, can +as easily escape from a hunter on foot; and once he has made up his +mind to flight, it is quite a lost labour to follow him farther.</p> + +<p>It was now too late in the day to seek for other elephants; and +with a feeling of disappointment, the hunters gave up the chase, and +turned their steps in the direction of the camp.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXVIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE MISSING HUNTER, AND THE WILDEBEESTS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">A</span> well-known proverb says that “misfortunes seldom come single.”</p> + +<p>On nearing the camp, the hunters could perceive that all was not +right there. They saw Totty with Trüey and Jan standing by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">406</a></span> +head of the ladder; but there was something in their manner that told +that all was not right. Where was Hans?</p> + +<p>As soon as the hunters came in sight, Jan and Trüey ran down the +rounds, and out to meet them. There was that in their glances that +bespoke ill tidings, and their words soon confirmed this conjecture.</p> + +<p>Hans was not there—he had gone away hours ago—they knew not +where, they feared something had happened to him,—they feared he +was lost!</p> + +<p>“But what took him away from the camp?” asked Von Bloom, +surprised and troubled at the news.</p> + +<p>That, and only that could they answer. A number of odd-looking +animals—very odd-looking, the children said,—had come to the vley +to drink. Hans had taken his gun and followed them in a great +hurry, telling Trüey and Jan to keep in the tree, and not come down +until he returned. He would be gone only a very little while, and +they needn't fear.</p> + +<p>This was all they knew. They could not even tell what direction +he had taken. He went by the lower end of the vley; but soon the bushes +hid him from their view, and they saw no more of him.</p> + +<p>“At what time was it?”</p> + +<p>It was many hours ago,—in the morning in fact,—not long after +the hunters themselves had started. When he did not return the +children grew uneasy; but they thought he had fallen in with papa +and Hendrik, and was helping them to hunt; and that was the +reason why he stayed so long.</p> + +<p>“Had they heard any report of a gun?”</p> + +<p>No—they had listened for that, but heard none. The animals had +gone away before Hans could get his gun ready; and they supposed +he had to follow some distance, before he could overtake them—that +might be the reason they had heard no shot.</p> + +<p>“What sort of animals were they?”</p> + +<p>They had all seen them plain enough, as they drank. They had +never seen any of the kind before. They were large animals of +a yellow-brown colour, with shaggy manes, and long tufts of hair +growing out of their breasts, and hanging down between their fore-legs. +They were as big as ponies, said Jan, and very like ponies. +They curvetted and capered about just as ponies do sometimes. +Trüey thought that they looked more like lions!</p> + +<p>“Lions!” ejaculated her father and Hendrik, with an accent that +betokened alarm.</p> + +<p>Indeed, they reminded her of lions, Trüey again affirmed, and +Totty said the same.</p> + +<p>“How many were there of them?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! a great drove, not less than fifty.” They could not have +counted them, as they were constantly in motion, galloping from +place to place, and butting each other with their horns.</p> + +<p>“Ha! they had horns then?” interrogated Von Bloom, relieved by +this announcement.</p> + +<p>Certainly they had horns, replied all three.</p> + +<p>They had seen the horns, sharp-pointed ones, which first came down, +and then turned upwards in front of the animals' faces. They had +manes too, Jan affirmed; and thick necks that curved like that of a +beautiful horse; and tufts of hair like brushes upon their noses; and +nice round bodies like ponies, and long white tails that reached near<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">407</a></span> +the ground, just like the tails of ponies, and finely-shaped limbs as +ponies have.</p> + +<p>“I tell you,” continued Jan, with emphasis, “if it hadn't been for +their horns and the brushes of long hair upon their breasts and noses, +I'd have taken them for ponies before anything. They galloped about +just like ponies when playing, and ran with their heads down, curving +their necks and tossing their manes,—aye, and snorting too, as I've +heard ponies; but sometimes they bellowed more like bulls; and, I +confess, they looked a good deal like bulls about the head; besides I +noticed they had hoofs split like cattle. Oh! I had a good look at +them while Hans was loading his gun. They stayed by the water till +he was nearly ready; and when they galloped off, they went in a long +string one behind the other with the largest one in front, and another +large one in the rear.”</p> + +<p>“Wildebeests!” exclaimed Hendrik.</p> + +<p>“Gnoos!” cried Swartboy.</p> + +<p>“Yes, they must have been wildebeests,” said Von Bloom; “Jan's +description corresponds exactly to them.”</p> + +<p>This was quite true. Jan had correctly given many of the characteristic +points of that, perhaps, the most singular of all ruminant animals, +the wildebeest or gnoo (<i>Catoblepas gnoo</i>). The brush-like tuft over +the muzzle, the long hair between the fore-legs, the horns curving +down over the face, and then sweeping abruptly upward, the thick +curving neck, the rounded, compact, horse-shaped body, the long +whitish tail, and full flowing mane—all were descriptive of the +gnoo.</p> + +<p>Even Trüey had not made such an unpardonable mistake. The +gnoos, and particularly the old bulls, bear a very striking resemblance +to the lion, so much so that the sharpest hunters at a distance can +scarce tell one from the other.</p> + +<p>Jan, however, had observed them better than Trüey; and had they +been nearer, he might have further noticed that the creatures had red +fiery eyes and a fierce look; that their heads and horns were not unlike +those of the African buffalo; that their limbs resembled those of +the stag, while the rest corresponded well enough to his “pony.” He +might have observed, moreover, that the males were larger than the +females, and of a deeper brown. Had there been any “calves” with +the herd, he would have seen that these were still lighter-coloured—in +fact, of a white or cream colour.</p> + +<p>The gnoos that had been seen were the common kind called by the +Dutch colonists “wildebeests” or wild-oxen, and by the Hottentots +“gnoo” or “gnu,” from a hollow moaning sound to which these +creatures sometimes give utterance, and which is represented by the +word “gnoo-o-oo.”</p> + +<p>They roam in vast flocks upon the wild karoos of South Africa: are +inoffensive animals, except when wounded: and then the old bulls are +exceedingly dangerous, and will attack the hunter both with horns +and hoof. They can run with great swiftness, though they scarce ever +go clear off, but, keeping at a wary distance, circle around the hunter, +curvetting in all directions, menacing with their heads lowered to +the ground, kicking up the dust with their heels, and bellowing like +bulls, or indeed like lions—for their “rout” bears a resemblance to the +lion's roar.</p> + +<p>The old bulls stand sentry while the herd is feeding, and protect it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">408</a></span> +both in front and rear. When running off they usually go in single +file, as Jan had represented.</p> + +<p>Old bulls hang between the rear of the herd and the hunter: and +these caper back and forward, butting each other with their horns, +and often fighting apparently in serious earnest! Before the hunter +comes within range, however, they drop their conflict and gallop out +of his way. Nothing can exceed the capricious antics which these +animals indulge in, while trooping over the plain.</p> + +<p>There is a second species of the same genus common in South Africa, +and a third inhabits still farther to the north; but of the last very +little is known. Both species are larger than the wildebeest, individuals +of either being nearly five feet in height, while the common +gnoo is scarce four.</p> + +<p>The three kinds are quite distinct, and never herd together, though +each of them is often found in company with other animals. All three +are peculiar to the continent of Africa, and are not found elsewhere.</p> + +<p>The “brindled gnoo” is the other species that inhabits the South of +Africa. It is known among the hunters and colonists as “blauw +wildebeest” (blue wild-ox). It is of a bluish colour—hence the name, +and “brindled,” or striped along the sides. Its habits are very similar +to those of the common gnoo, but it is altogether a heavier and duller +animal, and still more eccentric and ungainly in its form.</p> + +<p>The third species is the “ko-koon” of the natives. It approaches +nearer to the brindled gnoo in form and habits; but as it is not found +except in the more central and less-travelled portions of Africa, less is +known about it than either of the others. It is, however, of the same +kind; and the three species, differing widely from any other animals +known, are entitled to form a distinct and separate genus.</p> + +<p>They have hitherto generally been classed with the antelopes, +though for what reason it is hard to tell. They have far less affinity +with the antelope than with the ox; and the everyday observations +of the hunter and frontier boer have guided them to a similar conclusion—as +their name for these animals (wild-oxen) would imply. Observation +of this class is usually worth far more than the “speculations” +of the closet-naturalist.</p> + +<p>The gnoo has long been the favourite food of the frontier farmer +and hunter. Its beef is well flavoured, and the veal of a gnoo-calf is +quite a delicacy. The hide is manufactured into harness and straps +of different sorts; and the long silky tail is an article of commerce. +Around every frontier farm-house large piles of gnoo and springbok +horns may be seen—the remains of animals that have been captured +in the chase.</p> + +<p>“Jaging de wildebeest” (hunting the gnoo) is a favourite pastime +of the young boers. Large herds of these animals are sometimes +driven into valleys, where they are hemmed in, and shot down at will. +They can also be lured within range, by exhibiting a red handkerchief +or any piece of red cloth—to which colour they have a strong aversion. +They may be tamed and domesticated easily enough; but they are +not favourite pets with the farmer, who dreads their communicating +to his cattle a fatal skin-disease to which the gnoos are subject, and +which carries off thousands of them every year.</p> + +<p>Of course Von Bloom and his companions did not stay to talk over +these points. They were too anxious about the fate of the missing +Hans, to think of anything else.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">409</a></span></p> + +<p>They were about to start out in search of him, when just at that +moment my gentleman was seen coming around the end of the lake, +trudging very slowly along, under the weight of some large and heavy +object, that he carried upon his shoulders.</p> + +<p>A shout of joy was raised, and in a few moments Hans stood in their +midst.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXIX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE ANT-EATER OF AFRICA.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">H</span>ans was saluted by a volley of questions, “Where have you been? +What detained you? What has happened to you? You're all safe and +sound? Not hurt, I hope?” These and a few others were asked in a +breath.</p> + +<p>“I'm sound as a bell,” said Hans; “and for the rest of your inquiries +I'll answer them all as soon as Swartboy has skinned this 'aard-vark,' +and Totty has cooked a piece of it for supper; but I'm too hungry to +talk now, so pray excuse me.”</p> + +<p>As Hans gave this reply, he cast from his shoulders an animal nearly +as big as a sheep, covered with long bristly hair of a reddish-grey +colour, and having a huge tail, thick at the root, and tapering like a +carrot; a snout nearly a foot long, but quite slender and naked; a very +small mouth; erect pointed ears resembling a pair of horns; a low +flattish body; short muscular legs; and claws of immense length, +especially on the fore-feet, where, instead of spreading out, they were +doubled back like shut fists, or the fore hands of a monkey. Altogether +a very odd animal was that which Hans had styled an “aard-vark,” +and which he desired should be cooked for supper.</p> + +<p>“Well, my boy,” replied Von Bloom, “we'll excuse you, the more so +that we are all of us about as hungry as yourself, I fancy. But I +think we may as well leave the 'aard-vark' for to-morrow's dinner. +We've a couple of peacocks here, and Totty will get one of them ready +sooner than the aard-vark.”</p> + +<p>“As for that,” rejoined Hans, “I don't care which. I'm just in the +condition to eat anything—even a steak of tough old quagga, if I had +it; but I think it would be no harm if Swartboy—that is, if you're +not too tired, old Swart—would just peel the skin off this gentleman.”</p> + +<p>“Hans pointed to the 'aard-vark.'”</p> + +<p>“And dress him so that he don't spoil,” he continued; “for you +know, Swartboy, that he's a tit-bit—a regular <i>bonne bouche</i>—and it +would be a pity to let him go to waste in this hot weather. An aard-vark's +not to be bagged every day.”</p> + +<p>“You spreichen true, Mynheer Hans,—Swartboy know all dat. +Him skin and dress da goup.”</p> + +<p>And, so saying, Swartboy out knife, and set to work upon the carcass.</p> + +<p>Now this singular-looking animal which Hans called an “aard-vark,” +and Swartboy a “goup,” was neither more or less than the +African ant-eater.</p> + +<p>Although the colonists term it “aard-vark,” which is the Dutch for +“ground-hog,” the animal has but little in common with the hog +kind. It certainly bears some resemblance to a pig about the snout +and cheeks; and that, with its bristly hair and burrowing habits, has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">410</a></span> +no doubt given rise to the mistaken name. The “ground” part of the +title is from the fact that it is a burrowing animal,—indeed, one of +the best “terriers” in the world. It can make its way under ground, +faster than the spade can follow it, and faster than any badger. In +size, habits, and the form of many parts of its body, it bears a striking +resemblance to its South American cousin the “tamanoir,” which of +late years has become so famous as almost to usurp the title of “ant-eater.”</p> + +<p>But the “aard-vark” is just as good an ant-eater as he,—can +“crack” as thick-walled a house, can rake up and devour as many +termites as any “ant-bear” in the length and breadth of the Amazon +Valley. He has got, moreover, as “tall” a tail as the tamanoir, very +nearly as long a snout, a mouth equally small, and a tongue as extensive +and extensile. In claws he can compare with his American +cousin any day, and can walk just as awkwardly upon the sides of +his fore-paws with “toes turned in.”</p> + +<p>Why, then, may I ask, do we hear so much talk of the “tamanoir,” +while not a word is said of the “aard-vark?” Every museum and +menagerie is bragging about having a specimen of the former, while +not one cares to acknowledge their possession of the latter! Why +this envious distinction? I say it's all Barnum. It's because the +“aard-vark's” a Dutchman—a Cape boer—and the boers have been +much bullied of late. That's the reason why zoologists and showmen +have treated my thick-tailed boy so shabbily. But it shan't be so any +longer; I stand up for the aard-vark; and, although the tamanoir +has been specially called <i>Myrmecophaga</i>, or ant-eater, I say that the +<i>Orycteropus</i> is as good an ant-eater as he.</p> + +<p>He can break through ant-hills quite as big and bigger—some of +them twenty feet high—he can project as long and as gluey a tongue—twenty +inches long—he can play it as nimbly and “lick up” as +many white ants, as any tamanoir. He can grow as fat too, and +weigh as heavy, and, what is greatly to his credit, he can provide you +with a most delicate roast when you choose to kill and eat him. It is +true he tastes slightly of formid acid, but that is just the flavour that +epicures admire. And when you come to speak of “hams,”—ah! try +his! Cure them well and properly, and eat one, and you will never +again talk of “Spanish” or “Westphalian.”</p> + +<p>Hans knew the taste of those hams—well he did, and so too Swartboy; +and it was not against his inclination, but <i>con amore</i>, that the +latter set about butchering the “goup.”</p> + +<p>Swartboy knew how precious a morsel he held between his fingers,—precious, +not only on account of its intrinsic goodness, but from its +rarity; for although the aard-vark is a common animal in South +Africa, and in some districts even numerous, it is not every day the +hunter can lay his hands upon one. On the contrary, the creature is +most difficult to capture; though not to kill, for a blow on the snout +will do that.</p> + +<p>But just as he is easily killed when you catch him, in the same +proportion is he hard to catch. He is shy and wary, scarce ever +comes out of his burrow but at night; and even then skulks so silently +along, and watches around him so sharply, that no enemy can approach +without his knowing it. His eyes are very small, and, like most +nocturnal animals, he sees but indifferently; but in the two senses of +smell and hearing he is one of the sharpest. His long erect ears<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">411</a></span> +enable him to catch every sound that may be made in his neighbourhood, +however slight.</p> + +<p>The “aard-vark” is not the only ant-eating quadruped of South +Africa. There is another four-footed creature as fond of white ants as +he; but this is an animal of very different appearance. It is a creature +without hair; but instead, its body is covered all over with a regular +coat of scales, each as large as a half-crown piece. These scales +slightly overlie each other, and can be raised on end at the will of the +animal. In form it resembles a large lizard, or a small crocodile, more +than an ordinary quadruped, but its habits are almost exactly like +those of the aard-vark. It burrows, digs open the ant-hills by night, +projects a long viscous tongue among the insects, and devours them +with avidity.</p> + +<p>When suddenly overtaken, and out of reach of its underground +retreat, it “clews” up like the hedgehog, and some species of the +South American armadillos—to which last animal it bears a considerable +resemblance on account of its scaly coat of mail.</p> + +<p>This ant-eater is known as the “pangolin,” or “manis,” but there +are several species of “pangolin” not African. Some are met with in +Southern Asia and the Indian islands. That which is found in South +Africa is known among naturalists as the “long-tailed” or “Tem-minck” +pangolin (<i>Manis Temminckii</i>).</p> + +<p>Totty soon produced a roasted “peacock,” or rather a hastily-broiled +bustard. But, although, perhaps, not cooked “to a turn,” it was +sufficiently well done to satisfy the stomachs for which it was intended. +They were all too hungry to be fastidious, and, without a +word of criticism, they got through their dinner.</p> + +<p>Hans then commenced relating the history of his day's adventure.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">HANS CHASED BY THE WILDEBEEST.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“W</span>ell,” began Hans, “you had not been gone more than an hour, +when a herd of wildebeests was seen approaching the vley. They +came on in single file; but they had broken rank, and were splashing +about in the water, before I thought of molesting them in any way.”</p> + +<p>Of course I knew what they were, and that they were proper game; +but I was so interested in watching their ludicrous gambols, that I +did not think about my gun, until the whole herd had nearly finished +drinking. Then I remembered that we were living on dry biltongue, +and would be nothing the worse of a change. I noticed, moreover, +that in the herd of gnoos there were some young ones—which I was +able to tell from their being smaller than the rest, and also by their +lighter colour. I knew that the flesh of these is most excellent eating, +and therefore made up my mind we should all dine upon it.</p> + +<p>I rushed up the ladder for my gun; and then discovered how imprudent +I had been in not loading it at the time you all went away. +I had not thought of any sudden emergency,—but that was very +foolish, for how knew I what might happen in a single hour or +minute even?</p> + +<p>I loaded the piece in a grand hurry, for I saw the wildebeests +leaving the water; and, as soon as the bullet was rammed home, I +ran down the ladder. Before I had reached the bottom, I saw that I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">412</a></span> +had forgotten to bring either powder-horn or pouch. I was in too +hot a haste to go back for them, for I saw the last of the wildebeests +moving off, and I fancied I might be too late. But I had no intention +of going any great distance in pursuit. A single shot at them +was all I wanted, and that in the gun would do.</p> + +<p>I hastened after the game, keeping as well as I could under cover. +I found, after a little time, that I need not have been so cautious. +The wildebeests, instead of being shy—as I had seen them in our old +neighbourhood—appeared to have very little fear of me. This was +especially the case with the old bulls, who capered and careered +about within an hundred yards' distance, and sometimes permitted me +to approach even nearer. It was plain they had never been hunted.</p> + +<p>Once or twice I was within range of a pair of old bulls, who +seemed to act as a rearguard. But I did not want to shoot one of +them. I knew their flesh would turn out tough. I wished to get +something more tender. I wished to send a bullet into a heifer, or +one of the young bulls whose horns had not yet begun to curve. Of +these I saw several in the herd.</p> + +<p>Tame as the animals were, I could not manage to get near enough +to any of these. The old bulls at the head always led them beyond +my range; and the two that brought up the rear, seemed to drive +them forward as I advanced upon them.</p> + +<p>Well, in this way they beguiled me along for more than a mile; +and the excitement of the chase made me quite forget how wrong it +was of me to go so far from the camp. But thinking about the meat, +and still hopeful of getting a shot, I kept on.</p> + +<p>At length the hunt led me into ground where there was no longer +any bush; but there was good cover, notwithstanding, in the ant-hills, +that, like great tents, stood at equal distances from each other +scattered over the plain. These were very large—some of them more +than twelve feet high—and differing from the dome-shaped kind so +common everywhere. They were of the shape of large cones, or +rounded pyramids, with a number of smaller cones rising around +their bases, and clustering like turrets along their sides. I knew +they were the hills of a species of white ant called by entomologists +<i>Termes bellicosus</i>.</p> + +<p>There were other hills, of cylinder shape and rounded tops, that +stood only about a yard high; looking like rolls of unbleached linen +set upright—each with an inverted basin upon its end. These were +the homes of a very different species, the <i>Termes mordax</i> of the entomologists; +though still another species of <i>Termes</i> build their nests in +the same form.</p> + +<p>I did not stop then to examine these curious structures. I only +speak of them now, to give you an idea of the sort of place it was, so +that you may understand what followed.</p> + +<p>What with the cone-shaped hills and the cylinders, the plain was +pretty well covered. One or the other was met with every two +hundred yards; and I fancied with these for a shelter I should have +but little difficulty in getting within shot of the gnoos.</p> + +<p>I made a circuit to head them, and crept up behind a large cone-shaped +hill, near which the thick of the drove was feeding. When I +peeped through the turrets, to my chagrin, I saw that the cows and +younger ones had been drawn off beyond reach, and the two old bulls +were, as before, capering between me and the herd.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">413</a></span></p> + +<p>I repeated the manœuvre, and stalked in behind another large +cone, close to which the beasts were feeding. When I raised myself +for a shot, I was again disappointed. The herd had moved off as +before, and the brace of bulls still kept guard in the rear.</p> + +<p>I began to feel provoked. The conduct of the bulls annoyed me +exceedingly, and I really fancied that they knew it. Their manœuvres +were of the oddest kind, and some of them appeared to be +made for the purpose of mocking me. At times they would charge +up very close—their heads set in a menacing attitude; and I must +confess that with their black shaggy fronts, their sharp horns, and +glaring red eyes, they looked anything but pleasant neighbours.</p> + +<p>I got so provoked with them at last, that I resolved they should +bother me no longer. If they would not permit me to shoot one of +the others, I was determined they themselves should not escape scot-free, +but should pay dearly for their temerity and insolence. I resolved +to put a bullet through one of them, at least.</p> + +<p>Just as I was about raising my gun to fire, I perceived that they +had placed themselves in attitude for a new fight. This they did by +dropping on their knees, and sliding forward until their heads came +in contact. They would then spring up, make a sudden bound forward, +as if to get uppermost, and trample one another with their +hoofs. Failing in this, both would rush past, until they were several +yards apart; then wheel round, drop once more to their knees, and +advance as before.</p> + +<p>Hitherto I had looked upon these conflicts as merely playful; and +so I fancy most of them were. But this time the bulls seemed to be +in earnest. The loud cracking of their helmet-covered foreheads +against each other, their fierce snorting and bellowing, and, above +all, their angry manner, convinced me that they had really quarrelled, +and were serious about it.</p> + +<p>One of them, at length, seemed to be getting knocked over repeatedly. +Every time he had partially risen to his feet, and before +he could quite recover them, his antagonist rushed upon him, and +butted him back upon his side.</p> + +<p>Seeing them so earnestly engaged, I thought I might as well make +a sure shot of it, by going a little nearer; so I stepped from behind +the ant-hill, and walked towards the combatants. Neither took any +notice of my approach—the one because he had enough to do to guard +himself from the terrible blows, and the other because he was so +occupied in delivering them.</p> + +<p>When within twenty paces I levelled my gun. I chose the bull +who appeared victor, partly as a punishment for his want of feeling +in striking a fallen antagonist, but, perhaps, more because his broadside +was towards me, and presented a fairer mark.</p> + +<p>I fired.</p> + +<p>The smoke hid both for a moment. When it cleared off, I saw the +bull that had been conquered still down in a kneeling attitude, but, +to my great surprise, the one at which I had aimed was upon his feet, +apparently as brisk and sound as ever! I knew I had hit him somewhere—as +I heard the 'thud' of the bullet on his fat body—but it +was plain I had not crippled him.</p> + +<p>I was not allowed time for reflection as to where I had wounded +him. Not an instant indeed, for the moment the smoke cleared away, +instead of the bulls clearing off also, I saw the one I had shot at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">414</a></span> +fling up his tail, lower his shaggy front, and charge right towards +me!</p> + +<p>His fierce eyes glanced with a revengeful look, and his roar was +enough to have terrified one more courageous than I. I assure you I +was less frightened the other day when I encountered the lion.</p> + +<p>I did not know what to do for some moments. I thought of setting +myself in an attitude of defence, and involuntarily had turned my +gun which was now empty—intending to use it as a club. But I saw +at once, that the slight blow I could deliver would not stop the onset +of such a strong fierce animal, and that he would butt me over, and +gore me, to a certainty.</p> + +<p>I turned my eyes to see what hope there lay in flight. Fortunately +they fell upon an ant-hill—the one I had just emerged from. I saw +at a glance, that by climbing it I would be out of reach of the fierce +wildebeest. Would I have time to get to it before he could overtake +me?</p> + +<p>I ran like a frightened fox. You, Hendrik, can beat me running +upon ordinary occasions. I don't think you could have got quicker to +that ant-hill than I did.</p> + +<p>I was not a second too soon. As I clutched at the little turrets, +and drew myself up, I could hear the rattle of the wildebeest's hoofs +behind me, and I fancied I felt his hot breath upon my heels.</p> + +<p>But I reached the top cone in safety; and then turned and looked +down at my pursuer. I saw that he could not follow me any farther. +Sharp as his horns were, I saw that I was safe out of their reach.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">BESIEGED BY THE BULL.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“W</span>ell,” continued Hans, after a pause, “I began to congratulate +myself on my fortunate escape; for I was convinced that but for the +ant-hill I would have been trampled and gored to death. The bull +was one of the largest and fiercest of his kind, and a very old one +too, as I could tell by the bases of his thick black horns nearly +meeting over his forehead, as well as by his dark colour. I had +plenty of time to note these things. I felt that I was now safe—that +the wildebeest could not get near me; and I sat perched upon the +top of the central cone, watching his movements with perfect +coolness.”</p> + +<p>It is true he did everything to reach my position. A dozen times +he charged up the hill, and more than once effected a lodgment +among the tops of the lower turrets, but the main one was too steep +for him. No wonder! It had tried my own powers to scale it.</p> + +<p>At times he came so close to me in his desperate efforts, that I +could have touched his horns with the muzzle of my gun; and I +had prepared to give him a blow whenever I could get a good chance. +I never saw a creature behave so fiercely. The fact was, that I had +hit him with my bullet,—the wound was there along his jaw, and +bleeding freely. The pain of it maddened him; but that was not +the only cause of his fury, as I afterwards discovered.</p> + +<p>Well. After several unsuccessful attempts to scale the cone, he +varied his tactics, and commenced butting the ant-heap as though +he would bring it down. He repeatedly backed, and then charged<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">415</a></span> +forward upon it with all his might; and, to say the truth, it looked +for some time as though he would succeed.</p> + +<p>Several of the lesser cones were knocked over by his powerful +blows; and the hard tough clay yielded before his sharp horns, used +by him as inverted pick-axes. In several places I could see that he +had laid open the chambers of the insects, or rather the ways and +galleries that are placed in the outer crust of the hill.</p> + +<p>With all this I felt no fear. I was under the belief that he would +soon exhaust his rage and go away; and then I could descend +without danger. But after watching him a good long spell, I was +not a little astonished to observe that, instead of cooling down, he +seemed to grow more furious than ever. I had taken out my +handkerchief to wipe the perspiration off my face. It was as hot as +an oven where I sat. Not a breath of air was stirring, and the rays +of the sun, glaring right down and then reflecting up again from the +white clay, brought the perspiration out of me in streams. Every +minute I was obliged to rub my eyes clear of it with the handkerchief.</p> + +<p>Now, before passing the kerchief over my face, I always shook it +open; and each time I did so, I noticed that the rage of the wildebeest +seemed to be redoubled! In fact, at such times he would leave +off goring the heap, and make a fresh attempt to rush up at me, +roaring his loudest as he charged against the steep wall!</p> + +<p>I was puzzled at this, as well as astonished. What could there be +in my wiping my face to provoke the wildebeest anew? And yet +such was clearly the case. Every time I did so, he appeared to swell +with a fresh burst of passion!</p> + +<p>The explanation came at length. I saw that it was not the wiping +off the perspiration that provoked him. It was the shaking out of +my handkerchief. This was, as you know, of a bright scarlet colour. +I thought of this, and then, for the first time, remembered having +heard that anything scarlet has a most powerful effect upon the +wildebeest, and excites him to a rage resembling madness.</p> + +<p>I did not wish to keep up his fury. I crumpled up the handkerchief +and buried it in my pocket—preferring to endure the perspiration +rather than remain there any longer. By hiding the scarlet, +I conceived a hope he would the sooner cool down, and go away.</p> + +<p>But I had raised a devil in him too fierce to be so easily laid. He +showed no signs of cooling down. On the contrary, he continued to +charge, butt, and bellow, as vengefully as ever—though the scarlet +was no longer before his eyes.</p> + +<p>I began to feel really annoyed. I had no idea the gnoo was so +implacable in his rage. The bull evidently felt pain from his wound. +I could perceive that he moaned it. He knew well enough it was +I who had given him this pain.</p> + +<p>He appeared determined not to let me escape retribution. He +showed no signs of an intention to leave the place; but laboured +away with hoof and horns, as if he would demolish the mound.</p> + +<p>I was growing very tired of my situation. Though not afraid that +the bull could reach me, I was troubled by the thought of being so +long absent from our camp. I knew I should have been there. I +thought of my little sister and brother. Some misfortune might +befall them. I was very sad about that, though up to that time I +had little or no fears for myself. I was still in hopes the wildebeest +would tire out and leave me, and then I could soon run home.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416">416</a></span></p> + +<p>I say, up to that time I had no very serious fears for myself—excepting +the moment or two when the bull was chasing me to the +hill; but that little fright was soon over.</p> + +<p>But now appeared a new object of dread—another enemy, as +terrible as the enraged bull—that almost caused me to spring down +upon the horns of the latter in my first moments of alarm!</p> + +<p>I have said that the wildebeest had broken down several of the +lesser turrets—the outworks of the ant-hill—and had laid open the +hollow spaces within. He had not penetrated to the main dome, but +only the winding galleries and passages that perforate the outer +walls.</p> + +<p>I noticed, that, as soon as these were broken open, a number of +ants had rushed out from each. Indeed, I had observed many of +the creatures crawling outside the hill, when I first approached it, +and had wondered at this—as I knew that they usually keep under +ground when going and coming from their nests. I had observed all +this, without taking note of it at the time—being too intent in my +stalk to think of anything else. For the last half-hour I was too +busy watching the manœuvres of the wildebeest bull, to take my +gaze off him for a moment.</p> + +<p>Something in motion directly under me at length caught my eye, +and I looked down to see what it was. The first glance caused +me to jump to my feet; and, as I have already said, very nearly +impelled me to leap down upon the horns of the bull!</p> + +<p>Swarming all over the hill, already clustering upon my shoes, and +crawling still higher, were the crowds of angry ants. Every hole +that the bull had made was yielding out its throng of spiteful +insects; and all appeared moving towards me!</p> + +<p>Small as the creatures were, I fancied I saw design in their +movements. They seemed all actuated with the same feeling—the +same impulse—that of attacking me. I could not be mistaken in +their intent. They moved all together, as if guided and led by +intelligent beings; and they advanced towards the spot on which +I stood.</p> + +<p>I saw, too, that they were the soldiers. I knew these from the +workers, by their larger heads and long horny mandibles. I knew +they could bite fiercely and painfully.</p> + +<p>The thought filled me with horror. I confess it, I never was so +horrified before. My late encounter with the lion was nothing to +compare with it.</p> + +<p>My first impression was that I would be destroyed by the termites. +I had heard of such things—I remembered that I had. It was that, +no doubt, that frightened me so badly, I had heard of men in their +sleep being attacked by the white ants, and bitten to death. Such +memories came crowding upon me at the moment, until I felt certain, +that if I did not soon escape from that spot, the ants would sting +me to death and eat me up!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A HELPLESS BEAST.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“W</span>hat was to be done?” continued Hans. “How was I to avoid +both enemies? If I leaped down, the wildebeest would kill me to a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417">417</a></span> +certainty. He was still there, with his fierce eye bent upon me continually. +If I remained where I was, I would soon be covered with +the swarming hideous insects, and eaten up like an old rag.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 356px;"> +<img src="images/illus-417.jpg" width="356" height="500" alt="HANS BESIEGED BY A WILDEBEEST." title="HANS BESIEGED BY A WILDEBEEST." /> +<span class="caption">HANS BESIEGED BY A WILDEBEEST.</span></div> + +<p>Already I felt their terrible teeth. Those that had first crawled +to my feet I had endeavoured to brush off; but some had got upon +my ankles, and were biting me through my thick woollen socks! My +clothes would be no protection.</p> + +<p>I had mounted to the highest part of the cone, and was standing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418">418</a></span> +upon its apex. It was so sharp I could scarcely balance myself, but +the painful stings of the insects caused me to dance upon it like a +mountebank.</p> + +<p>But what signified those that had already stung my ankle, to the +numbers that were likely soon to pierce me with their venomous +darts? Already these were swarming up the last terrace. They +would soon cover the apex of the cone upon which I was standing. +They would crawl up my limbs in myriads—they would——</p> + +<p>I could reflect no longer on what they would do. I preferred +taking my chance with the wildebeest. I would leap down. Perhaps +some lucky accident might aid me. I would battle with the gnoo, +using my gun. Perhaps I might succeed in escaping to some other +hill. Perhaps——</p> + +<p>I was actually on the spring to leap down, when a new thought +came into my mind; and I wondered I had been so silly as not to +think of it before. What was to hinder me from keeping off the +termites? They had no wings—the soldiers have none—nor the +workers neither, for that matter. They could not fly upon me. +They could only crawl up the cone. With my jacket I could brush +them back. Certainly I could—why did I not think of it before?</p> + +<p>I was not long in taking off my jacket. I laid aside my useless +gun, dropping it upon one of the lower terraces. I caught the +jacket by the collar; and, using it as a duster, I cleared the sides of +the cone in a few moments, having sent thousands of the termites +tumbling headlong below.</p> + +<p>Pshaw! how simply the thing was done! why had I not done it +before? It cost scarcely an effort to brush the myriads away, and a +slight effort would keep them off as long as I pleased.</p> + +<p>The only annoyance I felt now was from the few that had got +under my trousers, and that still continued to bite me; but these I +would get rid of in time.</p> + +<p>Well—I remained on the apex, now bending down to beat back +the soldiers that still swarmed upward, and then occupying myself +in trying to get rid of the few that crawled upon me. I felt no +longer any uneasiness on the score of the insects—though I was not +a bit better off as regarded the bull, who still kept guard below. I +fancied, however, that he now showed symptoms of weariness, and +would soon raise the siege; and this prospect made me feel more +cheerful.</p> + +<p>A sudden change came over me. A new thrill of terror awaited me.</p> + +<p>While jumping about upon the top of the cone, my footing suddenly +gave way—the baked clay broke with a dead crash, and I sank +through the roof. My feet shot down into the hollow dome—till I +thought I must have crushed the great queen in her chamber—and I +stood buried to the neck.</p> + +<p>I was surprised, and a little terrified, not by the shock I had experienced +in the sudden descent. That was natural enough, and a +few moments would have restored my equanimity; but it was something +else that frightened me. It was something that moved under +my feet as they 'touched bottom,'—something that moved and +heaved under them, and then passed quickly away, letting me still +farther down!</p> + +<p>What could it be? Was it the great swarm of living ants that I +pressed upon? I did not think it was. It did not feel like them. It<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419">419</a></span> +seemed to be something bulky and strong, for it held up my whole +weight for a moment or two, before it slipped from under me.</p> + +<p>Whatever it was, it frightened me very considerably; and I did +not leave my feet in its company for five seconds time. No: the +hottest furnace would scarce have scorched them during the time +they remained inside the dark dome. In five seconds they were on +the walls again—on the broken edges, where I had mounted up, and +where I now stood quite speechless with surprise!</p> + +<p>What next? I could keep the ants off no longer. I gazed down +the dark cavity; they were swarming up that way in thick crowds. +I could brush them down no more.</p> + +<p>My eyes at this moment chanced to wander to the bull. He was +standing at three or four paces distance from the base of the hill. +He was standing sideways with his head turned to it, and regarding +it with a wild look. His attitude was entirely changed, and so, I +thought, was the expression of his eye. He looked as if he had just +run off to his new position, and was ready to make a second start. +He looked as if something had also terrified him!</p> + +<p>Something evidently had; for, in another moment, he uttered a +sharp rout, galloped several paces farther out, wheeled again, halted, +and stood gazing as before!</p> + +<p>What could it mean? Was it the breaking through of the roof +and my sudden descent that had frightened him?</p> + +<p>At first I thought so, but I observed that he did not look upward +to the top. His gaze seemed bent on some object near the base of +the hill—though from where I stood I could see nothing there to +frighten him.</p> + +<p>I had not time to reflect what it could be, before the bull uttered +a fresh snort; and, raising its tail high into the air, struck off at full +gallop over the plain!</p> + +<p>Rejoiced at seeing this, I thought no more of what had relieved me +of his company. It must have been my curious fall, I concluded; +but no matter now that the brute was gone. So seizing hold of my +gun, I prepared to descend from the elevated position of which I was +thoroughly tired.</p> + +<p>Just as I had got half down the side, I chanced to look below; and +there was the object that terrified the old bull. No wonder. It +might have terrified anything,—the odd-looking creature that it was. +From out a hole in the clay wall protruded a long naked cylindrical +snout, mounted by a pair of ears nearly as long as itself, that stood +erect like the horns of a steinbuck, and gave to the animal that bore +them a wild and vicious look. It would have badly frightened me, +had I not known what it was; but I recognised it at once as one of +the most inoffensive creatures in the world—the 'aard-vark.'</p> + +<p>His appearance accounted for the retreat of the bull, and also explained +why the ants had been crawling about on my first reaching +their hill.</p> + +<p>Without saying a word, or making the slightest noise, I clubbed +my gun; and, bending downward, struck the protruded snout a blow +with the butt. It was a most wicked blow; and, considering the +service the creature had just done me in frightening off the wildebeest, +a most ungrateful return. But I was not master of my feelings +at the moment. I did not reflect—only that I liked aard-vark flesh—and +the blow was given.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420">420</a></span></p> + +<p>Poor fellow! It did the job for him. With scarce a kick he +dropped dead in the opening he had scraped with his own claws.</p> + +<p>Well—my day's adventures were not yet ended. They seemed as +though they were never to end. I had got the aard-vark over my +shoulders, and was about heading homeward, when, to my astonishment, +I observed that the bull-gnoo—not the one that had besieged +me, but his late antagonist—was still out upon the plain where I had +last seen him! I observed, moreover, that he was still in a sort of +half-lying, half-kneeling attitude, with his head close to the ground!</p> + +<p>His odd movements seemed stranger than anything else. I +fancied he had been badly hurt by the other, and was not able to get +away.</p> + +<p>At first I was cautious about going near him—remembering my +late narrow escape—and I thought of giving him a wide berth, and +leaving him alone. Even though wounded, he might be strong +enough to charge upon me; and my empty gun, as I had already +proved, would be but a poor weapon with which to defend myself.</p> + +<p>I hesitated about going near him; but curiosity grew strong +within me, as I watched his queer manœuvres; until at length I +walked up within a dozen yards of where he was kneeling.</p> + +<p>Fancy my surprise on discovering the cause of his oblique movements. +No hurt had he received of any kind—not even a scratch; +but for all that, he was as completely crippled as if he had lost his +best pair of legs.</p> + +<p>In a very singular manner was he rendered thus helpless. In his +struggle with the other bull, one of his fore-legs had, somehow or +other, got passed over his horn; and there it stuck—not only depriving +him of the use of the limb itself, but holding his head so close to +the ground that he was quite unable to stir from the spot!</p> + +<p>At first I designed helping him out of his difficulty, and letting +him go. On second thoughts, I remembered the story of the husband-man +and the frozen snake, which quite changed my intention.</p> + +<p>I next thought of killing him for venison; but having no bullet, I +did not like to beat him to death with my gun. Besides the aard-vark +was my load to camp, and I knew that the jackals would eat +the bull up before we could go back for him. I thought it probable +he would be safer left as he was—as these ravenous brutes, seeing +him alive, might not so readily approach him.</p> + +<p>So I left him with his “head under his arm,” in hopes that we may +find him there to-morrow.</p> + +<p>So ended Hans's narrative of his day's adventures.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE ELEPHANT'S SLEEPING-ROOM.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>he field-cornet was far from satisfied with his day's work. His first +attempt at elephant-hunting had proved a failure. Might it not be +always so?</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the interest with which he listened to Hans's +narrative of the day's adventures, he felt uneasy in his mind when he +reflected upon his own.</p> + +<p>The elephant had escaped so easily. Their bullets seemed to have +injured him not the least. They had only served to render him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421">421</a></span> +furious, and dangerous. Though both had hit him in places where +their wounds should have been mortal, no such effect was produced. +The elephant seemed to go off as unscathed, as if they had fired only +boiled peas at him!</p> + +<p>Would it be always so?</p> + +<p>True, they had given him but two shots. Two, if well directed, +may bring down a cow-elephant and sometimes a bull, but oftener it +requires ten times two before a strong old bull can be made to “bite +the dust.”</p> + +<p>But would any elephant wait until they could load and fire a +sufficient number of shots?</p> + +<p>That was an undecided point with our tyro elephant-hunters. If +not, then they would be helpless indeed. It would be a tedious +business spooring the game afoot, after it had once been fired upon. +In such cases the elephant usually travels many miles before halting +again; and only mounted men can with any facility overtake him.</p> + +<p>How Von Bloom sighed when he thought of his poor horses! Now +more than ever did he feel the want of them—now more than ever did +he regret their loss.</p> + +<p>But he had heard that the elephant does not always make off when +attacked. The old bull had shown no intention of retreating, after +receiving their shots. It was the odd conduct of Swartboy that had +put him to flight. But for that, he would no doubt have kept the +ground, until they had given him another volley, and perhaps his +death-wound.</p> + +<p>The field-cornet drew consolation from this last reflection. Perhaps +their next encounter would have a different ending. Perhaps a pair +of tusks would reward them.</p> + +<p>The hope of such a result, as well as the anxiety about it, determined +Von Bloom to lose no time in making a fresh trial. Next morning, +therefore, before the sun was up, the hunters were once more upon +the trail of their giant game.</p> + +<p>One precaution they had taken, which they had not thought of +before. All of them had heard that an ordinary leaden bullet will +not penetrate the tough thick skin of the great “pachyderm.” Perhaps +this had been the cause of their failure on the preceding day. +If so they had provided against the recurrence of failure from such a +cause. They had moulded a new set of balls of harder material,—solder +it should have been, but they had none. They chanced, however, +to be in possession of what served the purpose equally well—the +old “plate” that had often graced the field-cornet's table in his better +byegone days of the Graaf Reinet. This consisted of candlesticks, +and snuffer-trays, and dish-covers, and cruet-stands, and a variety of +articles of the real “Dutch metal.”</p> + +<p>Some of these were condemned to the alembic of the melting-pan; +and, mixed with the common lead, produced a set of balls hard +enough for the hide of the rhinoceros itself—so that this day the +hunters had no fears of failure upon the score of soft bullets.</p> + +<p>They went in the same direction as upon the preceding day, towards +the forest or “bush,” as they termed it.</p> + +<p>They had not proceeded a mile when they came upon the spoor of +elephants nearly fresh. It passed through the very thickest of the +thorny jungle—where no creature but an elephant, a rhinoceros, or a +man with an axe, could have made way. A family must have passed,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422">422</a></span> +consisting of a male, a female or two, and several young ones of +different ages. They had marched in single file, as elephants usually +do; and had made a regular lane several feet wide, which was quite +clear of bushes, and trampled by their immense footsteps. The old +bull, Swartboy said, had gone in advance, and had cleared the way of +all obstructions, by means of his trunk and tusks. This had evidently +been the case, for the hunters observed huge branches broken off, or +still hanging and turned to one side, out of the way—just as if the +hand of man had done it.</p> + +<p>Swartboy further affirmed, that such elephant-roads usually led to +water; and by the very easiest and shortest routes—as if they had +been planned and laid open by the skill of an engineer—showing the +rare instinct or sagacity of these animals.</p> + +<p>The hunters, therefore, expected soon to arrive at some watering-place; +but it was equally probable the spoor might be leading them +from the water.</p> + +<p>They had not followed it more than a quarter of a mile, when they +came upon another road of a similar kind, that crossed the one they +were spooring upon. This had also been made by a number of +elephants—a family most likely—and the tracks upon it were as +recent as those they had been following.</p> + +<p>They hesitated for a moment which to take; but at length concluded +upon keeping straight on; and so they moved forward as +before.</p> + +<p>To their great disappointment the trail at last led out into more +open ground, where the elephants had scattered about; and after +following the tracks of one, and then another without success, they +got bewildered, and lost the spoor altogether.</p> + +<p>While casting about to find it in a place where the bush was thin +and straggling, Swartboy suddenly ran off to one side, calling to the +others to follow him. Von Bloom and Hendrik went after to see what +the Bushman was about. They thought he had seen an elephant, +and both, considerably excited, had already pulled the covers off their +guns.</p> + +<p>There was no elephant, however. When they came up with Swartboy, +he was standing under a tree, and pointing to the ground at its +bottom.</p> + +<p>The hunters looked down. They saw that the ground upon one +side of the tree was trampled, as though horses or some other animals +had been tied there for a long time, and had worn off the turf, and +worked it into dust with their hoofs. The bark of the tree—a full-topped +shady acacia—for some distance up was worn smooth upon one +side, just as though cattle had used it for a rubbing-post.</p> + +<p>“What has done it?” asked the field-cornet and Hendrik in a +breath.</p> + +<p>“Da olifant's slapen-boom” (the elephant's sleeping-tree), replied +Swartboy.</p> + +<p>No further explanation was necessary. The hunters remembered +what they had been told about a curious habit which the elephant +has—of leaning against a tree while asleep. This, then, was one of +the sleeping-trees of these animals.</p> + +<p>But of what use to them, farther than to gratify a little curiosity? +The elephant was not there.</p> + +<p>“Da ole karl come again,” said Swartboy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423">423</a></span></p> + +<p>“Ha! you think so, Swart?” inquired Von Bloom.</p> + +<p>“Ya, baas, lookee da! spoor fresh—da groot olifant hab slap here +yesterday.”</p> + +<p>“What then? you think we should lie in wait, and shoot him when +he returns.”</p> + +<p>“No, baas, better dan shoot, we make him bed—den wait see um +lie down.”</p> + +<p>Swartboy grinned a laugh as he gave this piece of advice.</p> + +<p>“Make his bed! what do you mean?” inquired his master.</p> + +<p>“I tell you, baas, we get da oliphant sure, if you leave da job to ole +Swart. I gib you de plan for take him, no waste powder, no waste +bullet.”</p> + +<p>The Bushman proceeded to communicate his plan, to which his +master—remembering their failure of yesterday—readily gave his consent.</p> + +<p>Fortunately they had all the implements that would be necessary +for carrying it out,—a sharp axe, a strong rope or “rheim” of raw-hide, +and their knives—and they set about the business without loss of +time.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">MAKING THE ELEPHANT'S BED.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">T</span>o the hunters time was a consideration. If the elephant should return +that day it would be just before the hottest hours of noon. They +had, therefore, scarce an hour left to prepare for him—to “make his +bed,” as Swartboy had jocosely termed it. So they went to work with +alacrity, the Bushman acting as director-general, while the other two +received their orders from him with the utmost obedience.</p> + +<p>The first work which Swartboy assigned to them was to cut and +prepare three stakes of hard wood. They were to be each about three +feet long, as thick as a man's arm, and pointed at one end.</p> + +<p>These were soon procured. The iron-wood which grew in abundance +in the neighbourhood, furnished the very material; and after three +pieces of sufficient length had been cut down with the axe, they were +reduced to the proper size, and pointed by the knives of the hunters.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Swartboy had not been idle. First, with his knife he +had cut a large section of bark from the elephant's tree, upon the side +against which the animal had been in the habit of leaning, and about +three feet from the ground. Then with the axe he made a deep notch, +where the bark had been removed—in fact, such a notch as would have +caused the tree to fall had it been left to itself. But it was not, for +before advancing so far in his work, Swartboy had taken measures to +prevent that. He had stayed the tree by fastening the rheim to its +upper branches on the opposite side, and then carrying the rope to the +limbs of another tree that stood out in that direction.</p> + +<p>Thus adjusted, the elephant's tree was only kept from falling by the +rheim-stay; and a slight push, in the direction of the latter, would +have thrown it over.</p> + +<p>Swartboy now replaced the section of bark, which he had preserved; +and after carefully collecting the chips, no one, without close examination, +could have told that the tree had ever felt the edge of an axe.</p> + +<p>Another operation yet remained to be performed—that was the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424">424</a></span> +planting of the stakes, already prepared by Von Bloom and Hendrik. +To set these firmly, deep holes had to be made. But Swartboy was +just the man to make a hole; and in less than ten minutes he had +sunk three, each over a foot deep, and not a half-inch wider than the +thickness of the stakes!</p> + +<p>You may be curious to know how he accomplished this. You would +have dug a hole with a spade, and necessarily as wide as the spade itself. +But Swartboy had no spade, and would not have used it if there +had been one—since it would have made the holes too large for his +purpose.</p> + +<p>Swartboy sunk his holes by “crowing”—which process he performed +by means of a small pointed stick. With this he first loosened the +earth in a circle of the proper size. He then took out the detached +mould, flung it away, and used the point of the “crowing stick” as +before. Another clearing out of mould, another application of the +stick; and so on, till the narrow hole was deemed of sufficient depth. +That was how Swartboy “crowed” the holes.</p> + +<p>They were sunk in a kind of triangle near the bottom of the tree, +but on the side opposite to that where the elephant would stand, should +he occupy his old ground.</p> + +<p>In each hole Swartboy now set a stake, thick end down and point +upwards; some small pebbles, and a little mould worked in at the sides, +wedged them as firmly as if they had grown there.</p> + +<p>The stakes were now daubed over with soft earth, to conceal the +white colour of the wood; the remaining chips were picked up, and +all traces of the work completely obliterated. This done the hunters +withdrew from the spot.</p> + +<p>They did not go far; but choosing a large bushy tree to leeward, +all three climbed up into it, and sat concealed among its branches.</p> + +<p>The field-cornet held his long “roer” in readiness, and so did Hendrik +his rifle. In case the ingenious trap of Swartboy should fail, they intended +to use their guns, but not otherwise.</p> + +<p>It was now quite noon, and the day had turned out one of the +hottest. But for the shade afforded by the leaves, they would have +felt it very distressing. Swartboy prognosticated favourably from +this. The great heat would be more likely than anything else to send +the elephant to his favourite sleeping-place under the cool shady cover +of the cameel-doorn.</p> + +<p>It was now quite noon. He could not be long in coming, thought +they.</p> + +<p>Sure enough he came, and soon, too.</p> + +<p>They had not been twenty minutes on their perch, when they heard +a strange, rumbling noise, which they knew proceeded from the +stomach of an elephant. The next moment they saw one emerge from +the jungle, and walk, with sweeping step, straight up to the tree. He +seemed to have no suspicion of any danger; but placed himself at once +alongside the trunk of the acacia—in the very position and on the side +Swartboy had said he would take. From his spoor the Bushman knew +he had been in the habit of so standing.</p> + +<p>His head was turned from the hunters, but not so much as to prevent +them from seeing a pair of splendid tusks,—six feet long at the +least.</p> + +<p>While gazing in admiration at these rich trophies, they saw the +animal point his proboscis upward, and discharge a vast shower of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425">425</a></span> +water into the leaves, which afterwards fell dripping in bright globules +over his body!</p> + +<p>Swartboy said that he drew the water from his stomach. Although +closet-naturalists deny this, it must have been so; for shortly after, +he repeated the act again and again—the quantity of water at each +discharge being as great as before. It was plain that his trunk, large +as it was, could not have contained it all.</p> + +<p>He seemed to enjoy this “shower-bath;” and the hunters did not +wonder at it, for they themselves, suffering at the time from heat and +thirst, would have relished something of a similar kind. As the +crystal drops fell back from the acacia leaves, the huge animal was +heard to utter a low grunt expressive of gratification. The hunters +hoped that this was the prelude to his sleep, and watched him with +intense earnestness.</p> + +<p>It proved to be so.</p> + +<p>As they sat gazing, they noticed that his head sunk a little, his ears +ceased their flapping, his tail hung motionless, and his trunk, now +twined around his tusks, remained at rest.</p> + +<p>They gaze intently. Now they see his body droop a little to one +side—now it touches the tree—there is heard a loud crack, followed by +a confused crashing of branches—and the huge dark body of the +elephant sinks upon its side.</p> + +<p>At the same instant a terrible scream drowns all other sounds, causing +the forest to echo, and the very leaves to quake. Then follows a +confused roaring, mingled with the noise of cracking branches, and the +struggles of the mighty brute where he lies kicking his giant limbs +along the earth, in the agonies of death!</p> + +<p>The hunters remain in the tree. They see that the elephant is down—that +he is impaled. There will be no need for their puny weapons. +Their game has already received the death-wound.</p> + +<p>The struggle is of short duration. The painful breathing that precedes +death is heard issuing from the long proboscis; and then follows +a deep ominous silence.</p> + +<p>The hunters leap down, and approach the prostrate body. They see +that it still lies upon the terrible <i>chevaux de frisé</i>, where it had fallen. +The stakes have done their work most effectively. The elephant +breathes no more. He is dead!</p> + +<p>It was the work of an hour to cut out those splendid tusks. But +our hunters thought nothing of that; and they were only the more +pleased to find each of them a heavy load—as much as a man could +carry!</p> + +<p>Von Bloom shouldered one, Swartboy the other, while Hendrik +loaded himself with the guns and implements; and all three, leaving +the carcass of the dead elephant behind them, returned triumphantly +to camp.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE WILD ASSES OF AFRICA.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">N</span>otwithstanding the success of the day's hunt, the mind of Von +Bloom was not at rest. They had “bagged” their game, it was true, +but in what manner? Their success was a mere accident, and gave +them no earnest of what might be expected in the future. They<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_426" id="Page_426">426</a></span> +might go long before finding another “sleeping-tree” of the elephants, +and repeating their easy capture.</p> + +<p>Such were the not very pleasant reflections of the field-cornet, on +the evening after returning from their successful hunt.</p> + +<p>But still less pleasant were they, two weeks later, at the retrospect +of many an unsuccessful chase from which they had returned—when, +after twelve days spent in “jaging” the elephant, they had +added only a single pair of tusks to the collection, and these the +tusks of a cow elephant, scarce two feet in length, and of little +value!</p> + +<p>The reflection was not the less painful, that nearly every day they +had fallen in with elephants, and had obtained a shot or two at these +animals. That did not mend the matter a bit. On the contrary, it +taught the hunter how easily they could run away from him, as they +invariably did. It taught him how small his chances were of +capturing such game, so long as he could only follow it afoot.</p> + +<p>The hunter on foot stands but a poor chance with the elephant. +Stalking in upon one is easy enough, and perhaps obtaining a single +shot; but when the animal trots off through the thick jungle, it +is tedious work following him. He may go miles before halting, and +even if the hunter should overtake him, it may be only to deliver +a second shot, and see the game once more disappear into the bushes—perhaps +to be spoored no farther.</p> + +<p>Now the mounted hunter has this advantage. His horse can +overtake the elephant; and it is a peculiarity of this animal, that +the moment he finds that his enemy, whatever it be, can do that +thing, he disdains to run any farther, but at once stands to bay; +and the hunter may then deliver as many shots as he pleases.</p> + +<p>Herein lies the great advantage of the hunter on horseback. +Another advantage is the security the horse affords, enabling his +rider to avoid the charges of the angry elephant.</p> + +<p>No wonder Von Bloom sighed for a horse. No wonder he felt +grieved at the want of this noble companion, that would have aided +him so much in the chase.</p> + +<p>He grieved all the more, now that he had become acquainted with +the district, and had found it so full of elephants. Troops of an +hundred had been seen; and these far from being shy, or disposed +to make off after a shot or two. Perhaps they had never heard the +report of a gun before that of his own long roer pealed in their huge ears.</p> + +<p>With a horse the field-cornet believed he could have killed many, +and obtained much valuable ivory. Without one, his chances of +carrying out his design were poor indeed. His hopes were likely +to end in disappointment.</p> + +<p>He felt this keenly. The bright prospects he had so ardently +indulged in, became clouded over; and fears for the future once +more harassed him. He would only waste his time in this wilderness. +His children would live without books, without education, without +society. Were he to be suddenly called away, what would become +of them? His pretty Gertrude would be no better off than a little +savage—his sons would become not in sport, as he was wont to call +them, but in reality a trio of “Bush-boys.”</p> + +<p>Once more these thoughts filled the heart of the father with pain. +Oh! what would he not have given at that moment for a pair of +horses, of any sort whatever?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_427" id="Page_427">427</a></span></p> + +<p>The field-cornet, while making these reflections, was seated in the +great nwana-tree, upon the platform, that had been built on the side +towards the lake, and from which a full view could be obtained of +the water. From this point a fine view could also be obtained of the +country which lay to the eastward of the lake. At some distance off +it was wooded, but near the vley a grassy plain lay spread before the +eye like a green meadow.</p> + +<p>The eyes of the hunter were turned outward on this plain, and just +then his glance fell upon a troop of animals crossing the open +ground, and advancing towards the vley.</p> + +<p>They were large animals—nearly of the shape and size of small +horses—and travelling in single file; as they were, the troop at +a distance presented something of the appearance of a “cafila,” or +caravan. There were in all about fifty individuals in the line; and +they marched along with a steady sober pace, as if under the +guidance and direction of some wise leader. How very different +from the capricious and eccentric movements of the gnoos!</p> + +<p>Individually they bore some resemblance to these last-named +animals. In the shape of their bodies and tails, in their general +ground colour, and in the “brindled” or tiger-like stripes that could +be perceived upon their cheeks, neck, and shoulders. These stripes +were exactly of the same form as those upon a zebra; but far less +distinct, and not extending to the body or limbs, as is the case with +the true zebra. In general colour, and in some other respects, the +animals reminded one of the ass; but their heads, necks, and the +upper part of their bodies, were of darker hue, slightly tinged with +reddish brown. In fact, the new-comers had points of resemblance +to all four—horse, ass, gnoo, and zebra—and yet they were distinct +from any. To the zebra they bore the greatest resemblance—for +they were in reality a species of zebra—they were quaggas.</p> + +<p>Modern naturalists have divided the <i>Equidæ</i>, or horse family, into +two genera—the horse and the ass—the principal points of distinction +being, that animals of the horse kind have long flowing manes, +full tails, and warty callosities on both hind and fore limbs; while +asses, on the contrary, have short, meagre, and upright manes, +tails slender and furnished only with long hairs at the extremity, +and their hind limbs wanting the callosities. These, however, are +found on the fore-legs as upon horses.</p> + +<p>Although there are many varieties of the horse genus—scores of +them, widely differing from each other—they can all be easily +recognised by these characteristic marks, from the “Suffolk Punch,” +the great London drayhorse, down to his diminutive little cousin the +“Shetland Pony.”</p> + +<p>The varieties of the ass are nearly as numerous, though this fact +is not generally known.</p> + +<p>First, we have the common ass, the type of the genus; and of this +there are many breeds in different countries, some nearly as elegant +and as highly prized as horses. Next there is the “onagra,” “koulan,” +or “wild ass,” supposed to be the origin of the common kind. This +is a native of Asia, though it is also found in the north-eastern parts +of Africa. There is also the “dziggetai,” or “great wild ass,” of +Central and Southern Asia, and another smaller species the “ghur” +found in Persia. Again, there is the “kiang” met with in Ladakh, +and the “yo-totze,” an inhabitant of Chinese Tartary.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_428" id="Page_428">428</a></span></p> + +<p>All these are Asiatic species, found in a wild state, and differing +from one another in colour, size, form, and even in habits. Many +of them are of elegant form, and swift as the swiftest horses.</p> + +<p>In this little book we cannot afford room for a description of each, +but must confine our remarks to what is more properly our subject—the +wild asses of Africa. Of these there are six or seven kinds—perhaps +more.</p> + +<p>First, there is the “wild ass,” which, as already stated, extends +from Asia into the north-eastern parts of Africa, contiguous to the +former continent.</p> + +<p>Next there is the “koomrah,” of which very little is known, except +that it inhabits the forests of Northern Africa, and is solitary in +its habits, unlike most of the other species. The koomrah has been +described as a “wild horse,” but, most probably, it belongs to the +genus <i>asinus</i>.</p> + +<p>Now there are four other species of “wild asses” in Africa—wild +horses some call them—and a fifth reported by travellers, but as +yet undetermined. These species bear such a resemblance to one +another in their form, the peculiar markings of their bodies, size, and +general habits, that they may be classed together under the title of +the zebra family. First, there is the true zebra, perhaps the most +beautiful of all quadrupeds, and of which no description need be +given. Second, the “dauw,” or “Burchell's zebra,” as it is more +frequently called. Third, the “congo dauw,” closely resembling the +dauw. Fourth, the “quagga”; and fifth, the undetermined species +known as the “white zebra,” so called from its pale yellow, or +Isabella colour.</p> + +<p>These five species evidently have a close affinity with each other—all +of them being more or less marked with the peculiar transversal +bands or “stripes,” which are the well-known characteristics of the +zebra. Even the quagga is so banded upon the head and upper parts +of its body.</p> + +<p>The zebra proper is “striped” from the tip of the nose to its very +hoofs, and the bands are of a uniform black, while the ground colour +is nearly white, or white tinged with a pale yellow. The “dauws,” +on the other hand, are not banded upon the legs; the rays are not +so dark or well defined, and the ground colour is not so pure or clean-looking. +For the rest, all these three species are much alike; and it +is more than probable that either “Burchell's” or the “congo dauw” +was the species to which the name of “zebra” was first applied; for +that which is now called the “true zebra” inhabits those parts of +Africa where it was less likely to have been the first observed of the +genus. At all events, the “congo dauw” is the “hippotigris,” or +tiger-horse, of the Romans; and this we infer from its inhabiting a +more northerly part of Africa than the others, all of which belong to +the southern half of that continent. The habitat of the zebra is said +to extend as far north as Abyssinia; but, perhaps, the “congo dauw,” +which certainly inhabits Abyssinia, has been mistaken for the true +zebra.</p> + +<p>Of the four species in South Africa, the zebra is a mountain +animal, and dwells among the cliffs, while the dauw and quagga rove +over the plains and wild karoo deserts. In similar situations to these +has the “white zebra” been observed—though only by the traveller Le +Vaillant—and hence the doubt about its existence as a distinct species.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_429" id="Page_429">429</a></span></p> + +<p>None of the kinds associate together, though each herds with other +animals! The quagga keeps company with the gnoo, the “dauw” +with the “brindled gnoo,” while the tall ostrich stalks in the midst +of the herds of both!</p> + +<p>There is much difference in the nature and disposition of the different +species. The mountain zebra is very shy and wild; the dauw +is almost untameable; while the quagga is of a timid docile nature, +and may be trained to harness with as much facility as a horse.</p> + +<p>The reason why this has not been done, is simply because the +farmers of South Africa have horses in plenty, and do not stand in +need of the quagga, either for saddle or harness.</p> + +<p>But though Von Bloom the farmer had never thought of “breaking +in” a quagga, Von Bloom the hunter now did.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">PLANNING THE CAPTURE OF THE QUAGGAS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">U</span>p to this time the field-cornet had scarce deigned to notice the +quaggas. He knew what they were, and had often seen a drove of +them—perhaps the same one—approach the vley and drink. Neither +he nor any of his people had molested them, though they might have +killed many. They knew that the yellow oily flesh of these animals +was not fit for food, and is only eaten by the hungry natives—that +their hides, although sometimes used for grain-sacks and other common +purposes, are of very little value. For these reasons, they had +suffered them to come and go quietly. They did not wish to waste +powder and lead upon them; neither did they desire wantonly to +destroy such harmless creatures.</p> + +<p>Every evening, therefore, the quaggas had drunk at the vley and +gone off again, without exciting the slightest interest.</p> + +<p>Not so upon this occasion. A grand design now occupied the +mind of Von Bloom. The troop of quaggas became suddenly invested +with as much interest as if it had been a herd of elephants; and the +field-cornet had started to his feet, and stood gazing upon them—his +eyes sparkling with pleasure and admiration.</p> + +<p>He admired their prettily-striped heads, their plump well-turned +bodies, their light elegant limbs; in short, he admired everything +about them, size, colour, and proportions. Never before had quaggas +appeared so beautiful in the eyes of the vee-boer.</p> + +<p>But why this new-born admiration for the despised quaggas?—for +despised they are by the Cape farmer, who shoots them only to feed +his Hottentot servants. Why had they so suddenly become such +favourites with the field-cornet? That you will understand by +knowing the reflections that were just then passing through his mind.</p> + +<p>They were as follows:—</p> + +<p>Might not a number of these animals be caught and broken in?—Why +not? Might they not be trained to the saddle?—Why not? +Might they not serve him for hunting the elephant just as well as +horses?—Why not?</p> + +<p>Von Bloom asked these three questions of himself. Half a minute +served to answer them all in the affirmative. There was neither impossibility +nor improbability in any of the three propositions. It +was clear that the thing could be done, and without difficulty.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_430" id="Page_430">430</a></span></p> + +<p>A new hope sprang up in the heart of the field-cornet. Once more +his countenance became radiant with joy.</p> + +<p>He communicated his thoughts both to the Bushman and “Bush-boys”—all +of whom highly approved of the idea, and only wondered +that none of them had thought of it before.</p> + +<p>And now the question arose as to how the quaggas were to be +captured. This was the first point to be settled; and the four—Von +Bloom himself, Hans, Hendrik, and Swartboy,—sat deliberately +down to concoct some plan of effecting this object.</p> + +<p>Of course they could do nothing just then, and the drove that had +come to drink was allowed to depart peacefully. The hunters knew +they would return on the morrow about the same hour; and it was +towards their return that the thoughts of all were bent.</p> + +<p>Hendrik advised “creasing,” which means sending a bullet through +the upper part of the neck near the withers, and by this means a +quagga can be knocked over and captured. The shot, if properly +directed, does not kill the animal. It soon recovers, and may be +easily “broken,” though its spirit is generally broken at the same +time. It is never “itself again.” Hendrik understood the mode of +“creasing.” He had seen it practised by the boer-hunters. He knew +the spot where the bullet should hit. He believed he could do it +easily enough.</p> + +<p>Hans considered the “creasing” too cruel a mode. They might +kill many quaggas before obtaining one that was hit in the proper +place. Besides there would be a waste of powder and bullets—a +thing to be considered. Why could they not snare the animals? He +had heard of nooses being set for animals as large as the quaggas, +and of many being caught in that manner.</p> + +<p>Hendrik did not think the idea of snaring a good one. They +might get one in that way—the foremost of the drove; but all the +others, seeing the leader caught, would gallop off and return no more +to the vley; and where would they set their snare for a second? It +might be a long time before they should find another watering-place +of these animals; whereas they might stalk and crease them upon +the plains at any time.</p> + +<p>Swartboy now put in his plan. It was the pit-fall. That was the +way by which Bushmen most generally caught large animals, and +Swartboy perfectly understood how to construct a pit for quaggas.</p> + +<p>Hendrik saw objections to this, very similar to those he had +urged against the snare. The foremost of the quaggas might be +caught, but the others would not be fools enough to walk into the +pit—after their leader had fallen in and laid the trap open. They, +of course, would gallop off, and never come back that way again.</p> + +<p>If it could be done at night, Hendrik admitted, the thing might be +different. In the darkness several might rush in before catching the +alarm. But no—the quaggas had always come to drink in day-time—one +only could be trapped, and then the others alarmed would +keep away.</p> + +<p>There would have been reason in what Hendrik said, but for a +remarkable fact which the field-cornet himself had observed when +the quaggas came to the lake to drink. It was that the animals had +invariably entered the water at one point, and gone out at another. +It was of course a mere accident that they did so, and owing to the +nature of the ground; but such was the case, and Von Bloom had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_431" id="Page_431">431</a></span> +observed it on several occasions. They were accustomed to enter by +the gorge, already described; and, after drinking, wade along the +shallow edge for some yards, and then pass out by another break in +the bank.</p> + +<p>The knowledge of this fact was of the utmost importance, and all +saw that at once. A pit-fall dug upon the path by which the animals +entered the lake, would no doubt operate as Hendrik said—one might +be caught, and all the rest frightened off. But a similar trap placed +upon the trail that led outward, would bring about a very different +result. Once the quaggas had finished drinking, and just at the +moment they were heading out of the water, the hunters could show +themselves upon the opposite side, set the troop in quick motion, and +gallop them into the trap. By this means not only one, but a whole +pit-full might be captured at once!</p> + +<p>All this appeared so feasible that not another suggestion was offered—the +plan of the pit-fall was at once, and unanimously adopted.</p> + +<p>It remained only to dig the pit, cover it properly, and then wait +the result.</p> + +<p>During all the time their capture was being planned, the herd of +quaggas had remained in sight, disporting themselves upon the open +plain. It was a tantalizing sight to Hendrik, who would have liked +much to have shown his marksman skill by “creasing” one. But the +young hunter saw that it would be imprudent to fire at them there, +as it would prevent them from returning to the vley; so he restrained +himself, and along with the others remained watching the quaggas—all +regarding them with a degree of interest which they had never +before felt in looking at a drove of these animals.</p> + +<p>The quaggas saw nothing of them, although quite near to the great +nwana-tree. They—the hunters—were up among the branches, where +the animals did not think of looking, and there was nothing around +the bottom of the tree to cause them alarm. The wagon-wheels had +long ago been disposed of in the bush, partly to shelter them from +the sun, and partly because game animals frequently came within +shot of the tree, and were thus obtained without any trouble. There +were scarce any traces upon the ground that would have betrayed +the existence of a “camp” in the tree; and a person might have +passed very near without noticing the odd aërial dwelling of the +hunter family.</p> + +<p>All this was design upon the part of the field-cornet. As yet he +knew little of the country around. He did not know but that it +might contain worse enemies than either hyenas or lions.</p> + +<p>While they sat watching the manœuvres of the quaggas, a movement +was made by one of these creatures more singular than any that +had yet been witnessed.</p> + +<p>The animal in question was browsing quietly along, and at length +approached a small clump of bushes that stood out in the open ground. +When close to the copse it was observed to make a sudden spring +forward; and almost at the same instant, a shaggy creature leaped +out of the bushes, and ran off. This last was no other than the ugly +“striped” hyena. Instead of turning upon the quagga and showing +fight, as one might have supposed so strong and fierce a brute would +have done, the hyena uttered a howl of alarm, and ran off as fast as +its legs would carry it.</p> + +<p>They did not carry it far. It was evidently making for a larger<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_432" id="Page_432">432</a></span> +tract of bush that grew near; but before it had got half-way across +the open ground, the quagga came up behind, and uttering his shrill +“couaag,” reared forward, and dropped with his fore-hoofs upon the +hyena's back. At the same instant the neck of the carnivorous animal +was clutched by the teeth of the ruminant and held as fast, as if +grasped by a vice.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 348px;"> +<img src="images/illus-432.jpg" width="348" height="500" alt="THE QUAGGA AND THE HYENA." title="THE QUAGGA AND THE HYENA." /> +<span class="caption">THE QUAGGA AND THE HYENA.</span></div> + +<p>All looked to see the hyena free itself and run off again. They +looked in vain. It never ran another yard. It never came alive out +of the clutch of those terrible teeth.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_433" id="Page_433">433</a></span></p> + +<p>The quagga still held his struggling victim with firm hold—trampling +it with his hoofs, and shaking it in his strong jaws, until in a +few minutes the screams of the hyena ceased, and his mangled carcass +lay motionless upon the plain!</p> + +<p>One would think that this incident might have been enough to +warn our hunters to be cautious in their dealings with the quagga. +Such a sharp biter would be no pleasant horse to “bit and bridle.”</p> + +<p>But all knew the antipathy that exists between the wild horse and +the hyena; and that the quagga, though roused to fury at the sight +of one of these animals, is very different in its behaviour towards +man. So strong, in fact, is this antipathy, and so complete is the +mastery of the ruminant over the carnivorous animal, that the frontier +farmers often take advantage of these peculiar facts, and keep the +hyenas from their cattle by bringing up with the herd a number of +quaggas, who act as its guards and protectors!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE PIT-TRAP.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">W</span>hile they were watching the movements of the quaggas, Von Bloom +rose suddenly to his feet. All turned their eyes upon him as he did +so. They saw by his manner that he was about to propose something. +What could it be?</p> + +<p>The thought had just occurred to him that they should at once set +about digging the pit.</p> + +<p>It was near sunset—wanting only half-an-hour of it; and one +would suppose he would have done better to leave the work till next +morning. But no. There was a good reason why they should set +about it at once; and that was, that they might not be able to complete +it in time if they did not do part of it that night.</p> + +<p>It would be no slight undertaking to dig a pit of proper size, for +they would require one that would at least hold half-a-dozen quaggas +at a time. Then there was the carrying away the earth that should +come out of it, the cutting the poles and branches to cover it, and the +placing of these in a proper manner.</p> + +<p>To do all these things would take up a great deal of time; and they +must be all done against the return of the quaggas, else the whole +scheme would be a failure. Should the animals arrive upon the +ground before the pit was covered in and all traces of the work +removed, they would make off without entering the water, and perhaps +never visit that vley again.</p> + +<p>Such were the conjectures of the field-cornet. Hans, Hendrik, and +Swartboy, acknowledged their justice. All saw the necessity of going +to work at once, and to work they all went.</p> + +<p>Fortunately among the “implements,” were two good spades, a +shovel, and a pick-axe, and all of them could be busy at the same +time. There were baskets in which the dirt could be carried off, and +thrown into the deep channel close by, where it would not be seen. +This was also a fortunate circumstance; for to have carried the stuff +any great distance, would have made the job still heavier, and more +difficult to execute in proper time.</p> + +<p>Having marked the outlines of the pit, they went to work with spade, +shovel, and pick. The ground proved tolerably loose, and the pick was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_434" id="Page_434">434</a></span> +but little needed. The field-cornet himself handled one of the spades +Hendrik the other, while Swartboy acted as shoveller, and filled the +baskets as fast as Hans and Totty, assisted by Trüey and little Jan, +could empty them. These last carried a small basket of their own, +and contributed very materially to the progress of the work, by +lightening the labours of Hans and Totty.</p> + +<p>And so the work went merrily on until midnight, and even after +that hour, under the light of a full moon; by which time the diggers +were buried to their necks.</p> + +<p>But they were now fatigued. They knew they could easily complete +the pit next day; and so they laid down their implements, and after +performing their ablutions in the crystal water of the stream, retired +to their sleeping-quarters in the tree.</p> + +<p>By early dawn they were at it again, busy as bees; and the pit progressed +so rapidly that before they stopped to take breakfast, Von +Bloom could scarce see out of it standing on his toes, and the crown +of Swartboy's woolly head was nearly two feet below the surface. A +little more digging would do.</p> + +<p>After breakfast they went to work as briskly as ever; and laboured +away until they considered that the hole was sunk to a sufficient depth. +It would have taken a springbok to have leaped out of it; and no +quagga could possibly have cleared itself from such a pit.</p> + +<p>Poles and bushes were now cut; and the pit was neatly covered +with these, and strewed over, as well as a large tract of the adjoining +ground, with rushes and grass. The most sagacious animal would +have been deceived by the appearance; even a fox could not have +discovered the trap before tumbling into it.</p> + +<p>They had completed the work before going to dinner,—which, consequently, +fell late on that day—so nothing more remained to be done +but to dine, and await the coming of the quaggas.</p> + +<p>At dinner they were all very merry, notwithstanding the immense +fatigue they had gone through. The prospect of capturing the quaggas +was very exciting, and kept the party in high spirits.</p> + +<p>Each offered a prognostication as to the result. Some said they +would trap three quaggas at the least; while others were more +sanguine, and believed they might take twice that number. Jan did +not see why the pit should not be full; and Hendrik thought this +probable enough—considering the way they intended to drive the +quaggas into it.</p> + +<p>It certainly seemed so. The pit had been made of sufficient width +to preclude the possibility of the animals leaping over it, while it was +dug lengthwise across the path, so that they could not miss it. The +lay of the ground would guide them directly into it.</p> + +<p>It is true that, were they to be left to themselves, and permitted to +follow their usual method of marching—that is, in single file—only +one, the leader, might be caught. The rest, seeing him fall in, would +be sure to wheel round, and gallop off in a different direction.</p> + +<p>But it was not the intention of the hunters to leave things thus. +They had planned a way by which the quaggas, at a certain moment, +would be thrown into a complete panic, and thus forced pell-mell upon +the pit. In this lay their hopes of securing a large number of the +animals.</p> + +<p>Four was as many as were wanted. One for each of the hunters. +Four would do; but of course it mattered not how many more got<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_435" id="Page_435">435</a></span> +into the pit. The more the better, as a large number would give them +the advantage of “pick and choose.”</p> + +<p>Dinner over, the hunters set about preparing for the reception of +their expected visitors. As already stated, the dinner had been later +than usual; and it was now near the hour when the quaggas might +be looked for.</p> + +<p>In order to be in time, each took his station. Hans, Hendrik, and +Swartboy, placed themselves in ambush around the lake—at intervals +from one another; but the lower end, where the animals usually +approached and went out, was left quite open. Von Bloom remained +on the platform in the tree, so as to mark the approach of the quaggas, +and give warning by a signal to the other three. The positions taken +by these were such, that they could guide the herd in the direction of +the pit, by merely coming out of the bushes where they lay concealed. +In order that they should show themselves simultaneously, and at the +proper moment, they were to wait for a signal from the tree. This +was to be the firing of the great “roer,” loaded blank. Hans and +Hendrik were also to fire blank shots on discovering themselves, and +by this means the desired panic would be produced.</p> + +<p>The whole scheme was well contrived, and succeeded admirably. +The herd appeared filing over the plain, just as on the preceding days. +Von Bloom announced their approach to the three in ambush, by repeating +in a subdued tone the words,—</p> + +<p>“Quaggas are coming!”</p> + +<p>The unsuspecting animals filed through the gorge, scattered about +in the water, drank their fill, and then commenced retiring by the path +on which lay the trap.</p> + +<p>The leader having climbed the bank, and seeing the fresh grass and +rushes strewed upon the path, uttered a snorting bark, and seemed +half inclined to wheel round. But just at that moment boomed the +loud detonation of the roer; and, then, like lesser echoes, the reports +of the smaller guns on the right and left, while Swartboy shouted at +the top pitch of his voice, from another quarter.</p> + +<p>A look back showed the quaggas that they were well-nigh surrounded +by strange enemies. But one course appeared open to them—the +way they were wont to go; and barking with affright, the whole +drove dashed up the bank, and crowded on towards the pit.</p> + +<p>Then was heard a confused noise—the cracking of the poles—the +trampling of many hoofs—the dull sounds of heavy bodies falling together, +and mingling in a continuous struggle—and the wild snorting, +as the creatures hurried forward in affright. Some were seen springing +high in the air, as if to overleap the pit. Others poised themselves +on their hind hoofs, and wheeling round, ran back into the lake. +Some dashed off through the bushes, and escaped in that way; but +the great body of the drove came running back, and plunging through +the water, made off by the gorge through which they had come. In a +few minutes not one was in sight.</p> + +<p>The boys thought they had all escaped; but Von Bloom, from his +more elevated position in the tree, could perceive the snouts of several +protruding above the edge of the pit.</p> + +<p>On arriving at the spot, to their great satisfaction the hunters discovered +no less than eight full-grown quaggas in the trap—just twice +the number required to mount the party.</p> + +<p>In less than two weeks from that time, four of the quaggas were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_436" id="Page_436">436</a></span> +broken to the saddle, and perfectly obedient to the bit. Of course +there was a good deal of kicking, and plunging, and flinging, and many +hard gallops, and some ugly falls, before it came to this; but both the +Bushman Swartboy and the Bush-boy Hendrik were expert in the +<i>manège</i> of horses, and soon tamed the quaggas to a proper degree of +docility.</p> + +<p>Upon the very first occasion when these animals were used in the +hunt of the elephant, they rendered the very service expected of them. +The elephant, as usual, bolted after receiving the first shot; but the +hunters on “quagga-back” were enabled to keep him in sight, and +follow rapidly upon his heels. As soon as the elephant discovered +that, run as he would, his pursuers had the power of overtaking him, +he disdained to fly farther, and stood to bay; thus giving them the +opportunity of delivering shot after shot, until a mortal wound brought +his huge body to the earth.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom was delighted. His hopes were high, his benignant star +was once more in the ascendant.</p> + +<p>He would yet accomplish his design. He would yet be rich. A few +years, would enable him to build up his fortune—to construct a +pyramid of ivory!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXVIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">DRIVING IN THE ELAND.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">O</span>f all the family Hendrik was the hunter <i>par excellence</i>. It was he +who habitually stored the larder; and upon days when they were +not engaged in the chase of the elephant, Hendrik would be abroad +alone in pursuit of antelopes, and other creatures, that furnished +their usual subsistence. Hendrik kept the table well supplied.</p> + +<p>Antelopes are the principal game of South Africa—for Africa is +the country of the antelope above all others. You may be surprised +to hear that there are seventy different species of antelopes over all +the earth—that more than fifty of these are African, and that thirty +at least belong to South Africa—that is, the portion of the continent +lying between the Cape of Good Hope and the Tropic of Capricorn.</p> + +<p>It would require the space of a whole book, therefore, to give a fair +account—a monograph—of the antelopes alone; and I cannot afford +that space here. At present I can only say that Africa is the great +antelope country, although many fine species exist also in Asia—that +in America there is but one kind, the prong-horn, with which you +are already well acquainted—and that in Europe there are two, +though one of these, the well-known “chamois,” is as much goat as +antelope.</p> + +<p>I shall farther remark, that the seventy species of animals, by +naturalists classed as antelopes, differ widely from one another in +form, size, colour, pelage, habits; in short, in so many respects, that +their classification under the name of Antelope is very arbitrary +indeed. Some approximate closely to the goat tribe; others are +more like deer; some resemble oxen; others are closely allied to the +buffalo; while a few species possess many of the characteristics of +wild sheep!</p> + +<p>As a general thing, however, they are more like to deer than +any other animals; and many species of them are, in common<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_437" id="Page_437">437</a></span> +parlance, called deer. Indeed, many antelopes are more like to +certain species of deer than to others of their own kind. The chief +distinction noted between them and the deer is, that the antelopes +have horny horns, that are persistent or permanent, while those of +the deer are osseous or bony, and are annually cast.</p> + +<p>Like the deer the different species of antelopes possess very +different habits. Some frequent the wide open plains; some the +deep forest; some wander by the shady banks of streams; while +others love to dwell upon the rocky steep, or the dry ravines of the +mountains. Some browse upon the grass; while others, goat-like, +prefer the leaves and tender twigs of trees. In fact, so different are +these creatures in habits, that whatever be the natural character of +a district of country, it will be found the favourite home of one +or more species. Even the very desert has its antelopes, that prefer +the parched and waterless plain to the most fertile and verdant +valley.</p> + +<p>Of all antelopes the “eland,” or “caana” is the largest. It +measures full seventeen hands at the shoulder—being thus equal in +height to a very large horse. A large eland weighs one thousand +pounds. It is a heavily formed animal, and an indifferent runner, as +a mounted hunter can gallop up to one without effort. Its general +proportions are not unlike those of a common ox, but its horns are +straight and rise vertically from the crown, diverging only slightly +from one another. These are two feet in length, and marked by +a ridge that passes spirally around them nearly to the tips. The +horns of the female are longer than those of the male.</p> + +<p>The eyes of the eland, like those of most antelopes, are large, +bright, and melting, without any expression of fierceness; and the +animal, though so very large and strong, is of the most innocuous +disposition—showing fight only when driven to desperation.</p> + +<p>The general colour of this antelope is dun, with a rufous tinge. +Sometimes ashy grey touched with ochre is the prevailing hue.</p> + +<p>The eland is one of those antelopes that appear to be independent +of water. It is met with upon the desert plains, far from either +spring or stream; and it even seems to prefer such situations—perhaps +from the greater security it finds there—though it is also +a denizen of the fertile and wooded districts. It is gregarious, the +sexes herding separately, and in groups of from ten to a hundred +individuals.</p> + +<p>The flesh of the eland is highly esteemed, and does not yield in +delicacy to that of any of the antelope, deer, or bovine tribes. It +has been compared to tender beef with a game flavour; and the +muscles of the thighs when cured and dried produce a <i>bonne bouche</i>, +known under the odd appellation of “thigh-tongues.”</p> + +<p>Of course the eland affording such excellent meat, and in so large +a quantity, is zealously hunted for his spoils. Being only a poor +runner and always very fat, the hunt is usually a short one; and +ends in the eland being shot down, skinned, and cut up. There is no +great excitement about this chase, except that it is not every day an +eland can be started. The ease with which they can be captured, as +well as the value of their venison, has led to the thinning off of +these antelopes; and it is only in remote districts where a herd of +them can be found.</p> + +<p>Now since their arrival, no elands had been seen, though now and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_438" id="Page_438">438</a></span> +then their spoor was observed; and Hendrik, for several reasons, +was very desirous of getting one. He had never shot an eland in his +life—that was one reason—and another was, that he wished to +procure a supply of the fine venison which lies in such quantities +over the ribs of these animals.</p> + +<p>It was, therefore, with great delight, that Hendrik one morning +received the report that a herd of elands had been seen upon the +upper plain, and not far off. Swartboy, who had been upon the +cliffs, brought this report to camp.</p> + +<p>Without losing any more time than sufficed to get the direction +from Swartboy, Hendrik mounted his quagga, shouldered his rifle, +and rode off in search of the herd.</p> + +<p>Not far from the camp there was an easy pass, leading up the cliff +to the plain above. It was a sort of gorge or ravine; and from the +numerous tracks of animals in its bottom, it was evidently much +used as a road from the upper plain to that in which were the spring +and stream. Certain animals, such as the zebras and quaggas, and +others that frequent the dry desert plains from preference, were +in the habit of coming by this path when they required water.</p> + +<p>Up the gorge rode Hendrik; and no sooner had he arrived at its +top, than he discovered the herd of elands—seven old bulls—about +a mile off upon the upper plain.</p> + +<p>There was not cover enough to have sheltered a fox. The only +growth near the spot where the elands were, consisted of straggling +aloe plants, euphorbias, with some stunted bushes, and tufts of dry +grass, characteristic of the desert. There was no clump large enough +to have sheltered a hunter from the eye of his game; and Hendrik +at once came to the conclusion, that the elands could not be “stalked” +in the situation they then occupied.</p> + +<p>Now, though Hendrik had never hunted this antelope, he was +well acquainted with its habits, and knew how it ought to be chased. +He knew that it was a bad runner; that any old horse could bring +up with it; and that his quagga—the fastest of the four that had +been tamed—could do the same.</p> + +<p>It was only a question of “start,” therefore. Could he get near +enough the bulls to have a fair start, he would run one of them down +to a certainty. The result might be different should the elands take +the alarm at a long distance off, and scour away over the plain.</p> + +<p>To get within fair starting distance, that was the point to be +attempted.</p> + +<p>But Hendrik was a wary hunter, and soon accomplished this. +Instead of riding direct for the elands, he made a grand circuit—until +he had got the herd between him and the cliff—and then, +heading his quagga for them, he rode quietly forward.</p> + +<p>He did not sit erect in the saddle, but held himself bent down, +until his breast almost touched the withers of the quagga. This he +did to deceive the elands, who would otherwise have recognised him +as an enemy. In such a fashion they could not make out what kind +of creature was coming towards them; but stood for a long while +gazing at Hendrik and his quagga with feelings of curiosity, and of +course some little alarm.</p> + +<p>They, however, permitted the hunter to get within five hundred +yards distance—near enough for him—before they broke off in their +heavy lumbering gallop.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_439" id="Page_439">439</a></span></p> + +<p>Hendrik now rose in his saddle, put spurs to his quagga, and +followed the herd at full speed.</p> + +<p>As he had designed, so it came to pass. The elands ran straight +in the direction of the cliff—not where the pass was, but where there +was none—and, on reaching the precipice, were of course forced to +turn into a new direction, transverse to their former one. This gave +Hendrik the advantage, who, heading his quagga diagonally, was +soon upon the heels of the herd.</p> + +<p>It was Hendrik's intention to single out one of the bulls, and run +him down—leaving the others to gallop off wherever they wished.</p> + +<p>His intention was carried out; for shortly after, the fattest of the +bulls shot to one side, as if to escape in that way, while the rest +ran on.</p> + +<p>The bull was not so cunning as he thought himself. Hendrik's +eye was upon him; and in a moment the quagga was turned upon +his track.</p> + +<p>Another burst carried both game and pursuer nearly a mile across +the plain. The eland had turned from a rufous dun colour to that +of a leaden blue; the saliva fell from his lips in long streamers, foam +dappled his broad chest, the tears rolled out of his big eyes, and his +gallop became changed to a weary trot. He was evidently “blown.”</p> + +<p>In a few minutes more the quagga was close upon his heels; and +then the huge antelope, seeing that farther running could not serve +him, halted in despair, and faced round towards his pursuer.</p> + +<p>Now Hendrik had his loaded rifle in his hand, and you expect to +hear that he instantly raised it to his shoulder, took aim, fired, and +brought down the eland.</p> + +<p>I must disappoint you, then, by telling you that he did no such thing.</p> + +<p>Hendrik was a real hunter—neither rash nor wasteful of his resources. +He knew a better plan than to kill the eland upon the spot. +He knew that the animal was now quite in his power; and that he +could drive him wherever he pleased, just like a tame ox. To have +killed the creature on the spot would have been a waste of powder +and shot. More than that, it would have rendered necessary all the +trouble of transporting its flesh to camp—a double journey at least—and +with the risk of the hyenas eating up most of it in his absence. +Whereas he could save all this trouble by driving the eland to camp; +and this was his design.</p> + +<p>Without firing a shot, therefore, he galloped on past the blown +bull, headed him, turned him round, and then drove him before him +in the direction of the cliff.</p> + +<p>The bull could make neither resistance nor opposition. Now and +again he would turn and trot off in a contrary direction; but he was +easily headed again, and at length forced forward to the top of the +pass.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XXXIX.</h2> + +<div class="cap">A WILD RIDE ON QUAGGA-BACK.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">H</span>endrik was congratulating himself on his success. He anticipated +some pleasure in the surprise he was about to create at camp, when +he should march in with the eland—for he had no doubt that he +would succeed in doing so.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_440" id="Page_440">440</a></span></p> + +<p>Indeed, there appeared no reason to doubt it. The bull had +already entered the gorge, and was moving down it, while Hendrik +and his quagga were hurrying forward to follow.</p> + +<p>The hunter had arrived within a few yards of the top, when a loud +trampling noise sounded in his ears, as if a band of heavy-footed +animals were coming up the gorge.</p> + +<p>He spurred his quagga forward, in order to reach the edge, and +get a view down the ravine. Before he was able to do so, he was +surprised to see the eland gallop up again, and try to pass him upon +the plain. It had evidently received fresh alarm, from something in +the gorge; and preferred facing its old enemy to encountering the +new.</p> + +<p>Hendrik did not give his attention to the eland. He could ride it +down at any time. He was more anxious first to know what had +given it the start backward; so he continued to press forward to the +head of the ravine.</p> + +<p>He might have thought of lions, and acted with greater prudence; +but the trampling of hoofs which still echoed up the pass told him +that lions were not the cause of the eland's alarm.</p> + +<p>He at length reached a point where he could see down the declivity. +He had not far to look—for already the animals that were making +the noise were close up to him; and he perceived they were nothing +more than a troop of quaggas.</p> + +<p>He was not over-pleased at this interruption to his drive; and the +less did he like it, that the intruders were quaggas—ill-conditioned +brutes that they were! Had they been game animals, he would have +shot one; but the only motive that would have induced him to shoot +one of the quaggas would have been a feeling of anger—for, at that +moment, he was really angry at them.</p> + +<p>Without knowing it, poor brutes! they had likely given him cause +for a good deal of trouble: for it would cost him a good deal, before +he could head the eland again, and get it back into the pass. No +wonder, then, he was vexed a little.</p> + +<p>But his vexation was not so grievous as to cause him to fire upon +the approaching herd; and, turning aside, he rode after the eland.</p> + +<p>He had hardly left the spot, when the quaggas came out of the +pass, following each other to the number of forty or fifty. Each, as +he saw the mounted hunter, started with affright, and bolted off, +until the whole drove stretched out in a long line over the plain, +snorting and uttering their loud “coua-a-g” as they ran.</p> + +<p>Hendrik would hardly have regarded this movement under ordinary +circumstances. He had often seen herds of quaggas, and was in no +way curious about them. But his attention was drawn to this herd, +from his noticing, as they passed him, that four of them had their +tails docked short; and from this circumstance, he recognised them +as the four that had been caught in the pit-trap and afterwards set +free. Swartboy, for some purpose of his own, had cut off the hair +before letting them go.</p> + +<p>Hendrik had no doubt it was they, and that the herd was the same +that used to frequent the vley, but that on account of the ill-treatment +they had met with, had never since shown themselves in the +neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>Now these circumstances coming into Hendrik's mind at the +moment, led him to regard the quaggas with a certain feeling of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_441" id="Page_441">441</a></span> +curiosity. The sudden fright which the animals took on seeing him, +and the comic appearance of the four with the stumped tails, rather +inclined Hendrik towards merriment, and he laughed as he galloped +along.</p> + +<p>As the quaggas went off in the same direction which the eland had +taken, of course Hendrik's road and theirs lay so far together; and +on galloped he at their heels. He was curious to try the point—much +disputed in regard to horses—how far a mounted quagga would be +able to cope with an unmounted one. He was curious moreover, +to find out whether his own quagga was quite equal to any of its old +companions. So on swept the chase, the eland leading, the quaggas +after, and Hendrik bringing up the rear.</p> + +<p>Hendrik had no need to ply the spur. His gallant steed flew like the +wind. He seemed to feel that his character was staked upon the +race. He gained upon the drove at every spring.</p> + +<p>The heavy-going eland was soon overtaken, and as it trotted to +one side, was passed. It halted, but the quaggas kept on.</p> + +<p>Not only the drove kept on, but Hendrik's quagga following close +at their heels; and in less than five minutes they had left the eland +a full mile in their rear, and were still scouring onward over the +wide plain.</p> + +<p>What was Hendrik about? Was he going to forsake the eland, +and let it escape? Had he grown so interested in the race? Was he +jealous about his quagga's speed, and determined it should beat all +the others?</p> + +<p>So it would have appeared to any one witnessing the race from a +distance. But one who could have had a nearer view of it, would +have given a different explanation of Hendrik's conduct.</p> + +<p>The fact was, that as soon as the eland halted, Hendrik intended +to halt also; and for that purpose pulled strongly upon his bridle. +But, to his astonishment, he found that his quagga did not share his +intention. Instead of obeying the bit, the animal caught the steel in +his teeth, and laying his ears back, galloped straight on!</p> + +<p>Hendrik then endeavoured to turn the quagga to one side, and for +this purpose wrenched his right rein; but with such fierceness, that +the old bit-ring gave way—the bit slipped through the animal's jaws—the +head-stall came off with the jerk—and the quagga was completely +unbridled!</p> + +<p>Of course the animal was now free to go just as he liked; and it +was plain that he liked to go with his old comrades. His old comrades +he well knew them to be, as his snorting and occasional neigh of +recognition testified.</p> + +<p>At first Hendrik was disposed to look upon the breaking of his bit +as only a slight misfortune. For a boy he was one of the best riders +in South Africa, and needed no rein to steady him. He could keep +his seat without one. The quagga would soon stop, and he could +then repair the bit, and re-adjust the bridle which he still held in his +hands. Such were his reflections at first.</p> + +<p>But their spirit began to alter, when he found that the quagga, +instead of lessening his pace, kept on as hard as ever, and the herd +still ran wildly before him without showing the slightest signs of coming +to a halt.</p> + +<p>In fact, the quaggas were running through fear. They saw the +mounted hunter behind them in hot pursuit; and although their old<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_442" id="Page_442">442</a></span> +comrade knew who they were, how were they to tell what he was, +with such a tall hunch upon his back? No quagga he, but some +terrible monster, they imagined, thirsting for their lives, and eager +to devour one and all of them!</p> + +<p>No wonder they showed their heels in the best style they knew +how; and so well did they show them, that Hendrik's quagga—notwithstanding +his keen desire to get forward among them, and explain +away the awkward business upon his back—was not able to come an +inch closer.</p> + +<p>He did not lose ground, however. His eagerness to regain his old +associates—to partake once more of their wild freedom—for he was +desperately tired of civilised society, and sick of elephant-hunting—all +these ideas crowded into his mind at the moment, and nerved him +to the utmost exertion. Could he only get up into the body of the +crowd—for the herd now ran in a crowd—a few whimpers would +suffice to explain—they would come to a halt at once,—they would +gather around him, and assist both with hoofs and teeth to get +“shed” of the ugly two-legged thing that clung so tightly to his +dorsal vertebræ.</p> + +<p>It was “no go,” however. Although he was so close to their heels, +that they flung dust in his face, and small pebbles in the face of his +rider, to the no slight inconvenience of the latter; although he +“whighered” whenever he could spare breath, and uttered his “couag,—couag!” +in reality calling them by name, it was “no go.” They +would not stay. They would not hear.</p> + +<p>And what did Hendrik during all this time? Nothing—he could +do nothing. He could not stay the impetuous flight of his steed. +He dared not dismount. He would have been hurled among sharp +rocks, had he attempted such a thing. His neck would have been +broken. He could do nothing—nothing but keep his seat.</p> + +<p>What thought he? At first, not much. At first he regarded the +adventure lightly. When he was about completing his third mile, he +began to deem it more serious; and as he entered upon the fifth, he +became convinced that he was neither more nor less than in a very +awkward scrape.</p> + +<p>But the fifth mile was left behind, and then a sixth, and a seventh; +and still the quaggas galloped wildly on—the drove actuated by the +fear of losing their liberty, and their old comrade by the desire of +regaining his.</p> + +<p>Hendrik now felt real uneasiness. Where were they going? Where +was the brute carrying him? Perhaps off to the desert, where he +might be lost and perish of hunger or thirst! Already he was many +miles from the cliffs, and he could no longer tell their direction. +Even had he halted then and there, he could not tell which way to +turn himself. He would be lost!</p> + +<p>He grew more than anxious. He became frightened in earnest.</p> + +<p>What was he to do? Leap down, and risk his neck in the fall? He +would lose his quagga and his saddle as well—he regarded the eland +as already lost—he would have to walk back to camp, and get laughed +at on his return.</p> + +<p>No matter for all that; his life was in danger if he kept on. The +quaggas might gallop twenty,—aye, fifty miles before halting. They +showed no symptoms of being blown—no signs of giving out. He +must fling himself to the ground, and let quagga and saddle go.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_443" id="Page_443">443</a></span></p> + +<p>He had formed this resolution, and was actually about to put it in +practice. He was just considering how he might best escape an ugly +fall—looking for a soft spot—when, all at once, a grand idea rushed +into his mind.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/illus-443.jpg" width="500" height="347" alt="HENDRICK BLINDING THE QUAGGA." title="HENDRICK BLINDING THE QUAGGA" /> +<span class="caption">HENDRICK BLINDING THE QUAGGA.</span></div> + +<p>He remembered that in taming this same quagga and breaking him +to the saddle, he had been vastly aided by a very simple contrivance—that +was a “blind.” The blind was nothing more than a piece of +soft leather tied over the animal's eyes; but so complete had been its +effect, that it had transformed the quagga at once from a kicking +screaming creature into a docile animal.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_444" id="Page_444">444</a></span></p> + +<p>Hendrik now thought of the blind.</p> + +<p>True, he had none. Was there nothing about him that would serve +as one? His handkerchief? No, it would be too thin. Hurrah! +His jacket would do!</p> + +<p>His rifle was in the way. It must be got rid of. It must be dropped +to the ground. He could return for it.</p> + +<p>It was let down as gently as possible, and soon left far behind.</p> + +<p>In a twinkling Hendrik stripped off his jacket. How was it to be +arranged so as to blind the quagga? It would not do to drop it.</p> + +<p>A moment's consideration served the ready boy to mature his plan. +After a moment he bent down, passed a sleeve upon each side under +the quagga's throat, and then knotted them together. The jacket +thus rested over the animal's mane, with the collar near its withers, +and the peak or skirt upon the small of its neck.</p> + +<p>Hendrik next leaned as far forward as he could, and with his +extended arms pushed the jacket up the animal's neck, until the skirt +passed over its ears, and fell down it front of its face.</p> + +<p>It was with some difficulty that the rider, bent down as he was, +could retain his seat; for as soon as the thick flap of cloth came down +over the eyes of the quagga, the latter halted as if he had been shot +dead in his tracks. He did not fall, however, but only stood still, +quivering with terror. His gallop was at an end!</p> + +<p>Hendrik leaped to the ground. He was no longer afraid that the +quagga, blinded as he now was, would make any attempt to get off; +nor did he.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the broken bit-ring was replaced by a strong +rheim of raw leather; the bit inserted between the quagga's teeth, +the head-stall safely buckled, and Hendrik once more in the saddle, +with his jacket upon his back.</p> + +<p>The quagga felt that he was conquered. His old associates were no +longer in sight to tempt him from his allegiance; and with these +considerations, aided by a slight dose of bit and spur, he turned his +head, and moved sullenly upon the back track.</p> + +<p>Hendrik knew nothing about the route he should take. He followed +back the spoor of the quaggas to the place where he had dropped his +gun, which after riding a mile or two he recovered.</p> + +<p>As there was no sun in the sky, nor other object to guide him, he +thought he could not do better than trace back the spoor; and +although it led him by many a devious route, and he saw nothing +more of his eland, before night he reached the pass in the cliff, and +was soon after sitting under the shadow of the nwana-tree, regaling a +most interested audience with the narrative of his day's adventures.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XL.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE GUN-TRAP.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">I</span>t was about this time that the field-cornet and his people were very +much annoyed by beasts of prey. The savoury smell which their +camp daily sent forth, as well as the remains of antelopes, killed for +their venison, attracted these visitors. Hyenas and jackals were +constantly skulking in the neighbourhood, and at night came around +the great nwana-tree in scores, keeping up their horrid chorus for +hours together. It is true that nobody feared these animals, as the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_445" id="Page_445">445</a></span> +children at night were safe in their aërial home, where the hyenas +could not get at them. But for all that, the presence of the brutes +was very offensive, as not a bit of meat—not a hide, nor rheim, nor +any article of leather—could be left below without their getting their +teeth upon it, and chewing it up. Quarters of venison they had +frequently stolen, and they had eaten up the leathern part of Swartboy's +saddle, and rendered it quite useless for a while. In short, so +great a pest had the hyenas grown to be, that it became necessary to +adopt some mode of destroying them.</p> + +<p>It was not easy to get a shot at them. During the day they were +wary, and either hid themselves in caves of the cliff or in the burrows +of the ant-eater. At night they were bold enough, and came into +the very camp; but then the darkness hindered a good aim, and the +hunters knew too well the value of powder and lead to waste it on +a chance shot, though now and then, when provoked by the brutes, +they ventured one.</p> + +<p>But some way must be thought of to thin the numbers of these +animals, or get rid of them altogether. This was the opinion of +everybody.</p> + +<p>Two or three kinds of traps were tried, but without much success. +A pit they could leap out of, and from a noose they could free +themselves by cutting the rope by their sharp teeth!</p> + +<p>At length the field-cornet resorted to a plan—much practised by +the boers of Southern Africa for ridding their farms of these and +similar “vermin.” It was the “gun-trap.”</p> + +<p>Now there are several ways of constructing a gun-trap. Of course +a gun is the principal part of the mechanism, and the trigger pulled +by a string is the main point of the contrivance. In some countries +the bait is tied to the string, and the animal on seizing the bait +tightens the string, draws the trigger, and shoots itself. In this +way, however, there is always some uncertainty as to the result. The +animal may not place its body in the proper position with regard to +the muzzle, and may either escape the shot altogether, or may be +only “creased,” and of course get off.</p> + +<p>The mode of setting the “gun-trap” in South Africa is a superior +plan; and the creature that is so unfortunate as to draw the trigger +rarely escapes, but is either killed upon the spot, or so badly wounded +as to prevent its getting away.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom constructed his trap after the approved fashion, as +follows:—Near the camp he selected a spot where three saplings or +young trees grew, standing in a line, and about a yard between each +two of them. Had he not found these trees so disposed, stakes +firmly driven into the ground would have answered his purpose +equally well.</p> + +<p>Thorn-bushes were now cut, and a kraal built in the usual manner—that +is with the tops of the bushes turned outwards. The size of +the kraal was a matter of no consequence; and, of course, to save +labour, a small one was constructed.</p> + +<p>One point, however, was observed in making the kraal. Its door +of opening was placed so that two of the three saplings stood like +posts, one on each side of it; and an animal going into the enclosure +must needs pass these two trees.</p> + +<p>Now for the part the gun had to play.</p> + +<p>The weapon was placed in a horizontal position against two of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_446" id="Page_446">446</a></span> +saplings,—that is, the stock against the one outside the kraal, and +the barrel against one of the door-posts, and there firmly lashed. +In this position the muzzle was close to the edge of the entrance, and +pointing directly to the sapling on the opposite side. It was at such +a height as to have ranged with the heart of a hyena standing in the +opening.</p> + +<p>The next move was to adjust the string. Already a piece of stick, +several inches in length, had been fixed to the small of the stock, +and, of course, behind the trigger. This was fastened transversely, +but not so as to preclude all motion. A certain looseness in its +adjustment gave it the freedom required to be worked as a lever—for +that was its design.</p> + +<p>To each end of this little stick was fastened a string. One of +these strings was attached to the trigger; the other, after being +carried through the thimbles of the ramrod, traversed across the +entrance of the kraal, and was knotted upon the opposite side to the +sapling that stood there. This string followed the horizontal direction +of the barrel, and was just “taut;” so that any farther strain +upon it would act upon the little lever, and by that means pull +the trigger; and then of course “bang” would go the roer.</p> + +<p>When this string was adjusted, and the gun loaded and +cocked, the trap was set.</p> + +<p>Nothing remained to be done but bait it. This was not a difficult +task. It consisted simply in placing a piece of meat or carcass +within the enclosure, and there leaving it to attract the prowling +beasts to the spot.</p> + +<p>When the gun had been set, Swartboy carried up the bait—the +offal of an antelope killed that day—and flung it into the kraal; and +then the party went quietly to their beds, without thinking more of +the matter.</p> + +<p>They had not slept a wink, however, before they were startled by +the loud “crack” of the roer, followed by a short stifled cry that +told them the gun-trap had done its work.</p> + +<p>A torch was procured, and the four hunters proceeded to the spot. +There they found the dead body of a huge “tiger-wolf” lying doubled +up in the entrance, and right under the muzzle of the gun. He had +not gone a step after receiving the shot—in fact, had hardly kicked +before dying—as the bullet, wad, and all, had gone quite through his +ribs and entered his heart, after making a large ugly hole in his side. +Of course he must have been within a few inches of the muzzle, +when his breast, pressing against the string, caused the gun to +go off.</p> + +<p>Having again loaded the roer, the hunters returned to their beds. +One might suppose they would have dragged the suicidal hyena +away from the spot, lest his carcass should serve as a warning to his +comrades, and keep them away from the trap. But Swartboy knew +better than that. Instead of being scared by the dead body of one +of their kind, the hyenas only regard it as proper prey, and will +devour it as they would the remains of a tender antelope!</p> + +<p>Knowing this, Swartboy did not take the dead hyena away, but +only drew it within the kraal to serve as a farther inducement for +the others to attempt an entrance there.</p> + +<p>Before morning they were once more awakened by the “bang” of +the great gun. This time they lay still; but when day broke they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_447" id="Page_447">447</a></span> +visited their trap, and found that a second hyena had too rashly +pressed his bosom against the fatal string.</p> + +<p>Night after night they continued their warfare against the hyenas, +changing the trap-kraal to different localities in the surrounding +neighbourhood.</p> + +<p>At length these creatures were nearly exterminated, or, at all +events, became so rare and shy, that their presence by the camp was +no longer an annoyance one way or the other.</p> + +<p>About this time, however, there appeared another set of visitors, +whose presence was far more to be dreaded, and whose destruction the +hunters were more anxious to accomplish. That was a family of lions.</p> + +<p>The spoor of these had been often seen in the neighbourhood; but +it was some time before they began to frequent the camp. However, +about the time the hyenas had been fairly got rid of, the lions took +their place, and came every night, roaring about the camp in a most +terrific manner. Dreadful as these sounds were, the people were not +so much afraid of them as one might imagine. They well knew that +the lions could not get at them in the tree. Had it been leopards +they might have felt less secure, as the latter are true tree-climbers; +but they had seen no leopards in that country, and did not think of +them.</p> + +<p>They were not altogether without fear of the lions, however. +They were annoyed, moreover, that they could not with safety descend +from the tree after nightfall, but were every night besieged from +sunset till morning. Besides, although the cow and the quaggas +were shut in strong kraals, they dreaded each night that the lions +would make a seizure of one or other of these animals; and the loss +of any one of them, but especially their valuable friend “old Graaf,” +would have been a very serious misfortune.</p> + +<p>It was resolved, therefore, to try the gun-trap upon the lions, as it +had succeeded so well with the hyenas.</p> + +<p>There was no difference in the construction or contrivance of the +trap. The gun only had to be placed upon a higher level, so that its +muzzle might be opposite the lion's heart, and the proper range was +easily obtained. The bait, however, was not carcass, but an animal +freshly killed; and for this purpose an antelope was procured.</p> + +<p>The result was as desired. On the first night the old male lion +“breasted” the fatal string and bit the dust. Next night the lioness +was destroyed in a similar way: and shortly after a full-grown +young male.</p> + +<p>The trap then lay idle for a while; but about a week after a half-grown +“cub” was shot near the camp by Hendrik, no doubt the last +of that family, as no lions were seen for a long time after.</p> + +<p>A great enemy to night plunderers was that same gun-trap.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XLI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE WEAVER-BIRDS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">N</span>ow that the beasts of prey had been destroyed, or driven from +about the camp, there was no longer any danger in that quarter, and +the children could be left by themselves. Totty of course always +stayed with them; while the four hunters went forth upon the +chase of the elephant—each mounted upon his quagga.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_448" id="Page_448">448</a></span></p> + +<p>They had done so many a time, and as no harm had happened to +the children in their absence, such a course became habitual with +them. Jan and Trüey were cautioned not to stray far from the +nwana, and always to climb to the tree, should they perceive any +animal that might be dangerous. Before the destruction of the +hyenas and lions, they had been used to remain altogether in the +tree, while the hunters were absent. But this had been quite an +imprisonment to them; and now that the danger was not considered +much, they were allowed to come down and play upon the grassy +plain, or wander along the shore of the little lake.</p> + +<p>On one occasion when the hunters were abroad, Trüey had strayed +down to the edge of the water. She was alone, if we except the +company of the gazelle, which followed at her heels wherever she +went. This pretty creature had grown to full size, and had turned +out a great beauty, with large round eyes that had a lovely melting +expression, like the eyes of Trüey herself.</p> + +<p>Well, as I have said, Trüey was alone. Jan was busy near the +bottom of the tree, working a new rod into his bird-cage, and Totty +was out upon the plain herding “old Graaf”—so Trüey and the pet +springbok went strolling along by themselves.</p> + +<p>Now Trüey had not gone down to the water without an object. +She had one. She had gone to give her pet a drink, and collect some +blue lilies for a bouquet. All this she had done, and still continued +to walk along the shore.</p> + +<p>On one side of the lake, and that the farthest from the nwana-tree, +a low spit of land projected into the water. It had once been +but a sand-bar, but grass had grown upon it, until a green turf was +formed. There was not over a square perch of it altogether, but it +was not square in shape. On the contrary, it was of oval form, and +much narrower nearest the land, where it formed a neck, or isthmus, +not more than three feet in width. It was, in short, a miniature +peninsula, which by a very little work with the spade could have +been converted into a miniature island—had that been desired.</p> + +<p>Now there is nothing very remarkable about a little peninsula +projecting into a lake. In nearly every lake such a thing may be +seen. But about this one there was something remarkable.</p> + +<p>Upon its extreme end grew a tree of singular form and foliage. It +was not a large tree, and its branches drooped downwards until their +tips almost touched the water. The pendulous boughs, and long +lanceolate silvery leaves, rendered it easy to tell what sort of tree it +was. It was the weeping or Babylonian willow—so called, because +it was upon trees of this species that the captive Jews hung their +harps when they “sat and wept by the streams of Babel.” This +beautiful tree casts its waving shadow over the streams of South +Africa, as well as those of Assyria; and often is the eye of the +traveller gladdened by the sight of its silvery leaves, as he beholds +them—sure indications of water—shining afar over the parched and +thirsty desert. If a Christian, he fails not to remember that highly +poetical passage of sacred writing, that speaks of the willow of +Babylon.</p> + +<p>Now the one which grew upon the little peninsula had all these +points of interest for little Trüey—but it had others as well. Upon +its branches that overhung the water a very singular appearance +presented itself. Upon these was suspended—one upon the end of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_449" id="Page_449">449</a></span> +each branch—a number of odd shaped objects, that hung drooping +down until their lower ends nearly rested upon the surface of the +water. These objects, as stated, were of a peculiar shape. At the +upper ends—where they were attached to the branches—they were +globe-shaped, but the lower part consisted of a long cylinder of much +smaller diameter, and at the bottom of this cylinder was the entrance. +They bore some resemblance to salad-oil bottles inverted, +with their necks considerably lengthened; or they might be compared +to the glass retorts seen in the laboratory of the chemist.</p> + +<p>They were each twelve or fifteen inches in length, and of a greenish +colour—nearly as green as the leaves of the tree itself. Were they +its fruit?</p> + +<p>No. The weeping willow bears no fruit of that size. They were +not fruit. They were nests of birds!</p> + +<p>Yes; they were the nests of a colony of harmless finches of the +genus <i>Ploceus</i>,—better known to you under the appellation of +“weaver-birds.”</p> + +<p>I am sure you have heard of weaver-birds before this; and you +know that these creatures are so called on account of the skill which +they exhibit in the construction of their nests. They do not build +nests, as other birds, but actually weave them, in a most ingenious +manner.</p> + +<p>You are not to suppose that there is but one species of weaver-bird—one +kind alone that forms these curious nests. In Africa—which +is the principal home of these birds—there are many different +kinds, forming different genera, whose hard names I shall not trouble +you with. Each of these different kinds builds a nest of peculiar +shape, and each chooses a material different from the others. Some, +as the <i>Ploceus icterocephalus</i>, make their nests of a kidney shape, with +the entrance upon the sides, and the latter not circular, but like an +arched doorway. Others of the genus <i>Plocepasser</i> weave their nests +in such a manner, that the thick ends of the stalks stick out all +around the outside, giving them the appearance of suspended hedgehogs; +while the birds of another genus closely allied to the latter, +construct their nests of slender twigs, leaving the ends of these to +project in a similar manner. The “social grosbeak” fabricates a +republic of nests in one clump, and all under one roof. The entrances +are in the under-surface of this mass, which, occupying the whole +top of a tree, has the appearance of a haystack, or a dense piece of +thatch.</p> + +<p>All these weaver-birds, though of different genera, bear a considerable +resemblance to each other in their habits. They are usually +granivorous, though some are insectivorous; and one species, the +“red-billed weaver bird” is a parasite of the wild buffaloes.</p> + +<p>It is a mistake to suppose that weaver-birds are only found in +Africa and the Old World, as stated in the works of many naturalists. +In tropical America, birds of this character are found in many +species of the genera <i>Cassicus</i> and <i>Icterus</i>, who weave pensile nests +of a similar kind upon the trees of the Amazon and Orinoco. But +the true weaver-birds—that is to say, those which are considered the +type of the class,—are those of the genus <i>Ploceus</i>; and it was a +species of this genus that had hung their pendulous habitations upon +the weeping willow. They were of the species known as the “pensile +weaver-bird.”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_450" id="Page_450">450</a></span></p> + +<p>There were full twenty of their nests in all, shaped as already +described, and of green colour—for the tough “Bushman's grass,” +out of which they had been woven, had not yet lost its verdant hue, +nor would it for a long time. Being of this colour, they actually +looked like something that grew upon the tree,—like great pear-shaped +fruits. No doubt from this source have been derived the +tales of ancient travellers, who represented that in Africa were trees +with fruits upon them, which, upon being broken open, disclosed to +view either living birds or their eggs! +Now the sight of the weaver-birds, and their nests, was nothing +new to Trüey. It was some time since the colony had established +itself upon the willow-tree, and she and they had grown well acquainted. +She had often visited the birds, had collected seeds, and +carried them down to the tree; and there was not one of the whole +colony that would not have perched upon her wrist or her pretty +white shoulders, or hopped about over her fair locks, without fear. +It was nothing unusual to her to see the pretty creatures playing +about the branches, or entering the long vertical tunnels that led +upward to their nests—nothing unusual for Trüey to listen for hours +to their sweet twittering, or watch their love-gambols around the +borders of the vley.</p> + +<p>She was not thinking of them at the moment, but of something +else, perhaps of the blue water-lilies—perhaps of the springbok—but +certainly not of them, as she tripped gaily along the edge of the lake.</p> + +<p>Her attention, however, was suddenly attracted to the birds.</p> + +<p>All at once, and without any apparent cause, they commenced +screaming and fluttering around the tree, their cries and gestures +betokening a high state of excitement or alarm.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XLII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE SPITTING-SNAKE.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">“W</span>hat can be the matter with my pretty birds?” asked Trüey of +herself. “Something wrong surely! I see no hawk. Perhaps they +are fighting among themselves. I shall go round and see. I shall +soon pacify them.”</p> + +<p>And so saying she mended her pace; and passing round the end of +the lake, walked out upon the peninsula until she stood under the +willow.</p> + +<p>There was no underwood. The tree stood alone upon the very end +of the spit of land, and Trüey went close in to its trunk. Here she +stopped and looked up among the branches, to ascertain what was +causing so much excitement among the birds.</p> + +<p>As she approached, several of the little creatures had flown towards +her, and alighted upon her arms and shoulders; but not as was their +wont when desiring to be fed. They appeared to be in a state of alarm, +and had come to her for protection.</p> + +<p>Some enemy certainly must be near, thought Trüey, though she +could see none.</p> + +<p>She looked around and above. There were no hawks in the air, nor +on the neighbouring trees,—no birds of prey of any kind. Had there +been one in the willow, she could easily have seen it, as the foliage +was light and thin; besides a hawk would not have remained in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_451" id="Page_451">451</a></span> +tree with her standing so near. What, then, caused the trouble among +the birds? what was still causing it—for they were as noisy and +terrified as ever? Ha! At last the enemy appears—at last Trüey's +eyes have fallen upon the monster who has disturbed the peaceful +colony of weavers, and roused them to such a pitch of excitement.</p> + +<p>Slowly gliding along a horizontal branch, grasping the limb in its +many spiral folds, appeared the body of a large serpent. Its scales +glittered as it moved, and it was the shining of these that had caught +Trüey's eyes, and directed them upon the hideous reptile.</p> + +<p>When she first saw it, it was gliding spirally along one of the horizontal +branches of the willow, and coming, as it were, from the nests +of the birds. Her eyes, however, had scarce rested upon it, before its +long slippery body passed from the branch, and the next moment it +was crawling head-foremost down the main trunk of the tree.</p> + +<p>Trüey had scarce time to start back, before its head was opposite +the spot where she had stood. No doubt, had she kept her place she +would have been bitten by the serpent at once; for the reptile, on +reaching that point, detached its head from the tree, spread its jaws +wide open, projected its forked tongue, and hissed horribly. It was +evidently enraged—partly because it had failed in its plundering intentions, +not having been able to reach the nests of the birds,—and +partly that the latter had repeatedly struck it with their beaks—no +doubt causing it considerable pain. It was further provoked by the +arrival of Trüey, in whom it recognised the rescuer of its intended +victims.</p> + +<p>Whatever were its thoughts at that moment, it was evidently in a +rage—as the motion of its head and the flashing of its eyes testified; +and it would have sprung upon any creature that had unfortunately +come its way.</p> + +<p>Trüey, however, had no intention of getting in its way if she could +avoid it. It might be a harmless serpent for all she knew; but a snake, +nearly six feet in length, whether it be harmless or venomous, is a +terrible object to be near; and Trüey had instinctively glided to one +side, and stood off from it as far as the water would allow her.</p> + +<p>She would have run back over the narrow isthmus; but something +told her that the snake was about to take that direction, and might +overtake her; and this thought induced her to pass to one side of the +peninsula, in hopes the reptile would follow the path that led out to +the mainland.</p> + +<p>Having got close to the water's edge, she stood gazing upon the +hideous form, and trembled as she gazed.</p> + +<p>Had Trüey known the character of that reptile, she would have +trembled all the more. She saw before her one of the most venomous +of serpents, the black naja, or “spitting-snake”—the cobra of Africa—far +more dangerous than its congener the <i>cobra de capello</i> of India, +because far more active in its movements, and equally fatal in its bite.</p> + +<p>Trüey knew not this. She only knew that there was a great ugly +snake, nearly twice her own length, with a large open mouth, and +glistening tongue, apparently ready to eat her up. That was fearful +enough for her, poor thing! and she gazed and trembled, and trembled +and gazed again.</p> + +<p>Angry as the cobra appeared, it did not turn aside to attack her. +Neither did it remain by the tree. After uttering its long loud hiss, +it descended to the ground, and glided rapidly off.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_452" id="Page_452">452</a></span></p> + +<p>It made directly for the isthmus, as if intending to pass it, and retreat +to some bushes that grew at a distance off on the mainland.</p> + +<p>Trüey was in hopes that such was its design, and was just beginning +to feel safe again, when, all at once, the snake coiled itself upon the +narrow neck of land, as if it intended to stay there.</p> + +<p>It had executed this manœuvre so suddenly, and so apparently without +premeditation, that Trüey looked to discover the cause. The +moment before, it was gliding along in rapid retreat, its glistening +form stretched to its full length along the earth. The next instant it +had assumed the appearance of a coiled cable, over the edge of which +projected its fierce head, with the scaly skin of its neck broadly extended, +into that hood-like form which characterises the cobra.</p> + +<p>Trüey, we have said, looked for the cause of this sudden change in +the tactics of the reptile. She learnt it at the first glance.</p> + +<p>There stretched a piece of smooth sloping ground from the edge of +the lake back into the plain. By this the little peninsula was approached. +As she glanced outward, she saw the springbok advancing +down this slope. It was the approach of the antelope that had interrupted +the retreat of the serpent!</p> + +<p>Trüey, on first discovering the snake, had uttered a cry of alarm. +This cry had summoned her pet—that had lingered behind browsing +upon the grass—and it was now bounding forward, with its white tail +erect, and its large brown eyes glistening with an expression of inquiry.</p> + +<p>It saw its mistress out upon the peninsula. Had she called it? +Why had she uttered that strange cry? They were not sounds of joyful +import it had heard. Was anything amiss? Yonder she stood. +It would gallop to her and see what was wanted; and with such +thoughts passing through its brain, the bright little creature bounded +down the bank towards the edge of the lake.</p> + +<p>Trüey trembled for her pet. Another spring, and it would be upon +the lurking serpent—another——“Ha! it is safe!”</p> + +<p>These words escaped from the lips of the young girl, as she saw the +springbok rise high in the air, and leap far and clear over the coiled +reptile. The antelope had observed the snake in time, and saved itself +by one of those tremendous bounds, such as only a springbok can make. +The fond creature, having passed the danger, now ran on to its mistress, +and stood with its big shining eyes bent upon her inquiringly.</p> + +<p>But the cry that Trüey had uttered had summoned another individual. +To her horror, she now saw little Jan running down the +slope, and coming directly upon the path where the cobra lay coiled!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XLIII.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE SERPENT-EATER.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">J</span>an's danger was imminent. He was rushing impetuously forward +upon the coiled serpent. He knew not that it was before him. No +warning would reach him in time to stay his haste. In another +moment he would be on the narrow path, and then no power could +save him from the deadly bite. It would be impossible for him to +leap aside or over the reptile, as the antelope had done; for even then +Trüey had noticed that the cobra had darted its long neck several feet +upwards. It would be certain to reach little Jan, perhaps coil itself +around him. Jan would be lost.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_453" id="Page_453">453</a></span></p> + +<p>For some moments Trüey was speechless. Terror had robbed her +of the power of speech. She could only scream, and fling her arms +wildly about.</p> + +<p>But these demonstrations, instead of warning Jan of the danger, +only rendered it the more certain. He connected the cries which +Trüey now uttered with that which had first summoned him. She +was in some trouble—he knew not what; but as she continued to +scream, he believed that something had attacked her. A snake he +thought it might be; but whatever it was, his first impulse was to +hurry up to her rescue. He could do no good until close to her; and, +therefore, he did not think of halting until he should reach the spot +where she stood.</p> + +<p>Her screams, therefore, and the wild gestures that accompanied +them, only caused him to run the faster; and as his eyes were bent +anxiously on Trüey, there was not the slightest hope that he would +perceive the serpent until he had either trodden upon it, or felt its +fatal bite.</p> + +<p>Trüey uttered one last cry of warning, pronouncing at the same +time the words:—</p> + +<p>“O, brother! back! The snake! the snake!”</p> + +<p>The words were uttered in vain. Jan heard them, but did not +comprehend their meaning. He heard the word “snake.” He was +expecting as much. It had attacked Trüey; and although he did not +see it, it was no doubt wound about her body. He hurried on.</p> + +<p>Already he was within six paces of the dread reptile, that had +erected its long spread neck to receive him. Another moment, and +its envenomed fangs would pierce deep into his flesh.</p> + +<p>With a despairing scream Trüey rushed forward. She hoped to +attract the monster upon herself. She would risk her own life to save +that of her brother!</p> + +<p>She had got within six feet of the threatening reptile. Jan was +about the same distance from it on the opposite side. They were +equally in peril; and one or the other—perhaps both—would have +fallen a sacrifice to the deadly cobra; but at that moment their +saviour was nigh. A dark shadow passed under their eyes—in their +ears was a rushing sound like the “whish” of a falling body—and at +the same instant a large bird darted down between them!</p> + +<p>It did not stay to alight. For a moment its strong broad wings +agitated the air in their faces; but the next moment the bird made +a sudden effort, and rose vertically upwards.</p> + +<p>Trüey's eyes fell upon the ground. The cobra was no longer there.</p> + +<p>With an exclamation of joy she sprang forward, and, throwing her +arms around Jan, cried out,—</p> + +<p>“We are saved, brother!—we are saved!”</p> + +<p>Jan was somewhat bewildered. As yet he had seen no snake. He +had seen the bird dart down between them; but so adroitly had it +seized the cobra and carried it off, that Jan, looking only at Trüey, +had not perceived the serpent in its beak. He was bewildered and +terrified, for he still fancied that Trüey was in danger.</p> + +<p>When he heard her exclaim, “We are saved!” he was bewildered +all the more.</p> + +<p>“But the snake!” he cried out. “Where is the snake?”</p> + +<p>As he put these questions, he kept examining Trüey from head to foot, +as if expecting to see a reptile twined around some part of her body.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_454" id="Page_454">454</a></span></p> + +<p>“The snake, Jan! Did you not see it? It was just there, at our +feet; but now—see! yonder it is. The secretary has got it. See! +They are fighting! Good bird! I hope it will punish the villain for +trying to rob my pretty weavers. That's it, good bird! Give it to +him! See, Jan! What a fight!”</p> + +<p>“Oh, ah!” said Jan, now comprehending the situation. “Oh, ah! +Sure enough, yonder is a snake, and a wopper, too. Ne'er fear, Trüey! +Trust my secretary. He'll give the rascal a taste of his claws. There's +a lick well put in! Another touch like that, and there won't be much +life left in the scaly villain. There again,—wop!”</p> + +<p>With these and similar exclamations the two children stood watching +the fierce conflict that raged between the bird and the reptile.</p> + +<p>Now this bird was a very peculiar one—so much so, that in all the +world there is no other of the same kind. In form it resembled a +crane, having very long legs, and being about the height and size of +a crane. Its head and beak, however, were more like those of an +eagle or vulture. It had well-developed wings, armed with spurs, +and a very long tail, with the two middle feathers longer than the +rest. Its general colour was bluish grey, with a white throat and +breast, and a reddish tinge upon the wing-feathers. But, perhaps, +the most remarkable thing about the bird was its “crest.” This consisted +of a number of long, blackish plumes growing out of its occiput, +and extending down the back of its neck nearly to the shoulders. +These gave the bird a very peculiar appearance; and the fancied +resemblance to a secretary of the olden time with his long quill +behind his ear—before steel pens came into fashion—is the reason +why the bird has received the very inappropriate name of the +“Secretary-bird.”</p> + +<p>It is more properly named the “serpent-eater,” and naturalists +have given it the title <i>Gypogeranus</i>, or “crane-vulture.” It is sometimes +also called “the messenger,” from the staid solemn manner of +its walk, as it stalks over the plain.</p> + +<p>Of all its names that of “serpent-eater” is the best adapted to the +character of the bird. It is true there are other birds that kill and +eat serpents,—as the “guaco” bird of South America, and many +hawks and kites,—but the secretary is the only winged creature that +makes reptiles of this class exclusively its prey, and carries on a +constant war against them. It is not strictly correct to say that it +feeds exclusively upon snakes. It will also eat lizards, tortoises, and +even locusts; but snakes are certainly its favourite food, and to +obtain these it risks its life in many a deadly encounter with those of +a very large kind.</p> + +<p>The serpent-eater is an African bird, and is not peculiar to South +Africa alone, as it is found in the Gambia country. It is also a native +of the Philippine Isles. There is some doubt whether the species of +the Philippine Isles is identical with that of Africa. A difference is +noted in the plumage, though very slight. The disposition of the +crest-plumes differs in the two, and the tail-feathers are differently +arranged. In the African species the two middle ones are the longest, +while in the serpent-eater of the Philippines it is the two outside +feathers that project—giving the bird the appearance of having a +“fork” or “swallow” tail. Some points of distinction have also been +observed between the South African bird and that of the Gambia.</p> + +<p>The serpent-eater is, however, a very unique bird; and naturalists,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_455" id="Page_455">455</a></span> +failing to class it with either hawks, eagles, vultures, gallinæ, or +cranes, have elevated it, so as to form a distinct tribe, family, genus, +and species, of itself.</p> + +<p>In South Africa it frequents the great plains and dry karoos, stalking +about in search of its prey. It is not gregarious, but lives solitary +or in pairs, making its nest in trees,—usually those of a thick thorny +species, which renders the nest most difficult of approach. The whole +edifice is about three feet in diameter, and resembles the nests of the +tree-building eagles. It is usually lined with feathers and down, and +two or three eggs are the number deposited for a single hatching.</p> + +<p>The serpent-eater is an excellent runner, and spends more time on +foot than on the wing. It is a shy wary bird, yet, notwithstanding, +it is most easily domesticated; and it is not uncommon to see them +about the houses of the Cape farmers, where they are kept as pets, on +account of their usefulness in destroying snakes, lizards, and other +vermin. They have been long ago introduced into the French West +India Islands, and naturalised there—in order that they should make +war upon the dangerous “yellow serpent,” the plague of the plantations +in those parts.</p> + +<p>Now the bird which had so opportunely appeared between Jan and +Trüey, and had no doubt saved one or the other, or both, from the +deadly bite of the <i>spuugh-slang</i>, was a serpent-eater,—one that had +been tamed, and that made its home among the branches of the great +nwana-tree. The hunters had found it upon the plain, wounded by +some animal,—perhaps a very large snake,—and had brought it home +as a curiosity. In time it quite recovered from its wounds; but the +kindness it had received, during the period when it was an invalid, +was not thrown away upon it. When it recovered the use of its +wings, it refused to leave the society of its protectors, but remained +habitually in the camp—although it made frequent excursions into +the surrounding plains in search of its favourite food. It always, +however, returned at night, and roosted among the branches of the +great nwana-tree. Of course it was Jan's pet, and Jan was very good +to it; but it now repaid all his kindness in saving him from the fangs +of the deadly cobra.</p> + +<p>The children, having recovered from their alarm, stood watching +the singular conflict between serpent and serpent-eater.</p> + +<p>On first seizing the reptile, the bird had caught it by the neck in +its beak. It might not have accomplished this so readily, had not the +attention of the snake been occupied by the children, thus throwing +it off its guard.</p> + +<p>Having succeeded in seizing the reptile, the bird rose nearly in +a vertical direction to a height of many yards, and then opening his +beak permitted the serpent to fall to the ground. His object was to +stun the latter by the fall; and the more effectually to do this, he +would have carried the cobra still higher, had not the latter prevented +it by attempting to coil itself around his wings.</p> + +<p>Upon letting fall his prey the serpent-eater did not remain in the +air. On the contrary, he darted after the falling reptile, and the +moment the latter touched the ground, and before it could put itself +in an attitude of defence, the bird “pounced” upon it with spread +foot, striking it a violent blow near the neck. The snake was still +but slightly damaged, and throwing itself into a coil stood upon its +defence. Its mouth was open to its widest extent, its tongue<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_456" id="Page_456">456</a></span> +protruded, its fangs were erect, and its eyes flashing with rage and +poison. A terrible antagonist it appeared, and for a moment the +secretary seemed to think so, as he stood on the ground confronting +it.</p> + +<p>But the bird soon began to advance upon it for a renewal of the +attack, though this advance was made in a cautious manner. With +the pinions of one of his strong wings spread broadly out for a shield, +he approached the reptile sideways, and, when near enough, suddenly +wheeled, turning upon his leg as on a pivot, and struck sharply out +with his other wing. The blow was delivered with good effect. It +reached the head of the snake, and seemed to stun it. Its neck +dropped, the coils became loosened. Before it could recover itself +it was once more in the beak of the serpent-eater, and trailing +through the air.</p> + +<p>This time the bird rose to a much greater height than before—as +he was not hampered by the writhing of the serpent—and as +before suffered the reptile to fall, and then darted suddenly after.</p> + +<p>When the snake came to the ground a second time it lay for a +moment stretched at full length, as if stunned or dead. It was not +dead, however, and would once more have coiled itself; but, before +it could do so, the bird had repeatedly pounced upon its neck with +his spread and horny feet; and at length, watching his opportunity +when the head of the serpent lay flat, he struck a blow with his sharp +beak so violent, that it split the skull of the reptile in twain! Life +was now extinct, and the hideous form, extended to its full length, +lay lithe and motionless upon the grass.</p> + +<p>Jan and Trüey clapped their hands, and uttered exclamations of +joy.</p> + +<p>The serpent-eater took no heed of their demonstrations, but, approaching +the dead cobra, bent over it, and coolly set about making +his dinner.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XLIV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">TOTTY AND THE CHACMAS.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">V</span>on Bloom and his family had now been months without bread. +They were not without a substitute, however, as various roots and +nuts supplied them with a change of food. Of the latter, they had +the ground or pig-nut, which grows in all parts of Southern Africa, +and which forms a staple food of the native inhabitants. For vegetables +they had the bulbs of many species of <i>Ixias</i> and <i>Mesembryanthemums</i>, +among others the “Hottentot fig.” They had the +“Caffir bread”—the inside pith of the stems of a species of <i>Zamia</i>; +and the “Caffir chestnut,” the fruit of the <i>Brabeium stellatum</i>; +and last, not least, the enormous roots of the “elephant's foot.” They +had wild onions and garlic too; and in the white flower-tops of +a beautiful floating plant, they found a substitute for asparagus.</p> + +<p>All these roots and fruits were to be obtained in the neighbourhood, +and no man knew better how to find them, and “crow” them up +when found, than did Swartboy the Bushman. Well might he, for +in Swartboy's early days he had often been compelled to subsist for +weeks, and even months, on roots alone!</p> + +<p>But although they could procure a constant supply of these natural<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_457" id="Page_457">457</a></span> +productions, they considered them but a poor substitute for bread; +and all of them longed to eat once more what is usually termed the +“staff of life”—though in South Africa, where so many people live +exclusively upon the flesh of animals, bread is hardly entitled to that +appellation.</p> + +<p>Bread they were likely to have, and soon. When treking from the +old kraal, they had brought with them a small bag of maize. It +was the last of their previous year's stock; and there was not in all +over a bushel of it. But that was enough for seed, and would +produce many bushels if properly planted, and carefully tended.</p> + +<p>This had been done shortly after their arrival at their present +home. A fertile spot of ground had been selected, only a few +hundred yards from the nwana-tree. It had been turned up with the +spade, for want of a plough, and the seeds planted at proper distances.</p> + +<p>Many an hour had been given to the weeding and hoeing of it, and +around every plant a little hill of soft mould had been raised, to +nourish the roots, and protect them from the heat of the sun. The +plants were even watered now and then.</p> + +<p>Partly on account of this attention, and partly from the richness of +the virgin soil, a splendid growth was the result; and the stalks +stood full twelve feet high, with ears nearly a foot long. They had +almost ripened; and the field-cornet intended in about a week or ten +days to gather in the crop.</p> + +<p>Both he and all his people were anticipating pleasant feasts of +maize-bread, and “hominy,” with “mash and milk,” and various other +dishes, that with Totty's skill could be manufactured out of the +Indian corn.</p> + +<p>About this time an incident occurred that nearly deprived them, +not only of their whole plot of maize-plants, but also of their valuable +housekeeper, Totty. It was as follows:—</p> + +<p>Totty was on the platform in the great nwana-tree, which commanded +a view of the corn-patch, and also of the plain beyond, as far +as the bottom of the cliffs. She was busied about “house” affairs, +when her attention was called off, by some singular noises that came +from that direction. She parted the branches and looked through. +A singular scene was before her eyes—a spectacle of no common kind.</p> + +<p>A body of odd-looking animals, to the number of two hundred or +more, was coming from the direction of the cliffs. They were creatures +of ungainly forms—in make and size not unlike large ill-shaped dogs—and +of a greenish-brown colour. Their faces and ears only were +black, and these were naked, while their bodies were covered with +harsh coarse hair. They had long tails, which some of them carried +high in the air, and flourished about in a very eccentric manner.</p> + +<p>Totty was by no means alarmed. She knew what sort of animals +they were. She knew they were baboons. They were of the species +known as the “pig-faced” baboon or “chacma” (<i>Cynocephalus +porcarius</i>), which is found in nearly every part of South Africa where +there are high cliffs with caves and crevices—the favourite dwelling-places +of the baboon.</p> + +<p>Of all the monkey tribe the baboons, or dog-headed monkeys +(<i>cynocephali</i>), are the most disgusting in form and features. Who +does not feel disgust when regarding the hideous mandrill—the drill—the +hamadryas—or even the chacma? And all these are baboons. +The baboons are peculiar to Africa, and there are six well-known<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_458" id="Page_458">458</a></span> +species of them:—the common baboon of North Africa, the “papion” +of the south and western coast, the “hamadryas or tartarin” of +Abyssinia, the “mandrill” and “drill” of Guinea, and the “chacma” +of the Cape Colony.</p> + +<p>The habits of these animals are as disgusting as their appearance. +They may be tamed, and made “pets” of; but dangerous pets they +are, as they will, upon, the slightest provocation, bite the hand that +feeds them.</p> + +<p>Their great strength of body and jaw, and their long canine teeth, +give them a dangerous power, which they often make use of. No +dog is a match for one, and the hyena and leopard often come off +second best in an encounter with a baboon.</p> + +<p>They are not carnivorous, however, and only tear their enemy to +pieces without eating it. Their food consists of fruits and bulbous +roots, which they well understand to dig out of the ground with the +sharp nails of their hands.</p> + +<p>Although they will not attack man if left alone, they become +dangerous assailants when hunted and brought to bay.</p> + +<p>Many odd stories are told of the chacma baboon among the settlers +of Southern Africa, such as their robbing the traveller of his food, +and then going off to some distance, and mocking him, while they +devour it. The natives also say that they sometimes use a stick in +walking, “crowing” for roots, and in self-defence. Also, when a +young one has succeeded in finding a choice root, and is observed by +an older and stronger one, that the latter takes it away; but, should +the young one have already swallowed it, then the bully picks him +up, turns him head downward, and shakes him until he is forced to +“disgorge!” Many such tales are current in the country of the +boers, and they are not all without foundation, for these animals +most certainly possess the power of reflection in a high degree.</p> + +<p>Totty from her perch saw enough to convince her of this, had she +been herself inclined to philosophise. But she was not. She was +only a little curious about the manœuvres of the animals, and she +called Trüey and little Jan up into the tree, in order that they might +share the spectacle with her. All the others were off hunting.</p> + +<p>Jan was delighted, and ran up the ladder at once. So did Trüey +and all three stood watching the odd movements of the four-handed +creatures.</p> + +<p>They perceived that the troop was actually marching in order; not +in line, but with some understood arrangement. There were scouts +upon the wings, and leaders in front. These were baboons of greater +age and size than the others. There were calls and signals, and the +change of accent and tone would have convinced any one that a +regular conversation was going on. The females and younger ones +marched in the middle for better security. The mothers carried +their infants upon their backs, or over their shoulders. Now a +mother would stop to suckle her little offspring—dressing its hair at +the same time—and then gallop forward to make up for the loss. +Now one would be seen beating her child, that had in some way +given offence. Now two young females would quarrel, from jealousy +or some other cause, and then a terrible chattering would ensue, to be +silenced by the loud threatening bark of one of the chiefs!</p> + +<p>Thus proceeded they across the plain, chattering, and screaming, +and barking, as only monkeys can.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_459" id="Page_459">459</a></span></p> + +<p>What were they after?</p> + +<p>That question was answered very soon. Trüey and Jan, and +Totty saw, to their dismay, that the baboons were not out upon an +idle errand. They were after the maize-plants!</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 348px;"> +<img src="images/illus-459.jpg" width="348" height="500" alt="TOTTY IN TROUBLE." title="TOTTY IN TROUBLE" /> +<span class="caption">TOTTY IN TROUBLE.</span></div> + +<p>In a few minutes most of the troop had entered the corn-field, and +were hidden from view by the tall stems and broad leaves of the +plants. A few only could be seen,—large old fellows, that stationed +themselves outside as sentinels, and were keeping up a constant interchange<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_460" id="Page_460">460</a></span> +of signals. The main body was already stripping the plants +of their precious fruit.</p> + +<p>But a singular appearance presented itself beyond the corn-field, +where a line of baboons, stationed at equal distance from one another, +extended away to the very bottom of the cliff. These had been left +by a regular manœuvre,—a deployment—as the troop traversed the +plain in coming to the field. For what purpose?</p> + +<p>That was soon apparent. In less than two minutes after the crowd +disappeared under the shelter of the maize-plants, the long heads in +their husks were seen showering out towards the line, as if flung by +the hand of man! Those placed at the near end of the line immediately +took them up, pitched them to the next, and these to the next, +and so on, until, in a very short while from the time a head was +plucked from the stalk, it was delivered to the storehouse of the +baboons far off among the cliffs!</p> + +<p>Had this work gone on much longer the field-cornet would have +had but a poor gathering in harvest time. The baboons thought the +corn ripe enough, and would soon have made a crop of it, but at this +moment their operations were interrupted.</p> + +<p>Totty knew but little of the danger she underwent, when she ran +forth with nothing but that long broom-handle to drive off a troop +of chacmas. She only thought of the loss her kind master was sustaining; +and down the ladder she hurried, and ran straight out to +the corn-field.</p> + +<p>Several sentinels met her by its edge, grinned, chattered, screamed, +barked, and showed their long canine teeth; but they only received +a blow over their ugly snouts from the broom-handle. Their cries +summoned the others; and in a few moments the poor Hottentot +was standing in the midst of an angry circle of chacmas, that were +only prevented from springing in upon her by the expert manner in +which she continued to ply the broom-stick.</p> + +<p>But this slight weapon would not have served much longer, and +Totty's fate—that of being torn to pieces—would soon have been +sealed, had not four horsemen, or rather “quagga-men,” at that +moment galloped up to her rescue.</p> + +<p>These were the hunters returning from the chase; and a volley +from their guns at once scattered the ugly chacmas, and sent them +howling back to their caves.</p> + +<p>After that the field-cornet looked well to his maize, until it was +ready for gathering; when it was all brought home, and deposited +in safety out of the reach of either birds, reptiles, quadrupeds, or +<i>quadrumana</i>.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XLV.</h2> + +<div class="cap">THE WILD HOUNDS AND THE HARTEBEEST.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">S</span>ince the taming of the quaggas the hunting had been attended with +tolerable success. Not a week passed without adding a pair of tusks—sometimes +two or three pairs—to the collection, which now began +to assume the form of a little pyramid of ivory standing near the +bottom of the nwana.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom, however, was not quite satisfied with his progress. +He thought they might do far better if they had only a few dogs.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_461" id="Page_461">461</a></span></p> + +<p>Though the quaggas were of great service to them, and with these +they were often able to overtake the elephant, yet they as often lost +their great game, and it is more easy to do so than most persons +imagine.</p> + +<p>But with dogs to join in the hunt, the result would be quite different. +It is true these animals cannot pull down an elephant, nor +do him the slightest injury; but they can follow him whithersoever +he may go, and by their barking bring him to a stand.</p> + +<p>Another valuable service which the dogs perform, is in drawing +the attention of the elephant away from the hunters. The huge +quadruped when enraged is, as we have already seen, exceedingly +dangerous. On such occasions he will charge upon the noisy dogs, +mistaking them for his real assailants. This, of course, gives the +hunter a good opportunity of delivering his fire, and avoiding the +deadly encounter of the elephant.</p> + +<p>Now in several elephant-hunts which they had lately made, our +hunters had run some very narrow risks. Their quaggas were neither +so manageable nor so quick in their movements as horses would have +been, and this rendered the hazard still greater. Some of them +might one day fall a victim. So feared Von Bloom; and he would +gladly have given for a number of dogs an elephant's tusk a-piece—even +though they were the most worthless of curs. Indeed, their +quality is but of slight importance. Any dogs that can trace the +elephant and pester him with their barking would do.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom even thought of taming some hyenas, and training them +to the hunt. This idea was by no means quixotic. The hyena is often +used for such a purpose, and performs even better than many kinds +of dogs.</p> + +<p>One day Von Bloom was pondering over this subject. He was seated +on a little platform that had been constructed very high up—near the +top of the nwana-tree—from which a view could be had of the whole +country around. It was a favourite resort of the field-cornet—his +smoking-room, in fact—where he went every evening to enjoy a quiet +pull out of his great meerschaum. His face was turned upon the plain +that stretched from the border of the <i>bosch</i> as far as the eye could +reach.</p> + +<p>While quietly puffing away, his attention was attracted by some +animals standing at a distance off upon the plain. The brilliant colour +of their bodies had caught his eye.</p> + +<p>They were of a lively sienna colour over the back and sides, and +white underneath, with a list of black upon the outside of the legs, +and some black stripes upon the face, as regularly defined as if laid +on by the brush of a painter. They had horns of very irregular shape, +roughly knotted—each curved into something of the shape of a reaping-hook, +and rising directly from the top of one of the straightest and +longest heads ever carried by an animal. These animals were far from +being gracefully formed. They had drooping hind-quarters like the +giraffe, though in a much less degree, shoulders greatly elevated, and +long narrow heads. For the rest their forms were bony and angular. +Each stood five feet high, from the fore-hoof to the shoulder, and full +nine feet in length.</p> + +<p>They were antelopes of course—that species known among Cape +colonists as the “hartebeest.” There were in all about fifty of them +in the herd.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_462" id="Page_462">462</a></span></p> + +<p>When first observed by Von Bloom, they were quietly browsing +upon the plain. The next moment, however, they were seen to run +to and fro, as if suddenly alarmed by the approach of an enemy.</p> + +<p>And an enemy there certainly was; for in a moment more the herd +had taken to flight; and Von Bloom now saw that they were followed +by a pack of hounds! I say a “pack of hounds,” for the creatures in +the distance exactly resembled hounds more than anything in the +world. Nay, more than resembled, for it actually was a pack of +hounds—of +wild hounds!</p> + +<p>Of course Von Bloom knew what they were. He knew they were +the “wilde-honden,” very absurdly named by sapient naturalists +<i>Hyena venatica</i> or “hunting hyena,” and by others, with equal +absurdity the “hunting dog.” I pronounce these names “absurd,” +first because the animal in question bears no more resemblance to a +hyena than it does to a hedgehog; and, secondly, because “hunting +dog” is a very ridiculous appellation, since any dog may merit a similar +title.</p> + +<p>Now I would ask, why could these naturalists not let the nomenclature +of the boers alone? If a better name than “wilde-honden” +(wild hounds) can be given to these animals, I should like to hear it. +Why, it is the very perfection of a name, and exactly expresses the +character of the animal to which they apply it—that character, which +coming under their everyday observation, suggested the name.</p> + +<p>It is quite a libel to call this beautiful creature a hyena. He has +neither the ugly form, the harsh pelage, the dull colour, nor the filthy +habits of one. Call him a “wolf,” or “wild dog,” if you please, but he +is at the same time the handsomest wolf or wild dog in creation. But +we shall name him, as the boers have done, a “wild hound.” That is +his true title, let naturalists class him as they may.</p> + +<p>His size, shape, his smooth clean coat, as well as his colour, approximate +him more to the hound than to any other animal. In the last—which +is a ground of “tan” blotched and mottled with large spots of +black and grey—he bears a striking resemblance to the common +hound; and the superior size of his ears would seem to assimilate him +still more to this animal. The ears, however, as in all the wild species +of <i>Canis</i>, are of course not hanging, but erect.</p> + +<p>His habits, however, crown the resemblance. In his natural state +the wild hound never prowls alone; but boldly runs down his game, +following it in large organised packs, just as hounds do; and in his +hunting he exhibits as much skill as if he had Tom Moody riding at +his heels, to guide with whip and horn.</p> + +<p>It was the field-cornet's good fortune to witness an exhibition of +this skill.</p> + +<p>The hounds had come unexpectedly upon the hartebeest herd; and +almost at the first dash, one of the antelopes became separated from +the rest, and ran in an opposite direction. This was just what the +cunning dogs wanted; and the whole pack, instead of following the +herd, turned after the single one, and ran “tail on end.”</p> + +<p>Now this hartebeest, although an ill-shaped antelope, is one of the +very swiftest of the tribe; and the wild hound does not capture it +without a severe chase. In fact, he could not capture it at all, if speed +were the only point between the two animals. But it is not. The +hartebeest has a weakness in its character, opposite to which the wild +hound possesses a cunning.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_463" id="Page_463">463</a></span></p> + +<p>The former when chased, although it runs in a straight line, does +not keep long in a direct course. Now and then it diverges to one +side or the other, led perhaps by the form of the ground, or some other +circumstance. In this habit lies its weakness. The wild hound is +well aware of it, and takes advantage of it by a manœuvre, which +certainly savours strongly of reflection on his part.</p> + +<p>Our field-cornet had a proof of this as he watched the chase. His +elevated position gave him a view of the whole ground, and he could +note every movement both of pursuer and pursued.</p> + +<p>On breaking off, the hartebeest ran in a right line, and the hounds +followed straight after. They had not gone far, however, when Von +Bloom perceived that one hound was forging ahead of the rest, and +running much faster than any of them. He might have been a swifter +dog than the others, but the hunter did not think it was that. He +appeared rather to be running harder that they, as if sent forward to +push the hartebeest, while the rest saved their wind.</p> + +<p>This proved to be really the case; for the dog, by a desperate effort, +having gained upon the antelope, caused the latter to turn slightly +from it original course; and the pack, perceiving this, changed their +direction at the same time, and held along a diagonal line, as if to +head the game. By this means they avoided the détour which both +the antelope and their companion had made.</p> + +<p>The hartebeest was now running upon a new line; and as before, +one of the hounds was soon seen to head the pack, and press forward +at the top of his speed. The one that first led, as soon as the antelope +turned from its original course, fell back, rejoined the pack, and was +now lagging among the hindmost! His “turn” of duty was over.</p> + +<p>Again the hartebeest verged from its course. Again the pack ran +obliquely, and made a second “cut” upon him—again a fresh dog took +the lead, and on swept the chase as before—the wild hounds uttering +their yelping notes as they ran.</p> + +<p>Several times was this manœuvre executed by the cunning dogs—until +the desired result was accomplished, and the antelope was completely +“blown.”</p> + +<p>Then, as if they felt that it was in their power, and that further +strategy was not needed, the whole pack rushed forward simultaneously, +and closed rapidly upon the game.</p> + +<p>The hartebeest made one last despairing effort to escape, but, finding +that speed would no longer avail, the creature wheeled suddenly round, +and placed itself in an attitude of defiance—the foam falling from its +lips, while its red eyes sparkled like coals of fire.</p> + +<p>In another moment the dogs were around it.</p> + +<p>“What a splendid pack!” exclaimed Von Bloom. “Oh! that I had +such an one!</p> + +<p>“Ha!” he continued, as a new thought struck him, “and why not, +just such an one?—why not?”</p> + +<p>Now the train of reflections that passed through the mind of the +field-cornet was as follows:—</p> + +<p>That the wild hounds might be tamed, and trained to hunting,—easiest +of all, to the chase of the elephant. He knew that this could +be done, for boer-hunters had often done it. True, the dogs must be +taken young, but where were young ones to be obtained? It is not +so easy to capture the pups of the wild hound. Until they are able to +run well, their mothers do not permit them to stray far from the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_464" id="Page_464">464</a></span> +caves in which they are littered; and these are usually crevices among +rocks quite inaccessible to man. How could he obtain a set of them? +He had already formed such an intention. Where could be their +breeding place?</p> + +<p>His reflections were interrupted at this point, by very singular +behaviour on the part of the wild hounds, and which gave him a new +idea of their intelligence that quite electrified him.</p> + +<p>When the hartebeest stood to bay, and the hounds came up, Von +Bloom very naturally expected to see the latter run in upon their +game, and at once pull it to the ground. This he knew was their +usual habit. What was his astonishment at seeing the whole pack +standing off to one side, as if they intended to leave the antelope alone! +Some of them even lay down to rest themselves, while the others +stood with open jaws and lolling tongues, but without showing any +signs that they intended further to molest the panting quarry!</p> + +<p>The field-cornet could observe the situation well, for the antelope +was on his side—that is, towards the cliffs—while the dogs were +farther out upon the plain. Another circumstance that astonished +him was, that the dogs, after running up and around the hartebeest, +had actually drawn off to their present position!</p> + +<p>What could it mean? Were they afraid of its ugly horns? Were +they resting themselves before they should make their bloody onslaught!</p> + +<p>The hunter kept his gaze intently fixed upon the interesting +group.</p> + +<p>After a while the antelope, having recovered its wind a little, and +seeing the pack so distant, made a fresh start.</p> + +<p>This time it ran in a side direction, apparently with the intention +of gaining a hill that lay in that way, and up the sides of which it no +doubt calculated upon gaining some advantage. But the creature +had hardly stretched itself, when the hounds struck out after it; and +in five hundred yards running, once more brought it to a stand. +Again the pack took station at a distance, and the hartebeest stood +upon the plain alone!</p> + +<p>Once more it essayed to escape, and started off with all the speed +that was left in its legs—the hounds as before trooping after.</p> + +<p>This time the antelope headed in a new direction, making for a +point in the cliffs; and as the chase now passed very near to the +nwana-tree, everybody had a fine view of it.</p> + +<p>The hartebeest seemed to be going faster than ever, or, at all events, +the dogs did not now appear to gain upon it; and the field-cornet, as +well as all the young people, were in hopes the poor creature would +escape from its tireless pursuers.</p> + +<p>They watched the chase, until they could just see the bright body +of the hartebeest afar off, appearing like a yellow spot upon the face +of the rocks, but the dogs were no longer visible. Then the yellow +spot suddenly disappeared like the going out of a candle, and they +could see it no more.</p> + +<p>No doubt the antelope was pulled down!</p> + +<p>A strange suspicion entered the mind of Von Bloom, and, calling +upon them to saddle the quaggas, he, with Hans and Hendrik, rode +off towards the place where the hartebeests had been last seen.</p> + +<p>They approached the ground with caution; and under the shelter +of some bushes were enabled to get within two hundred yards of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_465" id="Page_465">465</a></span> +spot without being observed. A singular spectacle rewarded their +pains.</p> + +<p>Within a dozen yards of the cliff lay the body of the hartebeest, +where it had been “pulled down” by the dogs. It was already half +eaten, not by the hounds that had hunted it, but by their puppies of +all ages, that to the number of more than threescore were now standing +around the carcass, tugging away at its flesh and snarling at one +another! Some of the grown dogs that had taken part in the chase +could be seen lying upon the ground, still panting after their hard +run; but most of them had disappeared, no doubt into the numerous +small caves and crevices that opened along the bottom of the cliffs.</p> + +<p>There was no room left to doubt the singular fact—that the wild +hounds had regularly driven the hartebeest up to their breeding-place +to feed their young, and that they had abstained from killing it out +upon the plain to save themselves the labour of dragging it from a +distance!</p> + +<p>Indeed these animals—unlike the <i>Felidæ</i>—have not the power of +transporting a large mass to any considerable distance; hence the +wonderful instinct which led them to guide the antelope to the very +spot where its flesh was wanted!</p> + +<p>That they were in the constant practice of this singular habit was +attested, by the numerous bones and horns of large antelopes of +different kinds, that lay strewed around the place.</p> + +<p>Von Bloom had his eye upon the young puppies, and all three made +a rush towards them. But it was to no purpose. Cunning as their +fathers and mothers, the little fellows forsook their meal at first sight +of the intruders, and darted off into their caves!</p> + +<p>But they were not cunning enough to escape the snares, which were +laid for them every day for a week after; and, before the end of that +time, more than a dozen of them were safely domiciled in a little +kennel built especially for their use, under the shadow of the great +nwana-tree.</p> + +<p>In less that six months from that time, several of them were in the +field, and trained to the chase of the elephant, which duty they +performed with all the courage and skill that could have been shown +by hounds of the purest breed!</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h2>CHAPTER XLVI.</h2> + +<div class="cap">CONCLUSION.</div> +<br /> + +<p class="noindent"><span class="first">F</span>or several years Von Bloom led the life of an elephant-hunter. For +several years the great nwana-tree was his home, and his only companions +his children and domestics. But, perhaps, these were not the +least happy years of his existence, since, during all the time both he +and his family had enjoyed the most estimable of earthly blessings,—health.</p> + +<p>He had not allowed his children to grow up without instruction. +He had not permitted them to lapse into the character of mere “Bush-boys.” +He had taught them many things from the book of nature,—many +arts that can be acquired as well on the karoo as in the college. +He had taught them to love God, and to love one another. He had +planted in their minds the seeds of the virtuous principles,—honour +and morality,—without which all education is worthless. He had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_466" id="Page_466">466</a></span> +imbued them with habits of industry and self-reliance, and had initiated +them into many of the accomplishments of civilised life—so that +upon their return to society they might be quite equal to its claims. +Upon the whole, those years of the exile's life, spent in his wilderness +home, formed no blank in his existence. He might look back upon +them with feelings of satisfaction and pleasure.</p> + +<p>Man, however, is formed for society. The human heart, properly +organised, seeks communion with the human heart; and the mind, +especially when refined and polished by education, loves the intercourse +of social life, and, when deprived of it, will always yearn to +obtain it.</p> + +<p>So was it with the field-cornet. He desired to return once more +within the pale of civilised society. He desired once more to revisit +the scenes where he had so long dwelt in peaceful happiness; he +desired once more to establish himself among his friends and acquaintances +of former days, in the picturesque district in the Graaf Reinet. +Indeed, to have remained any longer in his wilderness home could +have served no purpose. It is true he had grown very much attached +to his wild hunter-life, but it was no longer likely to be profitable. +The elephants had completely forsaken the neighbourhood of the +camp, and not one was to be found within twenty miles of the spot. +They had become well-acquainted with the report of the long roer, +and knew the dangerous character of that weapon; they had learnt +that of all their enemies man was the one to be especially dreaded +and shunned; and they had grown so shy of his presence, that the +hunters frequently passed whole weeks without setting their eyes +upon a single elephant.</p> + +<p>But this was no longer an object of solicitude with Von Bloom. +Other considerations now occupied his mind, and he did not care +much if he should never spoor another of these huge quadrupeds. +To return to the Graaf Reinet, and settle there, was now the ultimatum +of his wishes.</p> + +<p>The time had at length arrived when he would be able to carry out +that design; and nothing seemed any longer to stand in the way of +its full and complete accomplishment.</p> + +<p>The proscription against him had been long since taken off. A +general amnesty had been passed by the government, and he had +been pardoned among the rest.</p> + +<p>It is true his property was not restored to him; but that mattered +little now. He had created a new property, as was testified by the +vast pyramid of ivory that stood under the shadow of the great +nwana-tree!</p> + +<p>Nothing remained but to transport this shining pile to a market, +and a splendid fortune would be the result.</p> + +<p>And Von Bloom's ingenuity found the means for bringing it to +market.</p> + +<p>About this time there was dug another huge pit-trap near the +pass in the cliffs, in which many quaggas were trapped; and then, +there were stirring scenes, while these wild creatures were being +broken to harness, and trained to “trek” in a wagon.</p> + +<p>They were trained, however, after a good deal of trouble—the old +wheels, still in prime condition, serving as the “break;” and then +the body of the wagon was let down from the tree, and once more +renewed its acquaintance with its old companions the wheels; and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_467" id="Page_467">467</a></span> +the cap-tent spread its protecting shadow over all; and the white and +yellow crescents were stowed; and the quaggas were “inspanned;” +and Swartboy, mounting the “voor-kist,” once more cracked his long +bamboo whip; and the wheels, well oiled with elephants' grease, +again whirled gaily along!</p> + +<p>How surprised were the good people of Graaf Beinet, when one +morning a cap-tent wagon, drawn by twelve quaggas, and followed +by four riders mounted upon animals of the same kind, pulled up in +the public square of their little town! How astonished they were +on seeing that this wagon was “chuck” full of elephants' teeth, all +except a little corner occupied by a beautiful girl with cherry cheeks +and fair flaxen hair; and how joyed were they, in fine, on learning +that the owner of both the ivory and the beautiful girl was no other +than their old friend, and much-esteemed fellow-citizen, the field-cornet, +Von Bloom!</p> + +<p>A warm welcome met the elephant-hunter in the square of Graaf +Reinet, and, what was also of some importance, a ready market for +his ivory.</p> + +<p>It chanced just at that time that ivory was selling at a very high +rate. Some article—I do not remember what—the principal part of +which required to be constructed of pure ivory, had come into fashion +and general use in European countries, and the consequence was an +increased demand for this valuable commodity. It was a fortunate +circumstance for the returned hunter, who was at once enabled to +dispose of his stock, not only for ready money, but at such a fine +price as to yield him nearly twice the amount he had calculated on +receiving!</p> + +<p>He had not brought it all with him, as there was more than would +have loaded any one wagon. A second load had remained, hidden +near the nwana-tree, and this required a journey to be made for it.</p> + +<p>It was made in due time, and the remainder arrived safely at Graaf +Reinet, and was there delivered to the ivory-dealers, who had already +purchased it.</p> + +<p>The result was a splendid fortune in ready money. The field-cornet +was once more a rich man!</p> + +<p>For the present we can follow his history no farther than to say, +that the proceeds of his great hunt enabled him to buy back his old +estate, and to stock it in splendid style, with the best breeds of +horses, horned cattle, and sheep; that he rose rapidly in wealth and +worldly esteem; that the government gave him its confidence; and, +having first restored him to his old office of field-cornet, soon afterwards +promoted him to that of “landdrost,” or chief magistrate of +the district.</p> + +<p>Hans returned to his college studies; while the dashing Hendrik +was enabled to enter the profession for which he was most fit, and +the very one that fitted him, by obtaining a cornetcy in the “Cape +Mounted Rifles.”</p> + +<p>Little Jan was packed off to school to study grammar and geography; +while the beautiful Trüey remained at home to grace the +mansion of her honoured father, and look after his household affairs.</p> + +<p>Totty still ruled the kitchen; and, of course, Swartboy was the +important man about the house, and for many a long year after +cracked his great whip, and flourished his jambok among the long-horned +oxen of the wealthy landdrost.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_468" id="Page_468">468</a></span></p> + +<p>But enough for the present,—enough of adventure for one year. +Let us hope, boy readers, that before you and I have circled once +more around the sun, we shall make a fresh trip to the land of the +boers, and again encounter the worthy Von Bloom, his Bushman, and—</p> + +<div class="center">“<span class="smcap">Bush-Boys</span>.”</div> +<br /> +<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">Top</a></span> +<h3><span class="smcap">The End</span>.</h3> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Popular Adventure Tales, by Mayne Reid + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK POPULAR ADVENTURE TALES *** + +***** This file should be named 25665-h.htm or 25665-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/6/6/25665/ + +Produced by Malcolm Farmer, Marcia Brooks and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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