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diff --git a/25665.txt b/25665.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b5ecb57 --- /dev/null +++ b/25665.txt @@ -0,0 +1,27427 @@ +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: ASCII + +*** 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 + + + + + + + + + +POPULAR ADVENTURE TALES + +[Illustration: THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS ON THE RED RIVER.] + + + + +Popular Adventure Tales + +COMPRISING + +_THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS_ +OR, THE BOY HUNTERS IN THE NORTH + +_THE FOREST EXILES_ +OR, ADVENTURES AMID THE WILDS OF THE AMAZON + +_THE BUSH-BOYS_ +OR, ADVENTURES IN THE WILDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA + +By + +CAPTAIN MAYNE REID + +AUTHOR OF +"_The Rifle Rangers_" "_The Wood Rangers_" +_&c., &c._ + +_ILLUSTRATED_ + +LONDON +SIMPKIN, MARSHALL, HAMILTON, KENT & CO. +GLASGOW: THOMAS D. MORISON + + + + +BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH + + +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. + +Leaving Philadelphia in 1846, he spent the summer at Newport, Rhode +Island, as the correspondent of the _New York Herald_, 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. + +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. + +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 _The Onward Magazine_, 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. + +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. + + + + + CONTENTS + + THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS + + OR + + BOY HUNTERS IN THE NORTH. + + + _CHAPTER I_ PAGE + THE FUR COUNTRIES 13 + + _CHAPTER II_ + THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS 16 + + _CHAPTER III_ + THE TRUMPETER SWAN AND THE BALD EAGLE 22 + + _CHAPTER IV_ + A SWAN-HUNT BY TORCHLIGHT 29 + + _CHAPTER V_ + "CAST AWAY" 34 + + _CHAPTER VI_ + A BRIDGE OF BUCKSKIN 37 + + _CHAPTER VII_ + DECOYING THE ANTELOPES 41 + + _CHAPTER VIII_ + "A PARTRIDGE DANCE" 45 + + _CHAPTER IX_ + BASIL AND THE BISON-BULL 48 + + _CHAPTER X_ + THREE CURIOUS TREES 52 + + _CHAPTER XI_ + HOW TO BUILD A BARK CANOE 56 + + _CHAPTER XII_ + THE CHAIN OF LAKES 59 + + _CHAPTER XIII_ + WAPITI, WOLVES, AND WOLVERENE 62 + + _CHAPTER XIV_ + A PAIR OF DEEP DIVERS 69 + + _CHAPTER XV_ + A GRAND SUNDAY DINNER 73 + + _CHAPTER XVI_ + THE MARMOTS OF AMERICA 79 + + _CHAPTER XVII_ + THE BLAIREAU, THE "TAWNIES," AND THE "LEOPARDS" 82 + + _CHAPTER XVIII_ + AN ODD SORT OF DECOY-DUCK 86 + + _CHAPTER XIX_ + THE SHRIKE AND THE HUMMING-BIRDS 91 + + _CHAPTER XX_ + THE FISH-HAWK 94 + + _CHAPTER XXI_ + THE OSPREY AND HIS TYRANT 97 + + _CHAPTER XXII_ + THE VOYAGE INTERRUPTED 102 + + _CHAPTER XXIII_ + FISHING UNDER THE ICE 105 + + _CHAPTER XXIV_ + AN ODD ALARM 107 + + _CHAPTER XXV_ + ENCOUNTER WITH A MOOSE 113 + + _CHAPTER XXVI_ + LIFE IN A LOG-HUT 117 + + _CHAPTER XXVII_ + TRAVELLING ON SNOW-SHOES 121 + + _CHAPTER XXVIII_ + THE BARREN GROUNDS 125 + + _CHAPTER XXIX_ + THE ROCK-TRIPE 130 + + _CHAPTER XXX_ + THE POLAR HARE AND THE GREAT SNOWY OWL 133 + + _CHAPTER XXXI_ + THE JUMPING MOUSE AND THE ERMINE 138 + + _CHAPTER XXXII_ + THE ARCTIC FOX AND WHITE WOLF 140 + + _CHAPTER XXXIII_ + THE JERFALCON AND THE WHITE GROUSE 145 + + _CHAPTER XXXIV_ + THE HARE, THE LYNX, AND THE GOLDEN EAGLE 147 + + _CHAPTER XXXV_ + THE "ALARM BIRD" AND THE CARIBOU 151 + + _CHAPTER XXXVI_ + A BATTLE WITH WOLVES 155 + + _CHAPTER XXXVII_ + END OF THE "VOYAGE" 160 + + + THE FOREST EXILES, + + OR + + ADVENTURES AMID THE WILDS OF THE AMAZON + + _CHAPTER I_ + THE BIGGEST WOOD IN THE WORLD 162 + + _CHAPTER II_ + THE REFUGEES 164 + + _CHAPTER III_ + THE POISON-TREES 169 + + _CHAPTER IV_ + THE SUPPER OF GUAPO 173 + + _CHAPTER V_ + THE PUNA 175 + + _CHAPTER VI_ + THE WILD BULL OF THE PUNA 179 + + _CHAPTER VII_ + THE "VAQUERO" 181 + + _CHAPTER VIII_ + LLAMAS, ALPACOS, VICUNAS, AND GUANACOS 184 + + _CHAPTER IX_ + A VICUNA HUNT 187 + + _CHAPTER X_ + CAPTURING A CONDOR 189 + + _CHAPTER XI_ + THE PERILS OF A PERUVIAN ROAD 191 + + _CHAPTER XII_ + ENCOUNTER UPON A CLIFF 194 + + _CHAPTER XIII_ + THE LONE CROSS IN THE FOREST 197 + + _CHAPTER XIV_ + THE DESERTED MISSION 201 + + _CHAPTER XV_ + THE GUACO AND THE CORAL SNAKE 203 + + _CHAPTER XVI_ + THE PALM-WOODS 207 + + _CHAPTER XVII_ + A HOUSE OF PALMS 209 + + _CHAPTER XVIII_ + TRACKING THE TAPIR 212 + + _CHAPTER XIX_ + THE POISONED ARROWS 216 + + _CHAPTER XX_ + THE MILK-TREE 221 + + _CHAPTER XXI_ + THE CANNIBAL FISH AND THE GYMNOTUS 224 + + _CHAPTER XXII_ + THE CINCHONA-TREES 227 + + _CHAPTER XXIII_ + A PAIR OF SLOW GOERS 231 + + _CHAPTER XXIV_ + THE BARK-HUNTERS 233 + + _CHAPTER XXV_ + THE PUMA AND THE GREAT ANT-BEAR 236 + + _CHAPTER XXVI_ + ATTACK OF THE WHITE ANTS 239 + + _CHAPTER XXVII_ + THE ANT-LION 242 + + _CHAPTER XXVIII_ + THE TATOU-POYOU AND THE DEER CARCASS 246 + + _CHAPTER XXIX_ + AN ARMADILLO HUNT 248 + + _CHAPTER XXX_ + THE OCELOT 251 + + _CHAPTER XXXI_ + A FAMILY OF JAGUARS 255 + + _CHAPTER XXXII_ + THE RAFT 259 + + _CHAPTER XXXIII_ + THE GUARDIAN BROTHER 262 + + _CHAPTER XXXIV_ + THE VAMPIRE 265 + + _CHAPTER XXXV_ + THE MARIMONDAS 269 + + _CHAPTER XXXVI_ + THE MONKEY MOTHER 274 + + _CHAPTER XXXVII_ + AN UNEXPECTED GUEST 276 + + _CHAPTER XXXVIII_ + THE CROCODILE AND CAPIVARAS 279 + + _CHAPTER XXXIX_ + FIGHT OF THE JAGUAR AND CROCODILE 282 + + _CHAPTER XL_ + ADVENTURE WITH AN ANACONDA 284 + + _CHAPTER XLI_ + A BATCH OF CURIOUS TREES 288 + + _CHAPTER XLII_ + THE FOREST FESTIVAL 291 + + _CHAPTER XLIII_ + ACRES OF EGGS 295 + + _CHAPTER XLIV_ + A FIGHT BETWEEN TWO VERY SCALY CREATURES 298 + + _CHAPTER XLV_ + A PAIR OF VALIANT VULTURES 301 + + _CHAPTER XLVI_ + THE "GAPO" 304 + + _CHAPTER XLVII_ + THE ARAGUATOES 306 + + _CHAPTER XLVIII_ + BRIDGING AN IGARIPE 308 + + _CHAPTER XLIX_ + THE MANATI 311 + + _CHAPTER L_ + THE CLOSING CHAPTER 314 + + + THE BUSH-BOYS, + + OR + + ADVENTURES IN THE WILDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. + + + _CHAPTER I_ + THE BOERS 317 + + _CHAPTER II_ + THE KRAAL 319 + + _CHAPTER III_ + THE SPRING-HAAN 322 + + _CHAPTER IV_ + A TALK ABOUT LOCUSTS 325 + + _CHAPTER V_ + THE LOCUST-FLIGHT 329 + + _CHAPTER VI_ + "INSPANN AND TREK!" 333 + + _CHAPTER VII_ + WATER! WATER! 335 + + _CHAPTER VIII_ + THE FATE OF THE HERD 339 + + _CHAPTER IX_ + A LION COUCHANT 341 + + _CHAPTER X_ + THE LION IN THE TRAP 345 + + _CHAPTER XI_ + THE DEATH OF THE LION 348 + + _CHAPTER XII_ + THE TRAVELLERS BENIGHTED 351 + + _CHAPTER XIII_ + THE TREK-BOKEN 354 + + _CHAPTER XIV_ + SPOORING FOR A SPRING 359 + + _CHAPTER XV_ + THE TERRIBLE TSETSE 361 + + _CHAPTER XVI_ + THE LONG-HORNED RHINOCEROS 364 + + _CHAPTER XVII_ + A HEAVY COMBAT 367 + + _CHAPTER XVIII_ + THE DEATH OF THE ELEPHANT 371 + + _CHAPTER XIX_ + TURNED HUNTERS 375 + + _CHAPTER XX_ + JERKING AN ELEPHANT 377 + + _CHAPTER XXI_ + THE HIDEOUS HYENA 379 + + _CHAPTER XXII_ + STALKING THE OUREBI 382 + + _CHAPTER XXIII_ + LITTLE JAN'S ADVENTURE 388 + + _CHAPTER XXIV_ + A HOUSE AMONG THE TREE-TOPS 390 + + _CHAPTER XXV_ + THE BATTLE OF THE WILD PEACOCKS 393 + + _CHAPTER XXVI_ + UPON THE SPOOR 397 + + _CHAPTER XXVII_ + A ROGUE ELEPHANT 400 + + _CHAPTER XXVIII_ + THE MISSING HUNTER, AND THE WILDEBEESTS 405 + + _CHAPTER XXIX_ + THE ANT-EATER OF AFRICA 409 + + _CHAPTER XXX_ + HANS CHASED BY THE WILDEBEEST 411 + + _CHAPTER XXXI_ + BESIEGED BY THE BULL 414 + + _CHAPTER XXXII_ + A HELPLESS BEAST 416 + + _CHAPTER XXXIII_ + THE ELEPHANT'S SLEEPING ROOM 420 + + _CHAPTER XXXIV_ + MAKING THE ELEPHANT'S BED 423 + + _CHAPTER XXXV_ + THE WILD ASSES OF AFRICA 425 + + _CHAPTER XXXVI_ + PLANNING THE CAPTURE OF THE QUAGGAS 429 + + _CHAPTER XXXVII_ + THE PIT-TRAP 433 + + _CHAPTER XXXVIII_ + DRIVING IN THE ELAND 436 + + _CHAPTER XXXIX_ + A WILD RIDE ON QUAGGA-BACK 439 + + _CHAPTER XL_ + THE GUN-TRAP 444 + + _CHAPTER XLI_ + THE WEAVER-BIRDS 447 + + _CHAPTER XLII_ + THE SPITTING-SNAKE 450 + + _CHAPTER XLIII_ + THE SERPENT-EATER 452 + + _CHAPTER XLIV_ + TOTTY AND THE CHACMAS 456 + + _CHAPTER XLV_ + THE WILD HOUNDS AND THE HARTEBEEST 460 + + _CHAPTER XLVI_ + CONCLUSION 465 + + +[Transcriber's Note: Obvious printer errors, (missing accents, missing +letters, etc) including punctuation, have been silently corrected. + +All other inconsistencies including archaic spellings have been left as +they were in the original. + +Added a List of Illustrations.] + + + + + LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + + THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS ON THE RED RIVER. Frontispiece + + THE TRUMPETER SWAN AND THE BALD EAGLE. 28 + + BASIL AND THE BISON-BULL. 50 + + THE WAPITI AND THE WOLVERENE. 67 + + THE BLAIREAU AND THE MARMOTS 84 + + THE OSPREY AND WHITE-HEADED EAGLE. 99 + + BASIL AND THE MOOSE BULL. 116 + + THE WOLVES AND THE PEMMICAN BAGS. 129 + + THE LYNX AND THE GOLDEN EAGLE. 150 + + THE FLIGHT OF THE REFUGEES. 167 + + GUAPO'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE BULLS. 196 + + GUAPO AND THE 'NIMBLE PETERS.' 230 + + THE ESCAPE OF THE ARMADILLO. 250 + + THE VAMPIRE BAT. 266 + + ADVENTURE WITH AN ANACONDA. 287 + + THE SHOWER OF LOCUSTS. 332 + + THE LION IN A FIX. 350 + + A DEADLY ENCOUNTER. 370 + + HENDRIK DECOYING THE OUREBIS. 386 + + SWARTBOY IN A PREDICAMENT. 404 + + HANS BESIEGED BY A WILDEBEEST. 417 + + THE QUAGGA AND THE HYENA. 432 + + HENDRICK BLINDING THE QUAGGA. 443 + + TOTTY IN TROUBLE. 459 + + + + +Popular Adventure Tales. + +THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS + +OR + +BOY HUNTERS IN THE NORTH. + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE FUR COUNTRIES + + +Boy 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. + +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? + +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! + +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. + +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 you might _drown_ England, or make an +island of it! Now, you may form some idea of the vastness of that region +known as the "fur countries." + +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. + +For inhabitants, the country has less than ten thousand white men, the +_employes_ 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! + +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 _primitive_. 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 _debris_ of granite or quartz-rock--upon +which no vegetable, save the lichen or the moss, can find life and +nourishment. + +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. + +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." + +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 beaver. Upon the water sedge he +finds subsistence; but his natural enemy, the wolverene, skulks in the +same neighbourhood. + +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 _mustelidae_, 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. + +These are the _fauna_ 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." + +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. + +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. + +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 been visited by man. Some are +desolate and dreary; others are oaeses of vegetation, which fascinate the +traveller whose fortune it has been, after toiling among naked rocks, to +gaze upon their smiling fertility. + +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. + +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 _felidae_--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. + +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! + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE YOUNG VOYAGEURS + + +There 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. + +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. + +It is an expression peculiar, I think, to the hunters of the "Far +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. + +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 _is_ 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 _real_ knowledge he would prove but an idle theorist, a +dreamy imbecile, alongside our practical young scholar of the West. + +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. + +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 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." + +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 palaeontologist, 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. + +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. + +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, Francois! I was right glad to renew +acquaintance with them. Boy reader, do you share my joy? + +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 magnolia, with its huge snow-white +flowers. There the aspect is Southern, and the heat tropical for most +part of the year. + +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 +_coniferae_--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. + +But whither go our Boy Hunters in their birch-bark canoe? The river upon +which they are _voyaging_ 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? + +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 _emigre_, the _hunter naturalist_--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. + +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. + +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. + +Hugot, the _ex-chasseur_ 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 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." + +The Boy Hunters--Basil, Lucien, Francois--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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Following the usual custom, therefore, our Boy Hunters had become +voyageurs--"_Young Voyageurs_." 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 +_voyage_. + +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! + +Stay! We are to have another "_compagnon du voyage_." 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 _colour_. 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 _black_ 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. + +The youth, himself, might be termed handsome. Perhaps he did not possess +the youthful beauty of Francois, 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 _education adds to the beauty of the face_. 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--_that made it beautiful_. + +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." + +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 cold, +he wore over his hunting-shirt, a Canadian _capote_ of white woollen +cloth, with its hood hanging down upon his shoulders. + +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 +_was_ one--a bloodhound, with the cross of a mastiff--a powerful animal. +It was the dog 'Marengo.'" You remember Marengo? + +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. + +Loaded almost to the gunwale was that little canoe, yet lightly did it +float down the waters of the Red River of the North. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE TRUMPETER SWAN AND THE BALD EAGLE + + +It 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 Francois, 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. + +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. + +There is a rich vegetation upon the banks of the Red River; but the +_flora_ is far different from that which appears upon the low _alluvion_ +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 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. + +There was still another bush that fixed the attention of our young +botanist, as it appeared all along the banks, and was a _characteristic_ +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." + +The name, however, by which it is known among the Indians of Red River +is "_anepeminan_" from "_nepen_," summer, and "_minan_," 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 _Viburnum oxycoccos_; 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." + +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, Francois, 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 Francois had got several shots, and had "bagged" three +wild geese, all of different kinds, for there are many species of wild +geese in America. + +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 manoeuvred, this shy creature always took flight before +Francois 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 +Francois eager to obtain one. The bird itself was no other than the +great wild swan--the king of aquatic birds. + +"Come, brother!" said Francois, 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." + +As Francois 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." + +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. + +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. + +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 Francois 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. + +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. + +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? + +Do you suppose that these birds do not _think_? I for one am satisfied +they do, and look upon every one who prates about the _instinct_ 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 your piping +bullfinch, and the little canary that hops on your thumb. All think, and +_reason_, and _judge_. Should it ever be your fortune to witness the +performance of those marvellous birds, exhibited by the graceful Mdlle. +Vandermeersch in the fashionable _salons_ of Paris and London, you will +agree with me in the belief that the smallest of them has a mind like +yourself. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 Francois and Basil saw this, +as they stood with their guns crossed and ready. + +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! + +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 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 +_white-headed eagle_! + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _nymphae_, while the head itself could not be +distinguished among the white flowers that lay thickly along the +surface. + +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. + +"A swan for supper!" shouted Francois, as he poised his gun for the +expected shot. + +The canoe was headed for the bulrushes near the point where the +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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 manoeuvres, 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. + +[Illustration: THE TRUMPETER SWAN AND THE BALD EAGLE.] + +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. + +The eagles were now seen sailing downward, and soon disappeared among +the tops of the trees. + +The canoe soon reached the bank; and Francois, 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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A SWAN-HUNT BY TORCHLIGHT + + +A 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 Francois, as before, in vain tried +to get a shot at one. + +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 Francois 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. + +Norman, seeing how eager Francois was to shoot one of these birds, +resolved to aid him by his advice. + +"Cousin Frank," said he, one evening as they floated along, "you wish +very much to get a shot at the swans?" + +"I do," replied Francois,--"I do; and if you can tell me how to +accomplish that business, I'll make you a present of this knife." Here +Francois held up a very handsome clasp-knife that he carried in his +pouch. + +A knife in the fur countries is no insignificant affair. With a knife +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 Francois +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. + +"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." + +"What say you, brothers?" asked Francois, appealing to Basil and Lucien; +"shall we have the sport? Say yes." + +"Oh! I have no objection," said Lucien. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Is it necessary the night should be a dark one?" asked Francois. + +"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." + +"Oh! certainly--let us land," replied all three at once. + +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. + +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. + +Our voyageurs, having got on shore, first kindled a fire to cook 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 Francois, made his preparations for the +hunt. Francois, who was more interested in the result than any of them, +watched every movement of his cousin. Nothing escaped him. + +Norman proceeded as follows:-- + +He walked off into the woods, accompanied by Francois. 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 "_round_" as it is +"_through_." + +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. + +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 (_Pinus rigida_), which he knew would most +likely be found in such a situation. The tree was soon discovered, and +pointed out to Francois, who accompanied him as before. Francois 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. + +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. Francois 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 _pine-wood_ sold for fuel in the large cities of +America is the wood of this species. + +Francois 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 Francois could see that it was one of the same +species--the pitch-pine. + +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 Francois to the +fire. He then announced that he had no further preparations to make. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. +Francois 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." + +Next came Basil with his rifle. He sat near Francois, 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +As I have already stated, the convex side of the bark was _towards_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"I have heard that they sing before death," muttered Francois to Basil, +who sat nearest him. "If so, I hope that's the song itself;" and +Francois laughed quietly at the joke he had perpetrated. + +Basil also laughed; and Lucien, who had overheard the remark, could not +refrain himself from joining in the laughter. + +"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." + +This remark called forth a fresh chorus of laughter, in which all 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." + +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 Francois 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. + +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 Francois' 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 Francois. Both, +however, were at length got safely aboard, and proved to be a male and +female of the largest dimensions. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +"CAST AWAY" + + +Of 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. + +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--Francois 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! + +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. + +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 by the _employes_ of the Hudson's Bay +Company; and Norman had travelled it. + +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. + +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 _debouchure_ 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. + +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 _coup_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +Basil and Norman fired first, and simultaneously; but the louder +detonations of Francois' 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. + +During the time occupied in this manoeuvre, 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 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 +_they were sweeping rapidly to its brink_! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A BRIDGE OF BUCKSKIN + + +The 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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 deg.; 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 "_isothermal +line_,"--is of a much lower latitude in America than in Europe. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +All four set to work together. Lucien and Francois 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. + +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 Francois announced that the +throw was successful. + +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. + +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. + +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 Francois. Notwithstanding his danger, Francois +laughed loudly all the time he was in the water, while his brothers were +not without some fears for his safety. Marengo was next attached to the +rope, and pulled safely over. + +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. + +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. + +For some time they all stood silent, each considering the matter in his +own way. How could they free the rope? + +"It cannot be done," said one. + +"Impossible," rejoined another. "We must make a second rope. Francois's +shirt still remains, and our leggings--we can use them." + +This was the mode suggested by Francois and Norman, and Lucien seemed to +assent to it. They had already commenced untying their leggings, when +Basil uttered the ejaculation-- + +"Stop!" + +"Well, what is it, brother?" asked Lucien. + +"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." + +"How do you mean to do it, brother?" + +"Sit close, all of you. Give me room--you shall see presently." + +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. + +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. + +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 Francois's "hurrah," +for Francois, as well as the others, had seen that the rope had been hit +at the right place, and now exhibited a mangled appearance. + +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, Francois 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. + +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 Francois 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. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +DECOYING THE ANTELOPES + + +For 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. + +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 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 Francois should +remain on the spot and kindle a fire, while Basil and Norman went off in +search of something to be cooked upon it. + +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. + +In early times, however--that is nearly two centuries ago--it must have +ranged nearly to the Atlantic shores, as Father Hennipen in his +_Travels_ 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. + +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. + +Both Lucien and Francois 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. + +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 Red River country, particularly +of its western part, from which the great prairies stretch westward even +to the "foot-hills" of the Rocky Mountains. + +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. + +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. + +By this time Lucien and Francois 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. + +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. + +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? + +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 Francois, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Hurrah!" shouted Francois, leaping to his feet at the instant; "that's +Basil's whistle, I'll be bound. I'd know it a mile off. Hurrah!" + +Francois' "hurrah!" rang through the woods, and the next moment came +back a loud "Hilloa!" which all recognised as the voice of Basil. + +"Hilloa!" shouted the three by the fire. + +"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. + +"_Voila_!" 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." + +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, Francois, 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. + +Of course, all were eager to know how the buffaloes could have delayed +him; and therefore, while they were discussing their savoury supper, +Basil narrated the details of his day's adventure. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +A "PARTRIDGE DANCE." + + +"After 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. + +"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. + +"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.' + +"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 +manoeuvring 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. + +"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." + +"I could have watched their manoeuvres 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 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"This was too much for Francois' patience to bear, and he immediately +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 Francois' 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." + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +BASIL AND THE BISON-BULL. + + +"As soon as I saw the buffaloes," continued Basil, "my first thought was +to get near, and have a shot at them. _They_ 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." + +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. + +"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 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. + +"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 +_coup_, 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +[Illustration: BASIL AND THE BISON-BULL.] + +"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. + +"My next thought was to load my gun, and fire at him from my 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. + +"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. + +"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 _lasso the bull, and tie +him to the tree_! + +"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. + +"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. + +"As it was quite night when I had finished the business, of course I +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." + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THREE CURIOUS TREES. + + +Next 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. + +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." + +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 _afoot_ 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? + +"Let us _not_ go back," cried Francois, ever ready with a bold advice: +"let us make a boat, and keep on, say I." + +"Ha! Francois," rejoined Basil, "it's easy to say 'make a boat;' how is +that to be done, I pray?" + +"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." + +Norman asked what Francois meant by a dug-out. The phrase was new to +him. + +"A canoe," replied Francois, "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?" + +"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." + +"How large a tree would it require?" asked Norman, who knew but little +of this kind of craft. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Nor I," added Basil. + +"I don't believe there's one," said Lucien. + +"If we were in Louisiana," rejoined Francois, "I could find fifty +canoe-trees by walking as many yards. Why I never saw such insignificant +timber as this here." + +"You'll see smaller timber than this Cousin Frank, before we reach the +end of our voyage." + +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. + +"But come," continued he, "if we can't build a craft to carry us from +_one_ tree, perhaps we can do it out of _three_." + +"With three!" echoed Francois. "I should like to see a canoe made from +three trees! Is it a raft you mean, Cousin Norman?" + +"No," responded the other; "a canoe, and one that will serve us for the +rest of our voyage." + +All three--Basil, Lucien, and Francois--looked to their cousin for an +explanation. + +"You would rather not go back up the river?" he inquired, glancing from +one to the other. + +"We wish to go on--all of us," answered Basil, speaking for his brothers +as well. + +"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." + +As Norman spoke he pointed to two trees that grew among many others not +far from the spot. These trees were of very different 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 Francois, +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. + +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. + +The "canoe-birch" is not the only species of these trees found in North +America. The genus _Betula_ (so called from the Celtic word _batu_, +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. + +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 _Coniferae_, 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. + +The cone-bearing trees of America are divided by botanists into three +great sub-orders--the _Pines_, the _Cypresses_ and the _Yews_. 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: while +the _Cupressinae_, or cypress tribe, are the cypress proper, the cedars, +the arbor-vitae, 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. + +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 +_sylva_. 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. + +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. + +What use Norman would make of this tree in building his canoe, neither +Basil nor Francois knew. Lucien only guessed at it. Francois asked the +question, by saying that he supposed the "timbers" were to come out of +it. + +"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." + +"What other sort?" demanded Francois. + +"I want some cedar-wood," replied the other. + +"Ah! that's for the timbers," said Francois; "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." + +"You are right this time, Frank--it is considered the best for that +purpose." + +"You think there are cedar-trees on the hills we saw this morning?" said +Francois, addressing his Canadian cousin. + +"I think so. I noticed something like them." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 +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. + +"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." + +"Very well," replied the three brothers, "we are ready to assist +you,--tell us what to do." + +"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 _epinette_" (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." + +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." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +HOW TO BUILD A BARK CANOE. + + +Norman 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. + +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 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. + +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. Francois had his part to play, and that was to collect the +resinous gum which was distilled in plenty from the trunks of the +epinette or spruce-trees. + +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 epinette 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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 the top, and graded +with earth so as to be quite level and free from inequalities. + +At length all the materials were considered quite ready for use, and +Norman went to work to put them together. + +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. + +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 Francois, +who waited upon him with much diligence, handing him now the awl, and +then the watap, whenever he required them. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +The canoe was now completed all but the "paying," and that would not +take long to do. The gum of the epinette 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 Francois added, with a +laugh, "seaworthy." + +A small pond was near, at the bottom of the hill: Francois espied it. + +"Come, boys," cried he, "a launch! a launch!" + +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. Francois, 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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +THE CHAIN OF LAKES + + +Our young voyageurs now prepared to resume their journey. While Norman +was engaged in building his canoe, with his assistant, Francois, 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. + +Next morning the canoe was launched upon the river--below the +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 Francois expressed it, "to drown +a mosquito." + +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 Francois were, of course, the +"middlemen," and plied the paddles. + +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 Francois, 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 +Francois 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. + +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. + +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 _primitive_. 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 _secondary_ formation exists. This is _stratified +limestone_--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 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. + +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. + +Lake Winnipeg is remarkable, as being in the very centre of the North +American continent, and may be called the centre of the _canoe +navigation_. From this point it is possible to travel _by water_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 surface is usually a +series of plains, often high, dry, and treeless, as is the case upon the +great American prairies. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +WAPITI, WOLVES, AND WOLVERENE + + +The 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. + +"Look yonder!" cried Francois, who had finished eating, and risen to his +feet. "What are these, captain?" Francois pointed to some objects that +appeared at a great distance off upon the plain. + +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-- + +"Wapiti." + +"I'm no wiser than before I asked the question," said Francois. "Pray, +enlighten me as to what a wapiti may be!" + +"Why, red deer; or elk, if you like." + +"Oh! elk--now I understand you. I thought they were elk, but they're so +far off I wasn't sure." + +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. + +"Come, Luce," demanded Francois, "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 get within shot. +You see there is not a bush within half-a-mile of them." + +"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." + +"Very well then: the philosopher can tell us all about them before +that." + +Lucien, thus appealed to, began:-- + +"There are few animals that have so many names as this. It is called in +different districts, or by different authors, _elk_, _round-horned elk_, +_American elk_, _stag_, _red deer_, _grey moose_, _le biche_, _wapiti_ +and _wewaskish_. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 deer. Hundreds of +pairs of horns have been found thus 'locked,' and the solitary hunter +has often surprised the deer in this unpleasant predicament. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"What is it?" cried they. + +"Look yonder!" replied Basil, pointing in the direction of the herd. +"Something disturbs them. Give me your glass, Luce." + +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 manoeuvres. + +"There are wolves at them," said Basil, after regarding them for a +second or two. + +"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?" + +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 _two_ well-defined species do exist, +which differ in size, form, colour, and habits. + +These are the _large_ or _common wolf_, 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 _same_, 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 _black_, _pied_, +_white_, _dusky_, and _grey_ 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 _prairie +wolves_. + +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 +manoeuvres 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 _the wound has +been a mortal one_. + +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. + +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 "coyote." + +Their skins are an article of trade with the Hudson's Bay Company. 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. + +"Prairie wolves!" said Basil, in answer to the question put by his +cousin. + +"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." + +"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!" + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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 _carried another animal upon his back_! + +[Illustration: THE WAPITI AND THE WOLVERENE.] + +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. Francois 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." + +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. Francois and Basil were about to renew the pursuit, but +were prevented by Norman, who counselled them to remain where they were. + +"They won't go far," said he; "let us watch them a bit. See! the buck +takes the water!" + +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. + +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 _separately_. 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. + +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. Francois 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +A PAIR OF DEEP DIVERS. + + +THE 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. Francois had the other. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Ho, boys!" cried Francois, starting up as if something had occurred to +him; "what about the wolverene? It's a splendid skin--why not get it +too?" + +"True enough," replied Norman, "we had forgotten that. But the beast's +gone to the bottom--how can we get at him?" + +"Why, fish him up, to be sure," said Francois. "Let's splice one 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!" + +"We must get the canoe round, then," said Norman. "The bank's too steep +for us to reach him without it." + +"Of course," assented Francois, at the same time going towards the +willows; "get you the canoe into the water, while I cut the sapling." + +"Stay!" cried Basil, "I'll show you a shorter method. Marengo!" + +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. + +"Do you expect the dog to fetch him out?" inquired Norman. + +"No," replied Basil; "only to help." + +"How?" + +"Wait a moment--you shall see." + +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. + +"I'll show you, cousin," said he, addressing himself to Norman, "how we +take the water down there on the Mississippi." + +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,-- + +"Ho! Marengo! _Chez moi_!" + +The dog answered with a whimper, and a look of intelligence which showed +that he understood his master's wish. + +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. + +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. + +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 Francois to the camp. Lucien brought +Basil's clothes, and all four once more assembled around the blazing +fire. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _enters the trap from behind_, 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. + +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 _them_ too, whenever he can get his claws upon them; but as +they are much swifter than he, this seldom happens. + +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 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. + +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 deg. he +ranges perhaps to the pole itself, as traces of him have been found as +far as man has yet penetrated. + +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. + +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 _okee-coo-haw-gew_ (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. + +Those points in the natural history of the wolverene, that might be +called _scientific_, 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A GRAND SUNDAY DINNER. + + +After 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 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. + +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 _cuisine_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +For some time the party remained silent, each contemplating the scene +with feelings of pleasure. Francois, as usual, first broke the silence. + +"I say, cook, what's for dinner to-morrow?" + +It was to Lucien this speech was addressed. He was regarded as the +_maitre de cuisine_. + +"Roast or boiled--which would you prefer?" asked the cook, with a +significant smile. + +"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Francois; "boiled, indeed! a pretty boil we could +have in a tin cup, holding less than a pint. I wish we _could_ have a +boiled joint and a bowl of soup. I'd give something for it. I'm precious +tired of this everlasting dry roast." + +"You shall have both," rejoined Lucien, "for to-morrow's dinner. I +promise you both the soup and the joint." + +Again Francois laughed increduously. + +"Do you mean to make soup in your shoe, Luce?" + +"No; but I shall make it in this." + +And Lucien held up a vessel somewhat like a water-pail, which the day +before he had himself made out of birch-bark. + +"Well," replied Francois, "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!" + +"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." + +"_Parbleu_! brother, you should have been cook to Lucullus. Well, I'll +catch the fish for you." + +So saying, Francois 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 Francois 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 _Hyodon_. 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. + +"How do you know there are sturgeon in the lake?" inquired Francois. + +"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." + +Francois followed the advice of his brother, and in a few minutes 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 _Acipenser carbonarius_, a +curious sort of fish found in these waters. It did not look like a fish +that would be pleasant eating; therefore Francois again took to bobbing +for the silver fish which, though small, he knew to be excellent when +broiled. + +"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. + +"And I," said Norman, "am not going to eat the produce of other people's +labour without contributing my share." + +So the young trader took up his gun and went off in a different +direction. + +"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. +Francois alone remained by the camp and continued his fishing. Let us +follow the plant-hunter, and learn a lesson of practical botany. + +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. + +"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. + +"It ought to be found here," he muttered to himself; "this is the very +soil for it--yes, here we have it!" + +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. + +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. + +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 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!" + +"Well," inquired Lucien, "what pleases you, coz?" + +"Why, the flute-stem, of course. You talked of making a soup. It will +help you, I fancy." + +"How?" demanded Lucien. + +"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." + +"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 _prairie hen_ which he had shot, and Sandy +had brought back a squirrel; so that, with Francois's fish, of which a +sufficient number had been caught, Lucien was likely to be able to keep +his promise about the dinner. + +Francois, 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. + +On the next day the mystery was cleared up to Basil and Francois. 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. + +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 Francois 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 +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 _Amelanchier_. + +"Now," remarked Francois, "if we only had a cup of coffee and a glass of +wine, we might say that we had dined in fashionable style." + +"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." + +"Tea!" screamed Francois; "why, there's not a leaf of tea nearer than +China; and for the sugar, not a grain within hundreds of miles!" + +"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?" + +"Sugar-maples," replied Francois. + +"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." + +"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." + +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 _Heracleum_. 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 _Ericaceae_, or heath tribe, of the +genus _Ledum_--though it is not a true heath, as, strange to say, no +true heath is found upon the continent of America. + +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. + +Meanwhile Basil and Francois 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 Francois. 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." + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE MARMOTS OF AMERICA. + + +From 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 Francois' bait, however temptingly +offered. + +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. + +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 +_debouchure_, 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. + +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 _Amelanchiers_, and _Rosa +blanda_ 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 _Cleome_, and the deeper red +blossoms of the beautiful wind-flower. + +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. + +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 +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. + +"What are they?" inquired Francois. + +"I fancy," answered Lucien, "they are marmot-houses." + +"They are," affirmed Norman; "there are plenty of them in this country." + +"Oh! marmots!" said Francois. "Prairie-dogs, you mean?--the same we met +with on the Southern prairies?" + +"I think not," replied Norman: "I think the prairie-dogs are a different +sort. Are they not, cousin Luce?" + +"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." + +"Are there not many kinds of marmots in America? I have heard so," said +Francois. + +This question was of course addressed to Lucien. + +"Yes," answered he. "The _fauna_ 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. + +"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. + +"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 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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 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." + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE BLAIREAU, THE "TAWNIES," AND THE "LEOPARDS." + + +Perhaps 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. + +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." + +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." + +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." + +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. + +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 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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The blaireau, seeing that further concealment was no longer of any use, +raised himself higher upon his limbs, and sprang forward in 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. + +[Illustration: THE BLAIREAU AND THE MARMOTS] + +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 Francois 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, _quartering_ 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. + +Once or twice its course brought it directly over the camp, and Francois +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 manoevring in this way, when +all at once it was seen to make a sudden turning in the air as it fixed +its eyes upon some object in the grass. + +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. + +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 _perpendicularly_ like an +arrow, or a piece of falling lead. + +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 _cause_, or an _effect_. 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +AN ODD SORT OF DECOY-DUCK. + + +Two 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. + +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. + +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. + +Our travellers were well acquainted with these facts; and being anxious, +therefore, to get to the end of their journey before the 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 Francois 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 "Dore." 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. + +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 _wild +goose par excellence_. 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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +A single large swan--a trumpeter--was upon the water, between the shore +and the ducks, and was gradually making towards the latter. Francois +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. + +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. + +The announcement produced a new excitement. All four were desirous not +only of shooting, but of _eating_, 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. + +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. Francois' double-barrel was the arm upon which +dependence was now placed; and Francois 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. + +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." + +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 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. + +Seated as near as is safe to the canvass-back, it waits until the latter +makes his _somersault_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +As the canoe glided near, those on board watched these curious manoeuvres +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. Francois' eyes were bent only upon the ducks, and he did +not heed the other. + +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! + +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 Francois' gun drove the thing, for a +moment, out of their heads; and they all 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. + +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! + +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 Francois' gun +had startled him from his work. + +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. + +The travellers picked up the swan-skin put of curiosity; and, in +addition to the ducks which Francois 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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE SHRIKE AND THE HUMMING-BIRDS + + +The 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. + +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. + +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. + +While seated near these, Francois' 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. + +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. + +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. + +At first the boys watched these manoeuvres 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 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. + +This excited the indignation of Francois, 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 _pseud-acacia_ family, and covered all over with great thorny +spikes, like all trees of that tribe. Francois 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. + +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 _was +impaled a ruby-throat_! + +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. + +To Basil, Norman, and Francois, 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 Francois 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. + +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 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. + +Wondering at what they had seen, the voyageurs returned to their camp, +and once more embarked on their journey. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE FISH-HAWK. + + +A 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _not_ 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. + +I say _his_ 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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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." + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE OSPREY AND HIS TYRANT. + + +After 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. + +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 manoeuvres 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +Nothing could be more opportune than this, for Francois had not been +able to get a "nibble" during the whole day, and a fresh fish for dinner +was very desirable to all. Francois 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. + +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. + +"What a number of fish they must kill!" said Francois. "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!" + +As Francois 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. + +"They have sometimes others to provide for besides themselves," remarked +Lucien. "For instance, the bald eagle----" + +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! + +"Now a chase!" cried Francois, "yonder comes the big robber!" + +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 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. + +[Illustration: THE OSPREY AND WHITE-HEADED EAGLE.] + +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. + +"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. + +"But why did he not pick it up in the water?" demanded Francois. + +"Because it went to the bottom, and he could not reach it--that's +clear." + +It was Basil who made answer, and the reason he assigned was the true +one. + +"It's too bad," said Francois, "that the osprey, not half so big a bird, +must support this great robber-tyrant by his industry." + +"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 _few_ toiling for the _million_. 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." + +"But why do they do so? the fools!" asked Francois, somewhat angrily. + +"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 _natural_ 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!" + +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. + +"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 _natural_ +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 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." + +"Do they ever kill the ospreys?" inquired Francois. + +"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 +_revolution_." + +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. + +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. + +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. _She came up no more!_ 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. + +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? + +All these questions were put, and various solutions of the problem were +offered. The true one was not thought of, until accident 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. + +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 _female osprey_! 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! + + + + +CHAPTER, XXII. + +THE VOYAGE INTERRUPTED. + + +About 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. + +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. + +Every day Francois 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. + +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. + +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 _western_ +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. + +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 _debouchure_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +It was the month of August, near its end, when they reached the Great +Slave Lake, in the latitude of 62 deg.. The days had now become very short, +and their journeys grew short in proportion. They 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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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 _fauna_ of a country and its geological character. + +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 encamped for +the night, intending next day to cross the remaining part. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +FISHING UNDER THE ICE. + + +On awaking next morning, to their great surprise, they saw that the +_lake was frozen over_! 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 _prisoners upon the island_! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +They were about to adopt the desperate expedient, now more difficult +than ever, of breaking their way through the ice, when, all 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 _parchment_ skins of the caribou which +they had lately killed, and out of these Norman proposed to make a net. + +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 Francois 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +"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 +Francois--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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +AN ODD ALARM. + + +The 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. + +Even hot water poured out would freeze into ice in a few minutes. 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. + +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. + +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 _Coregonus albus_ 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. + +There was another and still smaller species, which, from its colour, the +voyageurs call the "poisson bleu," or blue fish. It is the _Coregonus +signifer_ 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +As he proceeded, the timber became thinner. The scrub-pines gave 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The moose takes its name from its Indian appellation, "moosoea," 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 +birch-tree, and willows, and one kind of these last, the red willow, is +its particular favourite. + +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. + +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 _chase of several days' duration_! 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 _battue_ takes place, in which +few or none of the animals are allowed to escape. + +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. + +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. + +In their journeyings through the snow, when they wish to rest +themselves, they make a sort of _detour_, 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 their +trail, and also of making off in a side-direction, while the latter will +be looking steadfastly ahead for them. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +ENCOUNTER WITH A MOOSE. + + +What 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 +_him_ 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. + +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. + +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 manoeuvred, 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. _It was no other than death!_ + +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. + +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 _ruse_, it attacked this tree, as it had the +other, with hoof and horns; and Basil nimbly evaded both by keeping on +the opposite side, as before. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +[Illustration: BASIL AND THE MOOSE BULL.] + +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. + +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. + +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, Francois +brought the porcupine as well--having found it on the very same tree +where Basil had left it! + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +LIFE IN A LOG-HUT. + + +The 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." + +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. + +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 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! + +But let us return to the snow-shoes. Let us see what they are, and learn +how they are made. + +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. + +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 _bois de fleche_ +(arrow-wood). + +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. + +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. + +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 "rights and lefts." +Generally, however, the shape is such that the snow-shoe will fit either +foot. + +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 Francois trimmed them with +their knives, and sweated them in the hot ashes until they became dry, +and ready for the hands of the "shoemaker." + +This work occupied them several days, and then each had a pair of shoes +fitted to his size and weight. + +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 +_employes_ 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 _per +diem_! And yet it is all eaten by him, and sometimes deemed barely +sufficient. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _ennui_. 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. + +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 Francois merry jokes and _bon mots_--and +what with Basil's _talent for listening_--not the least important +element in a good _conversazione_,--our _quartette_ of young voyageurs +found their indoor days anything but dull. + +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 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 Francois, 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. + +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. Francois 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. + +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. + +There was another feeling that influenced nearly all of them: that was +_ambition_. 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +TRAVELLING ON SNOW-SHOES. + + +Once 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. + +Out of their spare skins they had made a small tent. This was to 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 +"_pemmican_," 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +Norman's reasoning prevailed. Basil and Francois 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 Saaera 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 Saaera it is +_thirst_ that kills; upon the Barren Grounds _hunger_ 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. + +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! + +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. + +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 _detours_ to pass them, so that some days they +actually advanced less than five miles upon their journey. + +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 not only +frustrated all their calculations, but placed them in imminent danger of +perishing. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +THE BARREN GROUNDS + + +The 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. + +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! + +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. + +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 _varieties_ 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 _permanent_ or only +_accidental_. 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _par excellence the +wolf_; 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. + +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 _of the same colour and +species_ 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. + +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. + +The American wolves burrow, and, like the fox, have several entrances +to their holes. A litter of young wolves numbers five puppies, but as +many as eight are often produced at one birth. + +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. + +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 _living upon hope_. + +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. + +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 Francois 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. + +At first, Basil and Francois 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. + +The boys stopped and looked around, thinking they might see the animal +itself. There was a wide circle of snow around them, and its surface +was smooth and level; but not a speck upon it betrayed the presence of +any creature. + +"Perhaps it was a bird," said Francois, "and has taken flight." + +"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." + +"But I see no hole," said Francois, "where even a beetle could have gone +down. Let us look for one." + +At Francois' 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! + +They now observed another track going _from_ 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. + +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. + +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 _the bags of pemmican_! Part of their contents +was seen strewed over the snow, and part was already in the stomachs of +the wolves. + +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 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! + +[Illustration: THE WOLVES AND THE PEMMICAN BAGS.] + +"We are lost!" cried Norman, in a voice of terror. "Our provisions are +gone!--all gone!" + +It was true. The next moment the wolves disappeared over the summit of +the ridge; and although each of the boys had seized his gun, and ran +after, the pursuit proved an idle one. Not a wolf was overtaken. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE ROCK-TRIPE. + + +They 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 Francois--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. + +"We must kill _him_!" said he, suddenly stopping, and pointing to +Marengo. + +The rest halted. + +"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. + +Francois also assented to the proposal. + +"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 +_generosity_. + +"No," said he,--"no, dear Luce. You are done up. We must kill the dog!" + +"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----" + +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. + +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. + +"Come!" cried Lucien in his now feeble voice, still trying to look +cheerful, "we must pass through them. There is a chance yet. Let 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." + +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. + +"What is it?" inquired the others, all speaking at the same time. + +"_Tripe de roche_!" answered he. + +"_Tripe de roche_?" + +"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 _tripe de roche_ (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 Francois 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. + +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 +_Gyrophora_. 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 _Gyrophora vellea_ 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. + +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 +_tripe de roche_ 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! + +They were now as badly off as ever. The _tripe de roche_ would be of no +more use to them than so much dry grass. What could they do with it? + +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. + +They were about taking it to pieces, and had already "unhitched" +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 Francois immediately +started for the willows, while Norman and Lucien remained upon the spot +to prepare the "tripe" for the pot. + +In a short time the former parties returned with two large bundles of +willows, and the fire was kindled. The _tripe de roche_, with some +snow--for there was no water near--was put into the pot, and the latter +hung over the blaze. + +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. + +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 _tripe de +roche_ when prepared along with the roe of fish, or when boiled in fish +liquor. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +THE POLAR HARE AND GREAT SNOWY OWL. + + +Of 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. Francois 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 Francois' +shot might frighten it away, had hindered him from firing. It was +Norman's design to get both. + +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! + +The boys could not think of any way of getting the birds, except by +Francois' gun; and it was at length agreed that Francois 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. + +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 _tripe de roche_, a much better breakfast was made than they had +anticipated. + +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. + +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. + +Next morning a consultation was held. Marengo was again the 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." + +The proposal was agreed to, and, striking their tent, they again set +out. + +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. + +"Up the hill!" cried Lucien, beckoning to the others, and cheering them +with his weak voice, "Up the hill!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"_You_ must do it!" said Basil, speaking to Norman in a hoarse voice, +and turning his head away. Lucien and Francois 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. + +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. + +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. + +The snowy owl is, perhaps, the most beautiful, as it is one of the 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. + +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. + +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. + +Our travellers, as I have said, stood watching the owl as it soared +silently through the heavens. Francois 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. + +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. + +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. + +"What a pity!" exclaimed Francois. + +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. All the rest of its body was +covered with a soft white fur, hardly to be distinguished from the snow +upon which it rested. + +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. + +"Hush!" continued Norman, as soon as he saw it, "keep still all of +you--leave it to me." + +"What shall we do?" demanded Basil. "Can we not assist you?" + +"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." + +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 +_from_ 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. + +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! + +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 Francois, who, like a little god, +stood enveloped in a halo of blue smoke. Francois was the hero of the +hour. + +Marengo rushed forward and seized the struggling owl, that 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. + +Marengo was reprieved, and he seemed to know it, as he bounded over the +snow, waving his tail, and barking like a young fool. + +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. + +"There must be some wood in this quarter," remarked Norman; "I never +knew this sort of hare far from timber." + +"True," said Lucien, "the Polar hare feeds upon willows, arbutus, and +the Labrador tea-plant. Some of these kinds must be near." + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +THE JUMPING MOUSE AND THE ERMINE. + + +Large 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. + +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. + +It was a sort of oaesis 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 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." + +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. + +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. + +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" (_Mus +leucopus_), one of the most beautiful of its kind. + +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 _Mus +leucopus_. + +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 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. + +It was the celebrated _ermine_, 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. + +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 _trailing the mouse_! Whatever the +latter had doubled or made a _detour_, 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 manoeuvres were exactly +like those of a hound upon the fresh trail of a fox! + +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 _greatest_ enemy was so near. I say +greatest enemy, for the _Mus leucopus_ is the _natural_ prey of the +_Mustela erminea_. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE ARCTIC FOX AND WHITE WOLF. + + +Lucien 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 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 _winter dress_, +in the snowy regions, the latter very much resembles the ermine; and, +indeed, the trappers make no distinction between them. + +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 _was_ a fox--the +beautiful white fox of the Arctic regions. + +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. + +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. + +The "sooty-fox" is a variety of the "Arctic," distinguished from it only +by its colour, which is of a uniform blackish brown. + +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. + +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. + +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_l._; though Mr. Nicholay +considers this an exaggerated estimate, and states its true value to be +not over 1000_l._ George the Fourth had a lining of black fox-skins +worth 1000_l._ + +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 in that district +there is also a "red fox," different from the _Vulpus fulvus_ already +noticed; and which, no doubt, is the red fox of Europe, introduced by +the early colonists of America. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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 strange +manoeuvre. 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 _white wolf_. + +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, +_watching backwards_ 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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +How much pain we cannot tell; but that the plant feels, as well as the +animal, we can clearly _prove_. 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. + +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 _pointed you to the path_. + +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. + +Basil had returned alone--for the three, Basil, Norman, and Francois, +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, +Francois's "hurrah" sounded upon their ears, and Francois himself was +seen coming up the valley loaded like a little donkey with two bunches +of large snow-white birds. + +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! + +The hare-soup was now quite ready, and was accordingly served 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. + +Francois was the first to relate what had befallen him. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE JERFALCON AND THE WHITE GROUSE. + + +"Mine," began Francois, "was a bird adventure, as you all see--though +what kind of birds I've shot, _I_ can't tell. One of them's a hawk, I'm +sure; but it's a _white_ hawk, and that I never saw before. The rest, I +suppose, are _white_ partridges. Everything appears to be white here. +What are they, Luce?" + +"You are right about this first," answered Lucien, taking up one of the +birds which Francois 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." + +"What difference?" demanded Francois, with some eagerness of manner. + +"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." + +"Then this must be a true falcon," interrupted Francois, "for I saw the +gentleman do that very thing; and beautifully he did it, too." + +"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 +_Falco Islandicus_." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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.'" + +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. + +"Ho!" exclaimed Lucien, in some surprise, "you have two kinds here! Were +they all together when you shot them?" + +"No," answered Francois; "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." + +"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. + +"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." + +"Just so," said Francois. "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 '_whur-r-r_,' 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. + +"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. + +"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 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! + +"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!" + +Here Francois triumphantly pointed to the pile of birds, which in all, +with the jerfalcon, counted four brace and a half. + +One was the rock-grouse, which the falcon had itself killed, and the +others were willow-grouse, as Lucien had stated. Francois now remained +silent, while Basil related his day's adventure. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +THE HARE, THE LYNX, AND THE GOLDEN EAGLE. + + +"Frank," 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"It hadn't seen me, though, for it was not running away, but 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. + +"As I continued to watch the cat, I saw that, instead of following a +straight line, it was moving in a circle! + +"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 manoeuvring. 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 manoeuvred to +get within shot of the Polar hare; and I now saw the very same _ruse_ +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 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." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 _'golden' eagle_ of the Rocky Mountains, +thought I. + +"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! + +"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. + +"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, _have always naked legs_, +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. + +"The eagle again mounted back into the air, but soon wheeled round 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." + +[Illustration: THE LYNX AND THE GOLDEN EAGLE.] + +"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. + +"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.'" + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +THE "ALARM BIRD" AND THE CARIBOU. + + +"There 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. + +"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 Francois had gone right and left. + +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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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 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." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 _my_ 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." + +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." + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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 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." + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +A BATTLE WITH WOLVES. + + +Next 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _against_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +_open_ 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. + +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. + +At length, however, Lucien resolved upon a plan to decoy the creature +within shot. Taking up one of the grouse, he flung it out 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Down the hill swept the chase, Lucien having a full view both of +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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 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. + +He had not got many yards, when he perceived to his horror, that the +whole pack were in motion, and _coming after him_! 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. _His +retreat was cut off!_ + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +END OF THE "VOYAGE." + + +Our 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. + +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 Francois 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. + +The rocks through which they passed were in many places covered with the +_tripe de roche_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 under them, for it was +more than a foot in thickness, and would have supported a loaded wagon +and horses, without even cracking. + +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 _leaning against the pole itself, +(!)_ you would _live but one day and one night_--each of them six months +in length. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Before they had quite reached the gate, there was a general rush of +trappers, traders, voyageurs, _coureurs-des-bois_ and other _employes_, +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. + +To me there is an hour of regret, and I hope, boy reader, to you as +well--the hour of our parting with the "YOUNG VOYAGEURS." + + + + +THE FOREST EXILES, + +OR + +ADVENTURES AMID THE WILDS OF THE AMAZON. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE BIGGEST WOOD IN THE WORLD. + + +Boy Reader, I am told that you are not tired of my company. Is this +true? + +"Quite true, dear Captain,--quite true!" + +That is your reply. You speak sincerely? I believe you do. + +In return, believe _me_, 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? + +"Most willingly--with you, dear Captain, anywhere." + +Come with me, then. + +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. + +"What! to America again?" + +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 +_fauna_, a new _flora_,--I might almost say, a new earth and a new sky! + +You shall have variety, I promise you,--a perfect contrast to the scenes +of our last journey. + +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! + +Perhaps you do not contemplate _such_ 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 _as big as +all Europe_! 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! + +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! + +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. + +On the water we shall see beautiful lilies--the snow-white _nymphs_, and +the yellow _nuphars_. We shall see the _Victoria regia_ 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 _arundinaria_--the +bamboo, and "cana brava,"--that rival the forest trees in height. + +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. + +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 +_quadrumana_--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. + +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. + +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 caiman; or the unwieldly forms of the +_cheloniae_--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. + +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 _icterus_ +and _cassicus_--hanging down like long cylindrical purses. + +All those, and many more strange sights, may be seen in the great forest +of the Amazon valley; and some of them we _shall_ see--_voila_! + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE REFUGEES. + + +Upon 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 +family,--father, mother, children, and one attendant. We shall say a +word of each of them separately. + +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. + +Remember--Creoles are _not_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 serape--is +almost universally worn. The poncho of Don Pablo was a costly one, woven +by hand, and out of the finest wool of the vicuna, for that is the +native country of this useful and curious animal. + +Such a poncho would cost 20_l._, 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_l._; 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. 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. + +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 +Dona Isidora would have satisfied any one that she was a lady of rank +and refinement. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +[Illustration: THE FLIGHT OF THE REFUGEES.] + +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. + +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 Dona 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. + +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 _what_ danger, but they knew that their father and mother were in +trouble. + +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? _Because Don Pablo was in flight, and feared +pursuers!_ What? Had he committed some great crime? No. On the contrary, +he was the _victim of a noble virtue_--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, _his life;_ for had the sentinels on +those distant towers but recognised him, he would soon have been +followed and dragged back to an ignominious death. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 +_political crime_ 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. + +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. + +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 +_Montana_, and towards this point was he journeying. By a _ruse_ 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. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE POISON-TREES. + + +Following the rugged and winding path, the travellers had climbed to a +height of many thousand feet above the ocean level. There was very +little vegetation around them. Nothing that deserved the name of tree, +if we except a few stunted specimens of quenoa 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. + +Now and then a beautiful species of locust was seen with its bright red +flowers. It was the "Sangre de Christo" of the Peruvian _flora_. + +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. + +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. + +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 _fauna_ nor _flora_. 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. + +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. + +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 _molle_ trees. 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. + +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:-- + +"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." + +"What! _mi amo_! (my master) Here?" replied the Indian, with a gesture +of surprise. + +"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." + +"But, master," continued Guapo--"see!" + +"See what?" + +"The trees, master!" + +"Well, what of the trees? Their shade will serve to screen us from the +night dew. We can sleep under them." + +"Impossible, master--_they are poison trees_!" + +"You are talking foolishly, Guapo. These are _molle_ trees." + +"I know it, senor; but they are poison. If we sleep under them we shall +not awake in the morning--we shall awake no more." + +And Guapo, as he uttered these words, looked horrified. + +"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." + +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. + +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 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 molle trees was, therefore, determined +upon. + +All dismounted. The llamas were unloaded; their packs, or _yerguas_, +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. + +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 _charqui_ (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. + +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 (_Capsicum_). Out of the _oca_, then, and _charqui_, the +supper must be made; and for the purpose of cooking it, a fire must be +kindled with the wood of the molle. + +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 +molle. + +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 +molle trees, soon attracted his attention. This was the _quinoa_ 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. + +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 Dona Isidora, 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 _cuisine_, 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. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE SUPPER OF GUAPO. + + +I 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 _charqui_ 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." + +"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. + +"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. + +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 +_Erythroxylon coca_. 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. + +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. + +When dried, they remain of a pale green colour; but should they get damp +during the process, they become darker, and are then of 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +_he_ does it, for Guapo is a confirmed coquero. + +Guapo, true to his promise, does not sleep under the molle 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 molle 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 molle ashes which Guapo carried, for these are +most highly esteemed by the Indians of Southern Peru; and Guapo was a +connoisseur in coca-eating. + +Whichever of the three it was--lime, molle, 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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE PUNA. + + +By 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. + +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 +molles. 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. + +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 molle trees. At length he reached the spot. +All asleep?--yes, all! "Are they dead?" thought Guapo, and his heart +beat with anxiety. Indeed, they 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!" + +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. + +"What is it?" he inquired, with half-opened eyes. "Is it morning +already?" + +"The sun is up. Rouse, my master! It is time we were on the road," +replied the Indian. + +"I feel very drowsy--I am heavy--I can scarce keep my eyes open. What +can be the cause of this?" + +"The poison-trees, master," answered Guapo. + +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. + +"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!" + +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. + +"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!" + +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 _charqui_ and +ocas in the ravine, and making their breakfast upon these, they again +felt light and fresh, and pursued their journey with renewed vigour. + +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 _Conurus rupicola_, 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. + +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. + +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 _Puna_. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +The road skirted round the rocks, where the mountain came down 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:-- + +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 _maguey_ 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. + +As our travellers approached, they saw that the entrance was closed by +an ox-hide which covered the whole of the opening. + +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. + +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. + +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 "_machete_," in his hand; and having lifted the skin +that covered the low doorway, peeped in. The hut was empty. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE WILD BULL OF THE PUNA. + + +Guapo 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. + +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." + +What are _macas_? 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. + +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. + +"Good!" ejaculated Guapo; "maize and macas! That with what is left of +the charqui--we shall not fast to-night." + +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. + +It was piercing cold in this highland region. Dona 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 plain to gather +the _taquia_, or ordure of the cattle, though no cattle were in sight. +Their tracks, however, were visible all around. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _them_ 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? + +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. + +The trick of the matador with his red cloak suggested itself in this +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 _a la matador_, 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. + +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 Dona 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. + +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 Dona 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. + +"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!" + +In fact, the bull was making directly towards her, and it seemed as if +nothing could then have interposed to save her. + +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 +machete into its throat. The red stream gushed forth, and in a few +seconds the black monster lay motionless upon the plain. + +The new-comer quietly unwound the thongs--the _bolas_--from the legs of +the dead bull, and then addressed himself to our travellers. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +THE "VAQUERO." + + +Who 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 _house(!)_ was at +their service. They were welcome to all it contained. + +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; 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 _peseta_ in +buying this luxury, and therefore was well provided for weeks to come. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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 snare +rabbits in a warren, except that for the rabbits we make use of light +elastic wire, instead of the horse-hair. + +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. + +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." + +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 (_Polyborus_). 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. + +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" (_Colaptes +rupicola_), 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. + +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. + +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 _Canis Azarae_, 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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +LLAMAS, ALPACOS, VICUNAS, AND GUANACOS. + + +Our 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 _coup d'oeil_--they beheld the whole four species +of the celebrated camel-sheep of the Andes; for there are four of +them,--llama, guanaco, alpaco, and vicuna! 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 vicunas. The guanacos and vicunas 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 vicunas and +guanacos consisted of wild animals. + +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. + +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. + +The males are trained to carry burdens at the age of four years. A +pack-saddle, called _yergua_, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _eighteen months_ +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. + +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." + +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 _run wild_, 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 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. + +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. + +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. + +Of all the Peruvian sheep the vicuna 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, _color de vicuna_ (vicuna +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 vicuna 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 vicuna, 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 vicuna +wool. + +The vicuna 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. + +The llama, guanaco, alpaco, and vicuna, 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. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +A VICUNA HUNT. + + +The vicuna 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. + +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 _chacu_ sometimes lasts a week or more. + +A hunting party will number from fifty to one hundred persons. They +climb up to the _altos_, or high and secluded plains, where the vicuna +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. + +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 detour, extending for miles over the +country; and having got behind the herds of vicunas, drive them within +the circle, and close up the entrance by completing the ring. + +The hunters then go inside, and using the _bolas_, 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 vicunas, they not only break +open the rope enclosure and free themselves, but also the whole herd of +their cousins, the vicunas. It is, therefore, not considered any gain to +get a flock of guanacos into the trap. + +The hunt usually lasts several days, but during that time the enclosure +of ropes is flitted from place to place, until no more vicunas 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 round sum this amounts to, as +frequently four or five hundred vicunas are taken at a single _chacu_. + +A good hunter is sometimes able to "approach" the vicuna. 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. + +Don Pablo and his party--even Dona 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. + +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 vicuna +to have observed this defect. + +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 +_bolas_,--that was his favourite weapon. Before going farther, I shall +tell you what sort of weapon it is. + +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 vicuna 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. + +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! + +Without more ado, then, he seized the weapon, and, having gathered it +with his _fore-feet_ into a portable shape, he proceeded in the +direction of the vicunas. + +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. + +The herd of vicunas 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. + +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. + +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 vicunas. 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 vicuna 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 _llama_ stands erect on his +hind-legs; the bolas whirl around his head--they are launched out. Ha! +the vicuna is down! + +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! + +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. + +Leon could no longer restrain his curiosity; but ran off to the scene of +the slaughter. There he counted no less than nineteen vicunas lying +dead, each one stabbed in the ribs! The Indian assured him that it was +not the first _battue_ of the kind he had made. A whole herd of vicunas +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! + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +CAPTURING A CONDOR. + + +The vaquero with his horse soon dragged the vicunas 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. + +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. + +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? + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The vaquero, however, had a good many "dodges," and after the _ruse_ he +had just practised upon the vicunas, 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. + +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. + +His object in asking Guapo to accompany him with the horses was simply a +_ruse_ 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. + +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. + +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! + +The other bird had flown off at the first alarm, and the whole band were +soon soaring far upward into the blue heavens. + +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 manoeuvring, 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE PERILS OF A PERUVIAN ROAD. + + +It was as yet only an hour or so after daybreak--for the vicuna 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 vicunas were hastily prepared, and +packed upon a llama for use upon their journey. Thus furnished, the +party resumed their route. + +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 vicunas lay upon the plain, he left them there with +instructions to guard the carcasses from foxes, condors, or whatever +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. + +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. + +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. + +Let us follow our travellers. + +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 vicunas, 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. + +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 +"Montana"--for such is the name which, by a strange misapplication of +terms, has been given to this primeval wood. Yes, the Montana 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. + +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. + +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 _Manoa_, 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 _sierras_, 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. + +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 +"Montana" 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. + +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. + +_And what was he to do in the wilderness?_ 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 Montana. Beyond this he had +formed no plan. He had scarcely thought about the future. Forward, then, +for the Montana! + +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. + +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, +"_Cuesta arriba, cuesta abajo_" (up hill, down hill). + +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 +_quebradas_. 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. + +Sometimes the path traverses a ledge so narrow that scarce room is found +for the feet of your trusty mule. Sometimes a hanging 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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +ENCOUNTER UPON A CLIFF. + + +That 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 +_Cactus opuntia_, 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 vicuna +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. + +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 (_agave_), +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. + +The Indians make this use of the aloe on the high plains of Northern +Mexico, among the roving bands of the Apache, Navajo, and Comanche. +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 Apaches 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. + +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. + +Guapo with his knife had soon cleared off several large pieces of the +maguey, and these, fried along with the vicuna 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. + +They rose at an early hour, and, breakfasting as they had supped, once +more took the road. + +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. + +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! + +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 Dona 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. + +The torrent rushed and thundered beneath. It was fearful to 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. + +[Illustration: GUAPO'S ENCOUNTER WITH THE BULLS.] + +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 Dona +Isidora and the little Leona both shrieked! + +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! + +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! + +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!" + +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! + +The smoke partially cleared away; then came another crack--another +cloud--another short struggle--and another distant plash in the water! + +The smoke cleared away a second time. The two bulls were no longer to be +seen! + +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,-- + +"No more, master; you may come on--the road is clear!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE LONE CROSS IN THE FOREST. + + +After 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 _Ceja de la Montana_--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 "Montana" proper. + +During that day they had found the road in several places choked up with +underwood, and Guapo had to clear it with his _machete_--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. + +This is no unusual thing on the borders of the Montana. 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. + +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 _by the Indians_: 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. + +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. + +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 vicuna meat cooked for supper. + +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. Dona 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. + +"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." + +"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!" + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Have patience, love," he cried down. "I shall descend presently and +tell you all. I have good news, but be patient." + +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. + +"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?" + +"Forgive me, wife; you shall know all." + +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 _jaguar_, and it would be +necessary to keep up a blazing fire throughout the night. + +"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. + +"First, I looked out upon the Montana, which I expected to see +stretching away to the horizon, like a green ocean. I saw this in fact; +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 _Madre de Dios_. 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 _Madre de +Dios_ of that missionary." + +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." + +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." + +My hopes fell as quickly as they had sprung up. + +"I noticed your countenance change as you sat upon the tree." + +"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." + +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 Montana--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 _cinchona_ +trees--those trees that yield the celebrated febrifuge--the Peruvian +bark! + +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 _cascarillero_--I shall be a +_bark-hunter_." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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 _musaceae_, either plantains or +bananas. I thought, too, I could distinguish the form of the _yucca_ +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." + +"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!" + +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:-- + +"BRAZOS DE DIOS" (The arm of God). + +Isidora took Don Pablo by the hand, and looking steadfastly in his face, +pointed to the inscription. + +"It _is_ true," said she, "God protects us!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +THE DESERTED MISSION. + + +That night all went to rest with hope in their hearts, though still not +without some anxiety. + +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 Montana +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. + +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 machete. 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, 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. + +Don Pablo considered the cross a good omen, or rather a good _sign_. +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. + +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. + +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 machete 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. + +What was it that caused them to utter this shout of joy? Before them +towered the great _musaceae_--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 _yucca_ 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! + +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 _yerba mate_, the +"Paraguay tea." What shall we light upon next? + +And so the delighted travellers went on, over the ground, through 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE GUACO AND THE CORAL SNAKE. + + +It 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. + +Now, in Spanish-America there are vast depositories of salt--both in +mines and on plains, with salt lakes--called _salinas_; 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. + +The others were not idle; Don Pablo, assisted by Leon, was clearing a +place on which they intended to build the house, while the Dona 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? + +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 +_parapara_. 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." Dona 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! + +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. Dona 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. + +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. + +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. + +"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?" + +"That's the snake-bird," quietly answered Guapo, who, it must be +remembered, was a native of the Montana, and knew a great deal both +about the birds and beasts of these regions. + +"The snake-bird?" exclaimed Leon, evidently interested in the name. + +"Yes, young master!" replied Guapo; "look! yonder it goes!" + +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 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. + +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. + +The first thought of Guapo and Leon was to spring up, seize upon some +weapon, and kill the creature. Don Pablo, however, restrained them. + +"Stay where you are," said he; "be patient; we shall have a scene. Look +at the hawk,--see!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _Mikania_, and known popularly as the "vejuco de guaco." + +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 (_rattle-snake_), and even of the +small spotted viper, the most poisonous of all the American snakes. + +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! + +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 thought it prudent that all +should submit to the operation, and accordingly Guapo "doctored" the +party without more ado. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE PALM-WOODS. + + +It 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 +Montana, 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. + +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? + +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. + +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. + +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 vast deal of crackling among +the branches, the great bombax settled into a horizontal position across +the chasm. The bridge was built. + +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. Dona Isidora and +the little Leona remained by the camp, both of them busy scraping +_yucca_ roots, to be manufactured into cassava, and then into bread. + +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. + +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. + +"What a variety of beautiful palms!" said he, looking around upon these +by far the fairest forms of the vegetable creation. + +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 _would_; 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! + +How many species do you think there are? Up to this time you have +thought, perhaps, there was only one, and that was _the palm-tree +itself_. 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 _six hundred +species of palms_, 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. + +The reason why I entertain this belief is, that in all cases where +similar guesses have been hazarded--whether with regard to plants, or +birds, or _mammalia_--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. + +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. + +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 +_live almost exclusively_ upon one or another species of palm. + +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 _palm-oil_. 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. + +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." + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A HOUSE OF PALMS. + + +The 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 _Oenocarpus_. 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 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. + +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. + +A palm called the "assai" 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 "assai" is a favourite drink, and is +taken along with cassava bread, as we use milk or coffee. + +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. + +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. + +Don Pablo next looked out for some palm of a more slender trunk for the +rafters and joists. + +This was soon found in the "catinga," which is a species of the "assai +palm, the one of which we have just spoken as producing the assai 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. + +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 assai, but a drink is also +made from them which some people consider more delicious than that +either of the assai or patawa. The rafters then were got from the +catinga. + +Now for the thatch, that was the next consideration. + +"Master!" cried Guapo, pointing off into the woods. "Yonder's +'bussu,'--very thing for thatch!" + +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 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. + +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! + +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. + +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 _Iriartea_, 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. + +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! + +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. There are many species +of this sort of palms, which are classed under the genus _Iriartea_. 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. + +Guapo attacked the roots with his axe, and enough trunks were soon +felled to make laths, doors, and all sorts of benches. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +TRACKING THE TAPIR. + + +It 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 +_nympha_ so celebrated under the name of _Victoria regia_--for South +America is the native country of this rare plant. + +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. + +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 +Montana, enlightened them at once. Guapo had been a keen _tapir-hunter_ +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 _nymphae_. + +Have you ever seen a tapir? Not a living one, I fancy; perhaps 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 _bovine_ 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 _fauna_. + +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 _tapir_ than anything else--that is, he is a creature +_sui generis_. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _machete_, 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. + +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 _machete_. That weapon was a very pacific one--it was a _spade_! +Fortunately he had one which he had brought with him from the mountains. + +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. + +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. + +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 _machete_ against a tree, and took +a determined hold of the spade. Leon now began to see what use he +intended to make of the spade. He was _going to dig a pit_! + +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. + +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. + +They started along the trail going _from_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +They soon got back to the pit-fall, Guapo of course leading the way. + +"Hola!" cried the latter, when he came in sight of it, "hola, young +master! he's in the trap!" + +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. + +Guapo did not pause a moment, but leaped in, _machete_ 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 _undermost_ at the bottom of the +pit! + +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. + +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 machete in a threatening manner, +cried out,-- + +"Dive away, old thick-skin! Dive deep as you will, I'll have your hide +yet!" + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +THE POISONED ARROWS. + + +The 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 "gravatana," 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. + +First, then, for the blow-tube itself he had cut stems of a slender +palm-tree, a species of _Iriartea_, but not that sort already described. +It was the _Pashiuba miri_ of the Indians. This little palm grows to the +height of from twelve to twenty feet, and is never thicker than 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. + +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 +gravatana. 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. + +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 gravatana +was finished. + +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. + +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. + +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 _bromelias_; 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 gravatana, the swell of the +cotton filled the tube exactly,--not so tightly as to impede the +passage of the arrow, nor so loosely as to allow of "windage" when blown +upon through the mouthpiece. + +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. + +This celebrated poison is known under different names, but those of +"curare," "ticuna," and "wouraly," are the principal. + +It is one of the most deadly poisons yet discovered--as much so as the +_upastiente_ 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. + +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 +_bejuco de curare_, 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 _Strychnos_. + +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. + +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 _curare_, 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. + +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 the +decomposition of a hydruret of carbon; the hydrogen was burned, and the +carbon set free. + +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 _carefully_, 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. + +Don Pablo, with Dona 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! + +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 _Ambihuasca_, tobacco, red pepper, a bark called +"barbasco," from a tree of the genus _Jacquinia_, and a plant of the +name "sarnango." Of all these the juice of the _Ambihuasca_ is the most +powerful ingredient, but the making of this species of poison is a most +complicated process. + +Guapo was not long in having an opportunity to test his gravatana, 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. + +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 _ana_, +or _purple macaw_. + +Without saying a word, Guapo seized his gravatana and arrows, 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. + +He was seen to adjust an arrow into the tube, and then raise the +gravatana 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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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! + +As a hunting instrument for most species of game the South American +Indian prefers the gravatana 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 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 gravatana 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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE MILK-TREE. + + +Guapo 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!" + +"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. + +"In the water," replied Leona; "among the great lillies." + +"It's the tapir," cried Leon. "Carrambo! it's our tapir!" + +Guapo was busy plucking his macaws, but at the word tapir he sprang to +his feet, making the feathers fly in all directions. + +"Where, senorita?" he asked, addressing little Leona. + +"Down below," replied the child; "near the edge of the river." + +Guapo seized his gravatana, 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. + +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. + +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 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! + +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. + +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. + +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--_the wax-palm_--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. + +Another "wax-palm," called "Carnauba," 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. + +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 _salt_ and _milk_. +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! + +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 _palo de vaca_, or "cow-tree," called sometimes +by an equally appropriate name _arbol del leche_, 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 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. + +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. + +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. + +So much for the _palo de vaca_. + +It still remains for me to tell you where the _salt_ 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. + +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. + +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 _Leopoldinia_. + +It was the fruits upon which Guapo bent his eyes with earnestness. 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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE CANNIBAL FISH AND THE GYMNOTUS. + + +About 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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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! + +What was the matter? + +Of course that question was asked of him by them all in a breath. His +reply was that "he could not tell--_something was biting him all +over_!" + +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. + +"O God! my child--my child! Save him--save him!" + +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! + +"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!" + +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! + +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 _carib_ 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! + +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 _Formica spinicollis_. These +nests were composed of a soft cotton-down, which the ants had collected +from a species of _Melastoma_, a handsome shrub found growing in these +regions; and this down Guapo knew to be the best for blood-stopping. + +Even Don Pablo had heard of its being used by the Indians for this +purpose, and knew it by the name of "_yesca de hormigas_," 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 +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. + +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! + +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. + +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 +_electric eel_--the "temblador," or "gymnotus." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +During that evening he had made an excursion into the wood, and returned +home carrying with him a large bundle of roots. + +They were the roots of two species of plants--one of the genus +_Piscidea_, the other a _Jacquinia_. 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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +THE CINCHONA-TREES. + + +In 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. + +You would have seen baskets of various shapes and sizes woven out of the +rind of the leaf-stalks of a singular palm called "Iu," 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 light gourd-shell +(_Crescentia cujete_), 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. + +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 "_Inaga_." 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! + +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. + +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 _tipiti_ into a vessel below, and +there produces a sediment, which is the well-known "tapioca." + +There are two kinds of the yucca or manioc-root,--the _yucca dulce_, and +_yucca amarga_--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. + +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 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." + +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 _Cascarilla de +Cuzco_ (Cuzco bark). + +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 _Exostemma_, whose bark is collected as a febrifuge, +and passes in commerce under the name of _Peruvian bark_. 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. + +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. + +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 +Montana 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. + +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 _morichi_, form an exception to this +rule. These are found in vast _palmares_, or palm-woods, extending over +large tracts of country, and monopolising the soil to themselves. + +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, "_manchas_," +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 task he had not yet calculated; but he +resolved to set about it at once. + +[Illustration: GUAPO AND THE 'NIMBLE PETERS.'] + +A large house had been already constructed for storing the bark, and in +the dry hot climate of the high Montana, where they now were, Don Pablo +knew it could be dried in the woods, where it was stripped from the +trees. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +A PAIR OF SLOW GOERS. + + +At 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. + +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 _siesta_ 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 +"ambaiba" trees. So said Don Pablo, as they passed under their shade. + +"I shouldn't wonder," added he, "if we should see that strange animal +the ai. The leaves of these trees are its favourite food, and it lives +altogether among their branches." + +"You mean the 'nimble Peter,' do you not, papa?" + +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. + +"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 _bradypus_. There +are two or three species, but all with very similar habits, though, as +usual, the French classifiers have separated them into distinct genera." + +"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?" + +"Totally untrue. It is true the ai 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, _under_ the branches, for, +unlike the squirrels and monkeys, it travels along the under sides of +the horizontal limbs, with its back downward. This 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 _nine +vertebrae_,--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. + +"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 ai 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 _cecropia_, 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 ai." + +"_A-ee_!" echoed a voice in the most lugubrious tones. + +"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!" + +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. + +"Oh, yonder's another!" cried Leon, pointing higher up in the tree; and, +sure enough, there was, for the ai 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. + +Don Pablo and the rest were about to pass on and leave the ais 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 ais, 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. + +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 crashing +through the bark of the ambaiba wood. A few minutes served to bring the +tree down, and down it came, the ais 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. + +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 ais, and touched them with it on the breast. + +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 ai, 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. + +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 ais upon the ground and +marched on. + +"Why do you leave them?" inquired the others. + +"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 ais 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE BARK-HUNTERS. + + +In 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. + +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 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. + +The Dona 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. + +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 ais. 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. + +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. + +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! + +"Carrambo!" muttered Leon. "What's the matter with them?" + +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! + +Leon was puzzled,--no wonder. He looked around for a solution of this +queer conduct on the part of the ais. No explanation appeared. At length +he bethought himself of going up to them. Perhaps, when nearer, he might +learn what set them a-dancing. + +"Ha!" he ejaculated, struck with some sudden thought. "I know now; +there's a snake at them." + +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 ais, but +as yet discovered no snake. + +To his great surprise, the ais 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. + +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! + +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. + +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 ais, though dead, are covered with living, moving objects! +Ha! _it is a "chacu" of the white ants_. + +Leon now comprehended the whole affair. The ground was literally alive +with the terrible _termites_. They had made their foray, or "chacu," as +it is called, from the neighbouring cones; they had attacked the +helpless ais, 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! + +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 ais. 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. + +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 ais. 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 ais, going in opposite directions. + +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! + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE PUMA AND THE GREAT ANT-BEAR. + + +All 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. + +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. + +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 _plantigrade_, that is, it walked with the whole of its +soles touching the surface, which only bears and a few other sorts of +quadrupeds do. + +Its fore-feet, too, were oddly placed upon the ground. They had 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. + +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 _tamanoir_, or _great ant-eater_, by the +people of South America called the _ant-bear_. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 her, and with its more slender tongue dealing death among the +_termites_. + +So very comic was the sight that Leon could not help laughing at it, as +he sat upon his perch. + +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 +_Puma_--the maneless lion of America. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +ATTACK OF THE WHITE ANTS. + + +Leon 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. _They were ascending the tree!_ 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! + +The fate of the ais--which he had just witnessed--and the sight of the +hideous host, caused him again to scream out. At the same time 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. + +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 _he remembered the +puma_! 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! + +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. + +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. + +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 gravatana! + +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! + +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 ais 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! + +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 night. +The same may have aroused the fierce puma from his lair, although he is +not strictly a nocturnal hunter. + +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. + +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 _American tiger_. + +Besides the tamanoir there are two, or perhaps three, other species of +_ant-bears_ 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 _tree-climbers_, 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 _naked +prehensile tails_, like the opossums and monkeys. These are +characteristics entirely distinct from those of the _Myrmecophaga +jubata_, or _great_ ant-eater. + +One of these species is the _tamandua_, called by the Spano-Americans +_Osso hormiguero_ (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. + +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 _tridactyla_, or the +"three-toed ant-eater," because it has only three claws upon each of +its fore-feet, whereas the tamanoir is provided with four. + +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 +larvae of both; but it does not use the tongue to any great extent. It +is, on this account, an essentially different sort of animal. + +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. + +So much for the ant-bears of America. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE ANT-LION. + + +Ants 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. + +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. + +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! + +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 _instinct_, as some choose to call +it. + +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! + +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--_ant-eaters_! 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 _pangolins_, 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 _Myothera_, or "ant-catchers." Many kinds of reptiles, both +snakes and lizards, are ant-eaters; and, what is strangest of all, there +are _insects_ that prey upon them! + +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. + +The observations just made are very similar to those that were addressed +by Dona 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. + +Dona 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 Dona Isidora rested upon a very different insect, and she drew the +attention of her daughter to it. + +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 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 Dona +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. + +"What is it, mamma?" inquired the little Leona, bending forward to +examine it. + +"The _ant-lion_." + +"The ant-lion! Why, mamma, it is an insect! How then can it be called +lion?" + +"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." + +"But why the _ant_-lion, mamma?" + +"Because it preys principally on ants. I have said there are insect +ant-eaters. This is one of them." + +"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!" + +"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." + +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 Dona Isidora imparted to her +daughter some further information about its natural history. + +"The ant-lion," said she, "is not an insect in its perfect state, but +only the _larva_ of one. The perfect insect is a very different +creature, having wings and longer legs. It is one of the _neuropterous_ +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!" + +Dona Isidora pointed to the ant-lion that was just then beginning to +bestir itself, and both sat silent regarding it attentively. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Both Dona 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. + +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! + +The ant-lion now dresses his trap, and, again burying himself in the +sand, awaits another victim. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +THE TATOU-POYOU AND THE DEER CARCASS. + + +Dona Isidora and Leona had watched all the manoeuvres 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. + +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. + +That morning they had discovered a new _mancha_ of cinchona trees. When +proceeding towards them they came upon the dead carcass of a deer. It +was a large species, the _Cervus antisensis_, 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. + +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! + +"Tatou-poyou!" quietly remarked Guapo. + +"What!" said Don Pablo, "an armadillo, you think?" recognising, in +Guapo's words, the Indian name for one of the large species of +armadillos. + +"Yes," replied Guapo. "All eaten by the tatou-poyou. See! there's his +hole." + +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. + +"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." + +This was evident, as the hollow skeleton was quite dry, and had +evidently been empty for a good while. + +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 "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. + +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. + +There are some in the neighbourhood of the settlements, that +_occasionally pay a visit to the graveyards or cemeteries_, 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 _larvae_. Now the ants love +these _larvae_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _tatou-poyous_, 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +AN ARMADILLO HUNT. + + +Conversing 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." + +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. + +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. + +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 +Montana that he was ignorant of the places where the tribes of these +parts might now be located. These tribes often change their homes. + +He knew that the Chunchos sometimes roamed so far up, and they were the +most dangerous of all the Indians of the Montana,--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. + +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, _had_ 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. + +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. + +This was all very mysterious, but Guapo, guessing what was the matter, +solved the mystery by crying out,-- + +"_Tatou-poyou_!" + +"Where?" inquired Don Pablo. + +"Yonder, master, yonder in the body of the beast." + +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. + +They soon, however, got over their affright, and returned to their +repast. + +The armadillo--a very large one--had, by this time, crept out into the +open air, and went on eating. + +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 _tatou_ 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. + +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. + +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 +_entree_, seemed to mystify them, and several of them stood for some +moments in neck-stretched wonder. + +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. + +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, seized the tail and +held on; and, although not able to drag it out, he was resolved it +should get no deeper. + +[Illustration: THE ESCAPE OF THE ARMADILLO.] + +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 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! + +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! + +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." + +That was a great day among the "armadillos." + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +THE OCELOT. + + +During 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. + +During week-days, while the others were abroad, Dona Isidora and the +little Leona were not idle at home; yet their whole time was not taken +up by the mere concerns of the _cuisine_. 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 _vanilla_. + +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 _leq_ 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. + +In the course of the summer, these vanilla vines exhibited a different +appearance. Instead of flowers, long bean-like capsules made 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 Dona Isidora and +Leona; and they understood perfectly how to do it. + +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 _Bombax ceiba_, to prevent the valves from opening. + +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. + +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. + +Although these two always remained by the house, they were not without +_their_ 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. + +Leona rested for a moment, and was looking over the water, when, all at +once, she exclaimed, + +"Maman--Maman! come out and see! oh! what a beautiful cat!" + +The exclamation caused Dona 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 Dona Isidora saw at a glance that it was a far +larger animal. + +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 Dona 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 close down to the +water's edge, as if it had come there to drink; and Dona 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! + +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!" + +Dona 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. + +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. Dona 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. + +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 Dona Isidora had understood the +jaguar to be a large animal; but there is also a smaller species of +jaguar. This might be the one. + +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. Dona 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. + +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. + +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 house, and Dona +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. + +Dona 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 _murumuru_ nuts, and gave them to the mule, patting +the creature upon the nose, and thanking her for the important service +she had rendered. + +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. + +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 Montana; 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. + +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 _Felidae_. 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. + +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 _ocellae_, or eyes. Each, +in fact, resembles a rosette. + +Jaguars are not always of the same colour. Some have skins of an orange +yellow, and these are the most beautiful. Others are 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 Montana. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +A FAMILY OF JAGUARS. + + +As 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. + +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. They, of course, +reached them by crossing the tree-bridge, and then keeping up the stream +on the farther side. + +For several days they had been at work in this new direction, and were +getting bark in by the hundred-weight. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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!" + +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. + +Guapo was in front of the house busy in new-hafting his axe. Don Pablo +was at his work in the store-room. Dona 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. + +"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. + +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! _They were the cubs of the jaguar!_ + +"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. + +"Run, little master!" shouted Guapo. "Run for your life; make for the +bridge--for the bridge!" + +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-- + +"Run, boy! run! The jaguars are after you!" + +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. + +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. _They were jaguars!_ + +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. + +Dona 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. + +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,-- + +"Drop one! young master--_only one_!" + +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 _not_ 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-- + +"_Now the other!_" + +Leon let the second slip from his grasp, and kept on for the bridge. + +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. + +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 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. + +Don Pablo and Dona 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. + +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---- + +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! + +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! + +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! + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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! + +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! + +Guapo, with his foot badly lacerated, was drawn back from the cliff into +the arms of Don Pablo. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +THE RAFT. + + +This was the most exciting day that had been passed since their arrival +in the Montana; 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. + +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. + +It was not long after that a pleasanter pet than either of them was +found, and this was a beautiful little saimiri 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. + +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 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 saimiri, 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. + +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. + +Although this forest life was not without its pleasures and excitements, +yet it began to grow very irksome both to Don Pablo and Dona 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. + +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 _ennui_ 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. + +In the tangled and impenetrable forests of the Great Montana 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. + +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 Dona Isidora were never without +a feeling of uneasiness. + +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 _balza_ 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 the name of the "Purus," +falls into the Amazon between the mouths of the Madeira and the Coary. + +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, _Smilax officinalis_. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _had been to the mountains_! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _Bombax ceiba_, 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. + +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. + +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 Montana 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,--_in a way._ + +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 _Guapo killed him_! 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 _curare_ 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. + +All left the house together, carrying with them the remains of their +hastily-created _penates_. 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 saimiri, carried on the shoulder of the little +Leona. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE GUARDIAN BROTHER. + + +The 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. + +Sometimes tall palms lined the banks, and sometimes great forest trees +netted together by thick parasites that crept from one to the 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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 "_alma perdida_," or "lost +soul"--for such is the poetical and fanciful name given by the Spanish +Americans to this nocturnal bird. + +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? + +"Car-r-ambo! I nev-er was so s-s-sleepy. _Vamos_! Leon! you mustn't give +in!" + +And striking himself a lively slap on the chest, he straightened his +back, and sat upright for a while. + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +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 _a stream of blood_! + +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 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. + +With these ideas, quickly conceived, he rose silently to his feet, and +standing, or rather crouching forward, bent his eyes over the hammock. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +THE VAMPIRE. + + +Leon'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! + +"Oh! if it be the small viper," thought he, "or the coral snake, or the +deadly macaurel! If these----". + +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. + +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. + +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. _It was the vampire_,--the blood-sucking +_phyllostoma_! + +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, 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. + +[Illustration: THE VAMPIRE BAT.] + +The blow was well aimed, and brought the bat to the ground, but its +shrill screeching awoke everybody, and in a few moments the camp was in +complete confusion. The sight of the blood on the foot of the little +Leona quite terrified Dona 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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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 _design_ 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. + +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? + +Now your closet-naturalist will believe that the bat _does_ 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. + +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 _phyllostoma hastatum_, 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 +_seven thousand_! 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 "_De gustibus non disputandum est_," seems to be +true for all time. The Spanish Americans have it in the phrase "_Cada +uno a su gusto_;" "_Chacun a son gout_," 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." + +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 _he ate it_! + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +THE MARIMONDAS. + + +That 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 "_Gullielma_." + +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. + +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 _palmares_ +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. + +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. + +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, excepting man +himself. No; there is one other exception, and that is a creature +closely allied to man, I mean the _monkey_. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +"_Marimondas_," he said. + +The marimondas are not true "howlers," although they are of the same +tribe as the "howling monkeys." They belong to the genus _Ateles_, so +called because they want the thumb, and are therefore _imperfect_ or +_unfinished_ 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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; and even a large weed +was a welcome support to them. On the ground they were evidently "out of +their element." In fact, the _ateles_ rarely descend from the trees, +which are their natural _habitat_. + +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. + +Rising high over the palms grew a large tree, with long out-reaching +branches. It was the "zamang" tree--a species of _mimosa_, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +One would have supposed they would have given it up as a bad job. So +thought Dona 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! + +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 on the +ground ran forward; and, in the midst of loud rejoicings began to pull +off the "peaches" and devour them. + +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 _climbed back upon +himself_, 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +THE MONKEY MOTHER. + + +Now 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 +_strong_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _possible_. 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. + +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 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 gravatana 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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +He was about turning away to get the axe, when his eye was attracted by +the motion of some object near the monkey. + +"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! + +The sight filled Leon with pity and grief; but Guapo knew nothing of +these sentiments. He had already inserted another arrow into his +gravatana, 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! + +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. + +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! + +All this passed so quickly, that Guapo had not time to deliver his +second arrow. Guapo saw them no more. + +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. + +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! + +The process of cooking came next, and this Guapo made more tedious than +it might have been, as he was resolved to dress the 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. + +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. + +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. + +The white people who live in the _monkey countries_ 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. + +Some species of monkeys are more delicate food than others, and there +are some kinds that _white_ monkey-eaters will not touch. + +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,--_Chacun a +son gout._ + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +AN UNEXPECTED GUEST. + + +Guapo 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 _Indians will not eat it_. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 larvae as lodge +there, and which form its principal food. + +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. + +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 "bell-birds" (_Casmarhynchos_). +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. + +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. + +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, _vis-a-vis_. + +At length the monkey appeared to him to be "done to a turn," and with +his _machete_ 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! + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +By the time he laid hold of it, however, the _saurian_, 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +THE CROCODILE AND CAPIVARAS. + + +Guapo 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. + +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. + +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 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. + +There is the alligator of the Mississippi--which is the "caiman" 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. + +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. + +I have said _until_ 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. + +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. + +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! + +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 a time, +and so does every one who travels either on the Amazon or the Orinoco. + +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 caiman. + +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 _crawling_ crocodile! + +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. + +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. + +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 +"_capivaras_," 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. + +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. + +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 numerous +enemies on land; though, poor, persecuted creature! it is not without +some in either element, as will be seen by what follows. + +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 Caesar--take your choice. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +FIGHT OF THE JAGUAR AND CROCODILE. + + +The 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. + +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! + +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 _might_ be one of these, thought Don Pablo and +Guapo; but what if it was not? What else could it be? What else? _The +jaguar!_ + +It _was_ 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. + +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, and the black sunken +orbs of the saurian glared with a lurid and deadly light. It was a +terrible picture to look upon. + +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. + +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 Montana that dare oppose him +in open fight. But he was determined to conquer even this enemy, and for +that purpose he prepared himself. + +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 _claw the eye_ 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. + +The thrust was a failure. The crocodile had anticipated such a manoeuvre, +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. + +This manoeuvre, and its counter-manoeuvre, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The jaguar at length felt his hind-feet in the water; and this 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +ADVENTURE WITH AN ANACONDA. + + +For 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 passed any +place where they thought they observed the signs of Indians on the bank, +they kept on for hours after, without stopping. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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 +Dona 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. + +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. The balza then swung +round, and floated at the end of the cable, half of it being buried +under the long hanging branches. + +They spent their night on board, for it was no use attempting 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. + +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. + +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 _mimosa_ 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. + +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. + +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 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 "_water boa_"--the _anaconda_! + +[Illustration: ADVENTURE WITH AN ANACONDA.] + +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 _outward_! The next moment its head appeared +under the pendulous leaves; and its long forking 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. + +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. + +All on board the boat knew its dangerous power too well; and, of course, +terror was visible in every countenance. + +Don Pablo seized the axe, and Guapo laid hold of his _machete_. Dona +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. + +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---- + +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. + +"Oh, God, have mercy!" exclaimed Don Pablo, falling upon his knees. "Oh, +God!" + +At that moment a loud scream was heard. It came from the toldo; and, at +the same instant, the saimiri 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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +A BATCH OF CURIOUS TREES. + + +Of 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 +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 deg.; 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. + +Another singular tree noticed was a tree of the barberry family known +among the Spanish-Americans as _barba de tigre_, 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." + +A third remarkable tree (or bush) observed was the _Bixa orellana_, +which yields the well-known _arnatto_ 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 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. + +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, +"achote." Of course each tribe of Indians calls it by a separate name. +The botanic name, _Bixa_, 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. + +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. + +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 _bignonia_. 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. + +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. + +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 Montana 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. + +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 +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." + +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. + +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. + +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." + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +THE FOREST FESTIVAL. + + +In 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. + +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. + +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 holding a +_conversazione_. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _ateles_, 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. + +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. + +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 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 _chiropotes_, 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." + +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." + +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. + +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. + +Our party, concealed by bushes, looked on for some time. They noticed +that not one of all the living things was _under_ 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. + +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. + +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. 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. + +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. + +"Watch them," said Guapo. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +ACRES OF EGGS. + + +The 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. + +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." + +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. + +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? + +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. + +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 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! + +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! + +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. + +Guapo's ear caught the sounds, and his eye now ranging along the sandy +shore, took in at a glance the whole thing. + +"Carapas," he said laconically. + +"Carapas?" inquired Leon. + +"Oh!" said Don Pablo, who understood him. "Turtles is it?" + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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? + +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. + +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. + +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." + +But nature has provided against this "over-population" of the 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +A FIGHT BETWEEN TWO VERY SCALY CREATURES. + + +When 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. + +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." + +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 the jaguar that had turned the tortoises +on their backs, and that had cleaned out and eaten the flesh from the +empty shells! + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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 caiman or alligator. + +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 _en revanche_. + +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 _old +males_ do; and it has been stated, that the males of some species of +tortoises have a similar unnatural appetite. + +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 of flags and +nymphae; 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. + +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. + +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 caiman. The caiman was not one of large size, else the turtle would +have fled from it, not that even the largest caimans are feared by the +full-grown _carapas_. 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 caiman. + +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 caiman 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. + +The battle appeared to be still at its height when our party arrived on +the spot. Neither tortoise nor caiman paid any attention to their +presence, but fought on pertinaciously. The aim of the caiman 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 +manoeuvre, and each time it had brought the piece with it, so that the +caiman was already somewhat mangled. Another manoeuvre 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. + +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 +vertebrae, both of its neck and spine, renders this movement difficult; +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. + +Now commenced a somewhat ludicrous scene. The caiman, 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 caiman 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, _eating the tail_! + +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 _his_ claws as firmly +as possible, and pulled the tail in the opposite direction! + +The strength of the caiman 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 caiman +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. + +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. + +At all events, no one of _our_ 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +A PAIR OF VALIANT VULTURES. + + +They had got into a part of the river that seemed to be a favourite +resort with turtles and crocodiles, and creatures of that description. +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 (_Jacare +nigra_). 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. + +One day, while descending the river, our travellers were witness to an +illustration of this. + +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. + +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. + +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 aerial circle, he would once more elevate himself on his arms, and +make all haste toward the water. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. _He was blind!_ + +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! + +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 caiman, 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +THE "GAPO." + + +After 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 _deltas_ 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." + +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. + +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, +and we have in the "Gapo" the extraordinary spectacle of a flooded +forest, thousands of square miles in extent! + +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. + +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. + +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 _palmares_, +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. + +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! + +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. + +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, _on_ +the murichi palms, but that almost subsist on them. + +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 being secured to a tree. Sometimes, by pushing some distance up +the mouth of an "igaripe," 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. + +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. + +One night they had pushed the balza up an "igaripe" 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVII. + +THE ARAGUATOES. + + +Our 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. + +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 "igaripe" they would turn up it and pass near where the +balza was, and thus he might have them within reach of his gravatana. 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 igaripe stood too far apart even for monkeys +to spring across. + +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 _ateles_ already mentioned. They were +true howlers, as they had already proved by the cries they had been +uttering for the half-hour past. + +There are several species of howling monkeys, as we have already stated. +Those that had arrived on the igaripe Guapo pronounced to be +_araguatoes_. 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, _Simia ursina_. The araguato is full three feet without the +tail, and that powerful member is much longer. + +When the band made its appearance on the igaripe, 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. + +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. + +On reaching the bank of the igaripe, 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. + +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. + +From their movements, it was evident the igaripe 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! + +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. + +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! + +Once more the chief, by a sign, commanded silence, and the rest became +mute and motionless as before. + +This time the speech of the leader appeared to refer to the business in +hand--in short, to the crossing of the igaripe. He was seen repeatedly +pointing in that direction, as he spoke, and the rest followed his +motions with their eyes. + + + + +CHAPTER XLVIII. + +BRIDGING AN IGARIPE. + + +The 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 igaripe +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? + +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 igaripe 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. + +At a commanding cry from the chief, several of the largest and strongest +monkeys swung themselves into the tree that stood on the 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 igaripe. 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. + +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 igaripe. 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. + +The oscillation now ceased. The living chain stretched across the +igaripe 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 manoeuvres 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 _bridge was built_. + +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. + +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! + +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 _his_ legs. They knew better +than play off their tricks on _him_, and he crossed quietly and without +any molestation. + +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! + +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 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 _would_ have +done so had nothing interfered to prevent them from completing the +manoeuvre. But an obstacle intervened which brought the affair to a very +different termination. + +Guapo had been seated along with the rest, gravatana in hand. He showed +great forbearance in not having used the gravatana 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 manoeuvres 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 gravatana 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. + +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 +igaripe. 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 _curare_, and was +struggling to retain its hold. In a moment it must let go. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIX. + +THE MANATI. + + +The 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. + +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. + +"A water-snake!" said Leon. + +"Oh!" ejaculated the little Leona, "I hope not, brother Leon." + +"On second thoughts," replied Leon, "I don't think it is a snake." + +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 Dona Isidora, and drawn her attention to what they were talking +about. + +"No; it is not a snake," said she. "I fancy it is a turtle." + +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 Dona Isidora. + +"Yes, my mistress," said he, "it is a turtle, and a big one too. Please +all keep quiet--I think I can get him." + +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. + +These conjectures were true enough, but his gravatana 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. + +The latter was the weapon with which the tortoise was to be killed. + +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! + +As they stood whispering their conjectures to one another, they observed +Guapo, to their great astonishment, _pointing his arrow upward_, and +making as if he was going to discharge it in the air! This he, in fact, +_did_ 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, came down again head-foremost and +stuck upright in the back of the turtle! + +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. + +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. + +As they watched him, they saw that he made for the floating arrow. "Oh!" +said they, "he is gone to recover it." + +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 _head_ 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. + +Guapo, in his swift canoe, soon laid hold of the shaft, and after a +little careful manoeuvring, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +But on that following day a much larger stock of sausage-meat was +procured from a very different animal, and that was a "cow." + +"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?" + +Not a bit of it; your conjecture, my young friend, is quite astray. +There was not a civilised settlement for many hundreds of miles 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 _Manati_, and the +Portuguese call it "_peixe boi_," which is only "fish-cow" done into +Portuguese. + +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 _mammae_, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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, something +glanced before their eyes, and glided with a plunge to the bottom. It +was the harpoon of Guapo. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER L. + +THE CLOSING CHAPTER. + + +After 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. + +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. + +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. + +Indeed, the rivers of the Amazon valley have been classed into _white_, +_blue_, and _black_. _Red_ rivers, such as are common in the northern +division of the American continent, do not exist in the valley of the +Amazon. + +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. + +But the _white_ 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! + +The _blue_ 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. + +The _black_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _not_ dispose of it +at Grand Para. + +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. + +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. + +At the close of the War of Independence, Don Pablo was a general 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 _mere profession_. In fact, +they regarded it as an unbecoming profession in time of peace, and in +this view _I_ quite agree with them. + +Don Pablo returned to his studies; but Leon organised an expedition of +_cascarilleros_, and returned to the Montana, where for many years he +employed himself in "bark-hunting." Through this he became one of the +richest of Peruvian "ricos." + +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 _coceada_ did Guapo afterwards enjoy with his +mountain friend the "vaquero" while passing backward and forward between +Cuzco and the Montana. + +Dona Isidora lived for a long period an ornament to her sex, and the +little Leona had _her_ day as the "belle of Cuzco." + +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-- + +"FOREST EXILES." + + + + +THE BUSH-BOYS, + +OR + +ADVENTURES IN THE WILDS OF SOUTHERN AFRICA. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE BOERS. + + +Hendrik Von Bloom was a _boer_. + +When I called Hendrik Von Bloom a boer, I did not mean him any +disrespect. Quite the contrary. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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 Saaera 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. + +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 _murrain_. 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. + +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. + +His two eldest boys were already helps to him in his daily occupations; +the youngest would soon be so likewise. In Gertrude,--or "Trueey," 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 Trueey recalled the memory of that Gertrude who +was now in heaven. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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 +oaesis; 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. + +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. + +Perhaps these occurrences could hardly be termed misfortunes, since in +the end they led to a happy result. + +But you may judge for yourself, boy reader, after you have heard the +"history and adventures" of the "trek-boer" and his family. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE KRAAL. + + +The ex-field-cornet was seated in front of his _kraal_--for such is the +name of a South African homestead. From his lips protruded a large pipe, +with its huge bowl of _meerschaum_. Every boer is a smoker. + +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." + +But there was another promising crop that still more gladdened his +heart--his fine children. There they are--all around him. + +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 Trueey--the beautiful, cherry-cheeked, +flaxen-haired Trueey--is engaged with her pet--a fawn of the springbok +gazelle--whose bright eyes rival her own in their expression of +innocence and loveliness. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Who is Swartboy? + +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." + +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. + +Yet Swartboy is not a Hottentot--though he is of the same race. He is a +Bushman. + +How came this wild Bushman into the service of the ex-field-cornet Von +Bloom? About that there is a little romantic history. Thus:-- + +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! + +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. + +Though gratitude is not a characteristic of his race, Swartboy was 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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +Trueey 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. + +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. + +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! + +Could that be so? Had some one fired the _karoo_ bushes? Or was it a +cloud of dust? + +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. + +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 +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? + +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. + +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! + +Von Bloom rose to his feet, now seriously alarmed. What could it mean? + +The exclamation to which he gave utterance brought little Trueey 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. + +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,-- + +"Baas Von Bloom! _da springaans are comin'!--da springaan!--da +springaan!_" + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE SPRING-HAAN. + + +"Ah _the springaan_!" cried Von Bloom, recognising the Dutch name for +the far-famed migratory locust. + +The mystery was explained. The singular cloud that was spreading itself +over the plain was neither more nor less than a flight of locusts! + +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 +(_Gryllus devastatorius_); and upon one of its great migrations--an +event of rarer occurrence than travellers would have you believe. + +Swartboy knew them well; and, although he announced their approach in a +state of great excitement, it was not the excitement of terror. + +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. + +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 regarded them with +feelings similar to those that stirred Swartboy--for both dogs and +Bushmen eat the insects with avidity! + +At the announcement that it was only locusts, all at once recovered from +their alarm. Little Trueey 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. + +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. + +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. + +The children changed countenance as well. They saw that their father +suffered; though they knew not why. They gathered inquiringly around +him. + +"Alas! alas! Lost! lost!" exclaimed he; "yes, all our crop--our labour +of the year--gone, gone! O my dear children!" + +"How lost, father?--how gone?" exclaimed several of them in a breath. + +"See the springaan! they will eat up our crop--all--all!" + +"'Tis true, indeed," said Hans, who being a great student had often read +accounts of the devastations committed by the locusts. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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 Kolbe. 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 _insectivora_. + +But far more numerous than all the rest could be seen the little +_springhaan-vogel_, 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! + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +It was as Swartboy had stated. The swarm was actually settling down on +the plain. + +"Can't fly without sun," continued the Bushman. "Too cold now. Dey go +dead till da mornin." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Von Bloom now bethought him of his cattle. Their forms were seen afar +off in the midst of the locust-covered plain. + +"Let 'em feed um little while, baas," suggested Swartboy. + +"On what?" inquired his master. "Don't you see the grass is covered!" + +"On de springhaan demself, baas," replied the Bushman; "good for fatten +big ox--better dan grass--ya, better dan _mealies_." + +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. + +Von Bloom saw the necessity of bringing his cattle at once to their +kraal. + +A third horse was saddled, which the field-cornet himself mounted, and +rode off, followed by Hendrik and Swartboy. + +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! + +They moved not, but remained silent, as if torpid or asleep. The cold of +the evening had deprived them of the power of flight. + +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! + +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 _jambok_, rendered them more tractable, and at +length they suffered themselves to be driven home, and lodged within +their kraals. + +Swartboy had provided himself with a bag, which he carried back full of +locusts. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +A TALK ABOUT LOCUSTS. + + +It 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! + +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 very way. No +wonder there was anxiety that night in the kraal of the field-cornet. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +This explanation seemed clear enough. + +"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." + +"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 _voetgangers_ (foot-goers). They +are, in fact, the _larvae_ 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. + +"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." + +"But how is that, brother?" inquired Hendrik. "I can understand 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?" + +"No, not so," replied Hans. "The fires are built too wide and large for +that." + +"How then, brother?" asked Hendrik. "I'm puzzled." + +"So am I," said little Jan. + +"And I," added Trueey. + +"Well, then," continued Hans, "millions of the insects crawl into the +fires and put them out!" + +"Ho!" cried all in astonishment. "How? Are they not burned?" + +"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. + +"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." + +"We can well understand their feelings upon such an occasion," remarked +Hendrik, with a significant look. + +"The flying locusts," continued Hans, "seem less to follow a particular +direction than their larvae. 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!" + +"Heigh!" exclaimed little Jan. "I didn't think anybody had so good a +nose." + +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. + +"Papa," inquired little Trueey, 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.'" + +"I believe these are the same," replied the father. + +"I think, papa," modestly rejoined Hans, "they are not exactly the same, +but a kindred species. The locust of Scripture was the true _Gryllus +migratorius_, 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." + +"What is your own opinion, Hans?" inquired Hendrik, who had a great +belief in his brother's book-knowledge. + +"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 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. + +"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?" + +"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. + +Little Trueey 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 _nacht-maal_, or sacramental supper! What do you +think of that? + +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. + +He read as follows: + + "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." + +Even the rude Swartboy could perceive the poetic beauty of this +description. + +But Swartboy had much to say about the locusts, as well as the inspired +Joel. + +Thus spoke Swartboy:-- + +"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!" + +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 +_carnivora_ 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! + +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:-- + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE LOCUST-FLIGHT. + + +The 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. + +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 _from the +west_! + +Half distracted, he ran farther out to assure himself. He ran until +clear of the walls that enclosed the kraals and garden. + +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. + +Groaning in spirit, Von Bloom returned to his house. He had no longer +any hope of escaping the terrible visitation. + +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? + +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. + +Von Bloom had heard this, Hans had read of it, and Swartboy confirmed it +from his own experience. + +Consequently, everything that was at all destructible was carefully +stowed away; and then breakfast was cooked and eaten in silence. + +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. + +There was still one hope, though a slight one. Might it yet rain? Or +might the day turn out cold? + +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! + +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. + +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 _black_ +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! + +They seemed to move in a kind of _echelon_, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +Words cannot depict the emotions of the field-cornet at that moment. The +pen cannot describe his painful feelings. + +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! + +With the phlegm peculiar to his race, the field-cornet sat down, and +remained for a long time without speech or movement. + +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. + +"Gone! all gone!" he exclaimed, in a sorrowing voice. "Oh! +Fortune--Fortune--again art thou cruel!" + +"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 Trueey. + +It seemed as if an angel had smiled upon him. He lifted the child in +his arms, and in a paroxysm of fondness pressed her to his heart. That +heart felt relieved. + +"Bring me the Book," said he, addressing one of the boys. + +[Illustration: THE SHOWER OF LOCUSTS.] + +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. + +The Book was closed; and for some minutes all knelt in prayer. + +When Von Bloom again stood upon his feet, and looked around him, the +desert seemed once more to "rejoice and blossom as the rose." + +Upon the human heart such is the magic influence of resignation and +humility. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +"INSPANN AND TREK!" + +With 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. + +Unpleasant position! Ha! It was more than unpleasant, as the +field-cornet began to perceive. It was a position of peril! + +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. + +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. + +There was no time to be lost. Every hour was of great importance,--even +minutes must not be wasted in dubious hesitation. + +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? + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Inspann and trek!" he repeated, making his vast whip crack like a +pistol; "yes, baas, I'll inspann;" and, having satisfied himself that +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. + +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 _vrolykheids_ +(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. + +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. + +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 Trueey and +little Jan, was loading up the furniture and implements. This was not a +difficult task. The _Penates_ of the little kraal were not numerous, and +were all soon packed either inside or around the roomy vehicle. + +In about an hour's time the wagon was loaded up, the oxen were +inspanned, the horses saddled, and everything was ready for "trekking." + +And now arose the question, _whither_? + +Up to this time Von Bloom had only thought of getting away from the +spot--of escaping beyond the naked waste that surrounded him. + +It now became necessary to determine the direction in which they were to +travel--a most important consideration. + +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. + +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! + +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! + +It would be a great risk going in that direction. + +Northward lay the Kalihari desert. It would be hopeless to steer north. +Von Bloom knew of no oaesis 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Trueey 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. + +Casting a last look upon his desolate kraal, the field-cornet turned his +horse's head, and rode after the wagon. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +WATER! WATER! + + +On 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Hans and Hendrik were very similarly attired, armed, and 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 "yaeger" 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 _par excellence_ 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. + +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. Trueey 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. + +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. + +But all that was nothing. Long before night a far greater grievance was +felt,--the want of water! + +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. + +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. + +He could promise them no relief--at least none until they should reach +the spring. He knew of no water nearer. + +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. + +To reach the water they would have to travel all night; but they 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. + +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. + +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. + +They would be under the necessity, therefore, of halting for the night, +water or no water. + +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! + +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! + +These thoughts troubled him, and with anxious eyes he swept the plain in +front, as well as to the right and left. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +They had no more time to search for pasture. The sun was already below +the horizon when they halted to "outspan." + +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? + +It was labour enough--the slaughtering a sheep for supper, and +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. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE FATE OF THE HERD. + + +But they did stray. + +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. + +Whither had they strayed? + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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? + +It appeared to be a sad dilemma they were in; but after a short +consultation the thoughtful Hans suggested a solution of it. + +"Can we not attach the horses to the wagon?" inquired he. "The five +could surely draw it on to the spring?" + +"What! and leave the cattle behind?" said Hendrik. "If we do not go +after them, they will be all lost, and then----" + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +When all was ready, Swartboy again mounted the voor-kist, gathered up +his reins, cracked his whip, and set his team in motion. To the delight +of every one, the huge heavy-laden wagon moved off as freely as if a +full team had been inspanned. + +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 Trueey 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +He had arrived at a beautiful pasture-ground--a sort of oaesis 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Von Bloom believed they would be sure to find them there, but should +they find them _alive_? That was the question that rendered him anxious. + +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? + +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. + +"_Da vogels_!" (the vultures), replied Swartboy. + +Sure enough, it was a string of vultures that appeared along the walls. + +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? + +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. + +"Surely there must be carrion," muttered Von Bloom. + +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! + +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. + +But how had they fallen? That was the mystery. + +Surely they could not have perished of hunger, and so suddenly? They +could not have died of thirst, for there was the spring bubbling up +just beside where they lay? The vultures had not killed them! What then? + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +A LION COUCHANT. + + +They 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! + +He was couched upon the plain directly in the path they intended to +take--the very same path by which they had come! + +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. + +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 manoeuvre 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. + +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. + +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 _cowardice_, +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! + +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 _are_ right in a +certain sense. + +The fact is, some lions are cowardly while others are brave. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +This last fact appears quite natural to those who believe in the +intellect of animals, which of course _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 _same species_ in South America eats +Indians by scores every year; and the crocodile of Africa is dreaded in +some parts even more than the lion! + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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 detour, and ride peacefully +away, they might have continued their journey without ever seeing or +hearing of him again. + +But the field-cornet had no such intention. He had lost his precious +oxen and cattle. _That_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +It was but a wound; and not deadly, as soon appeared. + +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! + +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. + +All three were for a short while together--Hendrik holding his yaeger +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. + +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. + +The lion, after the failure of his charge, halted, and looked first at +one, then at the other--as if uncertain which to pursue. + +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 that clotted +his cheeks and snout, while his angry roaring added horror to his +appearance. + +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. + +Both had aimed truly. Both bullet and arrow struck; and the shaft of the +latter could be seen sticking in the lion's thigh. + +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! + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE LION IN THE TRAP. + + +There 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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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! + +The three hunters could not restrain a laugh; but their tone was +suddenly changed by another incident that happened almost at the same +moment. + +Von Bloom had brought with him his two fine dogs, to assist in driving +back the cattle. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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,-- + +"Baas! baas! we shut him up! we close da skellum up!" + +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. + +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. + +But how to shut either door or window in safety? That was the difficulty +that now presented itself. + +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. + +It was clear, then, that to shut either door or window would be an +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"How?" inquired Von Bloom. + +"Vyacht um bige, mein baas! no long to wait,--you see." + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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? + +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. + +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. + +The angry growls from within would have made a stouter heart than +Swartboy's quail with fear. + +In this dilemma Hendrik came to his relief. Hendrik had conceived a way +of getting possession of the string, without going near the door! + +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. + +Hendrik dismounted, hooked his rein over one of these forks; rested his +yaeger 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! + +All were ready to gallop off; but the lion, although he growled fiercely +on hearing the shot, still lay close. + +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. + +All three now dismounted, ran silently and rapidly up, and secured both +door and shutter with strong rheins of raw hide. + +"Hurrah! the lion was caged." + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +THE DEATH OF THE LION. + + +Yes, the fierce brute was fairly in the trap. The three hunters breathed +freely. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +But the angry field-cornet had not the slightest intention of leaving +the lion such a chance. He was determined to destroy the beast before +leaving the ground; and he now set to thinking how this could be +accomplished in the speediest and most effectual manner. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Father," said Hendrik, "suppose we set the house on fire?" + +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. + +The suggestion of Hendrik was adopted. They prepared to fire the house. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +[Illustration: THE LION IN A FIX.] + +What was the brute doing? + +They stood for a moment, looking anxiously in each other's faces. + +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! + +Again echoed that horrid cry. Great Heaven! It proceeded no longer from +the inside--it came from above them! + +Was the lion upon the roof? + +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. + +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. + +It was a terrible sight to behold--at least to those below. + +As already stated they were alarmed; and would have taken to their +horses, had they not perceived that the animal was stuck fast! + +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---- + +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 yaeger 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! + +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. + +So tightly had the huge beast wedged himself, that even after death he +still remained in his singular situation. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +THE TRAVELLERS BENIGHTED + + +Our 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. + +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. + +It was quite dark, when they arrived at the spot where they had 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. + +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! + +This appeared strange, as they had certainly observed grass at that very +spot the day before. Now there was none! + +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! + +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. + +Our travellers were astonished that there was no grass. Surely there was +some the day before? Had they got upon a new track? + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +The joyful exclamation he uttered awoke the sleepers, who immediately +sprang to their feet; and all three stood gazing at the welcome sight. + +As they continued to gaze, their joy gradually gave place to feelings of +surprise. Was it their wagon, after all? + +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! + +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. + +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! + +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. + +"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!" + +"A trek-boken!" cried Von Bloom and Hendrik, in a breath. + +"Ya, baas--a mighty big one too; das da spoor of dem antelope--See!" + +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. + +They lost no time, but, catching their horses, bridled them, and rode +rapidly down the hill. + +Though somewhat relieved at seeing the wagon, Von Bloom was still +apprehensive. + +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. + +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. + +The hearts of the horsemen beat loudly as they advanced. Their eyes were +bent earnestly upon the wagon. They felt keen anxiety. + +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. + +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! + +And now the "after-clap" of the wagon was hurriedly drawn aside, and +three young faces were seen peeping forth. + +A shout of joy burst from the horsemen, and the next moment little Jan +and Trueey 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. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +THE TREK-BOKEN. + + +Those 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. + +Hans began his tale:-- + +"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 Trueey 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. + +"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 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." + +Hans pointed to the circular enclosure of thorn-bushes, that had been +well constructed. + +He then proceeded with his narration:-- + +"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. + +"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 Trueey 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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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! + +"I loaded as quickly as I could, and brought down another,--this time a +buck--but as before without frightening the rest! + +"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! + +"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! + +"I loaded again, and stood right up on my feet. + +"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." + +"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! + +"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. + +"They'll be carried away, thought I. I had heard that such a thing was +common enough. + +"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! + +"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! + +"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! + +"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. + +"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, 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! + +"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! + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"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! + +"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. + +"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. + +"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. + +"Long before I had reached it, I could see that Jan, and Trueey, 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, and were +moving off with them as if they belonged to the same species! I fear +they are all lost." + +"And the lion?" inquired Hendrik. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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? + +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! + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +SPOORING FOR A SPRING. + + +Von 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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? + +Notwithstanding the beauty of the scene, his reflections were painful. + +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. + +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. + +Surely so lovely a landscape could not exist without that most essential +element! + +So thought the field-cornet; and at the turning of every new grove his +eyes wandered over the ground in search of it. + +"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." + +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 _cameel-doorn_ tree, he +next observed the brilliant plumage of a parrot. + +"Now," muttered he to himself, "I must be very near to some spring or +pool." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Surely," thought Von Bloom, "there must be water there. I shall ride +forward and see." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _ficus_, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +But what after he had got back? He knew not what then. His future was +gloomy and uncertain. + +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. + +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. + +These were taken back to the wagon and harnessed in; and then the great +vehicle once more "treked" across the plains. + +Before the sun had set, the long white cap-tent was gleaming under the +leafy screen of the gigantic "nwana." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +THE TERRIBLE TSETSE. + + +The 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. + +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. + +Little Trueey 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 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. + +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 _zamia_, with its palm-like fronds; and the soft-leaved +_Strelitzia reginae_. All these were observed in the neighbourhood of +this new-discovered fountain. + +But what received little Trueey'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. + +Trueey, 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. + +"I hope papa will stay here a long time," she said to her companion, +little Jan. + +"And I hope so too. Oh! Trueey, 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?" + +And so the children conversed, both delighted with the new scenes around +them. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +"Some fly is troubling them," thought he, and had no more uneasiness +about the matter. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +He communicated his thoughts to the others, who at once shared his +alarm. + +"Call Swartboy hither!" said Von Bloom. + +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. + +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. + +"What is it, Swart?" inquired his master. + +"Mein baas! mein baas! der duyvel um da--dar skellum is da 'tsetse!'" + +"And what if it be the tsetse?" + +"Mein Gott!--all dead--dead--ebery horse!" + +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 around +them, the Bushman had no doubt they had been badly stung, and a single +week would see all five of the horses dead. + +"Wait, mein baas--morrow show." + +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. + +Von Bloom tried bleeding, and various other remedies; but to no purpose. +There is no cure for the bite of the tsetse fly! + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +THE LONG-HORNED RHINOCEROS. + + +Great, 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. + +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! + +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. + +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? + +With these reflections passing through his mind, no wonder that Von +Bloom felt deeply afflicted. + +"Merciful Heaven!" he exclaimed, as he sat with his head between his +hands, "what will become of me and mine?" + +Poor Von Bloom! he had reached the lowest point of his fortunes. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +It was at this moment that Von Bloom gave utterance to his sad thoughts +in words as above. + +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. + +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. + +Not all, Swartboy was an exception. As soon as his eyes fell upon the +animal he cried out,-- + +"Chukuroo--a chukuroo!" + +"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. + +"Ya, baas," replied Swartboy; "and one o' da big karles--da, 'kobaoba,' +da long-horn white rhinoster." + +What Swartboy meant by this was that the animal in question was a large +species of rhinoceros, known among the natives as the "kobaoba." + +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 _the_ rhinoceros. Is it not so? Yes. + +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. + +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. + +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 knowledge of African zoology than +a whole college full of "speculating" _savans_. + +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. + +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. + +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 _Acacia horrida_, 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! + +The white rhinoceroses, although fierce enough when wounded or provoked, +are usually of pacific disposition, and will permit the hunter to pass +without molestation. + +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. + +The hide is also used for different purposes, among others for making +the whips known as "jamboks," though hippopotamus-hide is superior. + +The skin of the African rhinoceros, as already stated, is without the +plaits, folds, and scutellae, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The black rhinoceros is about six feet high at the shoulder, and full +thirteen in length; while the white kinds are far larger. The white +rhinoceros is full seven feet high, and fourteen in length! + +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." + +Swartboy, however, set them all right by declaring that the animal they +saw was the white rhinoceros. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +A HEAVY COMBAT. + + +When 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. + +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. + +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. + +It was for the lower end of the lake the kobaoba was making--no doubt +with him an old and favourite drinking place. + +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. + +Next moment he passed through the gap, and stood knee-deep in the water. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +How were they to manage him then? + +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." + +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. + +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,-- + +"Da klow! da klow!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Here he halted, pointed his proboscis in different directions, stood +quite silent, and seemed to listen. + +There was no noise to disturb him--even the kobaoba for the moment was +quiet. + +After standing a minute or so, the huge creature moved forward again, +and entered the gorge already described. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +At the same time a noise, something between a grunt and a whistle +escaped him, as the water was ejected from his nostrils. + +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. + +No doubt both were surprised at the rencontre; as both stood for some +seconds eyeing each other with apparent astonishment. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +[Illustration: A DEADLY ENCOUNTER.] + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +He then ran out of the lake, and charged about in search of the +rhinoceros; but long-horn was no longer to be found! + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +THE DEATH OF THE ELEPHANT. + + +The 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +For several minutes he kept the same position; but they noticed that his +tail no longer switched about, and that his attitude was 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. + +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. + +Just at that moment the elephant made a motion, as though he was about +to come out of the water. + +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. + +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. + +As soon as it became known that the elephant was dead, everybody was +seen rushing forward to the spot. Little Trueey 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. + +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. + +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. + +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? + +Neither one nor the other. His thoughts were upon a very different theme +from either. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +"It is the hand of Heaven!" he exclaimed aloud. "A fortune--a fortune!" + +"What is it, papa?" inquired little Trueey, who was near him; "what were +you speaking about, dear papa?" + +And then all the others gathered around him, noticing his excited +manner, and pleased at seeing him look so happy. + +"What is it, papa?" asked all together, while Swartboy and Totty stood +eager as the rest to hear the answer. + +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. + +Pointing to the long crescents he said,-- + +"You see those beautiful tusks?" + +Yes, of course, they all did. + +"Well, do you know their value?" + +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 Trueey 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. + +"Well, my children," said Von Bloom, "as near as I can estimate them, +they are worth twenty pounds each of English money." + +"Oh! oh! Such a grand sum!" cried all in a breath. + +"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." + +"Why, it would buy a full span of best oxen!" cried Hans. + +"Four good horses!" said Hendrik. + +"A whole flock of sheep!" added little Jan. + +"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----" + +"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?" + +"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?" + +"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?" + +"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!" + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +TURNED HUNTERS. + + +The 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +While enjoying their new-fashioned dish of roast elephant-trunk, the +conversation naturally turned upon these animals. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +JERKING AN ELEPHANT. + + +Next 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. + +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 (_pachydermata_) 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +It is no easy matter to get at the fat in the inside of an elephant, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _chef de cuisine_. + +He proceeded as follows:-- + +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. + +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. + +The fires being now fairly under way, he could only wait until each 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +Swartboy would do all this as soon as the four huge bonfires should burn +down. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +THE HIDEOUS HYENA. + + +Fatigued 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. + +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. + +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. + +That there was more than one creature was evident--aye, and it 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. + +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 Trueey, nor the diminutive Jan. + +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. + +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. + +Instead of being alarmed, and springing from their beds, they lay still +and listened--not dreading any attack from the noisy creatures. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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 +_biltongue_. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +How was it to be put out of reach? + +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. + +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? + +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. + +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 in such a manner that +it hung only a few inches down, and was now quite beyond the reach of +the ravenous brutes. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +STALKING THE OUREBI. + + +Next 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. 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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _chevaux-de-frise_, 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. + +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 Trueey's little pet, the fawn of the +gazelle. + +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. + +It was to Hendrik they were indebted not only for this pet, but 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. + +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. + +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. + +From all these marks Hendrik thought the little antelopes were +"ourebis;" and such they were. + +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. + +A thick _jong dora_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 than +fear. He had often lured the springbok within reach. Why would not these +obey the same impulse? + +He determined to make trial. At the worst he could only fail, and he had +no chance of getting a shot otherwise. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +[Illustration: HENDRIK DECOYING THE OUREBIS.] + +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. + +Sometimes the two met each other in their course; and halted a moment, +as though they held consultation in whispers; and asked each other if +they had yet made out the character of the stranger. + +It was evident, however, that neither had done so--as they still +continued to approach it with looks and gestures of inquiry and wonder. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +Hunter as Hendrik was, he could not help feeling strongly as he regarded +the _tableau_ before him. But he felt that he had not wantonly destroyed +these creatures for mere amusement, and that satisfied his conscience. + +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. + +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. + +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 succeeded in taking +the whole of his game to camp without any great difficulty. + +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 Trueey the +possession of her little gazelle. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +LITTLE JAN'S ADVENTURE. + + +It 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +"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! + +"O heaven! what could it mean?" + +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 interrupted, and +each call appeared to come from a greater distance! Something or +somebody was carrying him off! + +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. + +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. + +To grope for their guns would waste time, and all three leaped out of +the wagon without them. + +Totty was upon her feet and jabbering, but she knew no more than they +what had happened. + +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. + +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. + +Of course they could not tell what was causing all this. They only +pressed on with fearful apprehensions. + +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. + +But Jan's voice they no longer heard--he was screaming no more--was he +dead? + +With terrible forebodings they rushed on. + +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 _rheim_, 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. + +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! + +It now fell to Jan's lot to explain all this mysterious business. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +A HOUSE AMONG THE TREE-TOPS. + + +Von 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 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. + +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. + +How could he leave little Trueey--his dear little Trueey--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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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? + +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. + +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. + +He could take it to pieces. The broad bottom alone should remain whole. +That of itself would be the platform. Hurrah! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +By the time the sun set, everything was in its place; and the aerial +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." + +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. + +The poles were fast wattled together by rods of the beautiful +weeping-willow (_Salix Babylonica_), 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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE BATTLE OF THE WILD PEACOCKS. + + +There 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. + +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. + +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. + +By early day, therefore, he was up and out. Hendrik and Swartboy only +accompanied him, for he could not yet bring himself to leave the +children with no other protection than Totty--almost as much a child as +themselves. Hans, therefore, remained by the camp. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"An ostrich!" exclaimed Hendrik. + +"No," replied Swartboy; "um ar da pauw." + +"Yes," said Von Bloom, confirming Swartboy's statement, "it is the +pauw." + +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. + +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 +_Otis_ or bustard. It was the great bustard of South Africa--the _Otis +kori_--called "pauw" by the Dutch colonists, on account of its ocellated +plumage and other points of resemblance to the Indian peacock. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Any one but a Bushman would have despaired of getting a shot at this +kori; but Swartboy did not despair. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +But what now astonished Swartboy was, that instead of one answer to his +call, he fancied he heard two, simultaneously uttered! + +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! + +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. + +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. + +Sure of this, Swartboy did not call again; but remained silent behind +his bush. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +Of course the bird dropped dead upon the grass, less astonished than his +antagonist. + +The latter at first imagined he had done it, and began to strut very +triumphantly around his fallen foe. + +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---- + +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! + +Swartboy now rushed forward, and took possession of the game; which +proved to be a pair of young cocks, in prime condition for roasting. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +UPON THE SPOOR. + + +They 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,-- + +"Mein baas! mein baas! da klow! spoor ob da groot olifant!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +They emerged into open glades; and, after passing through several 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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +Swartboy, therefore, rejoiced on perceiving that the old bull had lain +down. The Bushman drew a world of conclusions from that circumstance. + +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. + +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! + +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! + +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 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. + +Swartboy communicated these facts, as the hunters all together followed +upon the spoor. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 to take a +pleasure in destruction, and woe to the creature who crosses his path +and is not of lighter heels than himself! + +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. + +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. + +Under these impressions, then, it is less to be wondered, that our +hunters felt some apprehensions of danger from the game they were +pursuing. + +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. + +They rounded a point of timber--the Bushman being a little in the +advance. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +A ROGUE ELEPHANT. + + +The elephant was standing in a grove of _mokhala_ 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 _Acacia giraffae_; and hence also their common +name among the Dutch hunters of "cameel-doorns" (camel-thorns). + +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 strength enables him to do, +unless when the trunk happens to be one of the largest of its kind. + +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. + +As soon as Swartboy recovered the control over his tongue, he ejaculated +in a hurried whisper:-- + +"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." + +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." + +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. + +Von Bloom himself, and even Hendrik, saw that the elephant had a fierce +and ruffian look. + +They did not stand in need of Swartboy's advice to act with caution. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 on creeping round +in front of the elephant, and firing right in the animal's face. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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 manoeuvre. + +The Bushman was now right in the middle of the open ground; the elephant +rushing straight towards him. + +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. + +His purpose was soon displayed. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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! + +[Illustration: SWARTBOY IN A PREDICAMENT.] + +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, 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. + +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! + +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! + +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! + +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 +_terra firma_ again, he rose to his feet, and ran with all his might in +an opposite direction. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +THE MISSING HUNTER, AND THE WILDEBEESTS. + + +A well-known proverb says that "misfortunes seldom come single." + +On nearing the camp, the hunters could perceive that all was not right +there. They saw Totty with Trueey and Jan standing by the head of the +ladder; but there was something in their manner that told that all was +not right. Where was Hans? + +As soon as the hunters came in sight, Jan and Trueey 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. + +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! + +"But what took him away from the camp?" asked Von Bloom, surprised and +troubled at the news. + +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 Trueey 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. + +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. + +"At what time was it?" + +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. + +"Had they heard any report of a gun?" + +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. + +"What sort of animals were they?" + +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. Trueey thought that they looked more like +lions! + +"Lions!" ejaculated her father and Hendrik, with an accent that +betokened alarm. + +Indeed, they reminded her of lions, Trueey again affirmed, and Totty said +the same. + +"How many were there of them?" + +"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. + +"Ha! they had horns then?" interrogated Von Bloom, relieved by this +announcement. + +Certainly they had horns, replied all three. + +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 the ground, +just like the tails of ponies, and finely-shaped limbs as ponies have. + +"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." + +"Wildebeests!" exclaimed Hendrik. + +"Gnoos!" cried Swartboy. + +"Yes, they must have been wildebeests," said Von Bloom; "Jan's +description corresponds exactly to them." + +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 (_Catoblepas gnoo_). 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. + +Even Trueey 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. + +Jan, however, had observed them better than Trueey; 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. + +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." + +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. + +The old bulls stand sentry while the herd is feeding, and protect it +both in front and rear. When running off they usually go in single file, +as Jan had represented. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +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. + +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. + +A shout of joy was raised, and in a few moments Hans stood in their +midst. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +THE ANT-EATER OF AFRICA. + + +Hans 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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +Hans pointed to the "aard-vark." + +"And dress him so that he don't spoil," he continued; "for you know, +Swartboy, that he's a tit-bit--a regular _bonne bouche_--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." + +"You spreichen true, Mynheer Hans,--Swartboy know all dat. Him skin and +dress da goup." + +And, so saying, Swartboy out knife, and set to work upon the carcass. + +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. + +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 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." + +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." + +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 +_Myrmecophaga_, or ant-eater, I say that the _Orycteropus_ is as good an +ant-eater as he. + +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." + +Hans knew the taste of those hams--well he did, and so too Swartboy; and +it was not against his inclination, but _con amore_, that the latter set +about butchering the "goup." + +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. + +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 enable him to +catch every sound that may be made in his neighbourhood, however slight. + +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. + +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. + +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 +(_Manis Temminckii_). + +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. + +Hans then commenced relating the history of his day's adventure. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +HANS CHASED BY THE WILDEBEEST. + + +"Well," 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. + +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. + +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? + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _Termes bellicosus_. + +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 _Termes mordax_ of the entomologists; +though still another species of _Termes_ build their nests in the same +form. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I repeated the manoeuvre, 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. + +I began to feel provoked. The conduct of the bulls annoyed me +exceedingly, and I really fancied that they knew it. Their manoeuvres +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +I fired. + +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. + +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 fling up his tail, +lower his shaggy front, and charge right towards me! + +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. + +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. + +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? + +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. + +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. + +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." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +BESIEGED BY THE BULL. + + +"Well," 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 forward upon it with +all his might; and, to say the truth, it looked for some time as though +he would succeed. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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 manoeuvres of the +wildebeest bull, to take my gaze off him for a moment. + +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! + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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!" + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +A HELPLESS BEAST. + + +"What was to be done?" continued Hans. "How was I to avoid both enemies? +If I leaped down, the wildebeest would kill me to a 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. + +[Illustration: HANS BESIEGED BY A WILDEBEEST.] + +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. + +I had mounted to the highest part of the cone, and was standing 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. + +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---- + +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---- + +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? + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +A sudden change came over me. A new thrill of terror awaited me. + +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. + +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! + +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 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. + +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! + +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. + +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! + +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! + +What could it mean? Was it the breaking through of the roof and my +sudden descent that had frightened him? + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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.' + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +I hesitated about going near him; but curiosity grew strong within me, +as I watched his queer manoeuvres; until at length I walked up within a +dozen yards of where he was kneeling. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +So I left him with his "head under his arm," in hopes that we may find +him there to-morrow." + +So ended Hans's narrative of his day's adventures. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +THE ELEPHANT'S SLEEPING-ROOM. + + +The 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? + +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. + +The elephant had escaped so easily. Their bullets seemed to have injured +him not the least. They had only served to render him 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! + +Would it be always so? + +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." + +But would any elephant wait until they could load and fire a sufficient +number of shots? + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +They went in the same direction as upon the preceding day, towards the +forest or "bush," as they termed it. + +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, 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +They hesitated for a moment which to take; but at length concluded upon +keeping straight on; and so they moved forward as before. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"What has done it?" asked the field-cornet and Hendrik in a breath. + +"Da olifant's slapen-boom" (the elephant's sleeping-tree), replied +Swartboy. + +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. + +But of what use to them, farther than to gratify a little curiosity? The +elephant was not there. + +"Da ole karl come again," said Swartboy. + +"Ha! you think so, Swart?" inquired Von Bloom. + +"Ya, baas, lookee da! spoor fresh--da groot olifant hab slap here +yesterday." + +"What then? you think we should lie in wait, and shoot him when he +returns." + +"No, baas, better dan shoot, we make him bed--den wait see um lie down." + +Swartboy grinned a laugh as he gave this piece of advice. + +"Make his bed! what do you mean?" inquired his master. + +"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." + +The Bushman proceeded to communicate his plan, to which his +master--remembering their failure of yesterday--readily gave his +consent. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV. + +MAKING THE ELEPHANT'S BED. + + +To 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Another operation yet remained to be performed--that was the 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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +It was now quite noon. He could not be long in coming, thought they. + +Sure enough he came, and soon, too. + +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. + +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. + +While gazing in admiration at these rich trophies, they saw the animal +point his proboscis upward, and discharge a vast shower of water into +the leaves, which afterwards fell dripping in bright globules over his +body! + +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. + +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. + +It proved to be so. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +The hunters leap down, and approach the prostrate body. They see that it +still lies upon the terrible _chevaux de frise_, where it had fallen. +The stakes have done their work most effectively. The elephant breathes +no more. He is dead! + +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! + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV. + +THE WILD ASSES OF AFRICA. + + +Notwithstanding 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 might go long before finding +another "sleeping-tree" of the elephants, and repeating their easy +capture. + +Such were the not very pleasant reflections of the field-cornet, on the +evening after returning from their successful hunt. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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? + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +Modern naturalists have divided the _Equidae_, 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. + +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." + +The varieties of the ass are nearly as numerous, though this fact is not +generally known. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _asinus_. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +But though Von Bloom the farmer had never thought of "breaking in" a +quagga, Von Bloom the hunter now did. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI. + +PLANNING THE CAPTURE OF THE QUAGGAS. + + +Up 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. + +Every evening, therefore, the quaggas had drunk at the vley and gone off +again, without exciting the slightest interest. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +They were as follows:-- + +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? + +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. + +A new hope sprang up in the heart of the field-cornet. Once more his +countenance became radiant with joy. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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! + +All this appeared so feasible that not another suggestion was +offered--the plan of the pit-fall was at once, and unanimously adopted. + +It remained only to dig the pit, cover it properly, and then wait the +result. + +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. + +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 aerial dwelling of the hunter family. + +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. + +While they sat watching the manoeuvres of the quaggas, a movement was +made by one of these creatures more singular than any that had yet been +witnessed. + +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. + +They did not carry it far. It was evidently making for a larger 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. + +[Illustration: THE QUAGGA AND THE HYENA.] + +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. + +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! + +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." + +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! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII. + +THE PIT-TRAP. + + +While 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? + +The thought had just occurred to him that they should at once set about +digging the pit. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +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 Trueey 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 into the pit. The +more the better, as a large number would give them the advantage of +"pick and choose." + +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. + +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. + +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,-- + +"Quaggas are coming!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +In less than two weeks from that time, four of the quaggas were 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 _manege_ of horses, +and soon tamed the quaggas to a proper degree of docility. + +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. + +Von Bloom was delighted. His hopes were high, his benignant star was +once more in the ascendant. + +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! + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII. + +DRIVING IN THE ELAND. + + +Of all the family Hendrik was the hunter _par excellence_. 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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +As a general thing, however, they are more like to deer than any other +animals; and many species of them are, in common 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The general colour of this antelope is dun, with a rufous tinge. +Sometimes ashy grey touched with ochre is the prevailing hue. + +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. + +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 _bonne bouche_, known under the +odd appellation of "thigh-tongues." + +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. + +Now since their arrival, no elands had been seen, though now and 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +To get within fair starting distance, that was the point to be +attempted. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Hendrik now rose in his saddle, put spurs to his quagga, and followed +the herd at full speed. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +I must disappoint you, then, by telling you that he did no such thing. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX. + +A WILD RIDE ON QUAGGA-BACK. + + +Hendrik 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Now these circumstances coming into Hendrik's mind at the moment, led +him to regard the quaggas with a certain feeling of 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. + +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. + +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. + +The heavy-going eland was soon overtaken, and as it trotted to one side, +was passed. It halted, but the quaggas kept on. + +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. + +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? + +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. + +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! + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +In fact, the quaggas were running through fear. They saw the mounted +hunter behind them in hot pursuit; and although their old 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! + +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. + +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 vertebrae. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +He grew more than anxious. He became frightened in earnest. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +[Illustration: HENDRICK BLINDING THE QUAGGA.] + +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. + +Hendrik now thought of the blind. + +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! + +His rifle was in the way. It must be got rid of. It must be dropped to +the ground. He could return for it. + +It was let down as gently as possible, and soon left far behind. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XL. + +THE GUN-TRAP. + + +It 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 children at night +were safe in their aerial 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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Now for the part the gun had to play. + +The weapon was placed in a horizontal position against two of the +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. + +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. + +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. + +When this string was adjusted, and the gun loaded and cocked, the trap +was set. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +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. + +Before morning they were once more awakened by the "bang" of the great +gun. This time they lay still; but when day broke they visited their +trap, and found that a second hyena had too rashly pressed his bosom +against the fatal string. + +Night after night they continued their warfare against the hyenas, +changing the trap-kraal to different localities in the surrounding +neighbourhood. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +It was resolved, therefore, to try the gun-trap upon the lions, as it +had succeeded so well with the hyenas. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +A great enemy to night plunderers was that same gun-trap. + + + + +CHAPTER XLI. + +THE WEAVER-BIRDS. + + +Now 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. + +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 Trueey 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. + +On one occasion when the hunters were abroad, Trueey 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 +Trueey herself. + +Well, as I have said, Trueey 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 Trueey and the pet springbok went +strolling along by themselves. + +Now Trueey 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Now the one which grew upon the little peninsula had all these points of +interest for little Trueey--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 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. + +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? + +No. The weeping willow bears no fruit of that size. They were not fruit. +They were nests of birds! + +Yes; they were the nests of a colony of harmless finches of the genus +_Ploceus_,--better known to you under the appellation of "weaver-birds." + +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. + +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 _Ploceus +icterocephalus_, 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 _Plocepasser_ 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. + +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. + +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 _Cassicus_ and _Icterus_, 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 _Ploceus_; 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." + +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 Trueey. 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 Trueey to listen for hours to their sweet +twittering, or watch their love-gambols around the borders of the vley. + +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. + +Her attention, however, was suddenly attracted to the birds. + +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. + + + + +CHAPTER XLII. + +THE SPITTING-SNAKE. + + +"What can be the matter with my pretty birds?" asked Trueey 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." + +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. + +There was no underwood. The tree stood alone upon the very end of the +spit of land, and Trueey 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. + +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. + +Some enemy certainly must be near, thought Trueey, though she could see +none. + +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 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 Trueey's eyes have fallen upon the +monster who has disturbed the peaceful colony of weavers, and roused +them to such a pitch of excitement. + +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 Trueey's +eyes, and directed them upon the hideous reptile. + +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. + +Trueey 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 Trueey, in +whom it recognised the rescuer of its intended victims. + +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. + +Trueey, 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 Trueey had instinctively glided to one +side, and stood off from it as far as the water would allow her. + +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. + +Having got close to the water's edge, she stood gazing upon the hideous +form, and trembled as she gazed. + +Had Trueey 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 _cobra de capello_ of India, because far +more active in its movements, and equally fatal in its bite. + +Trueey 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. + +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. + +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. + +Trueey 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. + +It had executed this manoeuvre so suddenly, and so apparently without +premeditation, that Trueey 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. + +Trueey, we have said, looked for the cause of this sudden change in the +tactics of the reptile. She learnt it at the first glance. + +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! + +Trueey, 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. + +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. + +Trueey trembled for her pet. Another spring, and it would be upon the +lurking serpent--another----"Ha! it is safe!" + +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. + +But the cry that Trueey 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! + + + + +CHAPTER XLIII. + +THE SERPENT-EATER. + + +Jan'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 Trueey 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. + +For some moments Trueey was speechless. Terror had robbed her of the +power of speech. She could only scream, and fling her arms wildly about. + +But these demonstrations, instead of warning Jan of the danger, only +rendered it the more certain. He connected the cries which Trueey 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. + +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 Trueey, there was not the slightest hope that he would perceive the +serpent until he had either trodden upon it, or felt its fatal bite. + +Trueey uttered one last cry of warning, pronouncing at the same time the +words:-- + +"O, brother! back! The snake! the snake!" + +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 Trueey; and although he did not see it, it was no doubt +wound about her body. He hurried on. + +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. + +With a despairing scream Trueey rushed forward. She hoped to attract the +monster upon herself. She would risk her own life to save that of her +brother! + +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! + +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. + +Trueey's eyes fell upon the ground. The cobra was no longer there. + +With an exclamation of joy she sprang forward, and, throwing her arms +around Jan, cried out,-- + +"We are saved, brother!--we are saved!" + +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 Trueey, had not perceived +the serpent in its beak. He was bewildered and terrified, for he still +fancied that Trueey was in danger. + +When he heard her exclaim, "We are saved!" he was bewildered all the +more. + +"But the snake!" he cried out. "Where is the snake?" + +As he put these questions, he kept examining Trueey from head to foot, as +if expecting to see a reptile twined around some part of her body. + +"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!" + +"Oh, ah!" said Jan, now comprehending the situation. "Oh, ah! Sure +enough, yonder is a snake, and a wopper, too. Ne'er fear, Trueey! 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!" + +With these and similar exclamations the two children stood watching the +fierce conflict that raged between the bird and the reptile. + +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." + +It is more properly named the "serpent-eater," and naturalists have +given it the title _Gypogeranus_, or "crane-vulture." It is sometimes +also called "the messenger," from the staid solemn manner of its walk, +as it stalks over the plain. + +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. + +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. + +The serpent-eater is, however, a very unique bird; and naturalists, +failing to class it with either hawks, eagles, vultures, gallinae, or +cranes, have elevated it, so as to form a distinct tribe, family, genus, +and species, of itself. + +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. + +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. + +Now the bird which had so opportunely appeared between Jan and Trueey, +and had no doubt saved one or the other, or both, from the deadly bite +of the _spuugh-slang_, 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. + +The children, having recovered from their alarm, stood watching the +singular conflict between serpent and serpent-eater. + +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. + +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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Jan and Trueey clapped their hands, and uttered exclamations of joy. + +The serpent-eater took no heed of their demonstrations, but, approaching +the dead cobra, bent over it, and coolly set about making his dinner. + + + + +CHAPTER XLIV. + +TOTTY AND THE CHACMAS. + + +Von 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 _Ixias_ and _Mesembryanthemums_, among others the +"Hottentot fig." They had the "Caffir bread"--the inside pith of the +stems of a species of _Zamia_; and the "Caffir chestnut," the fruit of +the _Brabeium stellatum_; 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. + +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! + +But although they could procure a constant supply of these natural +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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:-- + +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. + +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. + +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" (_Cynocephalus porcarius_), 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. + +Of all the monkey tribe the baboons, or dog-headed monkeys +(_cynocephali_), 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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Although they will not attack man if left alone, they become dangerous +assailants when hunted and brought to bay. + +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. + +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 manoeuvres of the animals, and she called Trueey and +little Jan up into the tree, in order that they might share the +spectacle with her. All the others were off hunting. + +Jan was delighted, and ran up the ladder at once. So did Trueey and all +three stood watching the odd movements of the four-handed creatures. + +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! + +Thus proceeded they across the plain, chattering, and screaming, and +barking, as only monkeys can. + +What were they after? + +That question was answered very soon. Trueey and Jan, and Totty saw, to +their dismay, that the baboons were not out upon an idle errand. They +were after the maize-plants! + +[Illustration: TOTTY IN TROUBLE.] + +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 of +signals. The main body was already stripping the plants of their +precious fruit. + +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 manoeuvre,--a deployment--as the troop traversed the plain in +coming to the field. For what purpose? + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _quadrumana_. + + + + +CHAPTER XLV. + +THE WILD HOUNDS AND THE HARTEBEEST. + + +Since 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. + +Von Bloom, however, was not quite satisfied with his progress. He +thought they might do far better if they had only a few dogs. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 _bosch_ as far as the eye could reach. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +Of course Von Bloom knew what they were. He knew they were the +"wilde-honden," very absurdly named by sapient naturalists _Hyena +venatica_ 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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +_Canis_, are of course not hanging, but erect. + +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. + +It was the field-cornet's good fortune to witness an exhibition of this +skill. + +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." + +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. + +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 manoeuvre, which certainly +savours strongly of reflection on his part. + +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. + +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. + +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 detour which both the +antelope and their companion had made. + +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. + +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. + +Several times was this manoeuvre executed by the cunning dogs--until the +desired result was accomplished, and the antelope was completely +"blown." + +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. + +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. + +In another moment the dogs were around it. + +"What a splendid pack!" exclaimed Von Bloom. "Oh! that I had such an +one! + +"Ha!" he continued, as a new thought struck him, "and why not, just such +an one?--why not?" + +Now the train of reflections that passed through the mind of the +field-cornet was as follows:-- + +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 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? + +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. + +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! + +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! + +What could it mean? Were they afraid of its ugly horns? Were they +resting themselves before they should make their bloody onslaught! + +The hunter kept his gaze intently fixed upon the interesting group. + +After a while the antelope, having recovered its wind a little, and +seeing the pack so distant, made a fresh start. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +No doubt the antelope was pulled down! + +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. + +They approached the ground with caution; and under the shelter of some +bushes were enabled to get within two hundred yards of the spot without +being observed. A singular spectacle rewarded their pains. + +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. + +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! + +Indeed these animals--unlike the _Felidae_--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! + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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! + + + + +CHAPTER XLVI. + +CONCLUSION. + + +For 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. + +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 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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! + +Nothing remained but to transport this shining pile to a market, and a +splendid fortune would be the result. + +And Von Bloom's ingenuity found the means for bringing it to market. + +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. + +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 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! + +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! + +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. + +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! + +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. + +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. + +The result was a splendid fortune in ready money. The field-cornet was +once more a rich man! + +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. + +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." + +Little Jan was packed off to school to study grammar and geography; +while the beautiful Trueey remained at home to grace the mansion of her +honoured father, and look after his household affairs. + +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. + +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-- + +"BUSH-BOYS." + + +THE END. + + + + + +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.txt or 25665.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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