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diff --git a/old/10929-8.txt b/old/10929-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..27b8f2a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10929-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9991 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dog Crusoe and His Master +by Robert Michael Ballantyne + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Dog Crusoe and His Master + A Story of Adventure in the Western Prairies + +Author: Robert Michael Ballantyne + +Release Date: February 4, 2004 [EBook #10929] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DOG CRUSOE AND HIS MASTER *** + + + + +Produced by Dave Morgan, Bradley Norton and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +THE DOG CRUSOE + +AND + +HIS MASTER + +A Story of Adventure in the Western Prairies + +By + +ROBERT MICHAEL BALLANTYNE + +Author of "The Coral Island," "The Young Fur-Traders," "Ungava," + +"The Gorilla-Hunters," "The World of Ice," + +"Martin Rattler." + +&c + +1894 + +_CONTENTS_. + +CHAPTER I. + +_The backwoods settlement--Crusoe's parentage and early history--The +agonizing pains and sorrows of his puppyhood, and other interesting +matters_. + +CHAPTER II. + +_A shooting-match and its consequences--New friends introduced to the +reader--Crusoe and his mother change masters_. + +CHAPTER III. + +_Speculative remarks with which the reader may or may not agree--An +old woman--Hopes and wishes commingled with hard facts--The dog +Crusoe's education begun_. + +CHAPTER IV. + +_Our hero enlarged upon_--_Grumps_. + +CHAPTER V. + +_A mission of peace--Unexpected joys--Dick and Crusoe set off for the +land of the Redskins, and meet with adventures by the way as a matter +of course--in the wild woods_. + +CHAPTER VI. + +_The great prairies of the far west--A remarkable colony discovered, +and a miserable night endured_. + +CHAPTER VII. + +_The "wallering" peculiarities of buffalo bulls--The first buffalo +hunt and its consequences--Crusoe comes to the rescue--Pawnees +discovered--A monster buffalo hunt--Joe acts the part of ambassador_. + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_Dick and his friends visit the Indians and see many wonders--Crusoe, +too, experiences a few surprises, and teaches Indian dogs a lesson--An +Indian dandy--A foot-race_. + +CHAPTER IX. + +_Crusoe acts a conspicuous and humane part--A friend gained--A great +feast_. + +CHAPTER X. + +_Perplexities--Our hunters plan their escape--Unexpected +interruption--The tables turned--Crusoe mounts guard--The escape_. + +CHAPTER XI. + +_Evening meditations and morning reflections--Buffaloes, badgers, +antelopes, and accidents--An old bull and the wolves--"Mad +tails"--Henri floored, etc_. + +CHAPTER XII. + +_Wanderings on the prairie--A war party--Chased by Indians--A bold +leap for life_. + +CHAPTER XIII. + +_Escape from Indians--A discovery--Alone in the desert_. + +CHAPTER XIV. + +_Crusoe's return, and his private adventures among the Indians--Dick +at a very low ebb--Crusoe saves him_. + +CHAPTER XV. + +_Health and happiness return--Incidents of the journey--A buffalo +shot--A wild horse "creased"--Dick's battle with a mustang_. + +CHAPTER XVI. + +_Dick becomes a horse tamer--Resumes his journey--Charlie's +doings--Misfortunes which lead to, but do not terminate in, the Rocky +Mountains--A grizzly bear_. + +CHAPTER XVII. + +_Dick's first fight with a grizzly--Adventure with a deer--A +surprise_. + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +_A surprise, and a piece of good news--The fur-traders--Crusoe proved, +and the Peigans pursued_. + +CHAPTER XIX. + +_Adventures with the Peigans--Crusoe does good service as a +discoverer--The savages outwitted--The rescue_. + +CHAPTER XX. + +_New plans--Our travellers join the fur-traders, and see many strange +things--A curious fight--A narrow escape, and a prisoner taken_. + +CHAPTER XXI. + +_Wolves attack the horses, and Cameron circumvents the wolves--A +bear-hunt, in which Henri shines conspicuous--Joe and the +"Natter-list"--An alarm--A surprise and a capture_. + +CHAPTER XXII. + +_Charlie's adventures with savages and bears--Trapping life_. + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +_Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their +doings--The stampede--Charlie again_. + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +_Plans and prospects--Dick becomes home-sick, and Henri +metaphysical--The Indians attack the camp--A blow-up_. + +CHAPTER XXV. + +_Dangers of the prairie--Our travellers attacked by Indians, and +delivered in a remarkable manner_. + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +_Anxious fears followed by a joyful surprise--Safe home at last, and +happy hearts_. + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +_Rejoicings--The feast at the block-house--Grumps and Crusoe come out +strong--The closing scene_. + + + +THE DOG CRUSOE. + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +_The backwoods settlement--Crusoe's parentage, and early +history--The agonizing pains and sorrows of his puppyhood, and other +interesting matters_. + +The dog Crusoe was once a pup. Now do not, courteous reader, toss your +head contemptuously, and exclaim, "Of course he was; I could have told +_you_ that." You know very well that you have often seen a man above +six feet high, broad and powerful as a lion, with a bronzed shaggy +visage and the stern glance of an eagle, of whom you have said, or +thought, or heard others say, "It is scarcely possible to believe that +such a man was once a squalling baby." If you had seen our hero in +all the strength and majesty of full-grown doghood, you would have +experienced a vague sort of surprise had we told you--as we now +repeat--that the dog Crusoe was once a pup--a soft, round, sprawling, +squeaking pup, as fat as a tallow candle, and as blind as a bat. + +But we draw particular attention to the fact of Crusoe's having once +been a pup, because in connection with the days of his puppyhood there +hangs a tale. + +This peculiar dog may thus be said to have had two tails--one in +connection with his body, the other with his career. This tale, though +short, is very harrowing, and as it is intimately connected with +Crusoe's subsequent history we will relate it here. But before doing +so we must beg our reader to accompany us beyond the civilized +portions of the United States of America--beyond the frontier +settlements of the "far west," into those wild prairies which are +watered by the great Missouri River--the Father of Waters--and his +numerous tributaries. + +Here dwell the Pawnees, the Sioux, the Delawarers, the Crows, the +Blackfeet, and many other tribes of Red Indians, who are gradually +retreating step by step towards the Rocky Mountains as the advancing +white man cuts down their trees and ploughs up their prairies. Here, +too, dwell the wild horse and the wild ass, the deer, the buffalo, and +the badger; all, men and brutes alike, wild as the power of untamed +and ungovernable passion can make them, and free as the wind that +sweeps over their mighty plains. + +There is a romantic and exquisitely beautiful spot on the banks of one +of the tributaries above referred to--long stretch of mingled woodland +and meadow, with a magnificent lake lying like a gem in its green +bosom--which goes by the name of the Mustang Valley. This remote vale, +even at the present day, is but thinly peopled by white men, and is +still a frontier settlement round which the wolf and the bear prowl +curiously, and from which the startled deer bounds terrified away. At +the period of which we write the valley had just been taken possession +of by several families of squatters, who, tired of the turmoil and the +squabbles of the _then_ frontier settlements, had pushed boldly into +the far west to seek a new home for themselves, where they could have +"elbow room," regardless alike of the dangers they might encounter in +unknown lands and of the Redskins who dwelt there. + +The squatters were well armed with axes, rifles, and ammunition. Most +of the women were used to dangers and alarms, and placed implicit +reliance in the power of their fathers, husbands, and brothers to +protect them; and well they might, for a bolder set of stalwart men +than these backwoodsmen never trod the wilderness. Each had been +trained to the use of the rifle and the axe from infancy, and many of +them had spent so much of their lives in the woods that they were more +than a match for the Indian in his own peculiar pursuits of hunting +and war. When the squatters first issued from the woods bordering the +valley, an immense herd of wild horses or mustangs were browsing on +the plain. These no sooner beheld the cavalcade of white men than, +uttering a wild neigh, they tossed their flowing manes in the breeze +and dashed away like a whirlwind. This incident procured the valley +its name. + +The new-comers gave one satisfied glance at their future home, and +then set to work to erect log huts forthwith. Soon the axe was heard +ringing through the forests, and tree after tree fell to the ground, +while the occasional sharp ring of a rifle told that the hunters were +catering successfully for the camp. In course of time the Mustang +Valley began to assume the aspect of a thriving settlement, with +cottages and waving fields clustered together in the midst of it. + +Of course the savages soon found it out and paid it occasional visits. +These dark-skinned tenants of the woods brought furs of wild animals +with them, which they exchanged with the white men for knives, and +beads, and baubles and trinkets of brass and tin. But they hated the +"Pale-faces" with bitter hatred, because their encroachments had at +this time materially curtailed the extent of their hunting-grounds, +and nothing but the numbers and known courage of the squatters +prevented these savages from butchering and scalping them all. + +The leader of this band of pioneers was a Major Hope, a gentleman +whose love for nature in its wildest aspects determined him to +exchange barrack life for a life in the woods. The major was a +first-rate shot, a bold, fearless man, and an enthusiastic naturalist. +He was past the prime of life, and being a bachelor, was unencumbered +with a family. His first act on reaching the site of the new +settlement was to commence the erection of a block-house, to which the +people might retire in case of a general attack by the Indians. + +In this block-house Major Hope took up his abode as the guardian of +the settlement. And here the dog Crusoe was born; here he sprawled in +the early morn of life; here he leaped, and yelped, and wagged his +shaggy tail in the excessive glee of puppyhood; and from the wooden +portals of this block-house he bounded forth to the chase in all the +fire, and strength, and majesty of full-grown doghood. + +Crusoe's father and mother were magnificent Newfoundlanders. There was +no doubt as to their being of the genuine breed, for Major Hope had +received them as a parting gift from a brother officer, who had +brought them both from Newfoundland itself. The father's name was +Crusoe, the mother's name was Fan. Why the father had been so called +no one could tell. The man from whom Major Hope's friend had obtained +the pair was a poor, illiterate fisherman, who had never heard of the +celebrated "Robinson" in all his life. All he knew was that Fan had +been named after his own wife. As for Crusoe, he had got him from a +friend, who had got him from another friend, whose cousin had received +him as a marriage-gift from a friend of _his_; and that each had said +to the other that the dog's name was "Crusoe," without reasons being +asked or given on either side. On arriving at New York the major's +friend, as we have said, made him a present of the dogs. Not being +much of a dog fancier, he soon tired of old Crusoe, and gave him away +to a gentleman, who took him down to Florida, and that was the end of +him. He was never heard of more. + +When Crusoe, junior, was born, he was born, of course, without a name. +That was given to him afterwards in honour of his father. He was also +born in company with a brother and two sisters, all of whom drowned +themselves accidentally, in the first month of their existence, by +falling into the river which flowed past the block-house--a calamity +which occurred, doubtless, in consequence of their having gone out +without their mother's leave. Little Crusoe was with his brother and +sisters at the time, and fell in along with them, but was saved from +sharing their fate by his mother, who, seeing what had happened, +dashed with an agonized howl into the water, and, seizing him in her +mouth, brought him ashore in a half-drowned condition. She afterwards +brought the others ashore one by one, but the poor little things were +dead. + +And now we come to the harrowing part of our tale, for the proper +understanding of which the foregoing dissertation was needful. + +One beautiful afternoon, in that charming season of the American year +called the Indian summer, there came a family of Sioux Indians to the +Mustang Valley, and pitched their tent close to the block-house. A +young hunter stood leaning against the gate-post of the palisades, +watching the movements of the Indians, who, having just finished +a long "palaver" or talk with Major Hope, were now in the act of +preparing supper. A fire had been kindled on the greensward in front +of the tent, and above it stood a tripod, from which depended a large +tin camp-kettle. Over this hung an ill-favoured Indian woman, or +squaw, who, besides attending to the contents of the pot, bestowed +sundry cuffs and kicks upon her little child, which sat near to her +playing with several Indian curs that gambolled round the fire. The +master of the family and his two sons reclined on buffalo robes, +smoking their stone pipes or calumets in silence. There was nothing +peculiar in their appearance. Their faces were neither dignified nor +coarse in expression, but wore an aspect of stupid apathy, which +formed a striking contrast to the countenance of the young hunter, who +seemed an amused spectator of their proceedings. + +The youth referred to was very unlike, in many respects, to what we +are accustomed to suppose a backwoods hunter should be. He did +not possess that quiet gravity and staid demeanour which often +characterize these men. True, he was tall and strongly made, but no +one would have called him stalwart, and his frame indicated grace and +agility rather than strength. But the point about him which rendered +him different from his companions was his bounding, irrepressible +flow of spirits, strangely coupled with an intense love of solitary +wandering in the woods. None seemed so well fitted for social +enjoyment as he; none laughed so heartily, or expressed such glee in +his mischief-loving eye; yet for days together he went off alone into +the forest, and wandered where his fancy led him, as grave and silent +as an Indian warrior. + +After all, there was nothing mysterious in this. The boy followed +implicitly the dictates of nature within him. He was amiable, +straightforward, sanguine, and intensely _earnest_. When he laughed, +he let it out, as sailors have it, "with a will." When there was good +cause to be grave, no power on earth could make him smile. We have +called him boy, but in truth he was about that uncertain period of +life when a youth is said to be neither a man nor a boy. His face was +good-looking (_every_ earnest, candid face is) and masculine; his hair +was reddish-brown and his eye bright-blue. He was costumed in the +deerskin cap, leggings, moccasins, and leathern shirt common to the +western hunter. "You seem tickled wi' the Injuns, Dick Varley," said a +man who at that moment issued from the blockhouse. + +"That's just what I am, Joe Blunt," replied the youth, turning with a +broad grin to his companion. + +"Have a care, lad; do not laugh at 'em too much. They soon take +offence; an' them Redskins never forgive." + +"But I'm only laughing at the baby," returned the youth, pointing to +the child, which, with a mixture of boldness and timidity, was playing +with a pup, wrinkling up its fat visage into a smile when its playmate +rushed away in sport, and opening wide its jet-black eyes in grave +anxiety as the pup returned at full gallop. + +"It 'ud make an owl laugh," continued young Varley, "to see such a +queer pictur' o' itself." + +He paused suddenly, and a dark frown covered his face as he saw the +Indian woman stoop quickly down, catch the pup by its hind-leg with +one hand, seize a heavy piece of wood with the other, and strike it +several violent blows on the throat. Without taking the trouble to +kill the poor animal outright, the savage then held its still writhing +body over the fire in order to singe off the hair before putting it +into the pot to be cooked. + +The cruel act drew young Varley's attention more closely to the pup, +and it flashed across his mind that this could be no other than young +Crusoe, which neither he nor his companion had before seen, although +they had often heard others speak of and describe it. + +Had the little creature been one of the unfortunate Indian curs, the +two hunters would probably have turned from the sickening sight with +disgust, feeling that, however much they might dislike such cruelty, +it would be of no use attempting to interfere with Indian usages. But +the instant the idea that it was Crusoe occurred to Varley he uttered +a yell of anger, and sprang towards the woman with a bound that caused +the three Indians to leap to their feet and grasp their tomahawks. + +Blunt did not move from the gate, but threw forward his rifle with a +careless motion, but an expressive glance, that caused the Indians to +resume their seats and pipes with an emphatic "Wah!" of disgust at +having been startled out of their propriety by a trifle; while Dick +Varley snatched poor Crusoe from his dangerous and painful position, +scowled angrily in the woman's face, and turning on his heel, walked +up to the house, holding the pup tenderly in his arms. + +Joe Blunt gazed after his friend with a grave, solemn expression of +countenance till he disappeared; then he looked at the ground, and +shook his head. + +Joe was one of the regular out-and-out backwoods hunters, both in +appearance and in fact--broad, tall, massive, lion-like; gifted with +the hunting, stalking, running, and trail-following powers of the +savage, and with a superabundance of the shooting and fighting powers, +the daring, and dash of the Anglo-Saxon. He was grave, too--seldom +smiled, and rarely laughed. His expression almost at all times was a +compound of seriousness and good-humour. With the rifle he was a good, +steady shot, but by no means a "crack" one. His ball never failed to +_hit_, but it often failed to _kill_. + +After meditating a few seconds, Joe Blunt again shook his head, and +muttered to himself, "The boy's bold enough, but he's too reckless for +a hunter. There was no need for that yell, now--none at all." + +Having uttered this sagacious remark, he threw his rifle into the +hollow of his left arm, turned round, and strode off with a long, slow +step towards his own cottage. + +Blunt was an American by birth, but of Irish extraction, and to an +attentive ear there was a faint echo of the _brogue_ in his tone, +which seemed to have been handed down to him as a threadbare and +almost worn-out heirloom. + +Poor Crusoe was singed almost naked. His wretched tail seemed little +better than a piece of wire filed off to a point, and he vented his +misery in piteous squeaks as the sympathetic Varley confided him +tenderly to the care of his mother. How Fan managed to cure him no one +can tell, but cure him she did, for, in the course of a few weeks, +Crusoe was as well and sleek and fat as ever. + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +_A shooting-match and its consequences_--_New friends introduced to +the reader_--_Crusoe and his mother change masters_. + +Shortly after the incident narrated in the last chapter the squatters +of the Mustang Valley lost their leader. Major Hope suddenly announced +his intention of quitting the settlement and returning to the +civilized world. Private matters, he said, required his presence +there--matters which he did not choose to speak of, but which would +prevent his returning again to reside among them. Go he must, +and, being a man of determination, go he did; but before going he +distributed all his goods and chattels among the settlers. He even +gave away his rifle, and Fan and Crusoe. These last, however, he +resolved should go together; and as they were well worth having, he +announced that he would give them to the best shot in the valley. He +stipulated that the winner should escort him to the nearest settlement +eastward, after which he might return with the rifle on his shoulder. + +Accordingly, a long level piece of ground on the river's bank, with +a perpendicular cliff at the end of it, was selected as the +shooting-ground, and, on the appointed day, at the appointed hour, the +competitors began to assemble. + +"Well, lad, first as usual," exclaimed Joe Blunt, as he reached the +ground and found Dick Varley there before him. + +"I've bin here more than an hour lookin' for a new kind o' flower that +Jack Morgan told me he'd seen. And I've found it too. Look here; did +you ever see one like it before?" + +Blunt leaned his rifle against a tree, and carefully examined the +flower. + +"Why, yes, I've seed a-many o' them up about the Rocky Mountains, but +never one here-away. It seems to have gone lost itself. The last +I seed, if I remimber rightly, wos near the head-waters o' the +Yellowstone River, it wos--jest where I shot a grizzly bar." + +"Was that the bar that gave you the wipe on the cheek?" asked Varley, +forgetting the flower in his interest about the bear. + +"It wos. I put six balls in that bar's carcass, and stuck my knife +into its heart ten times, afore it gave out; an' it nearly ripped the +shirt off my back afore I wos done with it." + +"I would give my rifle to get a chance at a grizzly!" exclaimed +Varley, with a sudden burst of enthusiasm. + +"Whoever got it wouldn't have much to brag of," remarked a burly young +backwoodsman, as he joined them. + +His remark was true, for poor Dick's weapon was but a sorry affair. It +missed fire, and it hung fire; and even when it did fire, it remained +a matter of doubt in its owner's mind whether the slight deviations +from the direct line made by his bullets were the result of _his_ or +_its_ bad shooting. + +Further comment upon it was checked by the arrival of a dozen or more +hunters on the scene of action. They were a sturdy set of bronzed, +bold, fearless men, and one felt, on looking at them, that they would +prove more than a match for several hundreds of Indians in open fight. +A few minutes after, the major himself came on the ground with the +prize rifle on his shoulder, and Fan and Crusoe at his heels--the +latter tumbling, scrambling, and yelping after its mother, fat and +clumsy, and happy as possible, having evidently quite forgotten that +it had been nearly roasted alive only a few weeks before. + +Immediately all eyes were on the rifle, and its merits were discussed +with animation. + +And well did it deserve discussion, for such a piece had never before +been seen on the western frontier. It was shorter in the barrel and +larger in the bore than the weapons chiefly in vogue at that time, +and, besides being of beautiful workmanship, was silver-mounted. But +the grand peculiarity about it, and that which afterwards rendered it +the mystery of mysteries to the savages, was that it had two sets of +locks--one percussion, the other flint--so that, when caps failed, +by taking off the one set of locks and affixing the others, it was +converted into a flint rifle. The major, however, took care never +to run short of caps, so that the flint locks were merely held as a +reserve in case of need. + +"Now, lads," cried Major Hope, stepping up to the point whence they +were to shoot, "remember the terms. He who first drives the nail +obtains the rifle, Fan, and her pup, and accompanies me to the nearest +settlement. Each man shoots with his own gun, and draws lots for the +chance." + +"Agreed," cried the men. + +"Well, then, wipe your guns and draw lots. Henri will fix the nail. +Here it is." + +The individual who stepped, or rather plunged forward to receive the +nail was a rare and remarkable specimen of mankind. Like his comrades, +he was half a farmer and half a hunter. Like them, too, he was clad in +deerskin, and was tall and strong--nay, more, he was gigantic. But, +unlike them, he was clumsy, awkward, loose-jointed, and a bad shot. +Nevertheless Henri was an immense favourite in the settlement, for +his good-humour knew no bounds. No one ever saw him frown. Even when +fighting with the savages, as he was sometimes compelled to do in +self-defence, he went at them with a sort of jovial rage that was +almost laughable. Inconsiderate recklessness was one of his chief +characteristics, so that his comrades were rather afraid of him on the +war-trail or in the hunt, where caution and frequently _soundless_ +motion were essential to success or safety. But when Henri had +a comrade at his side to check him he was safe enough, being +humble-minded and obedient. Men used to say he must have been born +under a lucky star, for, notwithstanding his natural inaptitude for +all sorts of backwoods life, he managed to scramble through everything +with safety, often with success, and sometimes with credit. + +To see Henri stalk a deer was worth a long day's journey. Joe Blunt +used to say he was "all jints together, from the top of his head to +the sole of his moccasin." He threw his immense form into the most +inconceivable contortions, and slowly wound his way, sometimes on +hands and knees, sometimes flat, through bush and brake, as if there +was not a bone in his body, and without the slightest noise. This sort +of work was so much against his plunging nature that he took long to +learn it; but when, through hard practice and the loss of many a +fine deer, he came at length to break himself in to it, he gradually +progressed to perfection, and ultimately became the best stalker in +the valley. This, and this alone, enabled him to procure game, for, +being short-sighted, he could hit nothing beyond fifty yards, except a +buffalo or a barn-door. + +Yet that same lithe body, which seemed as though totally unhinged, +could no more be bent, when the muscles were strung, than an iron +post. No one wrestled with Henri unless he wished to have his back +broken. Few could equal and none could beat him at running or leaping +except Dick Varley. When Henri ran a race even Joe Blunt laughed +outright, for arms and legs went like independent flails. When he +leaped, he hurled himself into space with a degree of violence that +seemed to insure a somersault; yet he always came down with a crash on +his feet. Plunging was Henri's forte. He generally lounged about the +settlement when unoccupied, with his hands behind his back, apparently +in a reverie, and when called on to act, he seemed to fancy he must +have lost time, and could only make up for it by _plunging_. This +habit got him into many awkward scrapes, but his herculean power +as often got him out of them. He was a French-Canadian, and a +particularly bad speaker of the English language. + +We offer no apology for this elaborate introduction of Henri, for +he was as good-hearted a fellow as ever lived, and deserves special +notice. + +But to return. The sort of rifle practice called "driving the nail," +by which this match was to be decided, was, and we believe still is, +common among the hunters of the far west. It consisted in this: an +ordinary large-headed nail was driven a short way into a plank or a +tree, and the hunters, standing at a distance of fifty yards or so, +fired at it until they succeeded in driving it home. On the present +occasion the major resolved to test their shooting by making the +distance seventy yards. + +Some of the older men shook their heads. + +"It's too far," said one; "ye might as well try to snuff the nose o' a +mosquito." + +"Jim Scraggs is the only man as'll hit that," said another. + +The man referred to was a long, lank, lantern-jawed fellow, with a +cross-grained expression of countenance. He used the long, heavy +Kentucky rifle, which, from the ball being little larger than a pea, +was called a pea-rifle. Jim was no favourite, and had been named +Scraggs by his companions on account of his appearance. + +In a few minutes the lots were drawn, and the shooting began. Each +hunter wiped out the barrel of his piece with his ramrod as he stepped +forward; then, placing a ball in the palm of his left hand, he drew +the stopper of his powder-horn with his teeth, and poured out as much +powder as sufficed to cover the bullet. This was the regular _measure_ +among them. Little time was lost in firing, for these men did not +"hang" on their aim. The point of the rifle was slowly raised to the +object, and the instant the sight covered it the ball sped to its +mark. In a few minutes the nail was encircled by bullet holes, +scarcely two of which were more than an inch distant from the mark, +and one--fired by Joe Blunt--entered the tree close beside it. + +"Ah, Joe!" said the major, "I thought you would have carried off the +prize." + +"So did not I, sir," returned Blunt, with a shake of his head. "Had +it a-bin a half-dollar at a hundred yards, I'd ha' done better, but I +never _could_ hit the nail. It's too small to _see_." + +"That's cos ye've got no eyes," remarked Jim Scraggs, with a sneer, as +he stepped forward. + +All tongues were now hushed, for the expected champion was about to +fire. The sharp crack of the rifle was followed by a shout, for Jim +had hit the nail-head on the edge, and part of the bullet stuck to it. + +"That wins if there's no better," said the major, scarce able to +conceal his disappointment. "Who comes next?" + +To this question Henri answered by stepping up to the line, straddling +his legs, and executing preliminary movements with his rifle, that +seemed to indicate an intention on his part to throw the weapon bodily +at the mark. He was received with a shout of mingled laughter and +applause. After gazing steadily at the mark for a few seconds, a broad +grin overspread his countenance, and looking round at his companions, +he said,--"Ha! mes boys, I can-not behold de nail at all!" + +"Can ye 'behold' the _tree_?" shouted a voice, when the laugh that +followed this announcement had somewhat abated. + +"Oh! oui," replied Henri quite coolly; "I can see _him_, an' a goot +small bit of de forest beyond." + +"Fire at it, then. If ye hit the tree ye desarve the rifle--leastways +ye ought to get the pup." + +Henri grinned again, and fired instantly, without taking aim. + +The shot was followed by an exclamation of surprise, for the bullet +was found close beside the nail. + +"It's more be good luck than good shootin'," remarked Jim Scraggs. + +"Possiblement," answered Henri modestly, as he retreated to the rear +and wiped out his rifle; "mais I have kill most of my deer by dat same +goot luck." + +"Bravo, Henri!" said Major Hope as he passed; "you _deserve_ to win, +anyhow. Who's next?" + +"Dick Varley," cried several voices; "where's Varley? Come on, +youngster, an' take yer shot." + +The youth came forward with evident reluctance. "It's of no manner o' +use," he whispered to Joe Blunt as he passed, "I can't depend on my +old gun." + +"Never give in," whispered Blunt, encouragingly. + +Poor Varley's want of confidence in his rifle was merited, for, on +pulling the trigger, the faithless lock missed fire. + +"Lend him another gun," cried several voices. + +"'Gainst rules laid down by Major Hope," said Scraggs. + +"Well, so it is; try again." + +Varley did try again, and so successfully, too, that the ball hit the +nail on the head, leaving a portion of the lead sticking to its edge. + +Of course this was greeted with a cheer, and a loud dispute began as +to which was the better shot of the two. + +"There are others to shoot yet," cried the major. "Make way. Look +out." + +The men fell back, and the few hunters who had not yet fired took +their shots, but without coming nearer the mark. + +It was now agreed that Jim Scraggs and Dick Varley, being the two best +shots, should try over again, and it was also agreed that Dick should +have the use of Blunt's rifle. Lots were again drawn for the first +shot, and it fell to Dick, who immediately stepped out, aimed somewhat +hastily, and fired. + +"Hit again!" shouted those who had run forward to examine the mark. +"_Half_ the bullet cut off by the nail head!" + +Some of the more enthusiastic of Dick's friends cheered lustily, but +the most of the hunters were grave and silent, for they knew Jim's +powers, and felt that he would certainly do his best. Jim now stepped +up to the line, and, looking earnestly at the mark, threw forward his +rifle. + +At that moment our friend Crusoe, tired of tormenting his mother, +waddled stupidly and innocently into the midst of the crowd of men, +and in so doing received Henri's heel and the full weight of his +elephantine body on its fore paw. The horrible and electric yell that +instantly issued from his agonized throat could only be compared, as +Joe Blunt expressed it, "to the last dyin' screech o' a bustin' +steam biler!" We cannot say that the effect was startling, for these +backwoodsmen had been born and bred in the midst of alarms, and were +so used to them that a "bustin' steam biler" itself, unless it had +blown them fairly off their legs, would not have startled them. But +the effect, such as it was, was sufficient to disconcert the aim of +Jim Scraggs, who fired at the same instant, and missed the nail by a +hair's-breadth. + +'Turning round in towering wrath, Scraggs aimed a kick at the poor +pup, which, had it taken effect, would certainly have terminated the +innocent existence of that remarkable dog on the spot; but quick as +lightning Henri interposed the butt of his rifle, and Jim's shin met +it with a violence that caused him to howl with rage and pain. + +"Oh! pardon me, broder," cried Henri, shrinking back, with the +drollest expression of mingled pity and glee. + +Jim's discretion, on this occasion, was superior to his valour; he +turned away with a coarse expression of anger and left the ground. + +Meanwhile the major handed the silver rifle to young Varley. "It +couldn't have fallen into better hands," he said. "You'll do it +credit, lad, I know that full well; and let me assure you it will +never play you false. Only keep it clean, don't overcharge it, aim +true, and it will never miss the mark." + +While the hunters crowded round Dick to congratulate him and examine +the piece, he stood with a mingled feeling of bashfulness and delight +at his unexpected good fortune. Recovering himself suddenly, he seized +his old rifle, and dropping quietly to the outskirts of the crowd, +while the men were still busy handling and discussing the merits of +the prize, went up, unobserved, to a boy of about thirteen years of +age, and touched him on the shoulder. + +"Here, Marston, you know I often said ye should have the old rifle +when I was rich enough to get a new one. Take it _now_, lad. It's come +to ye sooner than either o' us expected." + +"Dick," said the boy, grasping his friend's hand warmly, "ye're true +as heart of oak. It's good of 'ee; that's a fact." + +"Not a bit, boy; it costs me nothin' to give away an old gun that I've +no use for, an's worth little, but it makes me right glad to have the +chance to do it." + +Marston had longed for a rifle ever since he could walk; but his +prospects of obtaining one were very poor indeed at that time, and it +is a question whether he did not at that moment experience as much joy +in handling the old piece as his friend felt in shouldering the prize. + +A difficulty now occurred which had not before been thought of. This +was no less than the absolute refusal of Dick Varley's canine property +to follow him. Fan had no idea of changing masters without her consent +being asked or her inclination being consulted. + +"You'll have to tie her up for a while, I fear," said the major. + +"No fear," answered the youth. "Dog natur's like human natur'!" + +Saying this he seized Crusoe by the neck, stuffed him comfortably into +the bosom of his hunting-shirt, and walked rapidly away with the prize +rifle on his shoulder. + +Fan had not bargained for this. She stood irresolute, gazing now to +the right and now to the left, as the major retired in one direction +and Dick with Crusoe in another. Suddenly Crusoe, who, although +comfortable in body, was ill at ease in spirit, gave utterance to a +melancholy howl. The mother's love instantly prevailed. For one moment +she pricked up her ears at the sound, and then, lowering them, trotted +quietly after her new master, and followed him to his cottage on the +margin of the lake. + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +_Speculative remarks with which the reader may or may not agree--An +old woman--Hopes and wishes commingled with hard facts--The dog +Crusoe's education begun_. + +It is pleasant to look upon a serene, quiet, humble face. On such a +face did Richard Varley look every night when he entered his mother's +cottage. Mrs. Varley was a widow, and she had followed the fortunes of +her brother, Daniel Hood, ever since the death of her husband. Love +for her only brother induced her to forsake the peaceful village of +Maryland and enter upon the wild life of a backwoods settlement. +Dick's mother was thin, and old, and wrinkled, but her face was +stamped with a species of beauty which _never_ fades--the beauty of a +loving look. Ah! the brow of snow and the peach-bloom cheek may snare +the heart of man for a time, but the _loving look_ alone can forge +that adamantine chain that time, age, eternity shall never break. + +Mistake us not, reader, and bear with us if we attempt to analyze this +look which characterized Mrs. Varley. A rare diamond is worth stopping +to glance at, even when one is in a hurry. The brightest jewel in the +human heart is worth a thought or two. By _a loving_ _look_ we do not +mean a look of love bestowed on a beloved object. _That_ is common +enough; and thankful should we be that it is so common in a world +that's overfull of hatred. Still less do we mean that smile and look +of intense affection with which some people--good people too--greet +friend and foe alike, and by which effort to work out their _beau +ideal_ of the expression of Christian love they do signally damage +their cause, by saddening the serious and repelling the gay. Much less +do we mean that _perpetual_ smile of good-will which argues more of +personal comfort and self-love than anything else. No; the loving look +we speak of is as often grave as gay. Its character depends very much +on the face through which it beams. And it cannot be counterfeited. +Its _ring_ defies imitation. Like the clouded sun of April, it can +pierce through tears of sorrow; like the noontide sun of summer, it +can blaze in warm smiles; like the northern lights of winter, it +can gleam in depths of woe;--but it is always the same, modified, +doubtless, and rendered more or less patent to others, according to +the natural amiability of him or her who bestows it. No one can put +it on; still less can any one put it off. Its range is universal; it +embraces all mankind, though, _of course_, it is intensified on a few +favoured objects; its seat is in the depths of a renewed heart, and +its foundation lies in love to God. + +Young Varley's mother lived in a cottage which was of the smallest +possible dimensions consistent with comfort. It was made of logs, as, +indeed, were all the other cottages in the valley. The door was in the +centre, and a passage from it to the back of the dwelling divided it +into two rooms. One of these was sub-divided by a thin partition, +the inner room being Mrs. Varley's bedroom, the outer Dick's. Daniel +Hood's dormitory was a corner of the kitchen, which apartment served +also as a parlour. + +The rooms were lighted by two windows, one on each side of the door, +which gave to the house the appearance of having a nose and two eyes. +Houses of this kind have literally got a sort of _expression_ on--if +we may use the word--their countenances. _Square_ windows give the +appearance of easy-going placidity; _longish_ ones, that of surprise. +Mrs. Varley's was a surprise cottage; and this was in keeping with the +scene in which it stood, for the clear lake in front, studded +with islands, and the distant hills beyond, composed a scene so +surprisingly beautiful that it never failed to call forth an +expression of astonished admiration from every new visitor to the +Mustang Valley. + +"My boy," exclaimed Mrs. Varley, as her son entered the cottage with a +bound, "why so hurried to-day? Deary me! where got you the grand gun?" + +"Won it, mother!" + +"Won it, my son?" + +"Ay, won it, mother. Druve the nail _almost_, and would ha' druve it +_altogether_ had I bin more used to Joe Blunt's rifle." + +Mrs. Varley's heart beat high, and her face flushed with pride as she +gazed at her son, who laid the rifle on the table for her inspection, +while he rattled off an animated and somewhat disjointed account of +the match. + +"Deary me! now that was good, that was cliver. But what's that +scraping at the door?" + +"Oh! that's Fan; I forgot her. Here! here! Fan! Come in, good dog," he +cried, rising and opening the door. + +Fan entered and stopped short, evidently uncomfortable. + +"My boy, what do ye with the major's dog?" + +"Won her too, mother!" + +"Won her, my son?" + +"Ay, won her, and the pup too; see, here it is!" and he plucked Crusoe +from his bosom. + +Crusoe having found his position to be one of great comfort had fallen +into a profound slumber, and on being thus unceremoniously awakened he +gave forth a yelp of discontent that brought Fan in a state of frantic +sympathy to his side. + +"There you are, Fan; take it to a corner and make yourself at +home.--Ay, that's right, mother, give her somethin' to eat; she's +hungry, I know by the look o' her eye." + +"Deary me, Dick!" said Mrs. Varley, who now proceeded to spread the +youth's mid-day meal before him, "did ye drive the nail three times?" + +"No, only once, and that not parfetly. Brought 'em all down at one +shot--rifle, Fan, an' pup!" + +"Well, well, now that was cliver; but--." Here the old woman paused +and looked grave. + +"But what, mother?" + +"You'll be wantin' to go off to the mountains now, I fear me, boy." + +"Wantin' _now_!" exclaimed the youth earnestly; "I'm _always_ wantin'. +I've bin wantin' ever since I could walk; but I won't go till you let +me, mother, that I won't!" And he struck the table with his fist so +forcibly that the platters rung again. + +"You're a good boy, Dick; but you're too young yit to ventur' among +the Redskins." + +"An' yit, if I don't ventur' young, I'd better not ventur' at all. You +know, mother dear, I don't want to leave you; but I was born to be a +hunter, and everybody in them parts is a hunter, and I can't hunt in +the kitchen you know, mother!" + +At this point the conversation was interrupted by a sound that caused +young Varley to spring up and seize his rifle, and Fan to show her +teeth and growl. + +"Hist, mother! that's like horses' hoofs," he whispered, opening the +door and gazing intently in the direction whence the sound came. + +Louder and louder it came, until an opening in the forest showed the +advancing cavalcade to be a party of white men. In another moment +they were in full view--a band of about thirty horsemen, clad in the +leathern costume and armed with the long rifle of the far west. +Some wore portions of the gaudy Indian dress, which gave to them a +brilliant, dashing look. They came on straight for the block-house, +and saluted the Varleys with a jovial cheer as they swept past at full +speed. Dick returned the cheer with compound interest, and calling +out, "They're trappers, mother; I'll be back in an hour," bounded off +like a deer through the woods, taking a short cut in order to reach +the block-house before them. He succeeded, for, just as he arrived at +the house, the cavalcade wheeled round the bend in the river, dashed +up the slope, and came to a sudden halt on the green. Vaulting from +their foaming steeds they tied them to the stockades of the little +fortress, which they entered in a body. + +Hot haste was in every motion of these men. They were trappers, they +said, on their way to the Rocky Mountains to hunt and trade furs. But +one of their number had been treacherously murdered and scalped by a +Pawnee chief, and they resolved to revenge his death by an attack on +one of the Pawnee villages. They would teach these "red reptiles" to +respect white men, they would, come of it what might; and they had +turned aside here to procure an additional supply of powder and lead. + +In vain did the major endeavour to dissuade these reckless men from +their purpose. They scoffed at the idea of returning good for evil, +and insisted on being supplied. The log hut was a store as well as +a place of defence, and as they offered to pay for it there was no +refusing their request--at least so the major thought. The ammunition +was therefore given to them, and in half-an-hour they were away +again at full gallop over the plains on their mission of vengeance. +"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." But these men knew +not what God said, because they never read his Word and did not own +his sway. + +Young Varley's enthusiasm was considerably damped when he learned the +errand on which the trappers were bent. From that time forward he gave +up all desire to visit the mountains in company with such men, but he +still retained an intense longing to roam at large among their rocky +fastnesses and gallop out upon the wide prairies. + +Meanwhile he dutifully tended his mother's cattle and sheep, and +contented himself with an occasional deer-hunt in the neighbouring +forests. He devoted himself also to the training of his dog Crusoe--an +operation which at first cost him many a deep sigh. + +Every one has heard of the sagacity and almost reasoning capabilities +of the Newfoundland dog. Indeed, some have even gone the length of +saying that what is called instinct in these animals is neither more +nor less than reason. And in truth many of the noble, heroic, and +sagacious deeds that have actually been performed by Newfoundland dogs +incline us almost to believe that, like man, they are gifted with +reasoning powers. + +But every one does not know the trouble and patience that is required +in order to get a juvenile dog to understand what its master means +when he is endeavouring to instruct it. + +Crusoe's first lesson was an interesting but not a very successful +one. We may remark here that Dick Varley had presented Fan to his +mother to be her watch-dog, resolving to devote all his powers to the +training of the pup. We may also remark, in reference to Crusoe's +appearance (and we did not remark it sooner, chiefly because up to +this period in his eventful history he was little better than a ball +of fat and hair), that his coat was mingled jet-black and pure white, +and remarkably glossy, curly, and thick. + +A week after the shooting-match Crusoe's education began. Having fed +him for that period with his own hand, in order to gain his affection, +Dick took him out one sunny forenoon to the margin of the lake to give +him his first lesson. + +And here again we must pause to remark that, although a dog's heart is +generally gained in the first instance through his mouth, yet, after +it is thoroughly gained, his affection is noble and disinterested. He +can scarcely be driven from his master's side by blows; and even when +thus harshly repelled, is always ready, on the shortest notice and +with the slightest encouragement, to make it up again. + +Well; Dick Varley began by calling out, "Crusoe! Crusoe! come here, +pup." + +Of course Crusoe knew his name by this time, for it had been so often +used as a prelude to his meals that he naturally expected a feed +whenever he heard it. This portal to his brain had already been open +for some days; but all the other doors were fast locked, and it +required a great deal of careful picking to open them. + +"Now, Crusoe, come here." + +Crusoe bounded clumsily to his master's side, cocked his ears, and +wagged his tail,--so far his education was perfect. We say he bounded +_clumsily_, for it must be remembered that he was still a very young +pup, with soft, flabby muscles. + +"Now, I'm goin' to begin yer edication, pup; think o' that." + +Whether Crusoe thought of that or not we cannot say, but he looked +up in his master's face as he spoke, cocked his ears very high, and +turned his head slowly to one side, until it could not turn any +farther in that direction; then he turned it as much to the other +side; whereat his master burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter, +and Crusoe immediately began barking vociferously. + +"Come, come," said Dick, suddenly checking his mirth, "we mustn't +play, pup, we must work." + +Drawing a leathern mitten from his belt, the youth held it to Crusoe's +nose, and then threw it a yard away, at the same time exclaiming in a +loud, distinct tone, "Fetch it." + +Crusoe entered at once into the spirit of this part of his training; +he dashed gleefully at the mitten, and proceeded to worry it with +intense gratification. As for "Fetch it," he neither understood the +words nor cared a straw about them. + +Dick Varley rose immediately, and rescuing the mitten, resumed his +seat on a rock. + +"Come here, Crusoe," he repeated. + +"Oh! certainly, by all means," said Crusoe--no! he didn't exactly +_say_ it, but really he _looked_ these words so evidently that we +think it right to let them stand as they are written. If he could have +finished the sentence, he would certainly have said, "Go on with that +game over again, old boy; it's quite to my taste--the jolliest thing +in life, I assure you!" At least, if we may not positively assert that +he would have said that, no one else can absolutely affirm that he +wouldn't. + +Well, Dick Varley did do it over again, and Crusoe worried the mitten +over again, utterly regardless of "Fetch it." + +Then they did it again, and again, and again, but without the +slightest apparent advancement in the path of canine knowledge; and +then they went home. + +During all this trying operation Dick Varley never once betrayed the +slightest feeling of irritability or impatience. He did not expect +success at first; he was not therefore disappointed at failure. + +Next day he had him out again--and the next--and the next--and the +next again, with the like unfavourable result. In short, it seemed at +last as if Crusoe's mind had been deeply imbued with the idea that he +had been born expressly for the purpose of worrying that mitten, and +he meant to fulfil his destiny to the letter. + +Young Varley had taken several small pieces of meat in his pocket each +day, with the intention of rewarding Crusoe when he should at length +be prevailed on to fetch the mitten; but as Crusoe was not aware of +the treat that awaited him, of course the mitten never was "fetched." + +At last Dick Varley saw that this system would never do, so he changed +his tactics, and the next morning gave Crusoe no breakfast, but took +him out at the usual hour to go through his lesson. This new course of +conduct seemed to perplex Crusoe not a little, for on his way down to +the beach he paused frequently and looked back at the cottage, +and then expressively up at his master's face. But the master was +inexorable; he went on, and Crusoe followed, for _true_ love had +now taken possession of the pup's young heart, and he preferred his +master's company to food. + +Varley now began by letting the learner smell a piece of meat, which +he eagerly sought to devour, but was prevented, to his immense +disgust. Then the mitten was thrown as heretofore, and Crusoe made a +few steps towards it, but being in no mood for play he turned back. + +"Fetch it," said the teacher. + +"I won't," replied the learner mutely, by means of that expressive +sign--_not doing it_. + +Hereupon Dick Varley rose, took up the mitten, and put it into the +pup's mouth. Then, retiring a couple of yards, he held out the piece +of meat and said, "Fetch it." + +Crusoe instantly spat out the glove and bounded towards the meat--once +more to be disappointed. + +This was done a second time, and Crusoe came forward _with the mitten +in his mouth_. It seemed as if it had been done accidentally, for he +dropped it before coming quite up. If so, it was a fortunate accident, +for it served as the tiny fulcrum on which to place the point of that +mighty lever which was destined ere long to raise him to the pinnacle +of canine erudition. Dick Varley immediately lavished upon him the +tenderest caresses and gave him a lump of meat. But he quickly tried +it again lest he should lose the lesson. The dog evidently felt that +if he did not fetch that mitten he should have no meat or caresses. In +order, however, to make sure that there was no mistake, Dick laid the +mitten down beside the pup, instead of putting it into his mouth, and, +retiring a few paces, cried, "Fetch it." + + +Crusoe looked uncertain for a moment, then he picked up the mitten and +laid it at his master's feet. The lesson was learned at last! Dick +Varley tumbled all the meat out of his pocket on the ground, and, +while Crusoe made a hearty breakfast, he sat down on a rock and +whistled with glee at having fairly picked the lock, and opened +_another_ door into one of the many chambers of his dog's intellect. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +_Our hero enlarged upon--Grumps_. + + +Two years passed away. The Mustang Valley settlement advanced +prosperously, despite one or two attacks made upon it by the savages, +who were, however, firmly repelled. Dick Varley had now become a man, +and his pup Crusoe had become a full-grown dog. The "silver rifle," as +Dick's weapon had come to be named, was well known among the hunters +and the Redskins of the border-lands, and in Dick's hands its bullets +were as deadly as its owner's eye was quick and true. + +Crusoe's education, too, had been completed. Faithfully and patiently +had his young master trained his mind, until he fitted him to be +a meet companion in the hunt. To "carry" and "fetch" were now but +trifling portions of the dog's accomplishments. He could dive a fathom +deep in the lake and bring up any article that might have been dropped +or thrown in. His swimming powers were marvellous, and so powerful +were his muscles that he seemed to spurn the water while passing +through it, with his broad chest high out of the curling wave, at a +speed that neither man nor beast could keep up with for a moment. His +intellect now was sharp and quick as a needle; he never required a +second bidding. When Dick went out hunting, he used frequently to drop +a mitten or a powder-horn unknown to the dog, and after walking miles +away from it, would stop short and look down into the mild, gentle +face of his companion. + +"Crusoe," he said, in the same quiet tones with which he would have +addressed a human friend, "I've dropped my mitten; go fetch it, pup." +Dick continued to call it "pup" from habit. + +One glance of intelligence passed from Crusoe's eye, and in a moment +he was away at full gallop, nor did he rest until the lost article was +lying at his master's feet. Dick was loath to try how far back on his +track Crusoe would run if desired. He had often gone back five and six +miles at a stretch; but his powers did not stop here. He could carry +articles back to the spot from which they had been taken and leave +them there. He could head the game that his master was pursuing and +turn it back; and he would guard any object he was desired to "watch" +with unflinching constancy. But it would occupy too much space and +time to enumerate all Crusoe's qualities and powers. His biography +will unfold them. + +In personal appearance he was majestic, having grown to an immense +size even for a Newfoundland. Had his visage been at all wolfish in +character, his aspect would have been terrible. But he possessed in an +eminent degree that mild, humble expression of face peculiar to his +race. When roused or excited, and especially when bounding through the +forest with the chase in view, he was absolutely magnificent. At other +times his gait was slow, and he seemed to prefer a quiet walk with +Dick Varley to anything else under the sun. But when Dick was inclined +to be boisterous, Crusoe's tail and ears rose at a moment's notice, +and he was ready for anything. Moreover, he obeyed commands instantly +and implicitly. In this respect he put to shame most of the boys of +the settlement, who were by no means famed for their habits of prompt +obedience. + +Crusoe's eye was constantly watching the face of his master. When Dick +said "Go" he went, when he said "Come" he came. If he had been in the +midst of an excited bound at the throat of a stag, and Dick had called +out, "Down, Crusoe," he would have sunk to the earth like a stone. No +doubt it took many months of training to bring the dog to this state +of perfection, but Dick accomplished it by patience, perseverance, and +_love_. + +Besides all this, Crusoe could speak! He spoke by means of the dog's +dumb alphabet in a way that defies description. He conversed, so to +speak, with his extremities--his head and his tail. But his eyes, his +soft brown eyes, were the chief medium of communication. If ever the +language of the eyes was carried to perfection, it was exhibited in +the person of Crusoe. But, indeed, it would be difficult to say +which part of his expressive face expressed most--the cocked ears of +expectation, the drooped ears of sorrow; the bright, full eye of +joy, the half-closed eye of contentment, and the frowning eye of +indignation accompanied with a slight, a very slight pucker of the +nose and a gleam of dazzling ivory--ha! no enemy ever saw this last +piece of canine language without a full appreciation of what it meant. +Then as to the tail--the modulations of meaning in the varied wag +of that expressive member--oh! it's useless to attempt description. +Mortal man cannot conceive of the delicate shades of sentiment +expressible by a dog's tail, unless he has studied the subject--the +wag, the waggle, the cock, the droop, the slope, the wriggle! Away +with description--it is impotent and valueless here! + +As we have said, Crusoe was meek and mild. He had been bitten, on the +sly, by half the ill-natured curs in the settlement, and had only +shown his teeth in return. He had no enmities--though several +enemies--and he had a thousand friends, particularly among the ranks +of the weak and the persecuted, whom he always protected and avenged +when opportunity offered. A single instance of this kind will serve to +show his character. + +One day Dick and Crusoe were sitting on a rock beside the lake--the +same identical rock near which, when a pup, the latter had received +his first lesson. They were conversing as usual, for Dick had elicited +such a fund of intelligence from the dog's mind, and had injected such +wealth of wisdom into it, that he felt convinced it understood every +word he said. + +"This is capital weather, Crusoe; ain't it, pup?" + +Crusoe made a motion with his head which was quite as significant as a +nod. + +"Ha! my pup, I wish that you and I might go and have a slap at the +grizzly bars, and a look at the Rocky Mountains. Wouldn't it be nuts, +pup?" + +Crusoe looked dubious. + +"What, you don't agree with me! Now tell me, pup, wouldn't ye like to +grip a bar?" + +Still Crusoe looked dubious, but made a gentle motion with his tail, +as though he would have said, "I've seen neither Rocky Mountains nor +grizzly bars, and know nothin' about 'em, but I'm open to conviction." + +"You're a brave pup," rejoined Dick, stroking the dog's huge head +affectionately. "I wouldn't give you for ten times your weight in +golden dollars--if there be sich things." + +Crusoe made no reply whatever to this. He regarded it as a truism +unworthy of notice; he evidently felt that a comparison between love +and dollars was preposterous. + +At this point in the conversation a little dog with a lame leg hobbled +to the edge of the rocks in front of the spot where Dick was seated, +and looked down into the water, which was deep there. Whether it did +so for the purpose of admiring its very plain visage in the liquid +mirror, or finding out what was going on among the fish, we cannot +say, as it never told us; but at that moment a big, clumsy, +savage-looking dog rushed out from the neighbouring thicket and began +to worry it. + +"Punish him, Crusoe," said Dick quickly. + +Crusoe made one bound that a lion might have been proud of, and +seizing the aggressor by the back, lifted him off his legs and held +him, howling, in the air--at the same time casting a look towards his +master for further instructions. + +"Pitch him in," said Dick, making a sign with his hand. + +Crusoe turned and quietly dropped the dog into the lake. Having +regarded his struggles there for a few moments with grave severity of +countenance, he walked slowly back and sat down beside his master. + +The little dog made good its retreat as fast as three legs would carry +it; and the surly dog, having swum ashore, retired sulkily, with his +tail very much between his legs. + +Little wonder, then, that Crusoe was beloved by great and small among +the well-disposed of the canine tribe of the Mustang Valley. + +But Crusoe was not a mere machine. When not actively engaged in Dick +Varley's service, he busied himself with private little matters of his +own. He undertook modest little excursions into the woods or along the +margin of the lake, sometimes alone, but more frequently with a little +friend whose whole heart and being seemed to be swallowed up in +admiration of his big companion. Whether Crusoe botanized or +geologized on these excursions we will not venture to say. Assuredly +he seemed as though he did both, for he poked his nose into every bush +and tuft of moss, and turned over the stones, and dug holes in the +ground--and, in short, if he did not understand these sciences, he +behaved very much as if he did. Certainly he knew as much about them +as many of the human species do. + +In these walks he never took the slightest notice of Grumps (that +was the little dog's name), but Grumps made up for this by taking +excessive notice of him. When Crusoe stopped, Grumps stopped and sat +down to look at him. When Crusoe trotted on, Grumps trotted on too. +When Crusoe examined a bush, Grumps sat down to watch him; and when he +dug a hole, Grumps looked into it to see what was there. Grumps never +helped him; his sole delight was in looking on. They didn't converse +much, these two dogs. To be in each other's company seemed to be +happiness enough--at least Grumps thought so. + +There was one point at which Grumps stopped short, however, and ceased +to follow his friend, and that was when he rushed headlong into the +lake and disported himself for an hour at a time in its cool waters. +Crusoe was, both by nature and training, a splendid water-dog. Grumps, +on the contrary, held water in abhorrence; so he sat on the shore of +the lake disconsolate when his friend was bathing, and waited till he +came out. The only time when Grumps was thoroughly nonplussed was when +Dick Varley's whistle sounded faintly in the far distance. Then Crusoe +would prick up his ears and stretch out at full gallop, clearing +ditch, and fence, and brake with his strong elastic bound, and leaving +Grumps to patter after him as fast as his four-inch legs would carry +him. Poor Grumps usually arrived at the village to find both dog and +master gone, and would betake himself to his own dwelling, there to +lie down and sleep, and dream, perchance, of rambles and gambols with +his gigantic friend. + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +_A mission of peace--Unexpected joys--Dick and Crusoe set off for the +land of the Redskins, and meet with adventures by the way as a matter +of course--Night in the wild woods_. + + +One day the inhabitants of Mustang Valley were thrown into +considerable excitement by the arrival of an officer of the United +States army and a small escort of cavalry. They went direct to the +blockhouse, which, since Major Hope's departure, had become the +residence of Joe Blunt--that worthy having, by general consent, been +deemed the fittest man in the settlement to fill the major's place. + +Soon it began to be noised abroad that the strangers had been sent by +Government to endeavour to bring about, if possible, a more friendly +state of feeling between the Whites and the Indians by means of +presents, and promises, and fair speeches. + +The party remained all night in the block-house, and ere long it was +reported that Joe Blunt had been requested, and had consented, to be +the leader and chief of a party of three men who should visit the +neighbouring tribes of Indians to the west and north of the valley as +Government agents. Joe's knowledge of two or three different Indian +dialects, and his well-known sagacity, rendered him a most fitting +messenger on such an errand. It was also whispered that Joe was to +have the choosing of his comrades in this mission, and many were the +opinions expressed and guesses made as to who would be chosen. + +That same evening Dick Varley was sitting in his mother's kitchen +cleaning his rifle. His mother was preparing supper, and talking +quietly about the obstinacy of a particular hen that had taken to +laying her eggs in places where they could not be found. Fan was +coiled up in a corner sound asleep, and Crusoe was sitting at one side +of the fire looking on at things in general. + +"I wonder," remarked Mrs. Varley, as she spread the table with a pure +white napkin--"I wonder what the sodgers are doin' wi' Joe Blunt." + +As often happens when an individual is mentioned, the worthy referred +to opened the door at that moment and stepped into the room. + +"Good e'en t'ye, dame," said the stout hunter, doffing his cap, and +resting his rifle in a corner, while Dick rose and placed a chair for +him. + +"The same to you, Master Blunt," answered the widow; "you've jist +comed in good time for a cut o' venison." + +"Thanks, mistress; I s'pose we're beholden to the silver rifle for +that." + +"To the hand that aimed it, rather," suggested the widow. + +"Nay, then, say raither to the dog that turned it," said Dick Varley. +"But for Crusoe, that buck would ha' bin couched in the woods this +night." + +"Oh! if it comes to that," retorted Joe, "I'd lay it to the door o' +Fan, for if she'd niver bin born nother would Crusoe. But it's good +an' tender meat, whativer ways ye got it. Howsiver, I've other things +to talk about jist now. Them sodgers that are eatin' buffalo tongues +up at the block-house as if they'd niver ate meat before, and didn't +hope to eat again for a twelvemonth--" + +"Ay, what o' them?" interrupted Mrs. Varley; "I've bin wonderin' what +was their errand." + +"Of coorse ye wos, Dame Varley, and I've comed here a purpis to tell +ye. They want me to go to the Redskins to make peace between them +and us; and they've brought a lot o' goods to make them presents +withal--beads, an' knives, an' lookin'-glasses, an' vermilion paint, +an' sich like, jist as much as'll be a light load for one horse--for, +ye see, nothin' can be done wi' the Redskins without gifts." + +"'Tis a blessed mission," said the widow; "I wish it may succeed. D'ye +think ye'll go?" + +"Go? ay, that will I." + +"I only wish they'd made the offer to me," said Dick with a sigh. + +"An' so they do make the offer, lad. They've gin me leave to choose +the two men I'm to take with me, and I've corned straight to ask +_you_. Ay or no, for we must up an' away by break o' day to-morrow." + +Mrs. Varley started. "So soon?" she said, with a look of anxiety. + +"Ay; the Pawnees are at the Yellow Creek jist at this time, but I've +heerd they're 'bout to break up camp an' away west; so we'll need to +use haste." + +"May I go, mother?" asked Dick, with a look of anxiety. + +There was evidently a conflict in the widow's breast, but it quickly +ceased. + +"Yes, my boy," she said in her own low, quiet voice; "and God go with +ye. I knew the time must come soon, an' I thank him that your first +visit to the Redskins will be on an errand o' peace. 'Blessed are the +peace-makers: for they shall be called the children of God.'" + +Dick grasped his mother's hand and pressed it to his cheek in silence. +At the same moment Crusoe, seeing that the deeper feelings of his +master were touched, and deeming it his duty to sympathize, rose up +and thrust his nose against him. + +"Ah, pup," cried the young man hastily, "you must go too.--Of course +Crusoe goes, Joe Blunt?" + +"Hum! I don't know that. There's no dependin' on a dog to keep his +tongue quiet in times o' danger." + +"Believe me," exclaimed Dick, flashing with enthusiasm, "Crusoe's more +trustworthy than I am myself. If ye can trust the master, ye're safe +to trust the pup." + +"Well, lad, ye may be right. We'll take him." + +"Thanks, Joe. And who else goes with us?" + +"I've' bin castin' that in my mind for some time, an' I've fixed +to take Henri. He's not the safest man in the valley, but he's the +truest, that's a fact. And now, youngster, get yer horse an' rifle +ready, and come to the block-house at daybreak to-morrow.--Good luck +to ye, mistress, till we meet agin." + +Joe Blunt rose, and taking up his rifle--without which he scarcely +ever moved a foot from his own door--left the cottage with rapid +strides. + +"My son," said Mrs. Varley, kissing Dick's cheek as he resumed +his seat, "put this in the little pocket I made for it in your +hunting-shirt." + + +She handed him a small pocket Bible. + +"Dear mother," he said, as he placed the book carefully within the +breast of his coat, "the Redskin that takes that from me must take my +scalp first. But don't fear for me. You've often said the Lord would +protect me. So he will, mother, for sure it's an errand o' peace." + +"Ay that's it, that's it," murmured the widow in a half-soliloquy. + +Dick Varley spent that night in converse with his mother, and next +morning at daybreak he was at the place of meeting, mounted on his +sturdy little horse, with the "silver rifle" on his shoulder and +Crusoe by his side. + +"That's right, lad, that's right. Nothin' like keepin' yer time," said +Joe, as he led out a pack-horse from the gate of the block-house, +while his own charger was held ready saddled by a man named Daniel +Brand, who had been appointed to the charge of the block-house in his +absence. + +"Where's Henri?--oh, here he comes!" exclaimed Dick, as the hunter +referred to came thundering up the slope at a charge, on a horse +that resembled its rider in size and not a little in clumsiness of +appearance. + +"Ah! mes boy. Him is a goot one to go," cried + +Henri, remarking Dick's smile as he pulled up. "No hoss on de plain +can beat dis one, surement." + +"Now then, Henri, lend a hand to fix this pack; we've no time to +palaver." + +By this time they were joined by several of the soldiers and a few +hunters who had come to see them start. + +"Remember, Joe," said one, "if you don't come back in three months +we'll all come out in a band to seek you." + +"If we don't come back in less than that time, what's left o' us won't +be worth seekin' for," said Joe, tightening the girth of his saddle. + +"Put a bit in yer own mouth, Henri," cried another, as the Canadian +arranged his steed's bridle; "yell need it more than yer horse when ye +git 'mong the red reptiles." + +"Vraiment, if mon mout' needs one bit, yours will need one padlock." + +"Now, lads, mount!" cried Joe Blunt as he vaulted into the saddle. + +Dick Varley sprang lightly on his horse, and Henri made a rush at his +steed and hurled his huge frame across its back with a violence that +ought to have brought it to the ground; but the tall, raw-boned, +broad-chested roan was accustomed to the eccentricities of its master, +and stood the shock bravely. Being appointed to lead the pack-horse, +Henri seized its halter. Then the three cavaliers shook their reins, +and, waving their hands to their comrades, they sprang into the woods +at full gallop, and laid their course for the "far west." + +For some time they galloped side by side in silence, each occupied +with his own thoughts, Crusoe keeping close beside his master's horse. +The two elder hunters evidently ruminated on the object of their +mission and the prospects of success, for their countenances were +grave and their eyes cast on the ground. Dick Varley, too, thought +upon the Red-men, but his musings were deeply tinged with the bright +hues of a _first_ adventure. The mountains, the plains, the Indians, +the bears, the buffaloes, and a thousand other objects, danced wildly +before his mind's eye, and his blood careered through his veins and +flushed his forehead as he thought of what he should see and do, and +felt the elastic vigour of youth respond in sympathy to the light +spring of his active little steed. He was a lover of nature, too, and +his flashing eyes glanced observantly from side to side as they swept +along--sometimes through glades of forest trees, sometimes through +belts of more open ground and shrubbery; anon by the margin of a +stream or along the shores of a little lake, and often over short +stretches of flowering prairie-land--while the firm, elastic turf sent +up a muffled sound from the tramp of their mettlesome chargers. It was +a scene of wild, luxuriant beauty, that might almost (one could fancy) +have drawn involuntary homage to its bountiful Creator from the lips +even of an infidel. + +After a time Joe Blunt reined up, and they proceeded at an easy +ambling pace. Joe and his friend Henri were so used to these beautiful +scenes that they had long ceased to be enthusiastically affected by +them, though they never ceased to delight in them. + +"I hope," said Joe, "that them sodgers'll go their ways soon. I've no +notion o' them chaps when they're left at a place wi' nothin' to do +but whittle sticks." + +"Why, Joe!" exclaimed Dick Varley in a tone of surprise, "I thought +you were admirin' the beautiful face o' nature all this time, and +ye're only thinkin' about the sodgers. Now, that's strange!" + +"Not so strange after all, lad," answered Joe. "When a man's used to a +thing, he gits to admire an' enjoy it without speakin' much about it. +But it _is_ true, boy, that mankind gits in coorse o' time to think +little o' the blissin's he's used to." + +"Oui, c'est _vrai_!" murmured Henri emphatically. + +"Well, Joe Blunt, it may be so, but I'm thankful _I'm_ not used +to this sort o' thing yet," exclaimed Varley. "Let's have another +gallop--so ho! come along, Crusoe!" shouted the youth as he shook his +reins and flew over a long stretch of prairie on which at that moment +they entered. + +Joe smiled as he followed his enthusiastic companion, but after a +short run he pulled up. + +"Hold on, youngster," he cried; "ye must larn to do as ye're bid, lad. +It's trouble enough to be among wild Injuns and wild buffaloes, as I +hope soon to be, without havin' wild comrades to look after." + +Dick laughed, and reined in his panting horse. "I'll be as obedient as +Crusoe," he said, "and no one can beat him." + +"Besides," continued Joe, "the horses won't travel far if we begin by +runnin' all the wind out o' them." + +"Wah!" exclaimed Henri, as the led horse became restive; "I think we +must give to him de pack-hoss for to lead, eh?" + +"Not a bad notion, Henri. We'll make that the penalty of runnin' off +again; so look out, Master Dick." + +"I'm down," replied Dick, with a modest air, "obedient as a baby, and +won't run off again--till--the next time. By the way, Joe, how many +days' provisions did ye bring?" + +"Two. That's 'nough to carry us to the Great Prairie, which is +three weeks distant from this. Our own good rifles must make up the +difference, and keep us when we get there." + +"And s'pose we neither find deer nor buffalo," suggested Dick. + +"I s'pose we'll have to starve." + +"Dat is cumfer'able to tink upon," remarked Henri. + +"More comfortable to think o' than to undergo," said Dick; "but I +s'pose there's little chance o' that." + +"Well, not much," replied Joe Blunt, patting his horse's neck, "but +d'ye see, lad, ye niver can count for sartin on anythin'. The deer and +buffalo ought to be thick in them plains at this time--and when the +buffalo _are_ thick they covers the plains till ye can hardly see the +end o' them; but, ye see, sometimes the rascally Redskins takes it +into their heads to burn the prairies, and sometimes ye find the place +that should ha' bin black wi' buffalo, black as a coal wi' fire for +miles an' miles on end. At other times the Redskins go huntin' in +'ticlur places, and sweeps them clean o' every hoof that don't git +away. Sometimes, too, the animals seems to take a scunner at a place, +and keeps out o' the way. But one way or another men gin' rally manage +to scramble through." + +"Look yonder, Joe," exclaimed Dick, pointing to the summit of a +distant ridge, where a small black object was seen moving against the +sky, "that's a deer, ain't it?" + +Joe shaded his eyes with his hand, and gazed earnestly at the object +in question. "Ye're right, boy; and by good luck we've got the wind +of him. Cut in an' take your chance now. There's a long strip o' wood +as'll let ye git close to him." + +Before the sentence was well finished Dick and Crusoe were off at full +gallop. For a few hundred yards they coursed along the bottom of a +hollow; then turning to the right they entered the strip of wood, and +in a few minutes gained the edge of it. Here Dick dismounted. + +"You can't help me here, Crusoe. Stay where you are, pup, and hold my +horse." + +Crusoe seized the end of the line, which was fastened to the horse's +nose, in his mouth, and lay down on a hillock of moss, submissively +placing his chin on his forepaws, and watching his master as he +stepped noiselessly through the wood. In a few minutes Dick emerged +from among the trees, and creeping from bush to bush, succeeded in +getting to within six hundred yards of the deer, which was a beautiful +little antelope. Beyond the bush behind which he now crouched all was +bare open ground, without a shrub or a hillock large enough to conceal +the hunter. There was a slight undulation in the ground, however, +which enabled him to advance about fifty yards farther, by means of +lying down quite flat and working himself forward like a serpent. +Farther than this he could not move without being seen by the +antelope, which browsed on the ridge before him in fancied security. +The distance was too great even for a long shot; but Dick knew of +a weak point in this little creature's nature which enabled him to +accomplish his purpose--a weak point which it shares in common with +animals of a higher order--namely, curiosity. + +The little antelope of the North American prairies is intensely +curious about everything that it does not quite understand, and will +not rest satisfied until it has endeavoured to clear up the mystery. +Availing himself of this propensity, Dick did what both Indians and +hunters are accustomed to do on these occasions--he put a piece of +rag on the end of his ramrod, and keeping his person concealed and +perfectly still, waved this miniature flag in the air. The antelope +noticed it at once, and, pricking up its ears, began to advance, +timidly and slowly, step by step, to see what remarkable phenomenon +it could be. In a few seconds the flag was lowered, a sharp crack +followed, and the antelope fell dead upon the plain. + +"Ha, boy! that's a good supper, anyhow," cried Joe, as he galloped up +and dismounted. + +"Goot! dat is better nor dried meat," added Henri. "Give him to me; I +will put him on my hoss, vich is strongar dan yourn. But ver is your +hoss?" + +"He'll be here in a minute," replied Dick, putting his fingers to his +mouth and giving forth a shrill whistle. + +The instant Crusoe heard the sound he made a savage and apparently +uncalled-for dash at the horse's heels. This wild act, so contrary to +the dog's gentle nature, was a mere piece of acting. He knew that the +horse would not advance without getting a fright, so he gave him one +in this way, which sent him off at a gallop. Crusoe followed close at +his heels, so as to bring the line alongside of the nag's body, and +thereby prevent its getting entangled; but despite his best efforts +the horse got on one side of a tree and he on the other, so he wisely +let go his hold of the line, and waited till more open ground enabled +him to catch it again. Then he hung heavily back, gradually checked +the horse's speed, and finally trotted him up to his master's side. + +"'Tis a cliver cur, good sooth," exclaimed Joe Blunt in surprise. + +"Ah, Joe! you haven't seen much of Crusoe yet. He's as good as a man +any day. I've done little else but train him for two years gone by, +and he can do most anything but shoot--he can't handle the rifle +nohow." + +"Ha! then, I tink perhaps hims could if he wos try," said Henri, +plunging on to his horse with a laugh, and arranging the carcass of +the antelope across the pommel of his saddle. + +Thus they hunted and galloped, and trotted and ambled on through wood +and plain all day, until the sun began to descend below the tree-tops +of the bluffs on the west. Then Joe Blunt looked about him for a place +on which to camp, and finally fixed on a spot under the shadow of a +noble birch by the margin of a little stream. The carpet of grass on +its banks was soft like green velvet, and the rippling waters of the +brook were clear as crystal--very different from the muddy Missouri +into which it flowed. + +While Dick Varley felled and cut up firewood, Henri unpacked the +horses and turned them loose to graze, and Joe kindled the fire and +prepared venison steaks and hot tea for supper. + +In excursions of this kind it is customary to "hobble" the +horses--that is, to tie their fore-legs together, so that they cannot +run either fast or far, but are free enough to amble about with a +clumsy sort of hop in search of food. This is deemed a sufficient +check on their tendency to roam, although some of the knowing horses +sometimes learn to hop so fast with their hobbles as to give their +owners much trouble to recapture them. But when out in the prairies +where Indians are known or supposed to be in the neighbourhood, the +horses are picketed by means of a pin or stake attached to the ends +of their long lariats, as well as hobbled; for Indians deem it no +disgrace to steal or tell lies, though they think it disgraceful to +be found out in doing either. And so expert are these dark-skinned +natives of the western prairies, that they will creep into the midst +of an enemy's camp, cut the lariats and hobbles of several horses, +spring suddenly on their backs, and gallop away. + +They not only steal from white men, but tribes that are at enmity +steal from each other, and the boldness with which they do this is +most remarkable. When Indians are travelling in a country where +enemies are prowling, they guard their camps at night with jealous +care. The horses in particular are both hobbled and picketed, and +sentries are posted all round the camp. Yet, in spite of these +precautions, hostile Indians manage to elude the sentries and creep +into the camp. When a thief thus succeeds in effecting an entrance, +his chief danger is past. He rises boldly to his feet, and wrapping +his blanket or buffalo robe round him, he walks up and down as if he +were a member of the tribe. At the same time he dexterously cuts the +lariats of such horses as he observes are not hobbled. He dare not +stoop to cut the hobbles, as the action would be observed, and +suspicion would be instantly aroused. He then leaps on the best horse +he can find, and uttering a terrific war-whoop darts away into the +plains, driving the loosened horses before him. + +No such dark thieves were supposed to be near the camp under the +birch-tree, however, so Joe, and Dick, and Henri ate their supper in +comfort, and let their horses browse at will on the rich pasturage. + +A bright ruddy fire was soon kindled, which created, as it were, a +little ball of light in the midst of surrounding darkness for the +special use of our hardy hunters. Within this magic circle all was +warm, comfortable, and cheery; outside all was dark, and cold, and +dreary by contrast. + +When the substantial part of supper was disposed of, tea and pipes +were introduced, and conversation began to flow. Then the three +saddles were placed in a row; each hunter wrapped himself in his +blanket, and pillowing his head on his saddle, stretched his feet +towards the fire and went to sleep, with his loaded rifle by his side +and his hunting-knife handy in his belt. Crusoe mounted guard by +stretching himself out _couchant_ at Dick Varley's side. The faithful +dog slept lightly, and never moved all night; but had any one observed +him closely he would have seen that every fitful flame that burst from +the sinking fire, every unusual puff of wind, and every motion of the +horses that fed or rested hard by, had the effect of revealing a speck +of glittering white in Crusoe's watchful eye. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +_The great prairies of the far west_--_A remarkable colony discovered, +and a miserable night endured_. + +Of all the hours of the night or day the hour that succeeds the dawn +is the purest, the most joyous, and the best. At least so think we, +and so think hundreds and thousands of the human family. And so +thought Dick Varley, as he sprang suddenly into a sitting posture next +morning, and threw his arms with an exulting feeling of delight round +the neck of Crusoe, who instantly sat up to greet him. + +This was an unusual piece of enthusiasm on the part of Dick; but the +dog received it with marked satisfaction, rubbed his big hairy cheek +against that of his young master, and arose from his sedentary +position in order to afford free scope for the use of his tail. + +"Ho! Joe Blunt! Henri! Up, boys, up! The sun will have the start o' +us. I'll catch the nags." + +So saying Dick bounded away into the woods, with Crusoe gambolling +joyously at his heels. Dick soon caught his own horse, and Crusoe +caught Joe's. Then the former mounted and quickly brought in the other +two. + +Returning to the camp he found everything packed and ready to strap on +the back of the pack-horse. "That's the way to do it, lad," cried Joe. +"Here, Henri, look alive and git yer beast ready. I do believe ye're +goin' to take another snooze!" + +Henri was indeed, at that moment, indulging in a gigantic stretch and +a cavernous yawn; but he finished both hastily, and rushed at his poor +horse as if he intended to slay it on the spot. He only threw the +saddle on its back, however, and then threw himself on the saddle. + +"Now then, all ready?" + +"Ay"--"Oui, yis!" + +And away they went at full stretch again on their journey. + +Thus day after day they travelled, and night after night they laid +them down to sleep under the trees of the forest, until at length they +reached the edge of the Great Prairie. + +It was a great, a memorable day in the life of Dick Varley, that on +which he first beheld the prairie--the vast boundless prairie. He had +heard of it, talked of it, dreamed about it, but he had never--no, he +had never realized it. 'Tis always thus. Our conceptions of things +that we have not seen are almost invariably wrong. Dick's eyes +glittered, and his heart swelled, and his cheeks flushed, and his +breath came thick and quick. + +"There it is," he gasped, as the great rolling plain broke suddenly on +his enraptured gaze; "that's it--oh!--" + +Dick uttered a yell that would have done credit to the fiercest chief +of the Pawnees, and being unable to utter another word, he swung his +cap in the air and sprang like an arrow from a bow over the mighty +ocean of grass. The sun had just risen to send a flood of golden glory +over the scene, the horses were fresh, so the elder hunters, gladdened +by the beauty of all around them, and inspired by the irresistible +enthusiasm of their young companion, gave the reins to the horses and +flew after him. It was a glorious gallop, that first headlong dash +over the boundless prairie of the "far west." + +The prairies have often been compared, most justly, to the ocean. +There is the same wide circle of space bounded on all sides by the +horizon; there is the same swell, or undulation, or succession of long +low unbroken waves that marks the ocean when it is calm; they are +canopied by the same pure sky, and swept by the same untrammelled +breezes. There are islands, too--clumps of trees and +willow-bushes--which rise out of this grassy ocean to break and +relieve its uniformity; and these vary in size and numbers as do the +isles of ocean, being numerous in some places, while in others they +are so scarce that the traveller does not meet one in a long day's +journey. Thousands of beautiful flowers decked the greensward, and +numbers of little birds hopped about among them. + +"Now, lads," said Joe Blunt, reining up, "our troubles begin to-day." + +"Our troubles?--our joys, you mean!" exclaimed Dick Varley. + +"P'r'aps I don't mean nothin' o' the sort," retorted Joe. "Man wos +never intended to swaller his joys without a strong mixtur' o' +troubles. I s'pose he couldn't stand 'em pure. Ye see we've got to the +prairie now--" + +"One blind hoss might see dat!" interrupted Henri. + +"An' we may or may not diskiver buffalo. An' water's scarce, too, so +we'll need to look out for it pretty sharp, I guess, else we'll lose +our horses, in which case we may as well give out at once. Besides, +there's rattlesnakes about in sandy places, we'll ha' to look out for +them; an' there's badger holes, we'll need to look sharp for them lest +the horses put their feet in 'em; an' there's Injuns, who'll look out +pretty sharp for _us_ if they once get wind that we're in them parts." + +"Oui, yis, mes boys; and there's rain, and tunder, and lightin'," +added Henri, pointing to a dark cloud which was seen rising on the +horizon ahead of them. + +"It'll be rain," remarked Joe; "but there's no thunder in the air jist +now. We'll make for yonder clump o' bushes and lay by till it's past." + +Turning a little to the right of the course they had been following, +the hunters galloped along one of the hollows between the prairie +waves before mentioned, in the direction of a clump of willows. Before +reaching it, however, they passed over a bleak and barren plain where +there was neither flower nor bird. Here they were suddenly arrested by +a most extraordinary sight--at least it was so to Dick Varley, who +had never seen the like before. This was a colony of what Joe called +"prairie-dogs." On first beholding them Crusoe uttered a sort of half +growl, half bark of surprise, cocked his tail and ears, and instantly +prepared to charge; but he glanced up at his master first for +permission. Observing that his finger and his look commanded +"silence," he dropped his tail at once and stepped to the rear. He did +not, however, cease to regard the prairie-dogs with intense curiosity. + +These remarkable little creatures have been egregiously misnamed by +the hunters of the west, for they bear not the slightest resemblance +to dogs, either in formation or habits. They are, in fact, the marmot, +and in size are little larger than squirrels, which animals they +resemble in some degree. They burrow under the light soil, and throw +it up in mounds like moles. + +Thousands of them were running about among their dwellings when Dick +first beheld them; but the moment they caught sight of the +horsemen rising over the ridge they set up a tremendous hubbub of +consternation. Each little beast instantly mounted guard on the top of +his house, and prepared, as it were, "to receive cavalry." + +The most ludicrous thing about them was that, although the most timid +and cowardly creatures in the world, they seemed the most impertinent +things that ever lived! Knowing that their holes afforded them a +perfectly safe retreat, they sat close beside them; and as the hunters +slowly approached, they elevated their heads, wagged their little +tails, showed their teeth, and chattered at them like monkeys. The +nearer they came the more angry and furious did the prairie-dogs +become, until Dick Varley almost fell off his horse with suppressed +laughter. They let the hunters come close up, waxing louder and louder +in their wrath; but the instant a hand was raised to throw a stone or +point a gun, a thousand little heads dived into a thousand holes, and +a thousand little tails wriggled for an instant in the air--then a +dead silence reigned over the deserted scene. + +"Bien, them's have dive into de bo'-els of de eart'," said Henri with +a broad grin. + +Presently a thousand noses appeared, and nervously disappeared, like +the wink of an eye. Then they appeared again, and a thousand pair of +eyes followed. Instantly, like Jack in the box, they were all on the +top of their hillocks again, chattering and wagging their little tails +as vigorously as ever. You could not say that you _saw_ them jump out +of their holes. Suddenly, as if by magic, they _were_ out; then Dick +tossed up his arms, and suddenly, as if by magic, they were gone! + +Their number was incredible, and their cities were full of riotous +activity. What their occupations were the hunters could not ascertain, +but it was perfectly evident that they visited a great deal and +gossiped tremendously, for they ran about from house to house, and sat +chatting in groups; but it was also observed that they never went far +from their own houses. Each seemed to have a circle of acquaintance in +the immediate neighbourhood of his own residence, to which in case of +sudden danger he always fled. + +But another thing about these prairie-dogs (perhaps, considering their +size, we should call them prairie-doggies), another thing about them, +we say, was that each doggie lived with an owl, or, more correctly, an +owl lived with each doggie! This is such an extraordinary _fact_ that +we could scarce hope that men would believe us, were our statement not +supported by dozens of trustworthy travellers who have visited and +written about these regions. The whole plain was covered with these +owls. Each hole seemed to be the residence of an owl and a doggie, +and these incongruous couples lived together apparently in perfect +harmony. + +We have not been able to ascertain from travellers _why_ the owls have +gone to live with these doggies, so we beg humbly to offer our own +private opinion to the reader. We assume, then, that owls find it +absolutely needful to have holes. Probably prairie-owls cannot dig +holes for themselves. Having discovered, however, a race of little +creatures that could, they very likely determined to take forcible +possession of the holes made by them. Finding, no doubt, that when +they did so the doggies were too timid to object, and discovering, +moreover, that they were sweet, innocent little creatures, the +owls resolved to take them into partnership, and so the thing was +settled--that's how it came about, no doubt of it! + +There is a report that rattlesnakes live in these holes also; but we +cannot certify our reader of the truth of this. Still it is well to +be acquainted with a report that is current among the men of the +backwoods. If it be true, we are of opinion that the doggie's family +is the most miscellaneous and remarkable on the face of--or, as Henri +said, in the bo'-els of the earth. + +Dick and his friends were so deeply absorbed in watching these curious +little creatures that they did not observe the rapid spread of the +black clouds over the sky. A few heavy drops of rain now warned them +to seek shelter, so wheeling round they dashed off at full speed for +the clump of willows, which they gained just as the rain began to +descend in torrents. + +"Now, lads, do it slick. Off packs and saddles," cried Joe Blunt, +jumping from his horse. "I'll make a hut for ye, right off." + +"A hut, Joe! what sort o' hut can ye make here?" inquired Dick. + +"Ye'll see, boy, in a minute." + +"Ach! lend me a hand here, Dick; de bockle am tight as de hoss's own +skin. Ah! dere all right." + +"Hallo! what's this?" exclaimed Dick, as Crusoe advanced with +something in his mouth. "I declare, it's a bird o' some sort." + +"A prairie-hen," remarked Joe, as Crusoe laid the bird at Dick's feet; +"capital for supper." + +"Ah! dat chien is superb! goot dog. Come here, I vill clap you." + +But Crusoe refused to be caressed. Meanwhile, Joe and Dick formed a +sort of beehive-looking hut by bending down the stems of a tall bush +and thrusting their points into the ground. Over this they threw the +largest buffalo robe, and placed another on the ground below it, on +which they laid their packs of goods. These they further secured +against wet by placing several robes over them and a skin of +parchment. Then they sat down on this pile to rest, and consider what +should be done next. + +"'Tis a bad look-out," said Joe, shaking his head. + +"I fear it is," replied Dick in a melancholy tone. + +Henri said nothing, but he sighed deeply on looking up at the sky, +which was now of a uniform watery gray, while black clouds drove +athwart it. The rain was pouring in torrents, and the wind began to +sweep it in broad sheets over the plains, and under their slight +covering, so that in a short time they were wet to the skin. The +horses stood meekly beside them, with their tails and heads equally +pendulous; and Crusoe sat before his master, looking at him with an +expression that seemed to say, "Couldn't you put a stop to this if you +were to try?" + +"This'll never do. I'll try to git up a fire," said Dick, jumping up +in desperation. + +"Ye may save yerself the trouble," remarked Joe dryly--at least as +dryly as was possible in the circumstances. + +However, Dick did try, but he failed signally. Everything was soaked +and saturated. There were no large trees; most of the bushes were +green, and the dead ones were soaked. The coverings were slobbery, the +skins they sat on were slobbery, the earth itself was slobbery; so +Dick threw his blanket (which was also slobbery) round his shoulders, +and sat down beside his companions to grin and bear it. As for Joe and +Henri, they were old hands and accustomed to such circumstances. From +the first they had resigned themselves to their fate, and wrapping +their wet blankets round them sat down, side by side, wisely to endure +the evils that they could not cure. + +There is an old rhyme, by whom composed we know not, and it matters +little, which runs thus,-- + + "For every evil under the sun + There is a remedy--or there's none. + If there is--try and find it; + If there isn't--never mind it!" + +There is deep wisdom here in small compass. The principle involved +deserves to be heartily recommended. Dick never heard of the lines, +but he knew the principle well, so he began to "never mind it" by +sitting down beside his companions and whistling vociferously. As the +wind rendered this a difficult feat, he took to singing instead. After +that he said, "Let's eat a bite, Joe, and then go to bed." + +"Be all means," said Joe, who produced a mass of dried deer's meat +from a wallet. + +"It's cold grub," said Dick, "and tough." + +But the hunters' teeth were sharp and strong, so they ate a hearty +supper and washed it down with a drink of rain water collected from a +pool on the top of their hut. They now tried to sleep, for the night +was advancing, and it was so dark that they could scarce see their +hands when held up before their faces. They sat back to back, and +thus, in the form of a tripod, began to snooze. Joe's and Henri's +seasoned frames would have remained stiff as posts till morning; but +Dick's body was young and pliant, so he hadn't been asleep a few +seconds when he fell forward into the mud and effectually awakened the +others. Joe gave a grunt, and Henri exclaimed, "Hah!" but Dick was too +sleepy and miserable to say anything. Crusoe, however, rose up to show +his sympathy, and laid his wet head on his master's knee as he resumed +his place. This catastrophe happened three times in the space of an +hour, and by the third time they were all awakened up so thoroughly +that they gave up the attempt to sleep, and amused each other by +recounting their hunting experiences and telling stories. So engrossed +did they become that day broke sooner than they had expected, and just +in proportion as the gray light of dawn rose higher into the eastern +sky did the spirits of these weary men rise within their soaking +bodies. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +_The "wallering" peculiarities of buffalo bulls--The first buffalo +hunt and its consequences--Crusoe comes to the rescue--Pawnees +discovered--A monster buffalo hunt--Joe acts the part of ambassador_. + +Fortunately the day that succeeded the dreary night described in the +last chapter was warm and magnificent. The sun rose in a blaze of +splendour, and filled the atmosphere with steam from the moist earth. + +The unfortunates in the wet camp were not slow to avail themselves of +his cheering rays. They hung up everything on the bushes to dry, and +by dint of extreme patience and cutting out the comparatively dry +hearts of several pieces of wood, they lighted a fire and boiled some +rain-water, which was soon converted into soup. This, and the exercise +necessary for the performance of these several duties, warmed and +partially dried them; so that when they once more mounted their steeds +and rode away, they were in a state of comparative comfort and in +excellent spirits. The only annoyance was the clouds of mosquitoes and +large flies that assailed men and horses whenever they checked their +speed. + +"I tell ye wot it is," said Joe Blunt, one fine morning about a week +after they had begun to cross the prairie, "it's my 'pinion that we'll +come on buffaloes soon. Them tracks are fresh, an' yonder's one o' +their wallers that's bin used not long agone." + +"I'll go have a look at it," cried Dick, trotting away as he spoke. + +Everything in these vast prairies was new to Dick Varley, and he was +kept in a constant state of excitement during the first week or two +of his journey. It is true he was quite familiar with the names and +habits of all the animals that dwelt there; for many a time and oft +had he listened to the "yarns" of the hunters and trappers of the +Mustang Valley, when they returned laden with rich furs from their +periodical hunting expeditions. But this knowledge of his only served +to whet his curiosity and his desire to _see_ the denizens of the +prairies with his own eyes; and now that his wish was accomplished, it +greatly increased the pleasures of his journey. + +Dick had just reached the "wallow" referred to by Joe Blunt, and had +reined up his steed to observe it leisurely, when a faint hissing +sound reached his ear. Looking quickly back, he observed his two +companions crouching on the necks of their horses, and slowly +descending into a hollow of the prairie in front of them, as if they +wished to bring the rising ground between them and some object in +advance. Dick instantly followed their example, and was soon at their +heels. + +"Ye needn't look at the waller," whispered Joe, "for a' tother side o' +the ridge there's a bull _wallerin_'." + +"Ye don't mean it!" exclaimed Dick, as they all dismounted and +picketed their horses to the plain. "Oui," said Henri, tumbling off +his horse, while a broad grin overspread his good-natured countenance, +"it is one fact! One buffalo bull be wollerin' like a enormerous hog. +Also, dere be t'ousands o' buffaloes farder on." + +"Can ye trust yer dog keepin' back?" inquired Joe, with a dubious +glance at Crusoe. + +"Trust him! Ay, I wish I was as sure o' myself." + +"Look to yer primin', then, an' we'll have tongues and marrow bones +for supper to-night, I'se warrant. Hist! down on yer knees and go +softly. We might ha' run them down on horseback, but it's bad to wind +yer beasts on a trip like this, if ye can help it; an' it's about as +easy to stalk them. Leastways, we'll try. Lift yer head slowly, Dick, +an' don't show more nor the half o't above the ridge." + +Dick elevated his head as directed, and the scene that met his view +was indeed well calculated to send an electric shock to the heart of +an ardent sportsman. The vast plain beyond was absolutely blackened +with countless herds of buffaloes, which were browsing on the rich +grass. They were still so far distant that their bellowing, and the +trampling of their myriad hoofs, only reached the hunters like a faint +murmur on the breeze. In the immediate foreground, however, there was +a group of about half-a-dozen buffalo cows feeding quietly, and in the +midst of them an enormous old bull was enjoying himself in his wallow. +The animals, towards which our hunters now crept with murderous +intent, are the fiercest and the most ponderous of the ruminating +inhabitants of the western wilderness. The name of _buffalo_, however, +is not correct. The animal is the _bison_, and bears no resemblance +whatever to the buffalo proper; but as the hunters of the far west, +and, indeed, travellers generally, have adopted the misnomer, we bow +to the authority of custom and adopt it too. + +Buffaloes roam in countless thousands all over the North American +prairies, from the Hudson Bay Territories, north of Canada, to the +shores of the Gulf of Mexico. + +The advance of white men to the west has driven them to the prairies +between the Missouri and the Rocky Mountains, and has somewhat +diminished their numbers; but even thus diminished, they are still +innumerable in the more distant plains. Their colour is dark brown, +but it varies a good deal with the seasons. The hair or fur, from its +great length in winter and spring and exposure to the weather, turns +quite light; but when the winter coat is shed off, the new growth is +a beautiful dark brown, almost approaching to jet-black. In form the +buffalo somewhat resembles the ox, but its head and shoulders are much +larger, and are covered with a profusion of long shaggy hair which +adds greatly to the fierce aspect of the animal. It has a large hump +on the shoulder, and its fore-quarters are much larger, in proportion, +than the hind-quarters. The horns are short and thick, the hoofs are +cloven, and the tail is short, with a tuft of hair at the extremity. + +It is scarcely possible to conceive a wilder or more ferocious and +terrible monster than a buffalo bull. He often grows to the enormous +weight of two thousand pounds. His lion-like mane falls in shaggy +confusion quite over his head and shoulders, down to the ground. When +he is wounded he becomes imbued with the spirit of a tiger: he stamps, +bellows, roars, and foams forth his rage with glaring eyes and +steaming nostrils, and charges furiously at man and horse with utter +recklessness. Fortunately, however, he is not naturally pugnacious, +and can be easily thrown into a sudden panic. Moreover, the peculiar +position of his eye renders this creature not so terrible as he would +otherwise be to the hunter. Owing to the stiff structure of the neck, +and the sunken, downward-looking eyeball, the buffalo cannot, without +an effort, see beyond the direct line of vision presented to the +habitual carriage of his head. When, therefore, he is wounded, and +charges, he does so in a straight line, so that his pursuer can +leap easily out of his way. The pace of the buffalo is clumsy, and +_apparently_ slow, yet, when chased, he dashes away over the plains in +blind blundering terror, at a rate that leaves all but good horses +far behind. He cannot keep the pace up, however, and is usually soon +overtaken. Were the buffalo capable of the same alert and agile +motions of head and eye peculiar to the deer or wild horse, in +addition to his "bovine rage," he would be the most formidable brute +on earth. There is no object, perhaps, so terrible as the headlong +advance of a herd of these animals when thoroughly aroused by terror. +They care not for their necks. All danger in front is forgotten, or +not seen, in the terror of that from which they fly. No thundering +cataract is more tremendously irresistible than the black bellowing +torrent which sometimes pours through the narrow defiles of the Rocky +Mountains, or sweeps like a roaring flood over the trembling plains. + +The wallowing, to which we have referred, is a luxury usually indulged +in during the hot months of summer, when the buffaloes are tormented +by flies, and heat, and drought. At this season they seek the low +grounds in the prairies where there is a little stagnant water lying +amongst the grass, and the ground underneath, being saturated, is +soft. The leader of the herd, a shaggy old bull, usually takes upon +himself to prepare the wallow. + +It was a rugged monster of the largest size that did so on the present +occasion, to the intense delight of Dick Varley, who begged Joe to +lie still and watch the operation before trying to shoot one of the +buffalo cows. Joe consented with a nod, and the four spectators--for +Crusoe was as much taken up with the proceedings as any of +them--crouched in the grass, and looked on. + +Coming up to the swampy spot, the old bull gave a grunt of +satisfaction, and going down on one knee, plunged his short thick +horns into the mud, tore it up, and cast it aside. Having repeated +this several times, he plunged his head in, and brought it forth +saturated with dirty water and bedaubed with lumps of mud, through +which his fierce eyes gazed, with a ludicrous expression of +astonishment, straight in the direction of the hunters, as if he meant +to say, "I've done it that time, and no mistake!" The other buffaloes +seemed to think so too, for they came up and looked on with an +expression that seemed to say, "Well done, old fellow; try that +again!" + + +The old fellow did try it again, and again, and again, plunging, and +ramming, and tearing up the earth, until he formed an excavation +large enough to contain his huge body. In this bath he laid himself +comfortably down, and began to roll and wallow about until he mixed up +a trough full of thin soft mud, which completely covered him. When he +came out of the hole there was scarcely an atom of his former self +visible! + +The coat of mud thus put on by bulls is usually permitted by them to +dry, and is not finally got rid of until long after, when oft-repeated +rollings on the grass and washings by rain at length clear it away. + +When the old bull vacated this delectable bath, another bull, scarcely +if at all less ferocious-looking, stepped forward to take his turn; +but he was interrupted by a volley from the hunters, which scattered +the animals right and left, and sent the mighty herds in the distance +flying over the prairie in wild terror. The very turmoil of their own +mad flight added to their panic, and the continuous thunder of their +hoofs was heard until the last of them disappeared on the horizon. The +family party which had been fired at, however, did not escape so well, +Joe's rifle wounded a fat young cow, and Dick Varley brought it down. +Henri had done his best, but as the animals were too far distant for +his limited vision, he missed the cow he fired at, and hit the young +bull whose bath had been interrupted. The others scattered and fled. + +"Well done, Dick," exclaimed Joe Blunt, as they all ran up to the cow +that had fallen. "Your first shot at the buffalo was a good un. Come, +now, an' I'll show ye how to cut it up an' carry off the tit-bits." + +"Ah, mon dear ole bull!" exclaimed Henri, gazing after the animal +which he had wounded, and which was now limping slowly away. "You is +not worth goin' after. Farewell--adieu." + +"He'll be tough enough, I warrant," said Joe; "an' we've more meat +here nor we can lift." + +"But wouldn't it be as well to put the poor brute out o' pain?" +suggested Dick. + +"Oh, he'll die soon enough," replied Joe, tucking up his sleeves and +drawing his long hunting-knife. + +Dick, however, was not satisfied with this way of looking at it. +Saying that he would be back in a few minutes, he reloaded his rifle, +and calling Crusoe to his side, walked quickly after the wounded bull, +which was now hid from view in a hollow of the plain. + +In a few minutes he came in sight of it, and ran forward with his +rifle in readiness. + +"Down, Crusoe," he whispered; "wait for me here." + +Crusoe crouched in the grass instantly, and Dick advanced. As he came +on, the bull observed him, and turned round bellowing with rage and +pain to receive him. The aspect of the brute on a near view was so +terrible that Dick involuntarily stopped too, and gazed with a mingled +feeling of wonder and awe, while it bristled with passion, and +blood-streaked foam dropped from its open jaws, and its eyes glared +furiously. Seeing that Dick did not advance, the bull charged him with +a terrific roar; but the youth had firm nerves, and although the rush +of such a savage creature at full speed was calculated to try the +courage of any man, especially one who had never seen a buffalo bull +before, Dick did not lose presence of mind. He remembered the many +stories he had listened to of this very thing that was now happening; +so, crushing down his excitement as well as he could, he cocked his +rifle and awaited the charge. He knew that it was of no use to fire at +the head of the advancing foe, as the thickness of the skull, together +with the matted hair on the forehead, rendered it impervious to a +bullet. + +When the bull was within a yard of him he leaped lightly to one side +and it passed. Just as it did so, Dick aimed at its heart and fired, +but his knowledge of the creature's anatomy was not yet correct. The +ball entered the shoulder too high, and the bull, checking himself as +well as he could in his headlong rush, turned round and made at Dick +again. + +The failure, coupled with the excitement, proved too much for Dick; he +could not resist discharging his second barrel at the brute's head as +it came on. He might as well have fired at a brick wall. It shook its +shaggy front, and with a hideous bellow thundered forward. Again Dick +sprang to one side, but in doing so a tuft of grass or a stone caught +his foot, and he fell heavily to the ground. + +Up to this point Crusoe's admirable training had nailed him to the +spot where he had been left, although the twitching of every fibre in +his body and a low continuous whine showed how gladly he would have +hailed permission to join in the combat; but the instant he saw his +master down, and the buffalo turning to charge again, he sprang +forward with a roar that would have done credit to his bovine enemy, +and seized him by the nose. So vigorous was the rush that he well-nigh +pulled the bull down on its side. One toss of its head, however, sent +Crusoe high into the air; but it accomplished this feat at the expense +of its nose, which was torn and lacerated by the dog's teeth. + +Scarcely had Crusoe touched the ground, which he did with a sounding +thump, than he sprang up and flew at his adversary again. This time, +however, he adopted the plan of barking furiously and biting by rapid +yet terrible snaps as he found opportunity, thus keeping the bull +entirely engrossed, and affording Dick an opportunity of reloading his +rifle, which he was not slow to do. Dick then stepped close up, and +while the two combatants were roaring in each other's faces, he shot +the buffalo through the heart. It fell to the earth with a deep groan. + +Crusoe's rage instantly vanished on beholding this, and he seemed to +be filled with tumultuous joy at his master's escape, for he gambolled +round him, and whined and fawned upon him in a manner that could not +be misunderstood. + +"Good dog; thank'ee, my pup," said Dick, patting Crusoe's head as he +stooped to brush the dust from his leggings. "I don't know what would +ha' become o' me but for your help, Crusoe." + +Crusoe turned his head a little to one side, wagged his tail, and +looked at Dick with an expression that said quite plainly, "I'd die +for you, I would--not once, or twice, but ten times, fifty times if +need be--and that not merely to save your life, but even to please +you." + +There is no doubt whatever that Crusoe felt something of this sort. +The love of a Newfoundland dog to its master is beyond calculation or +expression. He who once gains such love carries the dog's life in his +hand. But let him who reads note well, and remember that there is only +one coin that can purchase such love, and that is _kindness_. The +coin, too, must be genuine. Kindness merely _expressed_ will not do, +it must be _felt_. + +"Hallo, boy, ye've bin i' the wars!" exclaimed Joe, raising himself +from his task as Dick and Crusoe returned. + +"You look more like it than I do," retorted Dick, laughing. + +This was true, for cutting up a buffalo carcass with no other +instrument than a large knife is no easy matter. Yet western hunters +and Indians can do it without cleaver or saw, in a way that would +surprise a civilized butcher not a little. Joe was covered with blood +up to the elbows. His hair, happening to have a knack of getting into +his eyes, had been so often brushed off with bloody hands, that his +whole visage was speckled with gore, and his dress was by no means +immaculate. + +While Dick related his adventure, or _mis_-adventure, with the bull, +Joe and Henri completed the cutting out of the most delicate portions +of the buffalo--namely, the hump on its shoulder--which is a choice +piece, much finer than the best beef--and the tongue, and a few other +parts. The tongues of buffaloes are superior to those of domestic +cattle. When all was ready the meat was slung across the back of the +pack-horse; and the party, remounting their horses, continued their +journey, having first cleansed themselves as well as they could in the +rather dirty waters of an old wallow. + +"See," said Henri, turning to Dick and pointing to a circular spot of +green as they rode along, "that is one old _dry_ waller." + +"Ay," remarked Joe; "after the waller dries, it becomes a ring o' +greener grass than the rest o' the plain, as ye see. Tis said the +first hunters used to wonder greatly at these myster'ous circles, and +they invented all sorts o' stories to account for 'em. Some said they +wos fairy-rings, but at last they comed to know they wos nothin' more +nor less than places where buffaloes wos used to waller in. It's often +seemed to me that if we knowed the _raisons_ o' things, we wouldn't be +so much puzzled wi' them as we are." + +The truth of this last remark was so self-evident and incontrovertible +that it elicited no reply, and the three friends rode on for a +considerable time in silence. + +It was now past noon, and they were thinking of calling a halt for a +short rest to the horses and a pipe to themselves, when Joe was heard +to give vent to one of those peculiar hisses that always accompanied +either a surprise or a caution. In the present case it indicated both. + +"What now, Joe?" + +"Injuns!" ejaculated Joe. + +"Eh! fat you say? Ou is dey?" + +Crusoe at this moment uttered a low growl. Ever since the day he +had been partially roasted he had maintained a rooted antipathy to +Red-men. Joe immediately dismounted, and placing his ear to the ground +listened intently. It is a curious fact that by placing the ear close +to the ground sounds can be heard distinctly which could not be heard +at all if the listener were to maintain an erect position. + +"They're arter the buffalo," said Joe, rising, "an' I think it's +likely they're a band o' Pawnees. Listen an' ye'll hear their shouts +quite plain." + +Dick and Henri immediately lay down and placed their ears to the +ground. + +"Now, me hear noting," said Henri, jumping up, "but me ear is like me +eyes--ver' short-sighted." + +"I do hear something," said Dick as he got up, "but the beating o' my +own heart makes row enough to spoil my hearin'." + +Joe Blunt smiled. "Ah! lad, ye're young, an' yer blood's too hot yet; +but bide a bit--you'll cool down soon. I wos like you once. Now, lads, +what think ye we should do?" + +"You know best, Joe." + +"Oui, nodoubtedly.' + +"Then wot I advise is that we gallop to the broken sand hillocks ye +see yonder, get behind them, an' take a peep at the Redskins. If they +are Pawnees, we'll go up to them at once; if not, we'll hold a council +o' war on the spot." + +Having arranged this, they mounted and hastened towards the hillocks +in question, which they reached after ten minutes' gallop at full +stretch. The sandy mounds afforded them concealment, and enabled them +to watch the proceedings of the savages in the plain below. The scene +was the most curious and exciting that can be conceived. The centre of +the plain before them was crowded with hundreds of buffaloes, which +were dashing about in the most frantic state of alarm. To whatever +point they galloped they were met by yelling savages on horseback, who +could not have been fewer in numbers than a thousand, all being armed +with lance, bow, and quiver, and mounted on active little horses. The +Indians had completely surrounded the herd of buffaloes, and were now +advancing steadily towards them, gradually narrowing the circle, and +whenever the terrified animals endeavoured to break through the line, +they rushed to that particular spot in a body, and scared them back +again into the centre. + +Thus they advanced until they closed in on their prey and formed an +unbroken circle round them, whilst the poor brutes kept eddying and +surging to and fro in a confused mass, hooking and climbing upon each +other, and bellowing furiously. Suddenly the horsemen made a rush, and +the work of destruction began. The tremendous turmoil raised a cloud +of dust that obscured the field in some places, and hid it from our +hunters' view. Some of the Indians galloped round and round the +circle, sending their arrows whizzing up to the feathers in the sides +of the fattest cows. Others dashed fearlessly into the midst of the +black heaving mass, and, with their long lances, pierced dozens of +them to the heart. In many instances the buffaloes, infuriated by +wounds, turned fiercely on their assailants and gored the horses to +death, in which cases the men had to trust to their nimble legs for +safety. Sometimes a horse got jammed in the centre of the swaying +mass, and could neither advance nor retreat. Then the savage rider +leaped upon the buffaloes' backs, and springing from one to another, +like an acrobat, gained the outer edge of the circle; not failing, +however, in his strange flight, to pierce with his lance several of +the fattest of his stepping-stones as he sped along. + +A few of the herd succeeded in escaping from the blood and dust of +this desperate battle, and made off over the plains; but they were +quickly overtaken, and the lance or the arrow brought them down on the +green turf. Many of the dismounted riders were chased by bulls; but +they stepped lightly to one side, and, as the animals passed, drove +their arrows deep into their sides. Thus the tumultuous war went on, +amid thundering tread, and yell, and bellow, till the green plain was +transformed into a sea of blood and mire, and every buffalo of the +herd was laid low. + +It is not to be supposed that such reckless warfare is invariably +waged without damage to the savages. Many were the wounds and bruises +received that day, and not a few bones were broken, but happily no +lives were lost. + +"Now, lads, now's our time. A bold and fearless look's the best at all +times. Don't look as if ye doubted their friendship; and mind, wotever +ye do, don't use yer arms. Follow me." + +Saying this, Joe Blunt leaped on his horse, and, bounding over the +ridge at full speed, galloped headlong across the plain. + +The savages observed the strangers instantly, and a loud yell +announced the fact as they assembled from all parts of the field +brandishing their bows and spears. Joe's quick eye soon distinguished +their chief, towards whom he galloped, still at full speed, till +within a yard or two of his horse's head; then he reined up suddenly. +So rapidly did Joe and his comrades approach, and so instantaneously +did they pull up, that their steeds were thrown almost on their +haunches. + +The Indian chief did not move a muscle. He was a tall, powerful +savage, almost naked, and mounted on a coal-black charger, which he +sat with the ease of a man accustomed to ride from infancy. He was, +indeed, a splendid-looking savage, but his face wore a dark frown, +for, although he and his band had visited the settlements and +trafficked with the fur-traders on the Missouri, he did not love the +"Pale-faces," whom he regarded as intruders on the hunting-grounds of +his fathers, and the peace that existed between them at that time was +of a very fragile character. Indeed, it was deemed by the traders +impossible to travel through the Indian country at that period except +in strong force, and it was the very boldness of the present attempt +that secured to our hunters anything like a civil reception. + +Joe, who could speak the Pawnee tongue fluently, began by explaining +the object of his visit, and spoke of the presents which he had +brought for the great chief; but it was evident that his words made +little impression. As he discoursed to them the savages crowded round +the little party, and began to handle and examine their dresses +and weapons with a degree of rudeness that caused Joe considerable +anxiety. + +"Mahtawa believes that the heart of the Pale-face is true," said the +savage, when Joe paused, "but he does not choose to make peace. The +Pale-faces are grasping. They never rest. They turn their eyes to the +great mountains and say, 'There we will stop.' But even there they +will not stop. They are never satisfied; Mahtawa knows them well." + +This speech sank like a death-knell into the hearts of the hunters, +for they knew that if the savages refused to make peace, they would +scalp them all and appropriate their goods. To make things worse, a +dark-visaged Indian suddenly caught hold of Henri's rifle, and, ere +he was aware, had plucked it from his hand. The blood rushed to the +gigantic hunter's forehead, and he was on the point of springing at +the man, when Joe said in a deep quiet voice,-- + +"Be still, Henri. You will but hasten death." + +At this moment there was a movement in the outskirts of the circle +of horsemen, and another chief rode into the midst of them. He was +evidently higher in rank than Mahtawa, for he spoke authoritatively to +the crowd, and stepped in before him. The hunters drew little comfort +from the appearance of his face, however, for it scowled upon them. +He was not so powerful a man as Mahtawa, but he was more gracefully +formed, and had a more noble and commanding countenance. + +"Have the Pale-faces no wigwams on the great river that they should +come to spy out the lands of the Pawnee?" he demanded. + +"We have not come to spy your country," answered Joe, raising himself +proudly as he spoke, and taking off his cap. "We have come with a +message from the great chief of the Pale-faces, who lives in the +village far beyond the great river where the sun rises. He says, Why +should the Pale-face and the Red-man fight? They are brothers. The +same Manitou[*] watches over both. The Pale-faces have more beads, and +guns, and blankets, and knives, and vermilion than they require; they +wish to give some of these things for the skins and furs which +the Red-man does not know what to do with. The great chief of the +Pale-faces has sent me to say, Why should we fight? let us smoke the +pipe of peace." + +[Footnote *: The Indian name for God.] + +At the mention of beads and blankets the face of the wily chief +brightened for a moment. Then he said sternly,-- + +"The heart of the Pale-face is not true. He has come here to trade for +himself. San-it-sa-rish has eyes that can see; they are not shut. +Are not these your goods?" The chief pointed to the pack-horse as he +spoke. + +"Trappers do not take their goods into the heart of an enemy's camp," +returned Joe. "San-it-sa-rish is wise, and will understand this. These +are gifts to the chief of the Pawnees. There are more awaiting him +when the pipe of peace is smoked. I have said. What message shall we +take back to the great chief of the Pale-faces?" + +San-it-sa-rish was evidently mollified. + +"The hunting-field is not the council tent," he said. "The Pale-faces +will go with us to our village." + +Of course Joe was too glad to agree to this proposal, but he now +deemed it politic to display a little firmness. + +"We cannot go till our rifle is restored. It will not do to go back +and tell the great chief of the Pale-faces that the Pawnees are +thieves." + +The chief frowned angrily. + +"The Pawnees are true; they are not thieves. They choose to _look_ at +the rifle of the Pale-face. It shall be returned." + +The rifle was instantly restored, and then our hunters rode off with +the Indians towards their camp. On the way they met hundreds of women +and children going to the scene of the great hunt, for it was their +special duty to cut up the meat and carry it into camp. The men, +considering that they had done quite enough in killing it, returned to +smoke and eat away the fatigues of the chase. + +As they rode along, Dick Varley observed that some of the "braves," as +Indian warriors are styled, were eating pieces of the bloody livers +of the buffaloes in a raw state, at which he expressed not a little +disgust. + +"Ah, boy! you're green yet," remarked Joe Blunt in an undertone. +"Mayhap ye'll be thankful to do that same yerself some day." + +"Well, I'll not refuse to try when it is needful," said Dick with a +laugh; "meanwhile I'm content to see the Redskins do it, Joe Blunt." + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +_Dick and his friends visit the Indians and see many wonders--Crusoe, +too, experiences a few surprises, and teaches Indian dogs a lesson--An +Indian dandy--A foot-race._ + +The Pawnee village, at which they soon arrived, was situated in the +midst of a most interesting and picturesque scene. + +It occupied an extensive plain which sloped gently down to a creek[*], +whose winding course was marked by a broken line of wood, here and +there interspersed with a fine clump of trees, between the trunks of +which the blue waters of a lake sparkled in the distance. Hundreds of +tents or "lodges" of buffalo-skins covered the ground, and thousands +of Indians--men, women, and children--moved about the busy scene. Some +were sitting in their lodges, lazily smoking their pipes. But these +were chiefly old and infirm veterans, for all the young men had gone +to the hunt which we have just described. The women were stooping over +their fires, busily preparing maize and meat for their husbands and +brothers; while myriads of little brown and naked children romped +about everywhere, filling the air with their yells and screams, which +were only equalled, if not surpassed, by the yelping dogs that seemed +innumerable. + +[Footnote *: In America small rivers or rivulets are termed "creeks."] + +Far as the eye could reach were seen scattered herds of horses. These +were tended by little boys who were totally destitute of clothing, +and who seemed to enjoy with infinite zest the pastime of +shooting-practice with little bows and arrows. No wonder that these +Indians become expert bowmen. There were urchins there, scarce two +feet high, with round bullets of bodies and short spindle-shanks, who +could knock blackbirds off the trees at every shot, and cut the heads +off the taller flowers with perfect certainty! There was much need, +too, for the utmost proficiency they could attain, for the very +existence of the Indian tribes of the prairies depends on their +success in hunting the buffalo. + +There are hundreds and thousands of North American savages who would +undoubtedly perish, and their tribes become extinct, if the buffaloes +were to leave the prairies or die out. Yet, although animals are +absolutely essential to their existence, they pursue and slay them +with improvident recklessness, sometimes killing hundreds of them +merely for the sake of the sport, the tongues, and the marrow bones. +In the bloody hunt described in the last chapter, however, the +slaughter of so many was not wanton, because the village that had to +be supplied with food was large, and, just previous to the hunt, they +had been living on somewhat reduced allowance. Even the blackbirds +shot by the brown-bodied urchins before mentioned had been thankfully +put into the pot. Thus precarious is the supply of food among the +Red-men, who on one day are starving, and the next are revelling in +superabundance. + +But to return to our story. At one end of this village the creek +sprang over a ledge of rock in a low cascade and opened out into a +beautiful lake, the bosom of which was studded with small islands. +Here were thousands of those smaller species of wild water-fowl which +were either too brave or too foolish to be scared away by the noise +of the camp. And here, too, dozens of children were sporting on the +beach, or paddling about in their light bark canoes. + +"Isn't it strange," remarked Dick to Henri, as they passed among the +tents towards the centre of the village--"isn't it strange that them +Injuns should be so fond o' fightin', when they've got all they can +want--a fine country, lots o' buffalo, an', as far as I can see, happy +homes?" + +"Oui, it is remarkaibel, vraiment. Bot dey do more love war to peace. +Dey loves to be excit-ed, I s'pose." + +"Humph! One would think the hunt we seed a little agone would be +excitement enough. But, I say, that must he the chiefs tent, by the +look o't." + +Dick was right. The horsemen pulled up and dismounted opposite the +principal chief's tent, which was a larger and more elegant structure +than the others. Meanwhile an immense concourse of women, children, +and dogs gathered round the strangers, and while the latter yelped +their dislike to white men, the former chattered continuously, as they +discussed the appearance of the strangers and their errand, which +latter soon became known. An end was put to this by San-it-sa-rish +desiring the hunters to enter the tent, and spreading a buffalo robe +for them to sit on. Two braves carried in their packs, and then led +away their horses. + +All this time Crusoe had kept as close as possible to his master's +side, feeling extremely uncomfortable in the midst of such a strange +crowd, the more especially that the ill-looking Indian curs gave him +expressive looks of hatred, and exhibited some desire to rush upon him +in a body, so that he had to keep a sharp look-out all round him. When +therefore Dick entered the tent, Crusoe endeavoured to do so along +with him; but he was met by a blow on the nose from an old squaw, who +scolded him in a shrill voice and bade him begone. + +Either our hero's knowledge of the Indian language was insufficient to +enable him to understand the order, or he had resolved not to obey it, +for instead of retreating, he drew a deep gurgling breath, curled his +nose, and displayed a row of teeth that caused the old woman to draw +back in alarm. Crusoe's was a forgiving spirit. The instant that +opposition ceased he forgot the injury, and was meekly advancing, when +Dick held up his finger. + +"Go outside, pup, and wait." + +Crusoe's tail drooped; with a deep sigh he turned and left the tent. +He took up a position near the entrance, however, and sat down +resignedly. So meek, indeed, did the poor dog look that six +mangy-looking curs felt their dastardly hearts emboldened to make a +rush at him with boisterous yells. + +Crusoe did not rise. He did not even condescend to turn his head +toward them; but he looked at them out of the corner of his dark eye, +wrinkled--very slightly--the skin of his nose, exhibited two beautiful +fangs, and gave utterance to a soft remark, that might be described +as quiet, deep-toned gurgling. It wasn't much, but it was more than +enough for the valiant six, who paused and snarled violently. + +It was a peculiar trait of Crusoe's gentle nature that, the moment any +danger ceased, he resumed his expression of nonchalant gravity. The +expression on this occasion was misunderstood, however; and as about +two dozen additional yelping dogs had joined the ranks of the enemy, +they advanced in close order to the attack. + +Crusoe still sat quiet, and kept his head high; but he _looked_ at +them again, and exhibited four fangs for their inspection. Among the +pack there was one Indian dog of large size--almost as large as Crusoe +himself--which kept well in the rear, and apparently urged the lesser +dogs on. The little dogs didn't object, for little dogs are generally +the most pugnacious. At this big dog Crusoe directed a pointed glance, +but said nothing. Meanwhile a particularly small and vicious cur, with +a mere rag of a tail, crept round by the back of the tent, and coming +upon Crusoe in rear, snapped at his tail sharply, and then fled +shrieking with terror and surprise, no doubt, at its own temerity. + +Crusoe did not bark; he seldom barked; he usually either said nothing, +or gave utterance to a prolonged roar of indignation of the most +terrible character, with barks, as it were, mingled through it. It +somewhat resembled that peculiar and well-known species of thunder, +the prolonged roll of which is marked at short intervals in its +course by cannon-like cracks. It was a continuous, but, so to speak, +_knotted_ roar. + +On receiving the snap, Crusoe gave forth _the_ roar with a majesty and +power that scattered the pugnacious front rank of the enemy to the +winds. Those that still remained, half stupified, he leaped over with +a huge bound, and alighted, fangs first, on the back of the big +dog. There was one hideous yell, a muffled scramble of an instant's +duration, and the big dog lay dead upon the plain! + +It was an awful thing to do, but Crusoe evidently felt that the +peculiar circumstances of the case required that an example should be +made; and to say truth, all things considered, we cannot blame him. +The news must have been carried at once through the canine portion of +the camp, for Crusoe was never interfered with again after that. + +Dick witnessed this little incident; but he observed that the Indian +chief cared not a straw about it, and as his dog returned quietly +and sat down in its old place he took no notice of it either, but +continued to listen to the explanations which Joe gave to the chief, +of the desire of the Pale-faces to be friends with the Red-men. + +Joe's eloquence would have done little for him on this occasion had +his hands been empty, but he followed it up by opening one of his +packs and displaying the glittering contents before the equally +glittering eyes of the chief and his squaws. + +"These," said Joe, "are the gifts that the great chief of the +Pale-faces sends to the great chief of the Pawnees. And he bids me say +that there are many more things in his stores which will be traded for +skins with the Red-men, when they visit him; and he also says that if +the Pawnees will not steal horses any more from the Pale-faces, they +shall receive gifts of knives, and guns, and powder, and blankets +every year." + +"Wah!" grunted the chief; "it is good. The great chief is wise. We +will smoke the pipe of peace." + +The things that afforded so much satisfaction to San-it-sa-rish were +the veriest trifles. Penny looking-glasses in yellow gilt tin frames, +beads of various colours, needles, cheap scissors and knives, +vermilion paint, and coarse scarlet cloth, etc. They were of priceless +value, however, in the estimation of the savages, who delighted to +adorn themselves with leggings made from the cloth, beautifully worked +with beads by their own ingenious women. They were thankful, too, for +knives even of the commonest description, having none but bone ones of +their own; and they gloried in daubing their faces with intermingled +streaks of charcoal and vermilion. To gaze at their visages, when +thus treated, in the little penny looking-glasses is their summit of +delight! + +Joe presented the chief with a portion of these coveted goods, and +tied up the remainder. We may remark here that the only thing which +prevented the savages from taking possession of the whole at once, +without asking permission, was the promise of the annual gifts, +which they knew would not be forthcoming were any evil to befall +the deputies of the Pale-faces. Nevertheless, it cost them a severe +struggle to restrain their hands on this occasion, and Joe and his +companions felt that they would have to play their part well in order +to fulfil their mission with safety and credit. + +"The Pale-faces may go now and talk with the braves," said +San-it-sa-rish, after carefully examining everything that was given +to him; "a council will be called soon, and we will smoke the pipe of +peace." + +Accepting this permission to retire, the hunters immediately left the +tent; and being now at liberty to do what they pleased, they amused +themselves by wandering about the village. + +"He's a cute chap that," remarked Joe, with a sarcastic smile; "I +don't feel quite easy about gettin' away. He'll bother the life out o' +us to get all the goods we've got, and, ye see, as we've other tribes +to visit, we must give away as little as we can here." + +"Ha! you is right," said Henri; "dat fellow's eyes twinkle at de +knives and tings like two stars." + +"Fire-flies, ye should say. Stars are too soft an' beautiful to +compare to the eyes o' yon savage," said Dick, laughing. "I wish we +were well away from them. That rascal Mahtawa is an ugly customer." + +"True, lad," returned Joe; "had _he_ bin the great chief our scalps +had bin dryin' in the smoke o' a Pawnee wigwam afore now. What now, +lad?" + +Joe's question was put in consequence of a gleeful smile that +overspread the countenance of Dick Varley, who replied by pointing to +a wigwam towards which they were approaching. + +"Oh! that's only a dandy," exclaimed Joe. "There's lots o' them in +every Injun camp. They're fit for nothin' but dress, poor contemptible +critters." + +Joe accompanied his remark with a sneer, for of all pitiable objects +he regarded an unmanly man as the most despicable. He consented, +however, to sit down on a grassy bank and watch the proceedings of +this Indian dandy, who had just seated himself in front of his wigwam +for the purpose of making his toilet. + +He began it by greasing his whole person carefully and smoothly over +with buffalo fat, until he shone like a patent leather boot; then he +rubbed himself almost dry, leaving the skin sleek and glossy. Having +proceeded thus far, he took up a small mirror, a few inches in +diameter, which he or some other member of the tribe must have +procured during one of their few excursions to the trading-forts of +the Pale-faces, and examined himself, as well as he could, in so +limited a space. Next, he took a little vermilion from a small parcel +and rubbed it over his face until it presented the somewhat demoniac +appearance of a fiery red. He also drew a broad red score along the +crown of his head, which was closely shaved, with the exception of the +usual tuft or scalplock on the top. This scalplock stood bristling +straight up a few inches, and then curved over and hung down his back +about two feet. Immense care and attention was bestowed on this lock. +He smoothed it, greased it, and plaited it into the form of a pigtail. +Another application was here made to the glass, and the result was +evidently satisfactory, to judge from the beaming smile that played on +his features. But, not content with the general effect, he tried the +effect of expression--frowned portentously, scowled savagely, gaped +hideously, and grinned horribly a ghastly smile. + +Then our dandy fitted into his ears, which were bored in several +places, sundry ornaments, such as rings, wampum, etc., and hung +several strings of beads round his neck. Besides these he affixed one +or two ornaments to his arms, wrists, and ankles, and touched in a few +effects with vermilion on the shoulders and breast. After this, and +a few more glances at the glass, he put on a pair of beautiful +moccasins, which, besides being richly wrought with beads, were soft +as chamois leather and fitted his feet like gloves. A pair of leggings +of scarlet cloth were drawn on, attached to a waist-belt, and bound +below the knee with broad garters of variegated bead-work. + +It was some time before this Adonis was quite satisfied with himself. +He retouched the paint on his shoulders several times, and modified +the glare of that on his wide-mouthed, high-cheek-boned visage, before +he could tear himself away; but at last he did so, and throwing +a large piece of scarlet cloth over his shoulders, he thrust his +looking-glass under his belt, and proceeded to mount his palfrey, +which was held in readiness near to the tent door by one of his wives. +The horse was really a fine animal, and seemed worthy of a more +warlike master. His shoulders, too, were striped with red paint, and +feathers were intertwined with his mane and tail, while the bridle was +decorated with various jingling ornaments. + +Vaulting upon his steed, with a large fan of wild goose and turkey +feathers in one hand, and a whip dangling at the wrist of the other, +this incomparable dandy sallied forth for a promenade--that being his +chief delight when there was no buffalo hunting to be done. Other men +who were not dandies sharpened their knives, smoked, feasted, and +mended their spears and arrows at such seasons of leisure, or played +at athletic games. "Let's follow my buck," said Joe Blunt. + +"Oui. Come 'long," replied Henri, striding after the rider at a pace +that almost compelled his comrades to run. + +"Hold on!" cried Dick, laughing; "we don't want to keep him company. A +distant view is quite enough o' sich a chap as that." + +"Mais you forgit I cannot see far." + +"So much the better," remarked Joe; "it's my opinion we've seen enough +o' him. Ah! he's goin' to look on at the games. Them's worth lookin' +at." + +The games to which Joe referred were taking place on a green level +plain close to the creek, and a little above the waterfall before +referred to. Some of the Indians were horse-racing, some jumping, +and others wrestling; but the game which proved most attractive was +throwing the javelin, in which several of the young braves were +engaged. + +This game is played by two competitors, each armed with a dart, in an +arena about fifty yards long. One of the players has a hoop of six +inches in diameter. At a signal they start off on foot at full speed, +and on reaching the middle of the arena the Indian with the hoop rolls +it along before them, and each does his best to send a javelin through +the hoop before the other. He who succeeds counts so many points; if +both miss, the nearest to the hoop is allowed to count, but not so +much as if he had "ringed" it. The Indians are very fond of this game, +and will play at it under a broiling sun for hours together. But a +good deal of the interest attaching to it is owing to the fact that +they make it a means of gambling. Indians are inveterate gamblers, and +will sometimes go on until they lose horses, bows, blankets, robes, +and, in short, their whole personal property. The consequences are, as +might be expected, that fierce and bloody quarrels sometimes arise in +which life is often lost. + +"Try your hand at that," said Henri to Dick. + +"By all means," cried Dick, handing his rifle to his friend, and +springing into the ring enthusiastically. + +A general shout of applause greeted the Pale-face, who threw off' his +coat and tightened his belt, while, a young Indian presented him with +a dart. + +"Now, see that ye do us credit, lad," said Joe. + +"I'll try," answered Dick. + +In a moment they were off. The young Indian rolled away the hoop, +and Dick threw his dart with such vigour that it went deep into the +ground, but missed the hoop by a foot at least. The young Indian's +first dart went through the centre. + +"Ha!" exclaimed Joe Blunt to the Indians near him, "the lad's not used +to that game; try him at a race. Bring out your best brave--he whose +bound is like the hunted deer." + +We need scarcely remind the reader that Joe spoke in the Indian +language, and that the above is a correct rendering of the sense of +what he said. + +The name of Tarwicadia, or the little chief, immediately passed from +lip to lip, and in a few minutes an Indian, a little below the medium +size, bounded into the arena with an indiarubber-like elasticity that +caused a shade of anxiety to pass over Joe's face. + +"Ah, boy!" he whispered, "I'm afeard you'll find him a tough +customer." + +"That's just what I want," replied Dick. "He's supple enough, but he +wants muscle in the thigh. We'll make it a long heat." + +"Right, lad, ye're right." + +Joe now proceeded to arrange the conditions of the race with the +chiefs around him. It was fixed that the distance to be run should +be a mile, so that the race would be one of two miles, out and back. +Moreover, the competitors were to run without any clothes, except a +belt and a small piece of cloth round the loins. This to the Indians +was nothing, for they seldom wore more in warm weather; but Dick would +have preferred to keep on part of his dress. The laws of the course, +however, would not permit of this, so he stripped and stood forth, the +_beau-ideal_ of a well-formed, agile man. He was greatly superior in +size to his antagonist, and more muscular, the savage being slender +and extremely lithe and springy. + +"Ha! I will run too," shouted Henri, bouncing forward with clumsy +energy, and throwing off his coat just as they were going to start. + +The savages smiled at this unexpected burst, and made no objection, +considering the thing in the light of a joke. + +The signal was given, and away they went. Oh! it would have done you +good to have seen the way in which Henri manoeuvred his limbs on this +celebrated occasion! He went over the ground with huge elephantine +bounds, runs, and jumps. He could not have been said to have one style +of running; he had a dozen styles, all of which came into play in the +course of half as many minutes. The other two ran like the wind; yet +although Henri _appeared_ to be going heavily over the ground, he kept +up with them to the turning-point. As for Dick, it became evident in +the first few minutes that he could outstrip his antagonist with ease, +and was hanging back a little all the time. He shot ahead like an +arrow when they came about half-way back, and it was clear that the +real interest of the race was to lie in the competition between Henri +and Tarwicadia. + +Before they were two-thirds of the way back, Dick walked in to the +winning-point, and turned to watch the others. Henri's wind was about +gone, for he exerted himself with such violence that he wasted half +his strength. The Indian, on the contrary, was comparatively fresh, +but he was not so fleet as his antagonist, whose tremendous strides +carried him over the ground at an incredible pace. On they came neck +and neck, till close on the score that marked the winning-point. Here +the value of enthusiasm came out strongly in the case of Henri. He +_felt_ that he could not gain an inch on Tarwicadia to save his life, +but just as he came up he observed the anxious faces of his comrades +and the half-sneering countenances of the savages. His heart thumped +against his ribs, every muscle thrilled with a gush of conflicting +feelings, and he _hurled_ himself over the score like a cannon shot, +full six inches ahead of the little chief! + +But the thing did not by any means end here. Tarwicadia pulled up the +instant he had passed. Not so our Canadian. Such a clumsy and colossal +frame was not to be checked in a moment. The crowd of Indians opened +up to let him pass, but unfortunately a small tent that stood in the +way was not so obliging. Into it he went, head foremost, like a shell, +carried away the corner post with his shoulder, and brought the whole +affair down about his own ears and those of its inmates, among whom +were several children and two or three dogs. It required some time to +extricate them all from the ruins, but when this was effected it was +found that no serious damage had been done to life or limb. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +_Crusoe acts a conspicuous and humane part_--_A friend gained_--_A +great feast_. + +When the foot-race was concluded the three hunters hung about looking +on at the various games for some time, and then strolled towards the +lake. + +"Ye may be thankful yer neck's whole," said Joe, grinning, as Henri +rubbed his shoulder with a rueful look. "An' we'll have to send that +Injun and his family a knife and some beads to make up for the fright +they got." + +"Ha! an' fat is to be give to me for my broke shoulder?" + +"Credit, man, credit," said Dick Varley, laughing. + +"Credit! fat is dat?" + +"Honour and glory, lad, and the praises of them savages." + +"Ha! de praise? more probeebale de ill-vill of de rascale. I seed dem +scowl at me not ver' pritty." + +"That's true, Henri; but sich as it is it's all ye'll git." + +"I vish," remarked Henri after a pause--"I vish I could git de vampum +belt de leetle chief had on. It vas superb. Fat place do vampums come +from?" + +"They're shells--" + +"Oui," interrupted Henri; "I know _fat_ dey is. Dey is shells, and de +Injuns tink dem goot monish, mais I ask you _fat place_ de come from." + +"They are thought to be gathered on the shores o' the Pacific," said +Joe. "The Injuns on the west o' the Rocky Mountains picks them up and +exchanges them wi' the fellows hereaway for horses and skins--so I'm +told." + +At this moment there was a wild cry of terror heard a short distance +ahead of them. Rushing forward they observed an Indian woman flying +frantically down the river's bank towards the waterfall, a hundred +yards above which an object was seen struggling in the water. + +"'Tis her child," cried Joe, as the mother's frantic cry reached his +ear. "It'll be over the fall in a minute! Run, Dick, you're quickest." + +They had all started forward at speed, but Dick and Crusoe were far +ahead, and abreast of the spot in a few seconds. + +"Save it, pup," cried Dick, pointing to the child, which had been +caught in an eddy, and was for a few moments hovering on the edge of +the stream that rushed impetuously towards the fall. + +The noble Newfoundland did not require to be told what to do. It seems +a natural instinct in this sagacious species of dog to save man or +beast that chances to be struggling in the water, and many are the +authentic stories related of Newfoundland dogs saving life in cases +of shipwreck. Indeed, they are regularly trained to the work in some +countries; and nobly, fearlessly, disinterestedly do they discharge +their trust, often in the midst of appalling dangers. Crusoe sprang +from the bank with such impetus that his broad chest ploughed up +the water like the bow of a boat, and the energetic workings of his +muscles were indicated by the force of each successive propulsion as +he shot ahead. + +In a few seconds he reached the child and caught it by the hair. Then +he turned to swim back, but the stream had got hold of him. Bravely he +struggled, and lifted the child breast-high out of the water in his +powerful efforts to stem the current. In vain. Each moment he was +carried inch by inch down until he was on the brink of the fall, +which, though not high, was a large body of water and fell with a +heavy roar. He raised himself high out of the stream with the vigour +of his last struggle, and then fell back into the abyss. + +By this time the poor mother was in a canoe as close to the fall as +she could with safety approach, and the little bark danced like a +cockle-shell on the turmoil of waters as she stood with uplifted +paddle and staring eyeballs awaiting the rising of the child. + +Crusoe came up almost instantly, but _alone_, for the dash over the +fall had wrenched the child from his teeth. He raised himself high up, +and looked anxiously round for a moment. Then he caught sight of a +little hand raised above the boiling flood. In one moment he had the +child again by the hair, and just as the prow of the Indian woman's +canoe touched the shore he brought the child to land. + +Springing towards him, the mother snatched her child from the flood, +and gazed at its death-like face with eyeballs starting from their +sockets. Then she laid her cheek on its cold breast, and stood like a +statue of despair. There was one slight pulsation of the heart and +a gentle motion of the hand! The child still lived. Opening up her +blanket she laid her little one against her naked, warm bosom, drew +the covering close around it, and sitting down on the bank wept aloud +for joy. + +"Come--come 'way quick," cried Henri, hurrying off to hide the emotion +which he could not crush down. + +"Ay, she don't need our help now," said Joe, following his comrade. + +As for Crusoe, he walked along by his master's side with his usual +quiet, serene look of good-will towards all mankind. Doubtless a +feeling of gladness at having saved a human life filled his shaggy +breast, for he wagged his tail gently after each shake of his dripping +sides; but his meek eyes were downcast, save when raised to receive +the welcome and unusually fervent caress. Crusoe did not know that +those three men loved him as though he had been a brother. + +On their way back to the village the hunters were met by a little boy, +who said that a council was to be held immediately, and their presence +was requested. + +The council was held in the tent of the principal chief, towards which +all the other chiefs and many of the noted braves hurried. Like all +Indian councils, it was preceded by smoking the "medicine pipe," +and was followed by speeches from several of the best orators. The +substance of the discourse differed little from what has been already +related in reference to the treaty between the Pale-faces, and upon +the whole it was satisfactory. But Joe Blunt could not fail to notice +that Mahtawa maintained sullen silence during the whole course of the +meeting. + +He observed also that there was a considerable change in the tone +of the meeting when he informed them that he was bound on a similar +errand of peace to several of the other tribes, especially to one or +two tribes which were the Pawnees' bitter enemies at that time. These +grasping savages having quite made up their minds that they were +to obtain the entire contents of the two bales of goods, were much +mortified on hearing that part was to go to other Indian tribes. Some +of them even hinted that this would not be allowed, and Joe feared at +one time that things were going to take an unfavourable turn. The hair +of his scalp, as he afterwards said, "began to lift a little and feel +oneasy." But San-it-sa-rish stood honestly to his word, said that it +would be well that the Pale-faces and the Pawnees should be brothers, +and hoped that they would not forget the promise of annual presents +from the hand of the great chief who lived in the big village near the +rising sun. + +Having settled this matter amicably, Joe distributed among the Indians +the proportion of his goods designed for them; and then they all +adjourned to another tent, where a great feast was prepared for them. + +"Are ye hungry?" inquired Joe of Dick as they walked along. + +"Ay, that am I. I feel as if I could eat a buffalo alive. Why, it's my +'pinion we've tasted nothin' since daybreak-this mornin'." + +"Well, I've often told ye that them Redskins think it a disgrace to +give in eatin' till all that's set before them at a feast is bolted. +We'll ha' to stretch oursel's, we will." + +"I'se got a plenty room," remarked Henri. + +"Ye have, but ye'll wish ye had more in a little." + +"Bien, I not care!" + +In quarter of an hour all the guests invited to this great "medicine +feast" were assembled. No women were admitted. They never are at +Indian feasts. + +We may remark in passing that the word "medicine," as used among the +North American Indians, has a very much wider signification than it +has with us. It is an almost inexplicable word. When asked, they +cannot give a full or satisfactory explanation of it themselves. In +the general, we may say that whatever is mysterious is "medicine." +Jugglery and conjuring, of a noisy, mysterious, and, we must add, +rather silly nature, is "medicine," and the juggler is a "medicine +man." These medicine men undertake cures; but they are regular +charlatans, and know nothing whatever of the diseases they pretend +to cure or their remedies. They carry bags containing sundry relics; +these are "medicine bags." Every brave has his own private medicine +bag. Everything that is incomprehensible, or supposed to be +supernatural, religious, or medical, is "medicine." This feast, being +an unusual one, in honour of strangers, and in connection with a +peculiar and unexpected event, was "medicine." Even Crusoe, since his +gallant conduct in saving the Indian child, was "medicine;" and Dick +Varley's double-barrelled rifle, which had been an object of wonder +ever since his arrival at the village, was tremendous "medicine!" + +Of course the Indians were arrayed in their best. Several wore +necklaces of the claws of the grizzly bear, of which they are +extremely proud; and a gaudily picturesque group they were. The chief, +however, had undergone a transformation that well-nigh upset the +gravity of our hunters, and rendered Dick's efforts to look solemn +quite abortive. San-it-sa-rish had once been to the trading-forts of +the Pale-faces, and while there had received the customary gift of +a blue surtout with brass buttons, and an ordinary hat, such as +gentlemen wear at home. As the coat was a good deal too small for him, +a terrible length of dark, bony wrist appeared below the cuffs. The +waist was too high, and it was with great difficulty that he managed +to button the garment across his broad chest. Being ignorant of the +nature of a hat, the worthy savage had allowed the paper and string +with which it had been originally covered to remain on, supposing them +to be part and parcel of the hat; and this, together with the high +collar of the coat, which gave him a crushed-up appearance, the +long black naked legs, and the painted visage, gave to him a _tout +ensemble_ which we can compare to nothing, as there was nothing in +nature comparable to it. + +Those guests who assembled first passed their time in smoking the +medicine pipe until the others should arrive, for so long as a single +invited guest is absent the feast cannot begin. Dignified silence was +maintained while the pipe thus circulated from hand to hand. When the +last guest arrived they began. + +The men were seated in two rows, face to face. Feasts of this kind +usually consist of but one species of food, and on the present +occasion it was an enormous caldron full of maize which had to be +devoured. About fifty sat down to eat a quantity of what may be termed +thick porridge that would have been ample allowance for a hundred +ordinary men. Before commencing, San-it-sa-rish desired an aged +medicine man to make an oration, which he did fluently and poetically. +Its subject was the praise of the giver of the feast. At the end of +each period there was a general "hou! hou!" of assent--equivalent to +the "hear! hear!" of civilized men. + +Other orators then followed, all of whom spoke with great ease and +fluency, and some in the most impassioned strains, working themselves +and their audience up to the highest pitch of excitement, now shouting +with frenzied violence till their eyes glared from their sockets and +the veins of their foreheads swelled almost to bursting as they spoke +of war and chase, anon breaking into soft modulated and pleasing tones +while they dilated upon the pleasures of peace and hospitality. + +After these had finished, a number of wooden bowls full of maize +porridge were put down between the guests--one bowl to each couple +facing each other. But before commencing a portion was laid aside and +dedicated to their gods, with various mysterious ceremonies; for here, +as in other places where the gospel is not known, the poor savages +fancied that they could propitiate God with sacrifices. They had never +heard of the "sacrifice of a broken spirit and a contrite heart." This +offering being made, the feast began in earnest. Not only was it a +rule in this feast that every mouthful should be swallowed by each +guest, however unwilling and unable he should be to do so, but he +who could dispose of it with greatest speed was deemed the greatest +man--at least on that occasion--while the last to conclude his supper +was looked upon with some degree of contempt! + +It seems strange that such a custom should ever have arisen, and one +is not a little puzzled in endeavouring to guess at the origin of it. +There is one fact that occurs to us as the probable cause. The Indian +is, as we have before hinted, frequently reduced to a state +bordering on starvation, and in a day after he may be burdened with +superabundance of food. He oftentimes therefore eats as much as he can +stuff into his body when he is blessed with plenty, so as to be the +better able to withstand the attacks of hunger that may possibly be +in store for him. The amount that an Indian will thus eat at a single +meal is incredible. He seems to have the power of distending himself +for the reception of a quantity that would kill a civilized man. +Children in particular become like tightly inflated little balloons +after a feast, and as they wear no clothing, the extraordinary +rotundity is very obvious, not to say ridiculous. We conclude +therefore that unusual powers of gormandizing, being useful, come at +last to be cultivated as praiseworthy. + +By good fortune Dick and Joe Blunt happened to have such enormous +gluttons as _vis-à-vis_ that the portions of their respective bowls +which they could not devour were gobbled up for them. By good capacity +and digestion, with no small amount of effort, Henri managed to +dispose of his own share; but he was last of being done, and fell in +the savages' esteem greatly. The way in which that sticky compost of +boiled maize went down was absolutely amazing. The man opposite Dick, +in particular, was a human boa-constrictor. He well-nigh suffocated +Dick with suppressed laughter. He was a great raw-boned savage, with a +throat of indiarubber, and went quickly and quietly on swallowing mass +after mass with the solemn gravity of an owl. It mattered not a straw +to him that Dick took comparatively small mouthfuls, and nearly choked +on them too for want of liquid to wash them down. Had Dick eaten none +at all he would have uncomplainingly disposed of the whole. Jack the +Giant-Killer's feats were nothing to his; and when at last the bowl +was empty, he stopped short like a machine from which the steam had +been suddenly cut off, and laid down his buffalo horn-spoon _without_ +a sigh. + +Dick sighed, though with relief and gratitude, when his bowl was +empty. + +"I hope I may never have to do it again," said Joe that night as they +wended their way back to the chief's tent after supper. "I wouldn't be +fit for anything for a week arter it." + +Dick could only laugh, for any allusion to the feast instantly brought +back that owl-like gourmand to whom he was so deeply indebted. + +Henri groaned. "Oh! mes boy, I am speechless! I am ready for bust! +Oui--hah! I veesh it vas to-morrow." + +Many a time that night did Henri "veesh it vas to-morrow," as he lay +helpless on his back, looking up through the roof of the chief's tent +at the stars, and listening enviously to the plethoric snoring of Joe +Blunt. + +He was entertained, however, during those waking hours with a serenade +such as few civilized ears ever listen to. This was nothing else than +a vocal concert performed by all the dogs of the village, and as they +amounted to nearly two thousand the orchestra was a pretty full one. + +These wretches howled as if they had all gone mad. Yet there was +"method in their madness;" for they congregated in a crowd before +beginning, and sat down on their haunches. Then one, which seemed to +be the conductor, raised his snout to the sky and uttered a long, low, +melancholy wail. The others took it up by twos and threes, until the +whole pack had their noses pointing to the stars and their throats +distended to the uttermost, while a prolonged yell filled the air. +Then it sank gradually, one or two (bad performers probably) making +a yelping attempt to get it up again at the wrong time. Again the +conductor raised his nose, and out it came--full swing. There was no +vociferous barking. It was simple wolfish howling increased in fervour +to an electric yell, with slight barks running continuously through it +like an obbligato accompaniment. + +When Crusoe first heard the unwonted sound he sprang to his feet, +bristled up like a hyena, showed all his teeth, and bounded out of the +tent blazing with indignation and astonishment. When he found out what +it was he returned quite sleek, and with a look of profound contempt +on his countenance as he resumed his place by his master's side and +went to sleep. + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +_Perplexities_--_Our hunters plan their escape_--_Unexpected +interruption_--_The tables turned_--_Crusoe mounts guard_--_The +escape_. + + +Dick Varley sat before the fire ruminating. We do not mean to assert +that Dick had been previously eating grass. By no means. For several +days past he had been mentally subsisting on the remarkable things +that he heard and saw in the Pawnee village, and wondering how he was +to get away without being scalped. He was now chewing the cud of this +intellectual fare. We therefore repeat emphatically--in case any +reader should have presumed to contradict us--that Dick Varley sat +before the fire _ruminating_! + +Joe Blunt likewise sat by the fire along with him, ruminating too, and +smoking besides. Henri also sat there smoking, and looking a little +the worse of his late supper. + +"I don't like the look o' things," said Joe, blowing a whiff of smoke +slowly from his lips, and watching it as it ascended into the still +air. "That blackguard Mahtawa is determined not to let us off till +he gits all our goods; an' if he gits them, he may as well take our +scalps too, for we would come poor speed in the prairies without guns, +horses, or goods." + +Dick looked at his friend with an expression of concern. "What's to be +done?" said he. + + +"Ve must escape," answered Henri; but his tone was not a hopeful one, +for he knew the danger of their position better than Dick. + +"Ay, we must escape--at least we must try," said Joe. "But I'll make +one more effort to smooth over San-it-sa-rish, an' git him to snub +that villain Mahtawa." + +Just as he spoke the villain in question entered the tent with a bold, +haughty air, and sat down before the fire in sullen silence. For +some minutes no one spoke, and Henri, who happened at the time to be +examining the locks of Dick's rifle, continued to inspect them with an +appearance of careless indifference that he was far from feeling. + +Now, this rifle of Dick's had become a source of unceasing wonder to +the Indians--wonder which was greatly increased by the fact that no +one could discharge it but himself. Dick had, during his short stay at +the Pawnee village, amused himself and the savages by exhibiting his +marvellous powers with the "silver rifle." Since it had been won by +him at the memorable match in the Mustang Valley, it had scarce ever +been out of his hand, so that he had become decidedly the best shot in +the settlement, could "bark" squirrels (that is, hit the bark of the +branch on which a squirrel happened to be standing, and so kill it +by the concussion alone), and could "drive the nail" every shot. The +silver rifle, as we have said, became "great medicine" to the Red-men +when they saw it kill at a distance which the few wretched guns they +had obtained from the fur-traders could not even send a spent ball to. +The double shot, too, filled them with wonder and admiration; but that +which they regarded with an almost supernatural feeling of curiosity +was the percussion cap, which, in Dick's hands, always exploded, but +in theirs was utterly useless! + +This result was simply owing to the fact that Dick, after firing, +handed the rifle to the Indians without renewing the cap; so that when +they loaded and attempted to fire, of course it merely snapped. When +he wished again to fire, he adroitly exchanged the old cap for a new +one. He was immensely tickled by the solemn looks of the Indians at +this most incomprehensible of all "medicines," and kept them for some +days in ignorance of the true cause, intending to reveal it before he +left. But circumstances now arose which banished all trifling thoughts +from his mind. + +Mahtawa raised his head suddenly, and said, pointing to the silver +rifle, "Mahtawa wishes to have the two-shotted medicine gun. He will +give his best horse in exchange." + +"Mahtawa is liberal," answered Joe; "but the pale-faced youth cannot +part with it. He has far to travel, and must shoot buffaloes by the +way." + +"The pale-faced youth shall have a bow and arrows to shoot the +buffalo," rejoined the Indian. + +"He cannot use the bow and arrow," answered Joe. "He has not been +trained like the Red-man." + +Mahtawa was silent for a few seconds, and his dark brows frowned more +heavily than ever over his eyes. + +"The Pale-faces are too bold," he exclaimed, working himself into a +passion. "They are in the power of Mahtawa. If they will not give the +gun he will take it." + +He sprang suddenly to his feet as he spoke, and snatched the rifle +from Henri's hand. + +Henri being ignorant of the language had not been able to understand +the foregoing conversation, although he saw well enough that it was +not an agreeable one; but no sooner did he find himself thus rudely +and unexpectedly deprived of the rifle than he jumped up, wrenched it +in a twinkling from the Indian's grasp, and hurled him violently out +of the tent. + +In a moment Mahtawa drew his knife, uttered a savage yell, and sprang +on the reckless hunter, who, however, caught his wrist, and held it as +if in a vice. The yell brought a dozen warriors instantly to the spot, +and before Dick had time to recover from his astonishment, Henri was +surrounded and pinioned despite his herculean struggles. + +Before Dick could move, Joe Blunt grasped his arm, and whispered +quickly, "Don't rise. You can't help him. They daren't kill him till +San-it-sa-rish agrees." + +Though much surprised, Dick obeyed, but it required all his efforts, +both of voice and hand, to control Crusoe, whose mind was much too +honest and straightforward to understand such subtle pieces of +diplomacy, and who strove to rush to the rescue of his ill-used +friend. + +When the tumult had partly subsided, Joe Blunt rose and said,--"Have +the Pawnee braves turned traitors that they draw the knife against +those who have smoked with them the pipe of peace and eaten their +maize? The Pale-faces are three; the Pawnees are thousands. If evil +has been done, let it be laid before the chief. Mahtawa wishes to have +the medicine gun. Although we said, No, we could not part with it, he +tried to take it by force. Are we to go back to the great chief of the +Pale-faces and say that the Pawnees are thieves? Are the Pale-faces +henceforth to tell their children when they steal, 'That is bad; +that is like the Pawnee?' No; this must not be. The rifle shall be +restored, and we will forget this disagreement. Is it not so?" + +There was an evident disposition on the part of many of the Indians, +with whom Mahtawa was no favourite, to applaud this speech; but the +wily chief sprang forward, and, with flashing eyes, sought to turn the +tables. + +"The Pale-face speaks with soft words, but his heart is false. Is he +not going to make peace with the enemies of the Pawnee? Is he not +going to take goods to them, and make them gifts and promises? The +Pale-faces are spies. They come to see the weakness of the Pawnee +camp; but they have found that it is strong. Shall we suffer the false +hearts to escape? Shall they live? No; we will hang their scalps in +our wigwams, for they have _struck a chief_, and we will keep all +their goods for our squaws--wah!" + +This allusion to keeping all the goods had more effect on the minds of +the vacillating savages than the chief's eloquence. But a new turn +was given to their thoughts by Joe Blunt remarking in a quiet, almost +contemptuous tone,-- + +"Mahtawa is not the _great_ chief." + +"True, true," they cried, and immediately hurried to the tent of +San-it-sa-rish. + +Once again this chief stood between the hunters and the savages, who +wanted but a signal to fall on them. There was a long palaver, which +ended in Henri being set at liberty and the rifle being restored. + +That evening, as the three friends sat beside their fire eating their +supper of boiled maize and buffalo meat, they laughed and talked as +carelessly as ever; but the gaiety was assumed, for they were at the +time planning their escape from a tribe which, they foresaw, would +not long refrain from carrying out their wishes, and robbing, perhaps +murdering them. + +"Ye see," said Joe with a perplexed air, while he drew a piece of live +charcoal from the fire with his fingers and lighted his pipe--"ye see, +there's more difficulties in the way o' gettin' off than ye think--" + +"Oh, nivare mind de difficulties," interrupted Henri, whose wrath at +the treatment he had received had not yet cooled down. "Ve must jump +on de best horses ve can git hold, shake our fists at de red reptiles, +and go away fast as ve can. De best hoss _must_ vin de race." + +Joe shook his head. "A hundred arrows would be in our backs before we +got twenty yards from the camp. Besides, we can't tell which are the +best horses. Our own are the best in my 'pinion, but how are we to +git' em?" + +"I know who has charge o' them," said Dick. "I saw them grazing near +the tent o' that poor squaw whose baby was saved by Crusoe. Either her +husband looks after them or some neighbours." + +"That's well," said Joe. "That's one o' my difficulties gone." + +"What are the others?" + +"Well, d'ye see, they're troublesome. We can't git the horses out o' +camp without bein' seen, for the red rascals would see what we were at +in a jiffy. Then, if we do git 'em out, we can't go off without our +bales, an' we needn't think to take 'em from under the nose o' the +chief and his squaws without bein' axed questions. To go off without +them would niver do at all." + +"Joe," said Dick earnestly, "I've hit on a plan." + +"Have ye, Dick--what is't?" + +"Come and I'll let ye see," answered Dick, rising hastily and quitting +the tent, followed by his comrades and his faithful dog. + +It may be as well to remark here, that no restraint whatever had yet +been put on the movements of our hunters as long as they kept to their +legs, for it was well known that any attempt by men on foot to escape +from mounted Indians on the plains would be hopeless. Moreover, the +savages thought that as long as there was a prospect of their being +allowed to depart peaceably with their goods, they would not be so +mad as to fly from the camp, and, by so doing, risk their lives and +declare war with their entertainers. They had therefore been permitted +to wander unchecked, as yet, far beyond the outskirts of the camp, and +amuse themselves in paddling about the lake in the small Indian canoes +and shooting wild-fowl. + +Dick now led the way through the labyrinths of tents in the direction +of the lake, and they talked and laughed loudly, and whistled +to Crusoe as they went, in order to prevent their purpose being +suspected. For the purpose of further disarming suspicion, they went +without their rifles. Dick explained his plan by the way, and it was +at once warmly approved of by his comrades. + +On reaching the lake they launched a small canoe, into which Crusoe +was ordered to jump; then, embarking, they paddled swiftly to the +opposite shore, singing a canoe song as they dipped their paddles in +the moonlit waters of the lake. Arrived at the other side, they hauled +the canoe up and hurried through the thin belt of wood and willows +that intervened between the lake and the prairie. Here they paused. + +"Is that the bluff, Joe?" + +"No, Dick; that's too near. T'other one'll be best--far away to the +right. It's a little one, and there's others near it. The sharp eyes +o' the Redskins won't be so likely to be prowlin' there." + +"Come on, then; but we'll have to take down by the lake first." + +In a few minutes the hunters were threading their way through the +outskirts of the wood at a rapid trot, in the opposite direction from +the bluff, or wooded knoll, which they wished to reach. This they did +lest prying eyes should have followed them. In quarter of an hour they +turned at right angles to their track, and struck straight out into +the prairie, and after a long run they edged round and came in upon +the bluff from behind. + +It was merely a collection of stunted but thick-growing willows. + +Forcing their way into the centre of this they began to examine it. + +"It'll do," said Joe. + +"De very ting," remarked Henri. + +"Come here, Crusoe." + +Crusoe bounded to his master's side, and looked up in his face. + +"Look at this place, pup; smell it well." + +Crusoe instantly set off all round among the willows, in and out, +snuffing everywhere, and whining with excitement. + +"Come here, good pup; that will do. Now, lads, we'll go back." So +saying, Dick and his friends left the bluff, and retraced their steps +to the camp. Before they had gone far, however, Joe halted, and +said,-- + +"D'ye know, Dick, I doubt if the pup's so cliver as ye think. What if +he don't quite onderstand ye?" + +Dick replied by taking off his cap and throwing it down, at the same +time exclaiming, "Take it yonder, pup," and pointing with his hand +towards the bluff. The dog seized the cap, and went off with it at +full speed towards the willows, where it left it, and came galloping +back for the expected reward--not now, as in days of old, a bit of +meat, but a gentle stroke of its head and a hearty clap on its shaggy +side. + +"Good pup! go now an' fetch it." + +Away he went with a bound, and in a few seconds came back and +deposited the cap at his master's feet. + +"Will that do?" asked Dick, triumphantly. + + +"Ay, lad, it will. The pup's worth its weight in goold." + +"Oui, I have said, and I say it agen, de dog is _human_, so him is. If +not, fat am he?" + +Without pausing to reply to this perplexing question, Dick stepped +forward again, and in half-an-hour or so they were back in the camp. + +"Now for _your_ part of the work, Joe. Yonder's the squaw that owns +the half-drowned baby. Everything depends on her." + +Dick pointed to the Indian woman as he spoke. She was sitting beside +her tent, and playing at her knee was the identical youngster who had +been saved by Crusoe. + +"I'll manage it," said Joe, and walked towards her, while Dick and +Henri returned to the chief's tent. + +"Does the Pawnee woman thank the Great Spirit that her child is +saved?" began Joe as he came up. + +"She does," answered the woman, looking up at the hunter. "And her +heart is warm to the Pale-faces." + +After a short silence Joe continued,-- + +"The Pawnee chiefs do not love the Pale-faces. Some of them hate +them." + +"The Dark Flower knows it," answered the woman; "she is sorry. She +would help the Pale-faces if she could." + +This was uttered in a low tone, and with a meaning glance of the eye. + +Joe hesitated again--could he trust her? Yes; the feelings that filled +her breast and prompted her words were not those of the Indian just +now--they were those of a _mother_, whose gratitude was too full for +utterance. + +"Will the Dark Flower," said Joe, catching the name she had given +herself, "help the Pale-face if he opens his heart to her? Will she +risk the anger of her nation?" + +"She will," replied the woman; "she will do what she can." + +Joe and his dark friend now dropped their high-sounding style of +speech, and spoke for some minutes rapidly in an undertone. It was +finally arranged that on a given day, at a certain hour, the woman +should take the four horses down the shores of the lake to its lower +end, as if she were going for firewood, there cross the creek at the +ford, and drive them to the willow bluff, and guard them till the +hunters should arrive. + +Having settled this, Joe returned to the tent and informed his +comrades of his success. + +During the next three days Joe kept the Indians in good-humour by +giving them one or two trinkets, and speaking in glowing terms of the +riches of the white men, and the readiness with which they would part +with them to the savages if they would only make peace. + +Meanwhile, during the dark hours of each night, Dick managed to +abstract small quantities of goods from their pack, in room of which +he stuffed in pieces of leather to keep up the size and appearance. +The goods thus taken out he concealed about his person, and went off +with a careless swagger to the outskirts of the village, with Crusoe +at his heels. Arrived there, he tied the goods in a small piece of +deerskin, and gave the bundle to the dog, with the injunction, "Take +it yonder, pup." + +Crusoe took it up at once, darted off at full speed with the bundle in +his mouth, down the shore of the lake towards the ford of the river, +and was soon lost to view. In this way, little by little, the goods +were conveyed by the faithful dog to the willow bluff and left there, +while the stuffed pack still remained in safe keeping in the chiefs +tent. + +Joe did not at first like the idea of thus sneaking off from the camp, +and more than once made strong efforts to induce San-it-sa-rish to let +him go; but even that chief's countenance was not so favourable as it +had been. It was clear that he could not make up his mind to let slip +so good a chance of obtaining guns, powder and shot, horses, and +goods, without any trouble; so Joe made up his mind to give them the +slip at once. + +A dark night was chosen for the attempt, and the Indian woman went off +with the horses to the place where firewood for the camp was usually +cut. Unfortunately, the suspicion of that wily savage Mahtawa had been +awakened, and he stuck close to the hunters all day--not knowing what +was going on, but feeling convinced that something was brewing which +he resolved to watch, without mentioning his suspicions to any one. + +"I think that villain's away at last," whispered Joe to his comrades. +"It's time to go, lads; the moon won't be up for an hour. Come along." + +"Have ye got the big powder-horn, Joe?" + +"Ay, ay, all right." + +"Stop! stop! my knife, my couteau. Ah, here I be! Now, boy." + +The three set off as usual, strolling carelessly to the outskirts +of the camp; then they quickened their pace, and, gaining the lake, +pushed off in a small canoe. + +At the same moment Mahtawa stepped from the bushes, leaped into +another canoe, and followed them. + +"Ha! he must die," muttered Henri. + +"Not at all," said Joe; "we'll manage him without that." + +The chief landed and strode boldly up to them, for he knew well that +whatever their purpose might be they would not venture to use their +rifles within sound of the camp at that hour of the night. As for +their knives, he could trust to his own active limbs and the woods to +escape and give the alarm if need be. + +"The Pale-faces hunt very late," he said, with a malicious grin. "Do +they love the dark better than the sunshine?" + +"Not so," replied Joe, coolly; "but we love to walk by the light of +the moon. It will be up in less than an hour, and we mean to take a +long ramble to-night." + +"The Pawnee chief loves to walk by the moon, too; he will go with the +Pale-faces." + +"Good!" ejaculated Joe. "Come along, then." + +The party immediately set forward, although the savage was a little +taken by surprise at the indifferent way in which Joe received his +proposal to accompany them. He walked on to the edge of the prairie, +however, and then stopped. + +"The Pale-faces must go alone," said he; "Mahtawa will return to his +tent." + +Joe replied to this intimation by seizing him suddenly by the throat +and choking back the yell that would otherwise have brought the Pawnee +warriors rushing to the scene of action in hundreds. Mahtawa's hand +was on the handle of his scalping-knife in a moment, but before he +could draw it his arms were glued to his sides by the bear-like +embrace of Henri, while Dick tied a handkerchief quickly yet firmly +round his mouth. The whole thing was accomplished in two minutes. +After taking his knife and tomahawk away, they loosened their gripe +and escorted him swiftly over the prairie. + +Mahtawa was perfectly submissive after the first convulsive struggle +was over. He knew that the men who walked on each side of him grasping +his arms were more than his match singly, so he wisely made no +resistance. + +Hurrying him to a clump of small trees on the plain which was so far +distant from the village that a yell could not be heard, they removed +the bandage from Mahtawa's mouth. + +"_Must_ he be kill?" inquired Henri, in a tone of commiseration. + +"Not at all," answered Joe; "we'll tie him to a tree and leave him +here." + +"Then he vill be starve to deat'. Oh, dat is more horrobell!" + +"He must take his chance o' that. I've no doubt his friends'll find +him in a day or two, an' he's game to last for a week or more. But +you'll have to run to the willow bluff, Dick, and bring a bit of line +to tie him. We can't spare it well; but there's no help." + +"But there _is_ help," retorted Dick. "Just order the villain to climb +into that tree." + +"Why so, lad?" + +"Don't ask questions, but do what I bid ye." + +The hunter smiled for a moment as he turned to the Indian, and ordered +him to climb up a small tree near to which he stood. Mahtawa looked +surprised, but there was no alternative. Joe's authoritative tone +brooked no delay, so he sprang into the tree like a monkey. + +"Crusoe," said Dick, "_watch him!_" + +The dog sat quietly down at the foot of the tree, and fixed his eyes +on the savage with a glare that spoke unutterable things. At the same +time he displayed his full complement of teeth, and uttered a sound +like distant thunder. + +Joe almost laughed, and Henri did laugh outright. + +"Come along; he's safe now," cried Dick, hurrying away in the +direction of the willow bluff, which they soon reached, and found that +the faithful squaw had tied their steeds to the bushes, and, moreover, +had bundled up their goods into a pack, and strapped it on the back of +the pack-horse; but she had not remained with them. + +"Bless yer dark face!" ejaculated Joe, as he sprang into the saddle +and rode out of the clump of bushes. + + +He was followed immediately by the others, and in three minutes they +were flying over the plain at full speed. + +On gaining the last far-off ridge, that afforded a distant view of the +woods skirting the Pawnee camp, they drew up; and Dick, putting his +fingers to his mouth, drew a long, shrill whistle. + +It reached the willow bluff like a faint echo. At the same moment the +moon arose and more clearly revealed Crusoe's cataleptic glare at the +Indian chief, who, being utterly unarmed, was at the dog's mercy. The +instant the whistle fell on his ear, however, he dropped his eyes, +covered his teeth, and, leaping through the bushes, flew over the +plains like an arrow. At the same instant Mahtawa, descending from +his tree, ran as fast as he could towards the village, uttering the +terrible war-whoop when near enough to be heard. No sound sends such a +thrill through an Indian camp. Every warrior flew to arms, and vaulted +on his steed. So quickly was the alarm given that in less than ten +minutes a thousand hoofs were thundering on the plain, and faintly +reached the ears of the fugitives. + +Joe smiled. "It'll puzzle them to come up wi' nags like ours. They're +in prime condition, too--lots o' wind in' em. If we only keep out o' +badger holes we may laugh at the red varmints." + +Joe's opinion of Indian horses was correct. In a very few minutes the +sound of hoofs died away; but the fugitives did not draw bridle during +the remainder of that night, for they knew not how long the pursuit +might be continued. By pond, and brook, and bluff they passed, down +in the grassy bottoms and over the prairie waves--nor checked their +headlong course till the sun blazed over the level sweep of the +eastern plain as if it arose out of the mighty ocean. + +Then they sprang from the saddle, and hastily set about the +preparation of their morning meal. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +_Evening meditations and morning reflections--Buffaloes, badgers, +antelopes, and accidents--An old bull and the wolves--"Mad +tails"--Henri floored, etc._ + +There is nothing that prepares one so well for the enjoyment of rest, +both mental and physical, as a long-protracted period of excitement +and anxiety, followed up by bodily fatigue. Excitement alone banishes +rest; but, united with severe physical exertion, it prepares for it. +At least, courteous reader, this is our experience; and certainly this +was the experience of our three hunters as they lay on their backs +beneath the branches of a willow bush and gazed serenely up at the +twinkling stars two days after their escape from the Indian village. + +They spoke little; they were too tired for that, also they were too +comfortable. Their respective suppers of fresh antelope steak, shot +that day, had just been disposed of. Their feet were directed towards +the small fire on which the said steaks had been cooked, and which +still threw a warm, ruddy glow over the encampment. Their blankets +were wrapped comfortably round them, and tucked in as only hunters and +mothers know _how_ to tuck them in. Their respective pipes delivered +forth, at stated intervals, three richly yellow puffs of smoke, as if +a three-gun battery were playing upon the sky from that particular +spot of earth. The horses were picketed and hobbled in a rich grassy +bottom close by, from which the quiet munch of their equine jaws +sounded pleasantly, for it told of healthy appetites, and promised +speed on the morrow. The fear of being overtaken during the night was +now past, and the faithful Crusoe, by virtue of sight, hearing, and +smell, guaranteed them against sudden attack during the hours of +slumber. A perfume of wild flowers mingled with the loved odours of +the "weed," and the tinkle of a tiny rivulet fell sweetly on their +ears. In short, the "Pale-faces" were supremely happy, and disposed to +be thankful for their recent deliverance and their present comforts. + +"I wonder what the stars are," said Dick, languidly taking the pipe +out of his mouth. + +"Bits o' fire," suggested Joe. + +"I tink dey are vorlds," muttered Henri, "an' have peepels in dem. I +have hear men say dat." + +A long silence followed, during which, no doubt, the star-gazers were +working out various theories in their own minds. + +"Wonder," said Dick again, "how far off they be." + +"A mile or two, maybe," said Joe. + +Henri was about to laugh sarcastically at this, but on further +consideration he thought it would be more comfortable not to, so he +lay still. In another minute he said,-- + +"Joe Blunt, you is ver' igrant. Don't you know dat de books say de +stars be hondreds, tousands--oh! milleryons of mile away to here, and +dat dey is more bigger dan dis vorld?" + +Joe snored lightly, and his pipe fell out of his mouth at this point, +so the conversation dropped. Presently Dick asked in a low tone, "I +say, Henri, are ye asleep?" + +"Oui," replied Henry faintly. "Don't speak, or you vill vaken me." + +"Ah, Crusoe! you're not asleep, are you, pup?" No need to ask that +question. The instantaneous wag of that speaking tail and the glance +of that wakeful eye, as the dog lifted his head and laid his chin on +Dick's arm, showed that he had been listening to every word that was +spoken. We cannot say whether he understood it, but beyond all doubt +he heard it. Crusoe never presumed to think of going to sleep until +his master was as sound as a top, then he ventured to indulge in that +light species of slumber which is familiarly known as "sleeping with +one eye open." But, comparatively as well as figuratively speaking, +Crusoe slept usually with one eye and a half open, and the other half +was never very tightly shut. + +Gradually Dick's pipe fell out of his mouth, an event which the dog, +with an exercise of instinct almost, if not quite, amounting to +reason, regarded as a signal for him to go off. The camp fire went +slowly out, the stars twinkled down at their reflections in the brook, +and a deep breathing of wearied men was the only sound that rose in +harmony with the purling stream. + +Before the sun rose next morning, and while many of the brighter stars +were still struggling for existence with the approaching day, Joe was +up and buckling on the saddle-bags, while he shouted to his unwilling +companions to rise. + +"If it depended on you," he said, "the Pawnees wouldn't be long afore +they got our scalps. Jump, ye dogs, an' lend a hand, will ye?" + +A snore from Dick and a deep sigh from Henri was the answer to this +pathetic appeal. It so happened, however, that Henri's pipe, in +falling from his lips, had emptied the ashes just under his nose, so +that the sigh referred to drew a quantity thereof into his throat and +almost choked him. Nothing could have been a more effective awakener. +He was up in a moment coughing vociferously. Most men have a tendency +to vent ill-humour on some one, and they generally do it on one whom +they deem to be worse than themselves. Henri, therefore, instead of +growling at Joe for rousing him, scolded Dick for not rising. + +"Ha, mauvais dog! bad chien! vill you dare to look to me?" + +Crusoe did look with amiable placidity, as though to say, "Howl away, +old boy, I won't budge till Dick does." + +With a mighty effort Giant Sleep was thrown off at last, and the +hunters were once more on their journey, cantering lightly over the +soft turf. + +"Ho, let's have a run!" cried Dick, unable to repress the feelings +aroused by the exhilarating morning air. + +"Have a care, boy," cried Joe, as they stretched out at full gallop. +"Keep off the ridge; it's riddled wi' badger--Ha! I thought so." + +At that moment Dick's horse put its foot into a badger-hole and turned +completely over, sending its rider through the air in a curve that an +East Indian acrobat would have envied. For a few seconds Dick lay flat +on his back, then he jumped up and laughed, while his comrades hurried +up anxiously to his assistance. + +"No bones broke?" inquired Joe. + +Dick gave a hysterical gasp. "I--I think not." + +"Let's have a look. No, nothin' to speak o', be good luck. Ye should +niver go slap through a badger country like that, boy; always keep i' +the bottoms, where the grass is short. Now then, up ye go. That's it!" + +Dick remounted, though not with quite so elastic a spring as usual, +and they pushed forward at a more reasonable pace. + +Accidents of this kind are of common occurrence in the prairies. Some +horses, however, are so well trained that they look sharp out for +these holes, which are generally found to be most numerous on the high +and dry grounds. But in spite of all the caution both of man and horse +many ugly falls take place, and sometimes bones are broken. + +They had not gone far after this accident when an antelope leaped from +a clump of willows, and made for a belt of woodland that lay along the +margin of a stream not half-a-mile off. + +"Hurrah!" cried Dick, forgetting his recent fall. "Come along, +Crusoe." And away they went again full tilt, for the horse had not +been injured by its somersault. + +The antelope which Dick was thus wildly pursuing was of the same +species as the one he had shot some time before--namely, the +prong-horned antelope. These graceful creatures have long, slender +limbs, delicately-formed heads, and large, beautiful eyes. The horns +are black, and rather short; they have no branches, like the antlers +of the red-deer, but have a single projection on each horn, near the +head, and the extreme points of the horns curve suddenly inwards, +forming the hook or prong from which the name of the animal is +derived. Their colour is dark yellowish brown. They are so fleet that +not one horse in a hundred can overtake them; and their sight and +sense of smell are so acute that it would be next to impossible to +kill them, were it not for the inordinate curiosity which we have +before referred to. The Indians manage to attract these simple little +creatures by merely lying down on their backs and kicking their heels +in the air, or by waving any white object on the point of an arrow, +while the hunter keeps concealed by lying flat in the grass. By these +means a herd of antelopes may be induced to wheel round and round an +object in timid but intense surprise, gradually approaching until they +come near enough to enable the hunter to make sure of his mark. Thus +the animals, which of all others _ought_ to be the most difficult to +slay, are, in consequence of their insatiable curiosity, more easily +shot than any other deer of the plains. + +May we not gently suggest to the reader for his or her consideration +that there are human antelopes, so to speak, whose case bears a +striking resemblance to the prong-horn of the North American prairie? + +Dick's horse was no match for the antelope, neither was Crusoe; so +they pulled up shortly and returned to their companions, to be laughed +at. + +"It's no manner o' use to wind yer horse, lad, after sich game. +They're not much worth, an', if I mistake not, we'll be among the +buffalo soon. There's fresh tracks everywhere, and the herds are +scattered now. Ye see, when they keep together in bands o' thousands +ye don't so often fall in wi' them. But when they scatters about in +twos, an' threes, an' sixes ye may shoot them every day as much as ye +please." + +Several groups of buffalo had already been seen on the horizon, but as +a red-deer had been shot in a belt of woodland the day before they +did not pursue them. The red-deer is very much larger than the +prong-horned antelope, and is highly esteemed both for its flesh +and its skin, which latter becomes almost like chamois leather when +dressed. Notwithstanding this supply of food, the hunters could not +resist the temptation to give chase to a herd of about nine buffaloes +that suddenly came into view as they overtopped an undulation in the +plain. + +"It's no use," cried Dick, "I _must_ go at them!" + +Joe himself caught fire from the spirit of his young friend, so +calling to Henri to come on and let the pack-horse remain to feed, he +dashed away in pursuit. The buffaloes gave one stare of surprise, and +then fled as fast as possible. At first it seemed as if such huge, +unwieldy carcasses could not run very fast; but in a few minutes they +managed to get up a pace that put the horses to their mettle. Indeed, +at first it seemed as if the hunters did not gain an inch; but by +degrees they closed with them, for buffaloes are not long winded. + +On nearing the herd, the three men diverged from each other and +selected their animals. Henri, being short-sighted, naturally singled +out the largest; and the largest--also naturally--was a tough old +bull. Joe brought down a fat young cow at the first shot, and Dick was +equally fortunate. But he well-nigh shot Crusoe, who, just as he was +about to fire, rushed in unexpectedly and sprang at the animal's +throat, for which piece of recklessness he was ordered back to watch +the pack-horse. + +Meanwhile, Henri, by dint of yelling, throwing his arms wildly about, +and digging his heels into the sides of his long-legged horse, +succeeded in coming close up with the bull, which once or twice turned +his clumsy body half round and glared furiously at its pursuer with +its small black eyes. Suddenly it stuck out its tail, stopped short, +and turned full round. Henri stopped short also. Now, the sticking out +of a buffalo's tail has a peculiar significance which it is well to +point out. It serves, in a sense, the same purpose to the hunter that +the compass does to the mariner--it points out where to go and what to +do. When galloping away in ordinary flight, the buffalo carries his +tail like ordinary cattle, which indicates that you may push on. When +wounded, he lashes it from side to side, or carries it over his back, +up in the air; this indicates, "Look out! haul off a bit!" But when he +carries it stiff and horizontal, with a _slight curve_ in the middle +of it, it says plainly, "Keep back, or kill me as quick as you can," +for that is what Indians call the _mad tail_, and is a sign that +mischief is brewing. + +Henri's bull displayed the mad tail just before turning, but he didn't +observe it, and, accordingly, waited for the bull to move and show his +shoulder for a favourable shot. But instead of doing this he put his +head down, and, foaming with rage, went at him full tilt. The big +horse never stirred; it seemed to be petrified, Henri had just time to +fire at the monster's neck, and the next moment was sprawling on his +back, with the horse rolling over four or five yards beyond him. It +was a most effective tableau--Henri rubbing his shins and grinning +with pain, the horse gazing in affright as he rose trembling from the +plain, and the buffalo bull looking on half stunned, and evidently +very much surprised at the result of his charge. + +Fortunately, before he could repeat the experiment, Dick galloped up +and put a ball through his heart. + +Joe and his comrades felt a little ashamed of their exploit on this +occasion, for there was no need to have killed three animals--they +could not have carried with them more than a small portion of one--and +they upbraided themselves several times during the operation of +cutting out the tongues and other choice portions of the two victims. +As for the bull, he was almost totally useless, so they left him as a +gift to the wolves. + +Now that they had come among the buffalo, wolves were often seen +sneaking about and licking their hungry jaws; but although they +approached pretty near to the camp at nights, they did not give the +hunters any concern. Even Crusoe became accustomed to them at last, +and ceased to notice them. These creatures are very dangerous +sometimes, however, and when hard pressed by hunger will even attack +man. The day after this hunt the travellers came upon a wounded old +buffalo which had evidently escaped from the Indians (for a couple of +arrows were sticking in its side), only to fall a prey to his deadly +enemies, the white wolves. These savage brutes hang on the skirts of +the herds of buffaloes to attack and devour any one that may chance, +from old age or from being wounded, to linger behind the rest. The +buffalo is tough and fierce, however, and fights so desperately that, +although surrounded by fifty or a hundred wolves, he keeps up the +unequal combat for several days before he finally succumbs. + +The old bull that our travellers discovered had evidently been long +engaged with his ferocious adversaries, for his limbs and flesh were +torn in shreds in many places, and blood was streaming from his sides. +Yet he had fought so gallantly that he had tossed and stamped to death +dozens of the enemy. There could not have been fewer than fifty wolves +round him; and they had just concluded another of many futile attacks +when the hunters came up, for they were ranged in a circle round their +huge adversary--some lying down, some sitting on their haunches to +rest, and others sneaking about, lolling out their red tongues and +licking their chops as if impatient to renew the combat. The poor +buffalo was nearly spent, and it was clear that a few hours more would +see him torn to shreds and his bones picked clean. + +"Ugh! de brutes," ejaculated Henri. + +"They don't seem to mind us a bit," remarked Dick, as they rode up to +within pistol shot. + +"It'll be merciful to give the old fellow a shot," said Joe. "Them +varmints are sure to finish him at last." + +Joe raised his rifle as he spoke, and fired. The old bull gave his +last groan and fell, while the wolves, alarmed by the shot, fled in +all directions; but they did not run far. They knew well that some +portion, at least, of the carcass would fall to their share; so they +sat down at various distances all round, to wait as patiently as they +might for the hunters to retire. Dick left the scene with a feeling +of regret that the villanous wolves should have their feast so much +sooner than they expected. + +Yet, after all, why should we call these wolves villanous? They did +nothing wrong--nothing contrary to the laws of their peculiar nature. +Nay, if we come to reason upon it, they rank higher in this matter +than man; for while the wolf does no violence to the laws of its +instincts, man often deliberately silences the voice of conscience, +and violates the laws of his own nature. But we will not insist on the +term, good reader, if you object strongly to it. We are willing to +admit that the wolves are _not_ villanous, but, _assuredly_, they are +unlovable. + +In the course of the afternoon the three horsemen reached a small +creek, the banks of which were lined with a few stunted shrubs and +trees. Having eaten nothing since the night before, they dismounted +here to "feed," as Joe expressed it. + +"Cur'ous thing," remarked Joe, as he struck a light by means of flint, +steel, and tinder-box--"cur'ous thing that we're made to need sich a +lot o' grub. If we could only get on like the sarpints, now, wot can +breakfast on a rabbit, and then wait a month or two for dinner! Ain't +it cur'ous?" + +Dick admitted that it was, and stooped to blow the fire into a blaze. + +Here Henri uttered a cry of consternation, and stood speechless, with +his mouth open. + +"What's the matter? what is't?" cried Dick and Joe, seizing their +rifles instinctively. + +"De--grub--him--be--forgat!" + +There was a look of blank horror, and then a burst of laughter from +Dick Varley. "Well, well," cried he, "we've got lots o' tea an' sugar, +an' some flour; we can git on wi' that till we shoot another buffalo, +or a--ha!" + +Dick observed a wild turkey stalking among the willows as he spoke. It +was fully a hundred yards off, and only its head was seen above the +leaves. This was a matter of little moment, however, for by aiming a +little lower he knew that he must hit the body. But Dick had driven +the nail too often to aim at its body; he aimed at the bird's eye, and +cut its head off. + +"Fetch it, Crusoe." + +In three minutes it was at Dick's feet, and it is not too much to say +that in five minutes more it was in the pot. + +As this unexpected supply made up for the loss of the meat which +Henri had forgotten at their last halting-place, their equanimity was +restored; and while the meal was in preparation Dick shouldered his +rifle and went into the bush to try for another turkey. He did not +get one, however, but he shot a couple of prairie-hens, which are +excellent eating. Moreover, he found a large quantity of wild grapes +and plums. These were unfortunately not nearly ripe, but Dick resolved +to try his hand at a new dish, so he stuffed the breast of his coat +full of them. + +After the pot was emptied, Dick washed it out, and put a little clean +water in it. Then he poured some flour in, and stirred it well. While +this was heating, he squeezed the sour grapes and plums into what Joe +called a "mush," mixed it with a spoonful of sugar, and emptied it +into the pot. He also skimmed a quantity of the fat from the remains +of the turkey soup and added that to the mess, which he stirred with +earnest diligence till it boiled down into a sort of thick porridge. + +"D'ye think it'll be good?" asked Joe gravely; "I've me doubts of it." + +"We'll see.--Hold the tin dish, Henri." + +"Take care of de fingers. Ha! it looks magnifique--superb!" + +The first spoonful produced an expression on Henri's face that needed +not to be interpreted. It was as sour as vinegar. + +"Ye'll ha' to eat it yerself, Dick, lad," cried Joe, throwing down his +spoon, and spitting out the unsavoury mess. + +"Nonsense," cried Dick, bolting two or three mouthfuls, and trying to +look as if he liked it. "Try again; it's not so bad as you think." + +"Ho-o-o-o-o!" cried Henri, after the second mouthful. "Tis vinégre. +All de sugare in de pack would not make more sweeter one bite of it." + +Dick was obliged to confess the dish a failure, so it was thrown out +after having been offered to Crusoe, who gave it one sniff and turned +away in silence. Then they mounted and resumed their journey. + +At this place mosquitoes and horse-flies troubled our hunters and +their steeds a good deal. The latter especially were very annoying to +the poor horses. They bit them so much that the blood at last came +trickling down their sides. They were troubled also, once or twice, by +cockchafers and locusts, which annoyed them, not indeed by biting, +but by flying blindly against their faces, and often-narrowly missed +hitting them in the eyes. Once particularly they were so bad that +Henri in his wrath opened his lips to pronounce a malediction on the +whole race, when a cockchafer flew straight into his mouth, and, to +use his own forcible expression, "nearly knocked him off de hoss." But +these were minor evils, and scarcely cost the hunters a thought. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +_Wanderings on the prairie_--_A war party_--_Chased by Indians_--_A +bold leap for life_. + +For many days the three hunters wandered over the trackless prairie in +search of a village of the Sioux Indians, but failed to find one, for +the Indians were in the habit of shifting their ground and following +the buffalo. Several times they saw small isolated bands of Indians; +but these they carefully avoided, fearing they might turn out to be +war parties, and if they fell into their hands the white men could not +expect civil treatment, whatever nation the Indians might belong to. + +During the greater portion of this time they met with numerous herds +of buffalo and deer, and were well supplied with food; but they had to +cook it during the day, being afraid to light a fire at night while +Indians were prowling about. + +One night they halted near the bed of a stream which was almost dry. +They had travelled a day and a night without water, and both men and +horses were almost choking, so that when they saw the trees on the +horizon which indicated the presence of a stream, they pushed forward +with almost frantic haste. + +"Hope it's not dry," said Joe anxiously as they galloped up to it. +"No, there's water, lads," and they dashed forward to a pool that had +not yet been dried up. They drank long and eagerly before they noticed +that the pool was strongly impregnated with salt. Many streams in +those parts of the prairies are quite salt, but fortunately this one +was not utterly undrinkable, though it was very unpalatable. + +"We'll make it better, lads," said Joe, digging a deep hole in the +sand with his hands, a little below the pool. In a short time the +water filtered through, and though not rendered fresh, it was, +nevertheless, much improved. + +"We may light a fire to-night, d'ye think?" inquired Dick; "we've not +seed Injuns for some days." + +"P'r'aps 'twould be better not," said Joe; "but I daresay we're safe +enough." + +A fire was therefore lighted in as sheltered a spot as could be found, +and the three friends bivouacked as usual. Towards dawn they were +aroused by an angry growl from Crusoe. + +"It's a wolf likely," said Dick, but all three seized and cocked their +rifles nevertheless. + +Again Crusoe growled more angrily than before, and springing out of +the camp snuffed the breeze anxiously. + +"Up, lads! catch the nags! There's something in the wind, for the dog +niver did that afore." + +In a few seconds the horses were saddled and the packs secured. + +"Call in the dog," whispered Joe Blunt; "if he barks they'll find out +our whereabouts." + +"Here, Crusoe, come--" + +It was too late; the dog barked loudly and savagely at the moment, +and a troop of Indians came coursing over the plain. On hearing the +unwonted sound they wheeled directly and made for the camp. + +"It's a war party; fly, lads! nothin' 'll save our scalps now but our +horses' heels," cried Joe. + +In a moment they vaulted into the saddle and urged their steeds +forward at the utmost speed. The savages observed them, and with an +exulting yell dashed after them. Feeling that there was now no need +of concealment, the three horsemen struck off into the open prairie, +intending to depend entirely on the speed and stamina of their horses. +As we have before remarked, they were good ones; but the Indians soon +proved that they were equally well if not better mounted. + +"It'll be a hard run," said Joe in a low, muttering tone, and looking +furtively over his shoulder. "The varmints are mounted on wild +horses--leastways they were wild not long agone. Them chaps can +throw the lasso and trip a mustang as well as a Mexican. Mind the +badger-holes, Dick.--Hold in a bit, Henri; yer nag don't need drivin'; +a foot in a hole just now would cost us our scalps. Keep down by the +creek, lads." + +"Ha! how dey yell," said Henri in a savage tone, looking back, and +shaking his rifle at them, an act that caused them to yell more +fiercely than ever. "Dis old pack-hoss give me moche trobel." + +The pace was now tremendous. Pursuers and pursued rose and sank on the +prairie billows as they swept along, till they came to what is termed +a "dividing ridge," which is a cross wave, as it were, that cuts the +others in two, thus forming a continuous level. Here they advanced +more easily; but the advantage was equally shared with their pursuers, +who continued the headlong pursuit with occasional yells, which served +to show the fugitives that they at least did not gain ground. + +A little to the right of the direction in which they were flying a +blue line was seen on the horizon. This indicated the existence of +trees to Joe's practised eyes, and feeling that if the horses broke +down they could better make a last manful stand in the wood than on +the plain he urged his steed towards it. The savages noticed the +movement at once, and uttered a yell of exultation, for they regarded +it as an evidence that the fugitives doubted the strength of their +horses. + +"Ye haven't got us yet," muttered Joe, with a sardonic grin. "If they +get near us, Dick, keep yer eyes open an' look out for yer neck, else +they'll drop a noose over it, they will, afore ye know they're near, +an' haul ye off like a sack." + +Dick nodded in reply, but did not speak, for at that moment his eye +was fixed on a small creek ahead which they must necessarily leap or +dash across. It was lined with clumps of scattered shrubbery, and he +glanced rapidly for the most suitable place to pass. Joe and Henri did +the same, and having diverged a little to the different points chosen, +they dashed through the shrubbery and were hid from each other's view. +On approaching the edge of the stream, Dick found to his consternation +that the bank was twenty feet high opposite him, and too wide for any +horse to clear. Wheeling aside without checking speed, at the risk of +throwing his steed, he rode along the margin of the stream for a few +hundred yards until he found a ford--at least such a spot as might be +cleared by a bold leap. The temporary check, however, had enabled an +Indian to gain so close upon his heels that his exulting yell sounded +close in his ear. + +With a vigorous bound his gallant little horse went over. Crusoe could +not take it, but he rushed down the one bank and up the other, so that +he only lost a few yards. These few yards, however, were sufficient +to bring the Indian close upon him as he cleared the stream at full +gallop. The savage whirled his lasso swiftly round for a second, and +in another moment Crusoe uttered a tremendous roar as he was tripped +up violently on the plain. + +Dick heard the cry of his faithful dog, and turned quickly round, just +in time to see him spring at the horse's throat, and bring both steed +and rider down upon him. Dick's heart leaped to his throat. Had a +thousand savages been rushing on him he would have flown to the rescue +of his favourite; but an unexpected obstacle came in the way. His +fiery little steed, excited by the headlong race and the howls of the +Indians, had taken the bit in his teeth and was now unmanageable. Dick +tore at the reins like a maniac, and in the height of his frenzy even +raised the butt of his rifle with the intent to strike the poor horse +to the earth, but his better nature prevailed. He checked the uplifted +hand, and with, a groan dropped the reins, and sank almost helplessly +forward on the saddle; for several of the Indians had left the main +body and were pursuing him alone, so that there would have been now no +chance of his reaching the place where Crusoe fell, even if he could +have turned his horse. + +Spiritless, and utterly indifferent to what his fate might be, Dick +Varley rode along with his head drooping, and keeping his seat almost +mechanically, while the mettlesome little steed flew on over wave and +hollow. Gradually he awakened from this state of despair to a sense +of danger. Glancing round he observed that the Indians were now +far behind him, though still pursuing. He also observed that his +companions were galloping miles away on the horizon to the left, and +that he had foolishly allowed the savages to get between him and them. +The only chance that remained for him was to outride his pursuers, and +circle round towards his comrades, and this he hoped to accomplish, +for his little horse had now proved itself to be superior to those of +the Indians, and there was good running in him still. + +Urging him forward, therefore, he soon left the savages still farther +behind, and feeling confident that they could not now overtake him he +reined up and dismounted. The pursuers quickly drew near, but short +though it was the rest did his horse good. Vaulting into the saddle, +he again stretched out, and now skirted along the margin of a wood +which seemed to mark the position of a river of considerable size. + +At this moment his horse put his foot into a badger-hole, and both of +them came heavily to the ground. In an instant Dick rose, picked up +his gun, and leaped unhurt into the saddle. But on urging his poor +horse forward he found that its shoulder was badly sprained. + +There was no room for mercy, however--life and death were in the +balance--so he plied the lash vigorously, and the noble steed warmed +into something like a run, when again it stumbled, and fell with +a crash on the ground, while the blood burst from its mouth and +nostrils. Dick could hear the shout of triumph uttered by his +pursuers. + +"My poor, poor horse!" he exclaimed in a tone of the deepest +commiseration, while he stooped and stroked its foam-studded neck. + +The dying steed raised its head for a moment, it almost seemed as +if to acknowledge the tones of affection, then it sank down with a +gurgling groan. + +Dick sprang up, for the Indians were now upon him, and bounded like an +antelope into the thickest of the shrubbery; which was nowhere +thick enough, however, to prevent the Indians following. Still, it +sufficiently retarded them to render the chase a more equal one than +could have been expected. In a few minutes Dick gained a strip of open +ground beyond, and found himself on the bank of a broad river, whose +evidently deep waters rushed impetuously along their unobstructed +channel. The bank at the spot where he reached it was a sheer +precipice of between thirty and forty feet high. Glancing up and +down the river he retreated a few paces, turned round and shook his +clenched fist at the savages, accompanying the action with a shout of +defiance, and then running to the edge of the bank, sprang far out +into the boiling flood and sank. + +The Indians pulled up on reaching the spot. There was no possibility +of galloping down the wood-encumbered banks after the fugitive; but +quick as thought each Red-man leaped to the ground, and fitting an +arrow to his bow, awaited Dick's re-appearance with eager gaze. + +Young though he was, and unskilled in such wild warfare, Dick knew +well enough what sort of reception he would meet with on coming to the +surface, so he kept under water as long as he could, and struck out as +vigorously as the care of his rifle would permit. At last he rose for +a few seconds, and immediately half-a-dozen arrows whizzed through the +air; but most of them fell short--only one passed close to his cheek, +and went with a "whip" into the river. He immediately sank again, and +the next time he rose to breathe he was far beyond the reach of his +Indian enemies. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +_Escape from Indians--A discovery--Alone in the desert_. + +Dick Varley had spent so much of his boyhood in sporting about among +the waters of the rivers and lakes near which he had been reared, and +especially during the last two years had spent so much of his leisure +time in rolling and diving with his dog Crusoe in the lake of the +Mustang Valley, that he had become almost as expert in the water as a +South Sea islander; so that when he found himself whirling down the +rapid river, as already described, he was more impressed with a +feeling of gratitude to God for his escape from the Indians than +anxiety about getting ashore. + +He was not altogether blind or indifferent to the danger into which he +might be hurled if the channel of the river should be found lower down +to be broken with rocks, or should a waterfall unexpectedly appear. +After floating down a sufficient distance to render pursuit out of the +question, he struck into the bank opposite to that from which he had +plunged, and clambering up to the greensward above, stripped off the +greater part of his clothing and hung it on the branches of a bush to +dry. Then he sat down on the trunk of a fallen tree to consider what +course he had best pursue in his present circumstances. + +These circumstances were by no means calculated to inspire him with +hope or comfort. He was in the midst of an unknown wilderness, +hundreds of miles from any white man's settlement; surrounded by +savages; without food or blanket; his companions gone, he knew not +whither--perhaps taken and killed by the Indians; his horse dead; and +his dog, the most trusty and loving of all his friends, lost to him, +probably, for ever! A more veteran heart might have quailed in the +midst of such accumulated evils; but Dick Varley possessed a strong, +young, and buoyant constitution, which, united with a hopefulness +of disposition that almost nothing could overcome, enabled him very +quickly to cast aside the gloomy view of his case and turn to its +brighter aspects. + +He still grasped his good rifle, that was some comfort; and as his eye +fell upon it, he turned with anxiety to examine into the condition of +his powder-horn and the few things that he had been fortunate enough +to carry away with him about his person. + +The horn in which western hunters carry their powder is usually that +of an ox. It is closed up at the large end with a piece of hard wood +fitted tightly into it, and the small end is closed with a wooden peg +or stopper. It is therefore completely water-tight, and may be for +hours immersed without the powder getting wet, unless the stopper +should chance to be knocked out. Dick found, to his great +satisfaction, that the stopper was fast and the powder perfectly dry. +Moreover, he had by good fortune filled it full two days before from +the package that contained the general stock of ammunition, so that +there were only two or three charges out of it. His percussion caps, +however, were completely destroyed; and even though they had not +been, it would have mattered little, for he did not possess more than +half-a-dozen. But this was not so great a misfortune as at first +it might seem, for he had the spare flint locks and the little +screw-driver necessary for fixing and unfixing them stowed away in his +shot pouch. + +To examine his supply of bullets was his next care, and slowly he +counted them out, one by one, to the number of thirty. This was a +pretty fair supply, and with careful economy would last him many days. +Having relieved his mind on these all-important points, he carefully +examined every pouch and corner of his dress to ascertain the exact +amount and value of his wealth. + +Besides the leather leggings, moccasins, deerskin hunting-shirt, +cap, and belt which composed his costume, he had a short heavy +hunting-knife, a piece of tinder, a little tin pannikin, which he had +been in the habit of carrying at his belt, and a large cake of maple +sugar. This last is a species of sugar which is procured by the +Indians from the maple-tree. Several cakes of it had been carried off +from the Pawnee village, and Dick usually carried one in the breast of +his coat. Besides these things, he found that the little Bible, for +which his mother had made a small inside breast-pocket, was safe. +Dick's heart smote him when he took it out and undid the clasp, for he +had not looked at it until that day. It was firmly bound with a brass +clasp, so that, although the binding and the edges of the leaves were +soaked, the inside was quite dry. On opening the book to see if it +had been damaged, a small paper fell out. Picking it up quickly, he +unfolded it, and read, in his mother's handwriting: "_Call upon me in +the time of trouble; and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify +me. My son, give me thine heart_." + +Dick's eyes filled with tears while the sound, as it were, of +his mother's voice thus reached him unexpectedly in that lonely +wilderness. Like too many whose hearts are young and gay, Dick had +regarded religion, if not as a gloomy, at least as not a cheerful +thing. But he felt the comfort of these words at that moment, and he +resolved seriously to peruse his mother's parting gift in time to +come. + +The sun was hot, and a warm breeze gently shook the leaves, so that +Dick's garments were soon dry. A few minutes served to change the +locks of his rifle, draw the wet charges, dry out the barrels, and +re-load. Then throwing it across his shoulder, he entered the wood +and walked lightly away. And well he might, poor fellow, for at that +moment he felt light enough in person if not in heart. His worldly +goods were not such as to oppress him; but the little note had turned +his thoughts towards home, and he felt comforted. + +Traversing the belt of woodland that marked the course of the river, +Dick soon emerged on the wide prairie beyond, and here he paused in +some uncertainty as to how he should proceed. + +He was too good a backwoodsman, albeit so young, to feel perplexed as +to the points of the compass. He knew pretty well what hour it was, so +that the sun showed him the general bearings of the country, and he +knew that when night came he could correct his course by the pole +star. Dick's knowledge of astronomy was limited; he knew only one star +by name, but that one was an inestimable treasure of knowledge. His +perplexity was owing to his uncertainty as to the direction in which +his companions and their pursuers had gone; for he had made up his +mind to follow their trail if possible, and render all the succour his +single arm might afford. To desert them, and make for the settlement, +he held, would be a faithless and cowardly act. + +While they were together Joe Blunt had often talked to him about the +route he meant to pursue to the Rocky Mountains, so that, if they had +escaped the Indians, he thought there might be some chance of finding +them at last. But, to set against this, there was the probability that +they had been taken and carried away in a totally different direction; +or they might have taken to the river, as he had done, and gone +farther down without his observing them. Then, again, if they had +escaped, they would be sure to return and search the country round for +him, so that if he left the spot he might miss them. + +"Oh for my dear pup Crusoe!" he exclaimed aloud in this dilemma; but +the faithful ear was shut now, and the deep silence that followed his +cry was so oppressive that the young hunter sprang forward at a +run over the plain, as if to fly from solitude. He soon became so +absorbed, however, in his efforts to find the trail of his companions, +that he forgot all other considerations, and ran straight forward for +hours together with his eyes eagerly fixed on the ground. At last he +felt so hungry, having tasted no food since supper-time the previous +evening, that he halted for the purpose of eating a morsel of maple +sugar. A line of bushes in the distance indicated water, so he sped on +again, and was soon seated beneath a willow, drinking water from the +cool stream. No game was to be found here, but there were several +kinds of berries, among which wild grapes and plums grew in abundance. +With these and some sugar he made a meal, though not a good one, for +the berries were quite green and intensely sour. + +All that day Dick Varley followed up the trail of his companions, +which he discovered at a ford in the river. They had crossed, +therefore, in safety, though still pursued; so he ran on at a regular +trot, and with a little more hope than he had felt during the day. +Towards night, however, Dick's heart sank again, for he came upon +innumerable buffalo tracks, among which those of the horses soon +became mingled up, so that he lost them altogether. Hoping to find +them again more easily by broad daylight, he went to the nearest clump +of willows he could find, and encamped for the night. + +Remembering the use formerly made of the tall willows, he set to work +to construct a covering to protect him from the dew. As he had no +blanket or buffalo skin, he used leaves and grass instead, and found +it a better shelter than he had expected, especially when the fire was +lighted, and a pannikin of hot sugar and water smoked at his feet; but +as no game was to be found, he was again compelled to sup off unripe +berries. Before lying down to rest he remembered his resolution, and +pulling out the little Bible, read a portion of it by the fitful blaze +of the fire, and felt great comfort in its blessed words. It seemed +to him like a friend with whom he could converse in the midst of his +loneliness. + +The plunge into the river having broken Dick's pipe and destroyed his +tobacco, he now felt the want of that luxury very severely, and, never +having wanted it before, he was greatly surprised to find how much he +had become enslaved to the habit. It cost him more than an hour's rest +that night, the craving for his wonted pipe. + +The sagacious reader will doubtless not fail here to ask himself the +question, whether it is wise in man to create in himself an unnatural +and totally unnecessary appetite, which may, and often does, entail +hours--ay, sometimes months--of exceeding discomfort; but we would +not for a moment presume to suggest such a question to him. We have a +distinct objection to the ordinary method of what is called "drawing a +moral." It is much better to leave wise men to do this for themselves. + +Next morning Dick rose with the sun, and started without breakfast, +preferring to take his chance of finding a bird or animal of some kind +before long, to feeding again on sour berries. He was disappointed, +however, in finding the tracks of his companions. The ground here was +hard and sandy, so that little or no impression of a distinct kind was +made on it; and as buffaloes had traversed it in all directions, he +was soon utterly bewildered. He thought it possible that, by running +out for several miles in a straight line, and then taking a wide +circuit round, he might find the tracks emerging from the confusion +made by the buffaloes. But he was again disappointed, for the buffalo +tracks still continued, and the ground became less capable of showing +a footprint. + +Soon Dick began to feel so ill and weak from eating such poor fare, +that he gave up all hope of discovering the tracks, and was compelled +to push forward at his utmost speed in order to reach a less barren +district, where he might procure fresh meat; but the farther he +advanced the worse and more sandy did the district become. For several +days he pushed on over this arid waste without seeing bird or beast, +and, to add to his misery, he failed at last to find water. For a day +and a night he wandered about in a burning fever, and his throat so +parched that he was almost suffocated. Towards the close of the second +day he saw a slight line of bushes away down in a hollow on his right. +With eager steps he staggered towards them, and, on drawing near, +beheld--blessed sight!--a stream of water glancing in the beams of the +setting sun. + +Dick tried to shout for joy, but his parched throat refused to give +utterance to the voice. It mattered not. Exerting all his remaining +strength he rushed down the bank, dropped his rifle, and plunged +headforemost into the stream. + +The first mouthful sent a thrill of horror to his heart; it was salt +as brine! + +The poor youth's cup of bitterness was now full to overflowing. +Crawling out of the stream, he sank down on the bank in a species of +lethargic torpor, from which, he awakened next morning in a raging +fever. Delirium soon rendered him insensible to his sufferings. The +sun rose like a ball of fire, and shone down with scorching power on +the arid plain. What mattered it to Dick? He was far away in the shady +groves of the Mustang Valley, chasing the deer at times, but more +frequently cooling his limbs and sporting with Crusoe in the bright +blue lake. Now he was in his mother's cottage, telling her how he had +thought of her when far away on the prairie, and what a bright, sweet +word it was she had whispered in his ear--so unexpectedly, too. Anon +he was scouring over the plains on horseback, with the savages at his +heels; and at such times Dick would spring with almost supernatural +strength from the ground, and run madly over the burning plain; but, +as if by a species of fascination, he always returned to the salt +river, and sank exhausted by its side, or plunged helplessly into its +waters. + +These sudden immersions usually restored him for a short time to +reason, and he would crawl up the bank and gnaw a morsel of the maple +sugar; but he could not eat much, for it was in a tough, compact cake, +which his jaws had not power to break. All that day and the next night +he lay on the banks of the salt stream, or rushed wildly over the +plain. It was about noon of the second day after his attack that he +crept slowly out of the water, into which he had plunged a few seconds +before. His mind was restored, but he felt an indescribable sensation +of weakness, that seemed to him to be the approach of death. Creeping +towards the place where his rifle lay, he fell exhausted beside it, +and laid his cheek on the Bible, which had fallen out of his pocket +there. + +While his eyes were closed in a dreamy sort of half-waking slumber, he +felt the rough, hairy coat of an animal brush against his forehead. +The idea of being torn to pieces by wolves flashed instantly across +his mind, and with a shriek of terror he sprang up--to be almost +overwhelmed by the caresses of his faithful dog. + +Yes, there he was, bounding round his master, barking and whining, and +giving vent to every possible expression of canine joy! + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +_Crusoe's return, and his private adventures among the Indians--Dick +at a very low ebb--Crusoe saves him_. + +The means by which Crusoe managed to escape from his two-legged +captors, and rejoin his master, require separate and special notice. + +In the struggle with the fallen horse and Indian, which Dick had seen +begun but not concluded, he was almost crushed to death; and the +instant the Indian gained his feet, he sent an arrow at his head with +savage violence. Crusoe, however, had been so well used to dodging the +blunt-headed arrows that were wont to be shot at him by the boys of +the Mustang Valley, that he was quite prepared, and eluded the shaft +by an active bound. Moreover, he uttered one of his own peculiar +roars, flew at the Indian's throat, and dragged him down. At the same +moment the other Indians came up, and one of them turned aside to the +rescue. This man happened to have an old gun, of the cheap sort at +that time exchanged for peltries by the fur-traders. With the butt of +this he struck Crusoe a blow on the head that sent him sprawling on +the grass. + +The rest of the savages, as we have seen, continued in pursuit of Dick +until he leaped into the river; then they returned, took the saddle +and bridle off his dead horse, and rejoined their comrades. Here they +held a court-martial on Crusoe, who was now bound foot and muzzle +with cords. Some were for killing him; others, who admired his noble +appearance, immense size, and courage, thought it would be well to +carry him to their village and keep him. There was a pretty violent +dispute on the subject, but at length it was agreed that they should +spare his life in the meantime, and perhaps have a dog-dance round him +when they got to their wigwams. + +This dance, of which Crusoe was to be the chief though passive +performer, is peculiar to some of the tribes east of the Rocky +Mountains, and consists in killing a dog and cutting out its liver, +which is afterwards sliced into shreds or strings and hung on a pole +about the height of a man's head. A band of warriors then come and +dance wildly round this pole, and each one in succession goes up to +the raw liver and bites a piece off it, without, however, putting his +hands near it. Such is the dog-dance, and to such was poor Crusoe +destined by his fierce captors, especially by the one whose throat +still bore very evident marks of his teeth. + +But Crusoe was much too clever a dog to be disposed of in so +disgusting a manner. He had privately resolved in his own mind that +he would escape; but the hopelessness of his ever carrying that +resolution into effect would have been apparent to any one who could +have seen the way in which his muzzle was secured, and his four paws +were tied together in a bunch, as he hung suspended across the saddle +of one of the savages! + +This particular party of Indians who had followed Dick Varley +determined not to wait for the return of their comrades who were in +pursuit of the other two hunters, but to go straight home, so for +several days they galloped away over the prairie. At nights, when they +encamped, Crusoe was thrown on the ground like a piece of old lumber, +and left to lie there with a mere scrap of food till morning, when he +was again thrown across the horse of his captor and carried on. When +the village was reached, he was thrown again on the ground, and would +certainly have been torn to pieces in five minutes by the Indian curs +which came howling round him, had not an old woman come to the rescue +and driven them away. With the help of her grand-son--a little naked +creature, just able to walk, or rather to stagger--she dragged him to +her tent, and, undoing the line that fastened his mouth, offered him a +bone. + +Although lying in a position that was unfavourable for eating +purposes, Crusoe opened his jaws and took it. An awful crash was +followed by two crunches--and it was gone! and Crusoe looked up in the +old squaw's face with a look that said plainly, "Another of the same, +please, and as quick as possible." The old woman gave him another, +and then a lump of meat, which latter went down with a gulp; but he +coughed after it! and it was well he didn't choke. After this the +squaw left him, and Crusoe spent the remainder of that night gnawing +the cords that bound him. So diligent was he that he was free before +morning and walked deliberately out of the tent. Then he shook +himself, and with a yell that one might have fancied was intended for +defiance he bounded joyfully away, and was soon out of sight. + +To a dog with a good appetite which had been on short allowance for +several days, the mouthful given to him by the old squaw was a mere +nothing. All that day he kept bounding over the plain from bluff to +bluff in search of something to eat, but found nothing until dusk, +when he pounced suddenly and most unexpectedly on a prairie-hen fast +asleep. In one moment its life was gone. In less than a minute its +body was gone too--feathers and bones and all--down Crusoe's ravenous +throat. + +On the identical spot Crusoe lay down and slept like a top for four +hours. At the end of that time he jumped up, bolted a scrap of skin +that somehow had been overlooked at supper, and flew straight over the +prairie to the spot where he had had the scuffle with the Indian. He +came to the edge of the river, took precisely the same leap that his +master had done before him, and came out on the other side a good deal +higher up than Dick had done, for the dog had no savages to dodge, and +was, as we have said before, a powerful swimmer. + +It cost him a good deal of running about to find the trail, and it was +nearly dark before he resumed his journey; then, putting his keen nose +to the ground, he ran step by step over Dick's track, and at last +found him, as we have shown, on the banks of the salt creek. + +It is quite impossible to describe the intense joy which filled Dick's +heart on again beholding his favourite. Only those who have lost and +found such an one can know it. Dick seized him round the neck and +hugged him as well as he could, poor fellow! in his feeble arms; then +he wept, then he laughed, and then he fainted. + +This was a consummation that took Crusoe quite aback. Never having +seen his master in such a state before he seemed to think at first +that he was playing some trick, for he bounded round him, and barked, +and wagged his tail. But as Dick lay quite still and motionless, he +went forward with a look of alarm; snuffed him once or twice, and +whined piteously; then he raised his nose in the air and uttered a +long melancholy wail. + +The cry seemed to revive Dick, for he moved, and with some difficulty +sat up, to the dog's evident relief. There is no doubt whatever that +Crusoe learned an erroneous lesson that day, and was firmly convinced +thenceforth that the best cure for a fainting fit is a melancholy +yell. So easy is it for the wisest of dogs as well as men to fall into +gross error! + +"Crusoe," said Dick, in a feeble voice, "dear good pup, come here." +He crawled, as he spoke, down to the water's edge, where there was a +level patch of dry sand. + +"Dig," said Dick, pointing to the sand. + +Crusoe looked at him in surprise, as well he might, for he had never +heard the word "dig" in all his life before. + +Dick pondered a minute then a thought struck him. + +He turned up a little of the sand with his fingers, and, pointing to +the hole, cried, "_Seek him out, pup_!" + +Ha! Crusoe understood _that_. Many and many a time had he unhoused +rabbits, and squirrels, and other creatures at that word of command; +so, without a moment's delay, he commenced to dig down into the sand, +every now and then stopping for a moment and shoving in his nose, and +snuffing interrogatively, as if he fully expected to find a buffalo at +the bottom of it. Then he would resume again, one paw after another +so fast that you could scarce see them going--"hand over hand," as +sailors would have called it--while the sand flew out between his hind +legs in a continuous shower. When the sand accumulated so much behind +him as to impede his motions he scraped it out of his way, and set to +work again with tenfold earnestness. After a good while he paused and +looked up at Dick with an "it-won't-do,-I-fear,-there's-nothing-here" +expression on his face. + +"Seek him out, pup!" repeated Dick. + +"Oh! very good," mutely answered the dog, and went at it again, tooth +and nail, harder than ever. + +In the course of a quarter of an hour there was a deep yawning hole +in the sand, into which Dick peered with intense anxiety. The bottom +appeared slightly _damp_. Hope now reanimated Dick Varley, and by +various devices he succeeded in getting the dog to scrape away a sort +of tunnel from the hole, into which he might roll himself and put down +his lips to drink when the water should rise high enough. Impatiently +and anxiously he lay watching the moisture slowly accumulate in the +bottom of the hole, drop by drop, and while he gazed he fell into a +troubled, restless slumber, and dreamed that Crusoe's return was a +dream, and that he was alone again, perishing for want of water. + +When he awakened the hole was half full of clear water, and Crusoe was +lapping it greedily. + +"Back, pup!" he shouted, as he crept down to the hole and put his +trembling lips to the water. It was brackish, but drinkable, and as +Dick drank deeply of it he esteemed it at that moment better than +nectar. Here he lay for half-an-hour, alternately drinking and gazing +in surprise at his own emaciated visage as reflected in the pool. + +The same afternoon Crusoe, in a private hunting excursion of his own, +discovered and caught a prairie-hen, which he quietly proceeded to +devour on the spot, when Dick, who saw what had occurred, whistled to +him. + +Obedience was engrained in every fibre of Crusoe's mental and +corporeal being. He did not merely answer at once to the call--he +_sprang_ to it, leaving the prairie-hen untasted. + +"Fetch it, pup," cried Dick eagerly as the dog came up. + +In a few moments the hen was at his feet. Dick's circumstances could +not brook the delay of cookery; he gashed the bird with his knife and +drank the blood, and then gave the flesh to the dog, while he crept +to the pool again for another draught. Ah! think not, reader, that +although we have treated this subject in a slight vein of pleasantry, +because it ended well, that therefore our tale is pure fiction. Not +only are Indians glad to satisfy the urgent cravings of hunger with +raw flesh, but many civilized men and delicately nurtured have done +the same--ay, and doubtless will do the same again, as long as +enterprising and fearless men shall go forth to dare the dangers of +flood and field in the wild places of our wonderful world! + +Crusoe had finished his share of the feast before Dick returned from +the pool. Then master and dog lay down together side by side and fell +into a long, deep, peaceful slumber. + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +_Health and happiness return_--Incidents of the journey_--_A buffalo +shot_--_A wild horse "creased"_--_Dick's battle with a mustang_. + +Dick Varley's fears and troubles, in the meantime, were ended. On the +day following he awoke refreshed and happy--so happy and light at +heart, as he felt the glow of returning health coursing through his +veins, that he fancied he must have dreamed it all. In fact, he was so +certain that his muscles were strong that he endeavoured to leap up, +but was powerfully convinced of his true condition by the miserable +stagger that resulted from the effort. + +However, he knew he was recovering, so he rose, and thanking God for +his recovery, and for the new hope that was raised in his heart, he +went down to the pool and drank deeply of its water. Then he returned, +and, sitting down beside his dog, opened the Bible and read long--and, +for the first time, _earnestly_--the story of Christ's love for sinful +man. He at last fell asleep over the book, and when he awakened felt +so much refreshed in body and mind that he determined to attempt to +pursue his journey. + +He had not proceeded far when he came upon a colony of prairie-dogs. +Upon this occasion he was little inclined to take a humorous view of +the vagaries of these curious little creatures, but he shot one, and, +as before, ate part of it raw. These creatures are so active that they +are difficult to shoot, and even when killed generally fall into their +holes and disappear. Crusoe, however, soon unearthed the dead animal +on this occasion. That night the travellers came to a stream of fresh +water, and Dick killed a turkey, so that he determined to spend a +couple of days there to recruit. At the end of that time he again set +out, but was able only to advance five miles when he broke down. In +fact, it became evident to him that he must have a longer period of +absolute repose ere he could hope to continue his journey; but to do +so without food was impossible. Fortunately there was plenty of water, +as his course lay along the margin of a small stream, and, as the arid +piece of prairie was now behind him, he hoped to fall in with birds, +or perhaps deer, soon. + +While he was plodding heavily and wearily along, pondering these +things, he came to the brow of a wave from which he beheld a most +magnificent view of green grassy plains decked with flowers, and +rolling out to the horizon, with a stream meandering through it, and +clumps of trees scattered everywhere far and wide. It was a glorious +sight; but the most glorious object in it to Dick, at that time, was a +fat buffalo which stood grazing not a hundred yards off. The wind was +blowing towards him, so that the animal did not scent him, and, as he +came up very slowly, and it was turned away, it did not see him. + +Crusoe would have sprung forward in an instant, but his master's +finger imposed silence and caution. Trembling with eagerness, Dick +sank flat down in the grass, cocked both barrels of his piece, and, +resting it on his left hand with his left elbow on the ground, he +waited until the animal should present its side. In a few seconds +it moved; Dick's eye glanced along the barrel, but it trembled--his +wonted steadiness of aim was gone. He fired, and the buffalo sprang +off in terror. With a groan of despair he fired again--almost +recklessly--and the buffalo fell! It rose once or twice and stumbled +forward a few paces, then it fell again. Meanwhile Dick reloaded with +trembling hand, and advanced to give it another shot; but it was not +needful--the buffalo was already dead. + +"Now, Crusoe," said Dick, sitting down on the buffalo's shoulder and +patting his favourite on the head, "we're all right at last. You and I +shall have a jolly time o't, pup, from this time for'ard." + +Dick paused for breath, and Crusoe wagged his tail and looked as if to +say--pshaw! "_as if!_" + +We tell you what it is, reader, it's of no use at all to go on writing +"as if," when we tell you what Crusoe said. If there is any language +in eyes whatever--if there is language in a tail, in a cocked ear, in +a mobile eyebrow, in the point of a canine nose,--if there is language +in any terrestrial thing at all, apart from that which flows from the +tongue, then Crusoe _spoke!_ Do we not speak at this moment to _you?_ +and if so, then tell me wherein lies the difference between a written +_letter_ and a given _sign?_ + +Yes, Crusoe spoke. He said to Dick as plain as dog could say it, +slowly and emphatically, "That's my opinion precisely, Dick. You're +the dearest, most beloved, jolliest fellow that ever walked on two +legs, you are; and whatever's your opinion is mine, no matter _how_ +absurd it may be." + +Dick evidently understood him perfectly, for he laughed as he looked +at him and patted him on the head, and called him a "funny dog." Then +he continued his discourse:-- + +"Yes, pup, we'll make our camp here for a long bit, old dog, in this +beautiful plain. We'll make a willow wigwam to sleep in, you and I, +jist in yon clump o' trees, not a stone's-throw to our right, where +we'll have a run o' pure water beside us, and be near our buffalo at +the same time. For, ye see, we'll need to watch him lest the wolves +take a notion to eat him--that'll be _your_ duty, pup. Then I'll skin +him when I get strong enough, which'll be in a day or two, I hope, and +we'll put one-half of the skin below us and t'other half above us +i' the camp, an' sleep, an' eat, an' take it easy for a week or +two--won't we, pup?" + +"Hoora-a-a-y!" shouted Crusoe, with a jovial wag of his tail, that no +human arm with hat, or cap, or kerchief ever equalled. + +Poor Dick Varley! He smiled to think how earnestly he had been talking +to the dog; but he did not cease to do it, for although he entered +into discourses the drift of which Crusoe's limited education did not +permit him to follow, he found comfort in hearing the sound of his own +voice, and in knowing that it fell pleasantly on another ear in that +lonely wilderness. + +Our hero now set about his preparations as vigorously as he could. He +cut out the buffalo's tongue--a matter of great difficulty to one in +his weak state--and carried it to a pleasant spot near to the stream +where the turf was level and green, and decked with wild flowers. Here +he resolved to make his camp. + +His first care was to select a bush whose branches were long enough to +form a canopy over his head when bent, and the ends thrust into the +ground. The completing of this exhausted him greatly, but after a rest +he resumed his labours. The next thing was to light a fire--a comfort +which he had not enjoyed for many weary days. Not that he required it +for warmth, for the weather was extremely warm, but he required it to +cook with, and the mere _sight_ of a blaze in a dark place is a most +heart-cheering thing, as every one knows. + +When the fire was lighted he filled his pannikin at the brook and put +it on to boil, and cutting several slices of buffalo tongue, he thrust +short stakes through them and set them up before the fire to roast. By +this time the water was boiling, so he took it off with difficulty, +nearly burning his fingers and singeing the tail of his coat in so +doing. Into the pannikin he put a lump of maple sugar, and stirred it +about with a stick, and tasted it. It seemed to him even better than +tea or coffee. It was absolutely delicious! + +Really one has no notion what he can do if he makes believe _very +hard_. The human mind is a nicely balanced and extremely complex +machine, and when thrown a little off the balance can be made +to believe almost anything, as we see in the case of some poor +monomaniacs, who have fancied that they were made of all sorts of +things--glass and porcelain, and such like. No wonder then that poor +Dick Varley, after so much suffering and hardship, came to regard that +pannikin of hot sirup as the most delicious beverage he ever drank. + +During all these operations Crusoe sat on his haunches beside him and +looked. And you haven't, no, you haven't got the most distant notion +of the way in which that dog manoeuvred with his head and face. He +opened his eyes wide, and cocked his ears, and turned his head first a +little to one side, then a little to the other. After that he turned +it a _good deal_ to one side, and then a good deal more to the other. +Then he brought it straight, and raised one eyebrow a little, and then +the other a little, and then both together very much. Then, when Dick +paused to rest and did nothing, Crusoe looked mild for a moment, and +yawned vociferously. Presently Dick moved--up went the ears again, and +Crusoe came, in military parlance, "to the position of attention!" At +last supper was ready and they began. + +Dick had purposely kept the dog's supper back from him, in order that +they might eat it in company. And between every bite and sup that Dick +took, he gave a bite--but not a sup--to Crusoe. Thus lovingly they +ate together; and when Dick lay that night under the willow branches, +looking up through them at the stars, with his feet to the fire and +Crusoe close along his side, he thought it the best and sweetest +supper he ever ate, and the happiest evening he ever spent--so +wonderfully do circumstances modify our notions of felicity. + +Two weeks after this "Richard was himself again." + +The muscles were springy, and the blood coursed fast and free, as was +its wont. Only a slight, and, perhaps, salutary feeling of weakness +remained, to remind him that young muscles might again become more +helpless than those of an aged man or a child. + +Dick had left his encampment a week ago, and was now advancing by +rapid stages towards the Rocky Mountains, closely following the trail +of his lost comrades, which he had no difficulty in finding and +keeping now that Crusoe was with him. The skin of the buffalo that he +had killed was now strapped to his shoulders, and the skin of another +animal that he had shot a few days after was cut up into a long line +and slung in a coil round his neck. Crusoe was also laden. He had a +little bundle of meat slung on each side of him. + +For some time past numerous herds of mustangs, or wild horses, had +crossed their path, and Dick was now on the look-out for a chance to +_crease_ one of those magnificent creatures. + +On one occasion a band of mustangs galloped close up to him before +they were aware of his presence, and stopped short with a wild snort +of surprise on beholding him; then, wheeling round, they dashed away +at full gallop, their long tails and manes flying wildly in the air, +and their hoofs thundering on the plain. Dick did not attempt to +crease one upon this occasion, fearing that his recent illness might +have rendered his hand too unsteady for so extremely delicate an +operation. + +In order to crease a wild horse the hunter requires to be a perfect +shot, and it is not every man of the west who carries a rifle that can +do it successfully. Creasing consists in sending a bullet through the +gristle of the mustang's neck, just above the bone, so as to stun the +animal. If the ball enters a hair's-breadth too low, the horse +falls dead instantly. If it hits the exact spot, the horse falls as +instantaneously, and dead to all appearance; but, in reality, he is +only stunned, and if left for a few minutes will rise and gallop away +nearly as well as ever. When hunters crease a horse successfully they +put a rope, or halter, round his under jaw and hobbles round his feet, +so that when he rises he is secured, and, after considerable trouble, +reduced to obedience. + +The mustangs which roam in wild freedom on the prairies of the far +west are descended from the noble Spanish steeds that were brought +over by the wealthy cavaliers who accompanied Fernando Cortez, the +conqueror of Mexico, in his expedition to the New World in 1518. These +bold, and, we may add, lawless cavaliers were mounted on the finest +horses that could be procured from Barbary and the deserts of the Old +World. The poor Indians of the New World were struck with amazement +and terror at these awful beings, for, never having seen horses +before, they believed that horse and rider were one animal. During the +wars that followed many of the Spaniards were killed, and their +steeds bounded into the wilds of the new country, to enjoy a life of +unrestrained freedom. These were the forefathers of the present race +of magnificent creatures which are found in immense droves all over +the western wilderness, from the Gulf of Mexico to the confines of the +snowy regions of the far north. + +At first the Indians beheld these horses with awe and terror, but +gradually they became accustomed to them, and finally succeeded in +capturing great numbers and reducing them to a state of servitude. +Not, however, to the service of the cultivated field, but to the +service of the chase and war. The savages soon acquired the method of +capturing wild horses by means of the lasso--as the noose at that end +of a long line of raw hide is termed--which they adroitly threw over +the heads of the animals and secured them, having previously run them +down. At the present day many of the savage tribes of the west almost +live upon horseback, and without these useful creatures they could +scarcely subsist, as they are almost indispensable in the chase of the +buffalo. + +Mustangs are regularly taken by the Indians to the settlements of the +white men for trade, but very poor specimens are these of the breed +of wild horses. This arises from two causes. First, the Indian cannot +overtake the finest of a drove of wild mustangs, because his own steed +is inferior to the best among the wild ones, besides being weighted +with a rider, so that only the weak and inferior animals are captured. +And, secondly, when the Indian does succeed in lassoing a first-rate +horse he keeps it for his own use. Thus, those who have not visited +the far-off prairies and seen the mustang in all the glory of +untrammelled freedom, can form no adequate idea of its beauty, +fleetness, and strength. + +The horse, however, was not the only creature imported by Cortez. +There were priests in his army who rode upon asses, and although we +cannot imagine that the "fathers" charged with the cavaliers and were +unhorsed, or, rather, un-assed in battle, yet, somehow, the asses got +rid of their riders and joined the Spanish chargers in their joyous +bound into a new life of freedom. Hence wild asses also are found in +the western prairies. But think not, reader, of those poor miserable +wretches we see at home, which seem little better than rough door-mats +sewed up and stuffed, with head, tail, and legs attached, and just +enough of life infused to make them move! No, the wild ass of the +prairie is a large powerful, swift creature. He has the same long +ears, it is true, and the same hideous, exasperating bray, and the +same tendency to flourish his heels; but for all that he is a very +fine animal, and often wages _successful_ warfare with the wild horse. + +But to return. The next drove of mustangs that Dick and Crusoe saw +were feeding quietly and unsuspectingly in a rich green hollow in the +plain. Dick's heart leaped up as his eyes suddenly fell on them, +for he had almost discovered himself before he was aware of their +presence. + +"Down, pup!" he whispered, as he sank and disappeared among the grass, +which was just long enough to cover him when lying quite flat. + +Crusoe crouched immediately, and his master made his observations of +the drove, and the dispositions of the ground that might favour his +approach, for they were not within rifle range. Having done so he +crept slowly back until the undulation of the prairie hid him from +view; then he sprang to his feet, and ran a considerable distance +along the bottom until he gained the extreme end of a belt of low +bushes, which would effectually conceal him while he approached to +within a hundred yards or less of the troop. + +Here he made his arrangements. Throwing down his buffalo robe, he took +the coil of line and cut off a piece of about three yards in length. +On this he made a running noose. The longer line he also prepared with +a running noose. These he threw in a coil over his arm. + +He also made a pair of hobbles, and placed them in the breast of his +coat, and then, taking up his rifle, advanced cautiously through the +bushes--Crusoe following close behind him. In a few minutes he was +gazing in admiration at the mustangs, which were now within easy shot, +and utterly ignorant of the presence of man, for Dick had taken care +to approach in such a way that the wind did not carry the scent of him +in their direction. + +And well might he admire them. The wild horse of these regions is not +very large, but it is exceedingly powerful, with prominent eye, +sharp nose, distended nostril, small feet, and a delicate leg. Their +beautiful manes hung at great length down their arched necks, and +their thick tails swept the ground. One magnificent fellow in +particular attracted Dick's attention. He was of a rich dark-brown +colour, with black mane and tail, and seemed to be the leader of the +drove. + +Although not the nearest to him, he resolved to crease this horse. It +is said that creasing generally destroys or damages the spirit of the +horse, so Dick determined to try whether his powers of close shooting +would not serve him on this occasion. Going down on one knee he aimed +at the creature's neck, just a hair's-breadth above the spot where he +had been told that hunters usually hit them, and fired. The effect +upon the group was absolutely tremendous. With wild cries and snorting +terror they tossed their proud heads in the air, uncertain for one +moment in which direction to fly; then there was a rush as if a +hurricane swept over the place, and they were gone. + +But the brown horse was down. Dick did not wait until the others +had fled. He dropped his rifle, and with the speed of a deer sprang +towards the fallen horse, and affixed the hobbles to his legs. His aim +had been true. Although scarcely half a minute elapsed between the +shot and the fixing of the hobbles, the animal recovered, and with a +frantic exertion rose on his haunches, just as Dick had fastened the +noose of the short line in his under jaw. But this was not enough. If +the horse had gained his feet before the longer line was placed round +his neck, he would have escaped. As the mustang made the second +violent plunge that placed it on its legs, Dick flung the noose +hastily; it caught on one ear, and would have fallen off, had not the +horse suddenly shaken its head, and unwittingly sealed its own fate by +bringing the noose round its neck. + +And now the struggle began. Dick knew well enough, from hearsay, the +method of "breaking down" a wild horse. He knew that the Indians choke +them with the noose round the neck until they fall down exhausted and +covered with foam, when they creep up, fix the hobbles, and the line +in the lower jaw, and then loosen the lasso to let the horse breathe, +and resume its plungings till it is almost subdued, when they +gradually draw near and breathe into its nostrils. But the violence +and strength of this animal rendered this an apparently hopeless task. +We have already seen that the hobbles and noose in the lower jaw +had been fixed, so that Dick had nothing now to do but to choke his +captive, and tire him out, while Crusoe remained a quiet though +excited spectator of the scene. + +But there seemed to be no possibility of choking this horse. Either +the muscles of his neck were too strong, or there was something +wrong with the noose which prevented it from acting, for the furious +creature dashed and bounded backwards and sideways in its terror for +nearly an hour, dragging Dick after it, till he was almost exhausted; +and yet, at the end of that time, although flecked with foam and +panting with terror, it seemed as strong as ever. Dick held both +lines, for the short one attached to its lower jaw gave him great +power over it. At last he thought of seeking assistance from his dog. + +"Crusoe," he cried, "lay hold, pup!" + +The dog seized the long line in his teeth and pulled with all his +might. At the same moment Dick let go the short line and threw all +his weight upon the long one. The noose tightened suddenly under this +strain, and the mustang, with a gasp, fell choking to the ground. + +Dick had often heard of the manner in which the Mexicans "break" their +horses, so he determined to abandon the method which had already +almost worn him out, and adopt the other, as far as the means in his +power rendered it possible. Instead, therefore, of loosening the lasso +and re-commencing the struggle, he tore a branch from a neighbouring +bush, cut the hobbles, strode with his legs across the fallen steed, +seized the end of the short line or bridle, and then, ordering Crusoe +to quit his hold, he loosened the noose which compressed the horse's +neck and had already well-nigh terminated its existence. + +One or two deep sobs restored it, and in a moment it leaped to its +feet with Dick firmly on its back. To say that the animal leaped and +kicked in its frantic efforts to throw this intolerable burden +would be a tame manner of expressing what took place. Words cannot +adequately describe the scene. It reared, plunged, shrieked, vaulted +into the air, stood straight up on its hind legs, and then almost as +straight upon its fore ones; but its rider held on like a burr. Then +the mustang raced wildly forwards a few paces, then as wildly back, +and then stood still and trembled violently. But this was only a brief +lull in the storm, so Dick saw that the time was now come to assert +the superiority of his race. + +"Stay back, Crusoe, and watch my rifle, pup," he cried, and raising +his heavy switch he brought it down with a sharp cut across the +horse's flank, at the same time loosening the rein which hitherto he +had held tight. + +The wild horse uttered a passionate cry, and sprang forward like the +bolt from a cross-bow. + +And now commenced a race which, if not so prolonged, was at least as +furious as that of the far-famed Mazeppa. Dick was a splendid rider, +however--at least as far as "sticking on" goes. He might not have come +up to the precise pitch desiderated by a riding-master in regard to +carriage, etc., but he rode that wild horse of the prairie with as +much ease as he had formerly ridden his own good steed, whose bones +had been picked by the wolves not long ago. + +The pace was tremendous, for the youth's weight was nothing to that +muscular frame, which bounded with cat-like agility from wave to wave +of the undulating plain in ungovernable terror. In a few minutes the +clump of willows where Crusoe and his rifle lay were out of sight +behind; but it mattered not, for Dick had looked up at the sky and +noted the position of the sun at the moment of starting. Away they +went on the wings of the wind, mile after mile over the ocean-like +waste--curving slightly aside now and then to avoid the bluffs that +occasionally appeared on the scene for a few minutes and then swept +out of sight behind them. Then they came to a little rivulet. It was a +mere brook of a few feet wide, and two or three yards, perhaps, from +bank to bank. Over this they flew so easily that the spring was +scarcely felt, and continued the headlong course. And now a more +barren country was around them. Sandy ridges and scrubby grass +appeared everywhere, reminding Dick of the place where he had been +so ill. Rocks, too, were scattered about, and at one place the horse +dashed with clattering hoofs between a couple of rocky sand-hills +which, for a few seconds, hid the prairie from view. Here the mustang +suddenly shied with such violence that his rider was nearly thrown, +while a rattlesnake darted from the path. Soon they emerged from this +pass, and again the plains became green and verdant. Presently a +distant line of trees showed that they were approaching water, and +in a few minutes they were close on it. For the first time Dick felt +alarm. He sought to check his steed, but no force he could exert had +the smallest influence on it. + +Trees and bushes flew past in bewildering confusion. The river was +before him; what width, he could not tell, but he was reckless now, +like his charger, which he struck with the willow rod with all his +force as they came up. One tremendous bound, and they were across, but +Dick had to lie flat on the mustang's back as it crashed through the +bushes to avoid being scraped off by the trees. Again they were on the +open plain, and the wild horse began to show signs of exhaustion. + +Now was its rider's opportunity to assert his dominion. He plied the +willow rod and urged the panting horse on, until it was white with +foam and laboured a little in its gait. Then Dick gently drew the +halter, and it broke into a trot; still tighter, and it walked, and in +another minute stood still, trembling in every limb. Dick now quietly +rubbed its neck, and spoke to it in soothing tones; then he wheeled it +gently round, and urged it forward. It was quite subdued and docile. +In a little time they came to the river and forded it, after which +they went through the belt of woodland at a walk. By the time they +reached the open prairie the mustang was recovered sufficiently to +feel its spirit returning, so Dick gave it a gentle touch with the +switch, and away they went on their return journey. + +But it amazed Dick not a little to find how long that journey was. +Very different was the pace, too, from the previous mad gallop, and +often would the poor horse have stopped had Dick allowed him. But this +might not be. The shades of night were approaching, and the camp lay a +long way ahead. + +At last it was reached, and Crusoe came out with great demonstrations +of joy, but was sent back lest he should alarm the horse. Then Dick +jumped off his back, stroked his head, put his cheek close to his +mouth and whispered softly to him, after which he fastened him to a +tree and rubbed him down slightly with a bunch of grass. Having done +this, he left him to graze as far as his tether would permit; and, +after supping with Crusoe, lay down to-rest, not a little elated with +his success in this first attempt at "creasing" and "breaking" a +mustang. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +_Dick becomes a horse tamer--Resumes his journey--Charlie's +doings--Misfortunes which lead to, but do not terminate in, the Rocky +Mountains--A grizzly bear_. + +There is a proverb--or a saying--or at least somebody or book has told +us, that some Irishman once said, "Be aisy; or, if ye can't be aisy, +be as aisy as ye can." + +Now, we count that good advice, and strongly recommend it to all and +sundry. Had we been at the side of Dick Varley on the night after his +taming of the wild horse, we would have strongly urged that advice +upon him. Whether he would have listened to it or not is quite another +question; we rather think not. Reader, if you wish to know why, go and +do what he did, and if you feel no curious sensations about the region +of the loins after it, we will tell you why Dick Varley wouldn't have +listened to that advice. Can a man feel as if his joints were wrenched +out of their sockets, and listen to advice--be that advice good or +bad? Can he feel as though these joints were trying to re-set and +re-dislocate themselves perpetually, and listen to advice? Can he feel +as if he were sitting down on red-hot iron, when he's not sitting down +at all, and listen to advice? Can he--but no! why pursue the subject. +Poor Dick spent that night in misery, and the greater part of the +following day in sleep, to make up for it. + +When he got up to breakfast in the afternoon he felt much better, but +shaky. + +"Now, pup," he said, stretching himself, "we'll go and see our horse. +_Ours_, pup; yours and mine: didn't you help to catch him, eh, pup?" + +Crusoe acknowledged the fact with a wag and a playful +"bow-wow--wow-oo-ow!" and followed his master to the place where +the horse had been picketed. It was standing there quite quiet, but +looking a little timid. + +Dick went boldly up to it, and patted its head and stroked its nose, +for nothing is so likely to alarm either a tame or a wild horse as any +appearance of timidity or hesitation on the part of those who approach +them. + +After treating it thus for a short time, he stroked down its neck, +and then its shoulders--the horse eying him all the time nervously. +Gradually he stroked its back and limbs gently, and walked quietly +round and round it once or twice, sometimes approaching and sometimes +going away, but never either hesitating or doing anything abruptly. +This done, he went down to the stream and filled his cap with water +and carried it to the horse, which snuffed suspiciously and backed a +little; so he laid the cap down, and went up and patted him again. +Presently he took up the cap and carried it to his nose. The poor +creature was almost choking with thirst, so that, the moment he +understood what was in the cap, he buried his lips in it and sucked it +up. + +This was a great point gained: he had accepted a benefit at the hands +of his new master; he had become a debtor to man, and no doubt he felt +the obligation. Dick filled the cap and the horse emptied it again, +and again, and again, until its burning thirst was slaked. Then Dick +went up to his shoulder, patted him, undid the line that fastened him, +and vaulted lightly on his back! + +We say _lightly_, for it was so, but it wasn't _easily_, as Dick could +have told you! However, he was determined not to forego the training +of his steed on account of what _he_ would have called a "little bit +pain." + +At this unexpected act the horse plunged and reared a good deal, and +seemed inclined to go through the performance of the day before over +again; but Dick patted and stroked him into quiescence, and having +done so, urged him into a gallop over the plains, causing the dog to +gambol round in order that he might get accustomed to him. This tried +his nerves a good deal, and no wonder, for if he took Crusoe for a +wolf, which no doubt he did, he must have thought him a very giant of +the pack. + +By degrees they broke into a furious gallop, and after breathing him +well, Dick returned and tied him to the tree. Then he rubbed him down +again, and gave him another drink. This time the horse smelt his new +master all over, and Dick felt that he had conquered him by kindness. +No doubt the tremendous run of the day before could scarcely be called +kindness, but without this subduing run he never could have brought +the offices of kindness to bear on so wild a steed. + +During all these operations Crusoe sat looking on with demure +sagacity--drinking in wisdom and taking notes. We know not whether any +notes made by the canine race have ever been given to the world, but +certain are we that, if the notes and observations made by Crusoe on +that journey were published, they would, to say the least, surprise +us! + +Next day Dick gave the wild horse his second lesson, and his name. +He called him "Charlie," after a much-loved companion in the Mustang +Valley. And long and heartily did Dick Varley laugh as he told the +horse his future designation in the presence of Crusoe, for it struck +him as somewhat ludicrous that a mustang which, two days ago, pawed +the earth in all the pride of independent freedom, should suddenly +come down so low as to carry a hunter on his back and be named +Charlie. + +The next piece of instruction began by Crusoe being led up under +Charlie's nose, and while Dick patted the dog with his right hand he +patted the horse with his left. It backed a good deal at first and +snorted, but Crusoe walked slowly and quietly in front of him several +times, each time coming nearer, until he again stood under his nose; +then the horse smelt him nervously, and gave a sigh of relief when he +found that Crusoe paid no attention to him whatever. Dick then ordered +the dog to lie down at Charlie's feet, and went to the camp to fetch +his rifle, and buffalo robe, and pack of meat. These and all the other +things belonging to him were presented for inspection, one by one, to +the horse, who arched his neck, and put forward his ears, and eyed +them at first, but smelt them all over, and seemed to feel more easy +in his mind. + +Next, the buffalo robe was rubbed over his nose, then over his eyes +and head, then down his neck and shoulder, and lastly was placed on +his back. Then it was taken off and _flung_ on; after that it was +strapped on, and the various little items of the camp were attached to +it. This done, Dick took up his rifle and let him smell it; then he +put his hand on Charlie's shoulder, vaulted on to his back, and rode +away. + +Charlie's education was completed. And now our hero's journey began +again in earnest, and with some prospect of its speedy termination. + +In this course of training through which Dick put his wild horse, he +had been at much greater pains and had taken far longer time than is +usually the case among the Indians, who will catch, and "break," and +ride a wild horse into camp in less than _three hours_. But Dick +wanted to do the thing well, which the Indians are not careful to +do; besides, it must be borne in remembrance that this was his +first attempt, and that his horse was one of the best and most +high-spirited, while those caught by the Indians, as we have said, are +generally the poorest of a drove. + +Dick now followed the trail of his lost companions at a rapid pace, +yet not so rapidly as he might have done, being averse to exhausting +his good dog and his new companion. Each night he encamped under the +shade of a tree or a bush when he could find one, or in the open +prairie when there were none, and, picketing his horse to a short +stake or pin which he carried with him for the purpose, lit his fire, +had supper, and lay down to rest. In a few days Charlie became so +tame and so accustomed to his master's voice that he seemed quite +reconciled to his new life. There can be no doubt whatever that he had +a great dislike to solitude; for on one occasion, when Dick and Crusoe +went off a mile or so from the camp, where Charlie was tied, and +disappeared from his view, he was heard to neigh so loudly that Dick +ran back, thinking the wolves must have attacked him. He was all +right, however, and exhibited evident tokens of satisfaction when they +returned. + +On another occasion his fear of being left alone was more clearly +demonstrated. + +Dick had been unable to find wood or water that day, so he was obliged +to encamp upon the open plain. The want of water was not seriously +felt, however, for he had prepared a bladder in which he always +carried enough to give him one pannikin of hot sirup, and leave +a mouthful for Crusoe and Charlie. Dried buffalo dung formed a +substitute for fuel. Spreading his buffalo robe, he lit his fire, put +on his pannikin to boil, and stuck up a piece of meat to roast, to the +great delight of Crusoe, who sat looking on with much interest. + +Suddenly Charlie, who was picketed a few hundred yards off in a grassy +spot, broke his halter close by the headpiece, and with a snort of +delight bounded away, prancing and kicking up his heels! + +Dick heaved a deep sigh, for he felt sure that his horse was gone. +However, in a little Charlie stopped, and raised his nose high in the +air, as if to look for his old equine companions. But they were gone; +no answering neigh replied to his; and he felt, probably for the first +time, that he was really alone in the world. Having no power of smell, +whereby he might have traced them out as the dog would have done, he +looked in a bewildered and excited state all round the horizon. Then +his eye fell on Dick and Crusoe sitting by their little fire. Charlie +looked hard at them, and then again at the horizon; and then, coming +to the conclusion, no doubt, that the matter was quite beyond his +comprehension, he quietly took to feeding. + +Dick availed himself of the chance, and tried to catch him; but he +spent an hour with Crusoe in the vain attempt, and at last they gave +it up in disgust and returned to the fire, where they finished their +supper and went to bed. + +Next morning they saw Charlie feeding close at hand, so they took +breakfast, and tried to catch him again. But it was of no use; he was +evidently coquetting with them, and dodged about and defied their +utmost efforts, for there were only a few inches of line hanging to +his head. At last it occurred to Dick that he would try the experiment +of forsaking him. So he packed up his things, rolled up the buffalo +robe, threw it and the rifle on his shoulder, and walked deliberately +away. + +"Come along, Crusoe!" he cried, after walking a few paces. + +But Crusoe stood by the fire with his head up, and an expression on +his face that said, "Hallo, man! what's wrong? You've forgot Charlie! +Hold on! Are you mad?" + +"Come here, Crusoe!" cried his master in a decided tone. + +Crusoe obeyed at once. Whatever mistake there might be, there was +evidently none in that command; so he lowered his head and tail +humbly, and trotted on with his master, but he perpetually turned his +head as he went, first on this side and then on that, to look and +wonder at Charlie. + +When they were far away on the plain, Charlie suddenly became aware +that something was wrong. He trotted to the brow of a slope, with his +head and tail very high up indeed, and looked after them; then he +looked at the fire, and neighed; then he trotted quickly up to it, and +seeing that everything was gone he began to neigh violently, and at +last started off at full speed, and overtook his friends, passing +within a few feet of them, and, wheeling round a few yards off, stood +trembling like an aspen leaf. + +Dick called him by his name and advanced, while Charlie met him +half-way, and allowed himself to be saddled, bridled, and mounted +forthwith. + +After this Dick had no further trouble with his wild horse. + +At his next camping-place, which was in the midst of a cluster of +bushes close beside a creek, Dick came unexpectedly upon a little +wooden cross which marked the head of a grave. There was no +inscription on it, but the Christian symbol told that it was the grave +of a white man. It is impossible to describe the rush of mingled +feelings that filled the soul of the young hunter as he leaned on the +muzzle of his rifle and looked at this solitary resting-place of one +who, doubtless like himself, had been a roving hunter. Had he been +young or old when he fell? had he a mother in the distant settlement +who watched and longed and waited for the son that was never more to +gladden her eyes? had he been murdered, or had he died there and been +buried by his sorrowing comrades? These and a thousand questions +passed rapidly through his mind as he gazed at the little cross. + +Suddenly he started. "Could it be the grave of Joe or Henri?" For an +instant the idea sent a chill to his heart; but it passed quickly, for +a second glance showed that the grave was old, and that the wooden +cross had stood over it for years. + +Dick turned away with a saddened heart; and that night, as he pored +over the pages of his Bible, his mind was filled with many thoughts +about eternity and the world to come. He, too, must come to the grave +one day, and quit the beautiful prairies and his loved rifle. It was a +sad thought; but while he meditated he thought upon his mother. "After +all," he murmured, "there must be happiness _without_ the rifle, and +youth, and health, and the prairie! My mother's happy, yet she don't +shoot, or ride like wild-fire over the plains." Then that word which +had been sent so sweetly to him through her hand came again to his +mind, "My son, give me thine heart;" and as he read God's Book, he met +with the word, "Delight thyself in the Lord, and he shall give thee +the desire of thine heart." "_The desire of thine heart_" Dick +repeated this, and pondered it till he fell asleep. + +A misfortune soon after this befell Dick Varley which well-nigh caused +him to give way to despair. For some time past he had been approaching +the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains--those ragged, jagged, +mighty hills which run through the whole continent from north to south +in a continuous chain, and form, as it were, the backbone of America. +One morning, as he threw the buffalo robe off his shoulders and sat +up, he was horrified to find the whole earth covered with a mantle +of snow. We say he was horrified, for this rendered it absolutely +impossible any further to trace his companions either by scent or +sight. + +For some time he sat musing bitterly on his sad fate, while his dog +came and laid his head sympathizingly on his arm. + +"Ah, pup!" he said, "I know ye'd help me if ye could! But it's all up +now; there's no chance of findin' them--none!" + +To this Crusoe replied by a low whine. He knew full well that +something distressed his master, but he hadn't yet ascertained what +it was. As something had to be done, Dick put the buffalo robe on +his steed, and mounting said, as he was in the habit of doing each +morning, "Lead on, pup." + +Crusoe put his nose to the ground and ran forward a few paces, then he +returned and ran about snuffing and scraping up the snow. At last he +looked up and uttered a long melancholy howl. + +"Ah! I knowed it," said Dick, pushing forward. "Come on, pup; you'll +have to _follow_ now. Any way we must go on." + +The snow that had fallen was not deep enough to offer the slightest +obstruction to their advance. It was, indeed, only one of those +occasional showers common to that part of the country in the late +autumn, which season had now crept upon Dick almost before he was +aware of it, and he fully expected that it would melt away in a few +days. In this hope he kept steadily advancing, until he found himself +in the midst of those rocky fastnesses which divide the waters that +flow into the Atlantic from those that flow into the Pacific Ocean. +Still the slight crust of snow lay on the ground, and he had no means +of knowing whether he was going in the right direction or not. + +Game was abundant, and there was no lack of wood now, so that his +night bivouac was not so cold or dreary as might have been expected. + +Travelling, however, had become difficult, and even dangerous, owing +to the rugged nature of the ground over which he proceeded. The +scenery had completely changed in its character. Dick no longer +coursed over the free, open plains, but he passed through beautiful +valleys filled with luxuriant trees, and hemmed in by stupendous +mountains, whose rugged sides rose upward until the snow-clad peaks +pierced the clouds. + +There was something awful in these dark solitudes, quite overwhelming +to a youth of Dick's temperament. His heart began to sink lower and +lower every day, and the utter impossibility of making up his mind +what to do became at length agonizing. To have turned and gone back +the hundreds of miles over which he had travelled would have caused +him some anxiety under any circumstances, but to do so while Joe and +Henri were either wandering about there or in the power of the savages +was, he felt, out of the question. Yet in which way should he go? +Whatever course he took might lead him farther and farther away from +them. + +In this dilemma he came to the determination of remaining where he +was, at least until the snow should leave the ground. + +He felt great relief even when this hopeless course was decided +upon, and set about making himself an encampment with some degree of +cheerfulness. When he had completed this task, he took his rifle, and +leaving Charlie picketed in the centre of a dell, where the long, rich +grass rose high above the snow, went off to hunt. + +On turning a rocky point his heart suddenly bounded into his throat, +for there, not thirty yards distant, stood a huge grizzly bear! + +Yes, there he was at last, the monster to meet which the young hunter +had so often longed--the terrible size and fierceness of which he had +heard so often spoken about by the old hunters. There it stood at +last; but little did Dick Varley think that the first time he should +meet with his foe should be when alone in the dark recesses of the +Rocky Mountains, and with none to succour him in the event of the +battle going against him. Yes, there was one. The faithful Crusoe +stood by his side, with his hair bristling, all his formidable teeth +exposed, and his eyes glaring in their sockets. Alas for poor Crusoe +had he gone into that combat alone! One stroke of that monster's paw +would have hurled him dead upon the ground. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +_Dick's first fight with a grizzly_--_Adventure with a deer_--_A +surprise_. + + +There is no animal in all the land so terrible and dangerous as the +grizzly bear. Not only is he the largest of the species in America, +but he is the fiercest, the strongest, and the most tenacious of +life--facts which are so well understood that few of the western +hunters like to meet him single-handed, unless they happen to be +first-rate shots; and the Indians deem the encounter so dangerous that +to wear a collar composed of the claws of a grizzly bear of his own +killing is counted one of the highest honours to which a young warrior +can attain. + +The grizzly bear resembles the brown bear of Europe, but it is larger, +and the hair is long, the points being of a paler shade. About the +head there is a considerable mixture of gray hair, giving it the +"grizzly" appearance from which it derives its name. The claws are +dirty white, arched, and very long, and so strong that when the animal +strikes with its paw they cut like a chisel. These claws are not +embedded in the paw, as is the case with the cat, but always project +far beyond the hair, thus giving to the foot a very ungainly +appearance. They are not sufficiently curved to enable the grizzly +bear to climb trees, like the black and brown bears; and this +inability on their part is often the only hope of the pursued hunter, +who, if he succeeds in ascending a tree, is safe, for the time at +least, from the bear's assaults. But "Caleb" is a patient creature, +and will often wait at the foot of the tree for many hours for his +victim. + +The average length of his body is about nine feet, but he sometimes +attains to a still larger growth. Caleb is more carnivorous in his +habits than other bears; but, like them, he does not object to indulge +occasionally in vegetable diet, being partial to the bird-cherry, the +choke-berry, and various shrubs. He has a sweet tooth, too, and revels +in honey--when he can get it. + +The instant the grizzly bear beheld Dick Varley standing in his path, +he rose on his hind legs and made a loud hissing noise, like a man +breathing quick, but much harsher. To this Crusoe replied by a deep +growl, and showing the utmost extent of his teeth, gums and all; and +Dick cocked both barrels of his rifle. + +To say that Dick Varley felt no fear would be simply to make him out +that sort of hero which does not exist in nature--namely, a _perfect_ +hero. He _did_ feel a sensation as if his bowels had suddenly melted +into water! Let not our reader think the worse of Dick for this. There +is not a man living who, having met with a huge grizzly bear for the +first time in his life in a wild, solitary place, all alone, has +not experienced some such sensation. There was no cowardice in this +feeling. + +Fear is not cowardice. Acting in a wrong and contemptible manner +because of our fear is cowardice. + +It is said that Wellington or Napoleon, we forget which, once stood +watching the muster of the men who were to form the forlorn-hope in +storming a citadel. There were many brave, strong, stalwart men there, +in the prime of life, and flushed with the blood of high health and +courage. There were also there a few stern-browed men of riper years, +who stood perfectly silent, with lips compressed, and as pale as +death. "Yonder veterans," said the general, pointing to these +soldiers, "are men whose courage I can depend on; they _know_ what +they are going to, the others _don't!_" Yes, these young soldiers +_very probably_ were brave; the others _certainly_ were. + +Dick Varley stood for a few seconds as if thunderstruck, while the +bear stood hissing at him. Then the liquefaction of his interior +ceased, and he felt a glow of fire gush through his veins. Now Dick +knew well enough that to fly from a grizzly bear was the sure and +certain way of being torn to pieces, as when taken thus by surprise +they almost invariably follow a retreating enemy. He also knew that +if he stood where he was, perfectly still, the bear would get +uncomfortable under his stare, and would retreat from him. But he +neither intended to run away himself nor to allow the bear to do so; +he intended to kill it, so he raised his rifle quickly, "drew a bead," +as the hunters express it, on the bear's heart, and fired. + +It immediately dropped on its fore legs and rushed at him. "Back, +Crusoe! out of the way, pup!" shouted Dick, as his favourite was about +to spring forward. + +The dog retired, and Dick leaped behind a tree. As the bear passed he +gave it the contents of the second barrel behind the shoulder, which +brought it down; but in another moment it rose and again rushed at +him. Dick had no time to load, neither had he time to spring up the +thick tree beside which he stood, and the rocky nature of the ground +out of which it grew rendered it impossible to dodge round it. His +only resource was flight; but where was he to fly to? If he ran along +the open track, the bear would overtake him in a few seconds. On the +right was a sheer precipice one hundred feet high; on the left was an +impenetrable thicket. In despair he thought for an instant of clubbing +his rifle and meeting the monster in close conflict; but the utter +hopelessness of such an effort was too apparent to be entertained for +a moment. He glanced up at the overhanging cliffs. There were one or +two rents and projections close above him. In the twinkling of an eye +he sprang up and grasped a ledge of about an inch broad, ten or twelve +feet up, to which he clung while he glanced upward. Another projection +was within reach; he gained it, and in a few seconds he stood upon a +ledge about twenty feet up the cliff, where he had just room to plant +his feet firmly. + +Without waiting to look behind, he seized his powder-horn and loaded +one barrel of his rifle; and well was it for him that his early +training had fitted him to do this with rapidity, for the bear dashed +up the precipice after him at once. The first time it missed its hold, +and fell back with a savage growl; but on the second attempt it sunk +its long claws into the fissures between the rocks, and ascended +steadily till within a foot of the place where Dick stood. + +At this moment Crusoe's obedience gave way before a sense of Dick's +danger. Uttering one of his lion-like roars, he rushed up the +precipice with such violence that, although naturally unable to climb, +he reached and seized the bear's flank, despite his master's stern +order to "keep back," and in a moment the two rolled down the face of +the rock together, just as Dick completed loading. + +Knowing that one stroke of the bear's paw would be certain death to +his poor dog, Dick leaped from his perch, and with one bound reached +the ground at the same moment with the struggling animals, and close +beside them, and, before they had ceased rolling, he placed the muzzle +of his rifle into the bear's ear, and blew out its brains. + +Crusoe, strange to say, escaped with only one scratch on the side. It +was a deep one, but not dangerous, and gave him but little pain at the +time, although it caused him many a smart for some weeks after. + +Thus happily ended Dick's first encounter with a grizzly bear; and +although, in the course of his wild life, he shot many specimens of +"Caleb," he used to say that "he an' pup were never so near goin' +under as on the day he dropped _that_ bar!" + +Having refreshed himself with a long draught from a neighbouring +rivulet, and washed Crusoe's wound, Dick skinned the bear on the spot. +"We chawed him up that time, didn't we, pup?" said Dick, with a smile +of satisfaction, as he surveyed his prize. + +Crusoe looked up and assented to this. + +"Gave us a hard tussle, though; very nigh sent us both under, didn't +he, pup?" + +Crusoe agreed entirely, and, as if the remark reminded him of +honourable scars, he licked his wound. + +"Ah, pup!" cried Dick, sympathetically, "does't hurt ye, eh, poor +dog?" + +Hurt him? such a question! No, he should think not; better ask if that +leap from the precipice hurt yourself. + +So Crusoe might have said, but he didn't; he took no notice of the +remark whatever. + +"We'll cut him up now, pup," continued Dick. "The skin'll make a +splendid bed for you an' me o' nights, and a saddle for Charlie." + +Dick cut out all the claws of the bear by the roots, and spent the +remainder of that night in cleaning them and stringing them on a strip +of leather to form a necklace. Independently of the value of these +enormous claws (the largest as long as a man's middle finger) as an +evidence of prowess, they formed a remarkably graceful collar, which +Dick wore round his neck ever after with as much pride as if he had +been a Pawnee warrior. + +When it was finished he held it out at arm's-length, and said, +"Crusoe, my pup, ain't ye proud of it? I'll tell ye what it is, pup, +the next time you an' I floor Caleb, I'll put the claws round _your_ +neck, an' make ye wear em ever arter, so I will." + +The dog did not seem quite to appreciate this piece of prospective +good fortune. Vanity had no place in his honest breast, and, sooth to +say, it had not a large place in that of his master either, as we may +well grant when we consider that this first display of it was on the +occasion of his hunter's soul having at last realized its brightest +day-dream. + +Dick's dangers and triumphs seemed to accumulate on him rather thickly +at this place, for on the very next day he had a narrow escape of +being killed by a deer. The way of it was this. + +Having run short of meat, and not being particularly fond of grizzly +bear steak, he shouldered his rifle and sallied forth in quest of +game, accompanied by Crusoe, whose frequent glances towards his +wounded side showed that, whatever may have been the case the day +before, it "hurt" him now. + +They had not gone far when they came on the track of a deer in the +snow, and followed it up till they spied a magnificent buck about +three hundred yards off, standing in a level patch of ground which was +everywhere surrounded either by rocks or thicket. It was a long shot, +but as the nature of the ground rendered it impossible for Dick to get +nearer without being seen, he fired, and wounded the buck so badly +that he came up with it in a few minutes. The snow had drifted in the +place where it stood bolt upright, ready for a spring, so Dick went +round a little way, Crusoe following, till he was in a proper position +to fire again. Just as he pulled the trigger, Crusoe gave a howl +behind him and disturbed his aim, so that he feared he had missed; but +the deer fell, and he hurried towards it. On coming up, however, +the buck sprang to its legs, rushed at him with its hair bristling, +knocked him down in the snow, and deliberately commenced stamping him +to death. + +Dick was stunned for a moment, and lay quite still, so the deer left +off pommelling him, and stood looking at him. But the instant he moved +it plunged at him again and gave him another pounding, until he was +content to lie still. This was done several times, and Dick felt his +strength going fast. He was surprised that Crusoe did not come to his +rescue, and once he cleared his mouth and whistled to him; but as the +deer gave him another pounding for this, he didn't attempt it again. +He now for the first time bethought him of his knife, and quietly drew +it from his belt; but the deer observed the motion, and was on him +again in a moment. Dick, however, sprang up on his left elbow, and +making several desperate thrusts upward, succeeded in stabbing the +animal to the heart. + +Rising and shaking the snow from his garments, he whistled loudly to +Crusoe, and, on listening, heard him whining piteously. He hurried +to the place whence the sound came, and found that the poor dog +had fallen into a deep pit or crevice in the rocks, which had been +concealed from view by a crust of snow, and he was now making frantic +but unavailing efforts to leap out. + +Dick soon freed him from his prison by means of his belt, which he +let down for the dog to grasp, and then returned to camp with as much +deer-meat as he could carry. Dear meat it certainly was to him, for +it had nearly cost him his life, and left him all black and blue +for weeks after. Happily no bones were broken, so the incident only +confined him a day to his encampment. + +Soon after this the snow fell thicker than ever, and it became +evident that an unusually early winter was about to set in among the +mountains. This was a terrible calamity, for if the regular snow of +winter set in, it would be impossible for him either to advance or +retreat. + +While he was sitting on his bearskin by the camp-fire one day, +thinking anxiously what he should do, and feeling that he must either +make the attempt to escape or perish miserably in that secluded spot, +a strange, unwonted sound struck upon his ear, and caused both him +and Crusoe to spring violently to their feet and listen. Could he be +dreaming?--it seemed like the sound of human voices. For a moment he +stood with his eyes rivetted on the ground, his lips apart, and his +nostrils distended, as he listened with the utmost intensity. Then he +darted out and bounded round the edge of a rock which concealed +an extensive but narrow valley from his view, and there, to his +amazement, he beheld a band of about a hundred human beings advancing +on horseback slowly through the snow. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +_A surprise, and a piece of good news--The fur-traders--Crusoe proved, +and the Peigans pursued_. + + +Dick's first and most natural impulse, on beholding this band, was to +mount his horse and fly, for his mind naturally enough recurred to the +former rough treatment he had experienced at the hands of Indians. On +second thoughts, however, he considered it wiser to throw himself upon +the hospitality of the strangers; "for," thought he, "they can but +kill me, an' if I remain here I'm like to die at any rate." + +So Dick mounted his wild horse, grasped his rifle in his right hand, +and, followed by Crusoe, galloped full tilt down the valley to meet +them. + +He had heard enough of the customs of savage tribes, and had also of +late experienced enough, to convince him that when a man found himself +in the midst of an overwhelming force, his best policy was to assume +an air of confident courage. He therefore approached them at his +utmost speed. + +The effect upon the advancing band was electrical; and little wonder, +for the young hunter's appearance was very striking. His horse, from +having rested a good deal of late, was full of spirit. Its neck was +arched, its nostrils expanded, and its mane and tail never having been +checked in their growth flew wildly around him in voluminous curls. +Dick's own hair, not having been clipped for many months, appeared +scarcely less wild, as they thundered down the rocky pass at what +appeared a break-neck gallop. Add to this the grandeur of the scene +out of which they sprang, and the gigantic dog that bounded by his +side, and you will not be surprised to hear that the Indian warriors +clustered together, and prepared to receive this bold horseman as if +he, in his own proper person, were a complete squadron of cavalry. It +is probable, also, that they fully expected the tribe of which Dick +was the chief to be at his heels. + +As he drew near the excitement among the strangers seemed very great, +and, from the peculiarity of the various cries that reached him, he +knew that there were women and children in the band--a fact which, in +such a place and at such a season, was so unnatural that it surprised +him very much. He noted also that, though the men in front were +Indians, their dresses were those of trappers and hunters, and he +almost leaped out of his saddle when he observed that "_Pale-faces_" +were among them. But he had barely time to note these facts when he +was up with the band. According to Indian custom, he did not check his +speed till he was within four or five yards of the advance-guard, who +stood in a line before him, quite still, and with their rifles lying +loosely in their left palms; then he reined his steed almost on its +haunches. + +One of the Indians advanced and spoke a few words in a language which +was quite unintelligible to Dick, who replied, in the little Pawnee he +could muster, that he didn't understand him. + +"Why, you must be a trapper!" exclaimed a thick-set, middle-aged man, +riding out from the group. "Can you speak English?" + +"Ay, that can I," cried Dick joyfully, riding up and shaking the +stranger heartily by the hand; "an' right glad am I to fall in wi' a +white-skin an' a civil tongue in his head." + +"Good sooth, sir," replied the stranger, with a quiet smile on his +kind, weather-beaten face, "I can return you the compliment; for when +I saw you come thundering down the corrie with that wonderful horse +and no less wonderful dog of yours, I thought you were the wild man o' +the mountain himself, and had an ambush ready to back you. But, young +man, do you mean to say that you live here in the mountain all alone +after this fashion?" + +"No, that I don't. I've comed here in my travels, but truly this +bean't my home. But, sir (for I see you are what the fur-traders call +a bourgeois), how comes it that such a band as this rides i' the +mountains? D'ye mean to say that _they_ live here?" Dick looked round +in surprise, as he spoke, upon the crowd of mounted men and women, +with children and pack-horses, that now surrounded him. + +"'Tis a fair question, lad. I am a principal among the fur-traders +whose chief trading-post lies near the Pacific Ocean, on the west side +of these mountains; and I have come with these trappers and their +families, as you see, to hunt the beaver and other animals for a +season in the mountains. We've never been here before; but that's a +matter of little moment, for it's not the first time I've been on +what may be called a discovery-trading expedition. We are somewhat +entangled, however, just now among these wild passes, and if you can +guide us out of our difficulties to the east side of the mountains, +I'll thank you heartily and pay you well. But first tell me who and +what you are, if it's a fair question." + +"My name is Dick Varley, and my home's in the Mustang Valley, near +the Missouri River. As to _what_ I am--I'm nothin' yet, but I hope to +desarve the name o' a hunter some day. I can guide you to the east +side o' the mountains, for I've comed from there; but more than that I +can't do, for I'm a stranger to the country here, like yourself. But +you're on the east side o' the mountains already, if I mistake not; +only these mountains are so rugged and jumbled up, that it's not easy +tellin' where ye are. And what," continued Dick, "may be the name o' +the bourgeois who speaks to me?" + +"My name is Cameron--Walter Cameron--a well-known name among the +Scottish hills, although it sounds a little strange here. And now, +young man, will you join my party as guide, and afterwards remain as +trapper? It will pay you better, I think, than roving about alone." + +Dick shook his head and looked grave. "I'll guide you," said he, "as +far as my knowledge 'll help me; but after that I must return to look +for two comrades whom I have lost. They have been driven into the +mountains by a band of Injuns. God grant they may not have bin +scalped!" + +The trader's face looked troubled, and he spoke with one of his +Indians for a few minutes in earnest, hurried tones. + +"What were they like, young man?" + +Dick described them. + +"The same," continued the trader. "They've been seen, lad, not more +than two days ago, by this Indian here, when he was out hunting alone +some miles away from our camp. He came suddenly on a band of Indians +who had two prisoners with them, such as you describe. They were +stout, said you?" + +"Yes, both of them," cried Dick, listening with intense eagerness. + +"Ay. They were tied to their horses, an' from what I know of these +fellows I'm sure they're doomed. But I'll help you, my friend, as well +as I can. They can't be far from this. I treated my Indian's story +about them as a mere fabrication, for he's the most notorious liar in +my company; but he seems to have spoken truth for once." + +"Thanks, thanks, good sir," cried Dick. "Had we not best turn back and +follow them at once?" + +"Nay, friend, not quite so fast," replied Cameron, pointing to his +people. "These must be provided for first, but I shall be ready before +the sun goes down. And now, as I presume you don't bivouac in the +snow, will you kindly conduct us to your encampment, if it be not far +hence?" + +Although burning with impatience to fly to the rescue of his friends, +Dick felt constrained to comply with so reasonable a request, so +he led the way to his camping-place, where the band of fur-traders +immediately began to pitch their tents, cut down wood, kindle fires, +fill their kettles with water, cook their food, and, in fact, make +themselves comfortable. The wild spot which, an hour before, had been +so still, and grand, and gloomy, was now, as if by magic, transformed +into a bustling village, with bright fires blazing among the rocks and +bushes, and merry voices of men, women, and children ringing in +the air. It seemed almost incredible, and no wonder Dick, in his +bewilderment, had difficulty in believing it was not all a dream. + +In days long gone by the fur-trade in that country was carried on in a +very different way from the manner in which it is now conducted. These +wild regions, indeed, are still as lonesome and untenanted (save by +wild beasts and wandering tribes of Indians) as they were then; +but the Indians of the present day have become accustomed to the +"Pale-face" trader, whose little wooden forts or trading-posts are +dotted here and there, at wide intervals, all over the land. But in +the days of which we write it was not so. The fur-traders at that time +went forth in armed bands into the heart of the Indians' country, and +he who went forth did so "with his life in his hand." As in the case +of the soldier who went out to battle, there was great probability +that he might never return. + +The band of which Walter Cameron was the chief had, many months +before, started from one of the distant posts of Oregon on a hunting +expedition into the then totally unknown lands of the Snake Indians. +It consisted of about sixty men, thirty women, and as many children +of various ages--about a hundred and twenty souls in all. Many of the +boys were capable of using the gun and setting a beaver-trap. The men +were a most motley set. There were Canadians, half-breeds, Iroquois, +and Scotchmen. Most of the women had Indian blood in their veins, and +a few were pure Indians. + +The equipment of this strange band consisted of upwards of two +hundred beaver-traps--which are similar to our rat-traps, with this +difference, that they have two springs and no teeth--seventy guns, a +few articles for trade with the Indians, and a large supply of powder +and ball; the whole--men, women, children, goods, and chattels--being +carried on the backs of nearly four hundred horses. Many of these +horses, at starting, were not laden, being designed for the transport +of furs that were to be taken in the course of the season. + +For food this adventurous party depended entirely on their guns, and +during the march hunters were kept constantly out ahead. As a matter +of course, their living was precarious. Sometimes their kettles were +overflowing; at others they scarce refrained from eating their horses. +But during the months they had already spent in the wilderness good +living had been the rule, starvation the exception. They had already +collected a large quantity of beaver skins, which at that time were +among the most valuable in the market, although they are now scarcely +saleable! Having shot two wild horses, seven elks, six small deer, and +four big-horned sheep the day before they met Dick Varley, the camp +kettles were full, and the people consequently happy. + +"Now, Master Dick Varley," said Cameron, touching the young hunter on +the shoulder as he stood ready equipped by one of the camp-fires, +"I'm at your service. The people won't need any more looking after +to-night. I'll divide my men--thirty shall go after this rascally band +of Peigans, for such I believe they are, and thirty shall remain to +guard the camp. Are you ready?" + +"Ready! ay, this hour past." + +"Mount then, lad; the men have already been told off, and are +mustering down yonder where the deer gave you such a licking." + +Dick needed no second bidding. He vaulted on Charlie's back, and along +with their commander joined the men, who were thirty as fine, hardy, +reckless looking fellows as one could desire for a forlorn-hope. +They were chatting and laughing while they examined their guns and +saddle-girths. Their horses were sorry looking animals compared with +the magnificent creature that Dick bestrode, but they were hardy, +nevertheless, and well fitted for their peculiar work. + +"My! wot a blazer!" exclaimed a trapper as Dick rode up. + +"Where you git him?" inquired a half-breed. + +"I caught him," answered Dick. + +"Baw!" cried the first speaker. + +Dick took no notice of this last remark. + +"No, did ye though?" he asked again. + +"I did," answered Dick quietly. "I creased him in the prairie; you can +see the mark on his neck if you look." + +The men began to feel that the young hunter was perhaps a little +beyond them at their own trade, and regarded him with increased +respect. + +"Look sharp now, lads," said Cameron, impatiently, to several dilatory +members of the band. "Night will be on us ere long." + +"Who sold ye the bear-claw collar?" inquired another man of Dick. + +"I didn't buy it. I killed the bear and made it." + +"Did ye, though, all be yer lone?" + +"Ay; that wasn't much, was it?" + +"You've begun well, yonker," said a tall, middle-aged hunter, whose +general appearance was not unlike that of Joe Blunt. "Jest keep clear +o' the Injuns an' the grog bottle, an' ye've a glor'ous life before +ye." + +At this point the conversation was interrupted by the order being +given to move on, which was obeyed in silence, and the cavalcade, +descending the valley, entered one of the gorges in the mountains. + +For the first half-mile Cameron rode a little ahead of his men, then +he turned to speak to one of them, and for the first time observed +Crusoe trotting close beside his master's horse. + +"Ah! Master Dick," he exclaimed with a troubled expression, "that +won't do. It would never do to take a dog on an expedition like this." + +"Why not?" asked Dick; "the pup's quiet and peaceable." + +"I doubt it not; but he will betray our presence to the Indians, which +might be inconvenient." + +"I have travelled more than a thousand miles through prairie and +forest, among game an' among Injuns, an' the pup never betrayed me +yet," said Dick, with suppressed vehemence. "He has saved my life more +than once though." + +"You seem to have perfect confidence in your dog, but as this is a +serious matter you must not expect me to share in it without proof of +his trustworthiness." + +"The pup may be useful to us; how would you have it proved?" inquired +Dick. + +"Any way you like." + +"You forgot your belt at starting, I think I heerd ye say." + +"Yes, I did," replied the trader, smiling. + +Dick immediately took hold of Cameron's coat, and bade Crusoe smell +it, which the dog did very carefully. Then he showed him his own belt +and said, "Go back to the camp and fetch it, pup." + +Crusoe was off in a moment, and in less than twenty minutes returned +with Cameron's belt in his mouth. + +"Well, I'll trust him," said Cameron, patting Crusoe's head. "Forward, +lads!" and away they went at a brisk trot along the bottom of a +beautiful valley on each side of which the mountains towered in dark +masses. Soon the moon rose and afforded light sufficient to enable +them to travel all night in the track of the Indian hunter who said he +had seen the Peigans, and who was constituted guide to the party. Hour +after hour the horsemen pressed on without check, now galloping over a +level plain, now bounding by the banks of a rivulet, or bending their +heads to escape the boughs of overhanging trees, and anon toiling +slowly up among the rocks of some narrow defile. At last the moon set, +and the order was given to halt in a little plain where there were +wood and water. + +The horses were picketed, a fire kindled, a mouthful of dried meat +hastily eaten, the watch was set, and then each man scraped away the +snow, spread some branches on the ground, and wrapping himself in his +blanket, went to sleep with his feet presented towards the fire. + +Two hours were allowed for rest; then they were awakened, and in a few +minutes were off again by the gray light of dawn. In this way they +travelled two nights and a day. At the end of that time they came +suddenly on a small party of nine Indians, who were seated on the +ground with their snow-shoes and blankets by their sides. They had +evidently been taken by surprise, but they made no attempt to escape, +knowing that it was useless. Each sat still with his bow and arrows +between his legs on the ground ready for instant use. + +As soon as Cameron spoke, however, in their own language they felt +relieved, and began to talk. + +"Where do you come from, and what are you doing here?" asked the +trader. + +"We have come to trade with the white men," one of them replied, "and +to hunt. We have come from the Missouri. Our country is far away." + +"Do Peigans hunt with _war-arrows?_" asked Cameron, pointing to their +weapons. + +This question seemed to perplex them, for they saw that their +interrogator knew the difference between a war and a hunting +arrow--the former being barbed in order to render its extraction from +the wound difficult, while the head of the latter is round, and can be +drawn out of game that has been killed, and used again. + +"And do Peigans," continued Cameron, "come from a far country to trade +with the white men _with nothing?_" + +Again the Indians were silent, for they had not an article to trade +about them. + +Cameron now felt convinced that this party of Peigans, into whose +hands Joe Blunt and Henri had fallen, were nothing else than a war +party, and that the men now before him were a scouting party sent out +from them, probably to spy out his own camp, on the trail of which +they had fallen, so he said to them:-- + +"The Peigans are not wise men; they tell lies to the traders. I +will tell you that you are a war party, and that you are only a +few warriors sent out to spy the traders' camp. You have also two +_Pale-face_ prisoners in your camp. You cannot deceive me. It is +useless to try. Now, conduct me to your camp. My object is not war; it +is peace. I will speak with your chiefs about trading with the white +men, and we will smoke the pipe of peace. Are my words good?" + +Despite their proverbial control of muscle, these Indians could not +conceal their astonishment at hearing so much of their affairs thus +laid bare; so they said that the Pale-face chief was wise, that he +must be a great medicine man, and that what he said was all true +except about the white men. They had never seen any Pale-faces, and +knew nothing whatever about those he spoke of. + +This was a terrible piece of news to poor Dick, and at first his heart +fairly sank within him, but by degrees he came to be more hopeful. He +concluded that if these men told lies in regard to one thing, they +would do it in regard to another, and perhaps they might have some +strong reason for denying any knowledge of Joe and Henri. + +The Indians now packed up the buffalo robes on which they had slept, +and the mouthful of provisions they had taken with them. + +"I don't believe a word of what they say about your friends," said +Cameron to Dick in a low tone while the Indians were thus engaged. +"Depend upon it they hope to hide them till they can send to the +settlements and get a ransom, or till they get an opportunity of +torturing them to death before their women and children when they get +back to their own village. But we'll balk them, my friend, do not +fear." + +The Indians were soon ready to start, for they were cumbered with +marvellously little camp equipage. In less than half-an-hour after +their discovery they were running like deer ahead of the cavalcade in +the direction of the Peigan camp. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +_Adventures with the Peigans_--_Crusoe does good service as a +discoverer_--_The savages outwitted_--_The rescue_. + + +A run of twenty miles brought the travellers to a rugged defile in +the mountains, from which they had a view of a beautiful valley of +considerable extent. During the last two days a steady thaw had been +rapidly melting away the snow, so that it appeared only here and +there in the landscape in dazzling patches. At the distance of about +half-a-mile from where they halted to breathe the horses before +commencing the descent into this vale, several thin wreaths of smoke +were seen rising above the trees. + +"Is that your camp?" inquired Cameron, riding up to the Indian +runners, who stood in a group in front, looking as fresh after their +twenty miles' run as though they had only had a short walk. + +To this they answered in the affirmative, adding that there were about +two hundred Peigans there. + +It might have been thought that thirty men would have hesitated to +venture to attack so large a number as two hundred; but it had always +been found in the experience of Indian life that a few resolute white +men well armed were more than a match for ten times their number of +Indians. And this arose not so much from the superior strength or +agility of the Whites over their red foes, as from that bull-dog +courage and utter recklessness of their lives in combat--qualities +which the crafty savage can neither imitate nor understand. The +information was received with perfect indifference by most of the +trappers, and with contemptuous laughter by some; for a large number +of Cameron's men were wild, evil-disposed fellows, who would have as +gladly taken the life of an Indian as that of a buffalo. + +Just as the word was given to resume the march, Dick Varley rode up to +Cameron and said in a somewhat anxious tone,-- + +"D'ye obsarve, sir, that one o' the Redskins has gone off ahead o' his +comrades?" + +"I see that, Master Dick; and it was a mistake of mine not to have +stopped him, but he was gone too far before I observed it, and I +thought it better to appear unconcerned. We must push on, though, and +give him as short time as possible to talk with his comrades in the +camp." + +The trappers pressed forward accordingly at a gallop, and were soon in +front of the clump of trees amongst which the Peigans were encamped. +Their approach had evidently spread great alarm among them, for there +was a good deal of bustle and running to and fro; but by the time the +trappers had dismounted and advanced in a body on foot, the savages +had resumed their usual quiet dignity of appearance, and were seated +calmly round their fires with their bows and arrows beside them. There +were no tents, no women or children, and the general aspect of the men +showed Cameron conclusively that his surmise about their being a war +party was correct. + +A council was immediately called. The trappers ranged themselves on +one side of the council fire and the Indians on the other. Meanwhile, +our friend Crusoe had been displaying considerable irritability +against the Indians, and he would certainly have attacked the whole +two hundred single-handed if he had not been ordered by his master to +lie still; but never in his life before had Crusoe obeyed with such a +bad grace. He bristled and whined in a low tremulous tone, and looked +imploringly at Dick as if for permission to fly at them. + +"The Pale-face traders are glad to meet with the Peigans," began +Cameron, who determined to make no allusion to his knowledge that they +were a war party, "for they wish to be friends with all the children +of the woods and prairies. They wish to trade with them--to exchange +blankets, and guns, and beads, and other goods which the Peigans +require, for furs of animals which the Pale-faces require." + +"Ho! ho!" exclaimed the Indians, which expression might be translated, +"Hear! hear!" + +"But," continued Cameron, "we wish to have no war. We wish to see the +hatchet buried, and to see all the red men and the white men smoking +the pipe of peace, and hunting like brothers." + +The "Ho--ho--ing" at this was very emphatic. + +"Now," resumed the trader, "the Peigans have got two prisoners--two +Pale-faces--in their camp, and as we cannot be on good terms while our +brothers are detained, we have come to ask for them, and to _present +some gifts_ to the Peigans." + +To this there was no "Ho" at all, but a prolonged silence, which was +at length interrupted by a tall chief stepping forward to address the +trappers. + +"What the Pale-face chief has said is good," began the Indian. "His +words are wise, and his heart is not double. The Red-men are willing +to smoke the pipe of peace, and to hunt with all men as brothers, but +they cannot do it while many of their scalps are hanging in the lodges +of their enemies and fringing the robes of the warriors. The Peigans +must have vengeance; then they will make peace." + +After a short pause he continued,-- + +"The chief is wrong when he says there are Pale-faces in the Peigan +camp. The Peigans are not at war with the Pale-faces; neither have +they seen any on their march. The camp is open. Let the Pale-faces +look round and see that what we say is true." + +The chief waved his hand towards his warriors as he concluded, as if +to say, "Search amongst them. There are no Pale-faces there." + +Cameron now spoke to Dick in a low tone. "They speak confidently," he +said, "and I fear greatly that your poor comrades have either been +killed or conveyed away from the camp and hidden among the mountains, +in which case, even though they should not be far off, it would be +next to impossible to find them, especially when such a band of +rascals is near, compelling us to keep together. But I'll try what a +little tempting them with goods will do. At any rate, we shan't give +in without a scuffle." + +It now, for the first time, flashed across Dick Varley that there was +something more than he imagined in Crusoe's restless anxiety, which +had not in the least abated, and the idea of making use of him now +occurred to his mind. + +"I've a notion that I'll settle this matter in a shorter time than you +think," he said hurriedly, "if you'll agree to try what _threatening_ +will do." + +The trader looked grave and undecided. "I never resort to that except +as a last hope," he answered; "but I've a good deal of confidence in +your prudence. What would you advise?" + +Dick and the trader whispered a few minutes together, while some of +the men, in order to show the Indians how perfectly unconcerned they +were, and how ready for _anything_, took out their pipes and began +to smoke. Both parties were seated on the ground, and during this +interval the Indians also held eager discussion. + +At length Cameron stood up, and said to his men in a quiet tone, "Be +ready, lads, for instant action. When I give the word 'Up,' spring to +your feet and cock your guns; but _don't fire a shot till you get the +word_." He then stepped forward and said,-- + +"The Peigan warriors are double-tongued; they know that they have hid +the Pale-face prisoners. We do not wish to quarrel, but if they are +not delivered up at once the Pale-faces and the Peigans will not be +friends." + +Upon this the Indian chief again stood forward and said, "The Peigans +are _not_ double-tongued. They have not seen Pale-faces till to-day. +They can say no more." + +Without moving hand or foot, Cameron then said in a firm tone, "The +first Peigan that moves shall die! Up, lads, and ready!" + +In the twinkling of an eye the trappers sprang to their feet, and +cocking their rifles stood perfectly motionless, scowling at the +savages, who were completely taken by surprise at the unusual +suddenness and informality of such a declaration of war. Not a man +moved, for, unlike white men, they seldom risk their lives in open +fight; and as they looked at the formidable row of muzzles that waited +but a word to send instant death into their midst, they felt that +discretion was at that time the better part of valour. + +"Now," said Cameron, while Dick Varley and Crusoe stepped up beside +him, "my young warrior will search for the Pale-face prisoners. If +they are found, we will take them and go away. If they are not found, +we will ask the Peigans to forgive us, and will give them gifts. But +in the meantime, if a Peigan moves from the spot where he sits, or +lifts a bow, my young men shall fire, and the Peigans know that the +rifle of the Pale-face always kills." + +Without waiting for an answer, Dick immediately said, "Seek 'em out, +pup," and Crusoe bounded away. + +For a few minutes he sprang hither and thither through the camp, quite +regardless of the Indians, and snuffed the air several times, whining +in an excited tone, as if to relieve his feelings. Then he put his +nose to the ground and ran straight forward into the woods. + +Dick immediately bounded after him like a deer, while the trappers +kept silent guard over the savages. + +For some time Crusoe ran straight forward. Then he came to a spot +where there was a good deal of drifted snow on the ground. Here +he seemed to lose the trail for a little, and ran about in all +directions, whining in a most piteous tone. + +"Seek 'em out, pup," repeated Dick encouragingly, while his own breast +heaved with excitement and expectation. + +In a few seconds the dog resumed its onward course, and led the +way into a wild, dark spot, which was so overshadowed by trees and +precipitous cliffs that the light of the sun scarce found entrance. +There were many huge masses of rock scattered over the ground, which +had fallen from the cliffs. Behind one of these lay a mound of dried +leaves, towards which Crusoe darted and commenced scraping violently. + +Trembling with dread that he should find this to be the grave of his +murdered companions, Dick rushed forward and hastily cleared away the +leaves. The first handful thrown off revealed part of the figure of a +man. Dick's heart beat audibly as he cleared the leaves from the face, +and he uttered a suppressed cry on beholding the well-known features +of Joe Blunt. But they were not those of a dead man. Joe's eyes met +his with a scowl of anger, which instantly gave place to one of +intense surprise. + +"Joe Blunt!" exclaimed Dick in a voice of intense amazement, while +Crusoe snuffed round the heap of leaves and whined with excitement. +But Joe did not move, neither did he speak a word in reply--for the +very good reason that his mouth was tightly bound with a band of +leather, his hands and feet were tied, and his whole body was secured +in a rigid, immovable position by being bound to a pole of about his +own length. + +In a moment Dick's knife was out, bands and cords were severed, and +Joe Blunt was free. + +"Thank God!" exclaimed Joe with a deep, earnest sigh, the instant his +lips were loosened, "and thanks to _you_, lad!" he added, endeavouring +to rise; but his limbs had become so benumbed in consequence of the +cords by which they had been compressed that for some time he could +not move. + +"I'll rub ye, Joe; I'll soon rub ye into a right state," said Dick, +going down on his knees. + +"No, no, lad, look sharp and dig up Henri. He's just beside me here." + +Dick immediately rose, and pushing aside the heap of leaves, found +Henri securely bound in the same fashion. But he could scarce refrain +from laughing at the expression of that worthy's face. Hearing the +voices of Joe and Dick Varley in conversation, though unable to see +their persons, he was filled with such unbounded amazement that his +eyes, when uncovered, were found to be at their largest possible +stretch, and as for the eyebrows they were gone, utterly lost among +the roots of his voluminous hair. + +"Henri, friend, I knew I should find ye," said Dick, cutting the +thongs that bound him. "Get up if ye can; we haven't much time +to lose, an' mayhap we'll have to fight afore we're done wi' the +Redskins. Can ye rise?" + +Henri could do nothing but lie on his back and gasp, "Eh! possible! +mon frere! Oh, non, non, _not_ possible. Oui! my broder Deek!" + +Here he attempted to rise, but being unable fell back again, and the +whole thing came so suddenly, and made so deep an impression on his +impulsive mind, that he incontinently burst into tears; then he burst +into a long laugh. Suddenly he paused, and scrambling up to a sitting +posture, looked earnestly into Dick's face through his tearful eyes. + +"Oh, non, non!" he exclaimed, stretching himself out at full length +again, and closing his eyes; "it are too goot to be true. I am dream. +I vill wait till I am wake." + +Dick roused him out of this, resolute sleep, however, somewhat +roughly. Meanwhile Joe had rubbed and kicked himself into a state of +animation, exclaiming that he felt as if he wos walkin' on a thousand +needles and pins, and in a few minutes they were ready to accompany +their overjoyed deliverer back to the Peigan camp. Crusoe testified +his delight in various elephantine gambols round the persons of his +old friends, who were not slow to acknowledge his services. + +"They haven't treated us overly well," remarked Joe Blunt, as they +strode through the underwood. + +"Non, de rascale, vraiment, de am villains. Oui! How de have talk, +too, 'bout--oh-o-oo-ooo-wah!--roastin' us alive, an' puttin' our scalp +in de vigvam for de poo-poose to play wid!" + +"Well, niver mind, Henri, we'll be quits wi' them now," said Joe, as +they came in sight of the two bands, who remained in precisely the +same position in which they had been left, except that one or two of +the more reckless of the trappers had lit their pipes and taken to +smoking, without, however, laying down their rifles or taking their +eyes off the savages. + +A loud cheer greeted the arrival of the prisoners, and looks of +considerable discomfort began to be evinced by the Indians. + +"Glad to see you, friends," said Cameron, as they came up. + +"Ve is 'appy ov de same," replied Henri, swaggering up in the +joviality of his heart, and seizing the trader's hand in his own +enormous fist. "Shall ve go to vork an' slay dem all at vonce, or von +at a time?" + +"We'll consider that afterwards, my lad. Meantime go you to the rear +and get a weapon of some sort." + +"Oui. Ah! c'est charmant," he cried, going with an immense flounder +into the midst of the amused trappers, and slapping those next to +him on the back. "Give me veapon, do, mes amis--gun, pistol, +anyting--cannon, if you have von." + +Meanwhile Cameron and Joe spoke together for a few moments. + +"You had goods with you, and horses, I believe, when you were +captured," said the former. + +"Ay, that we had. Yonder stand the horses, under the pine-tree, along +wi' the rest o' the Redskin troop; an' a hard time they've had o't, +as their bones may tell without speakin'. As for the goods," he +continued, glancing round the camp, "I don't know where--ah! yes, +there they be in the old pack. I see all safe." + +Cameron now addressed the Indians. + +"The Peigans," he said, "have not done well. Their hearts have not +been true to the Pale-faces. Even now I could take your scalps where +you sit, but white men do not like war, they do not like revenge. The +Peigans may go free." + +Considering the fewness of their numbers, this was bold language to +use towards the Indians; but the boldest is generally the best policy +on such occasions. Moreover, Cameron felt that, being armed with +rifles, while the Indians had only bows and arrows, the trappers had a +great advantage over them. + +The Indian who had spoken before now rose and said he was sorry there +should be any cause of difference between them, and added he was sorry +for a great many more things besides, but he did not say he was sorry +for having told a lie. + +"But, before you go, you must deliver up the horses and goods +belonging to these men," said Cameron, pointing to Joe and Henri. + +This was agreed to. The horses were led out, the two little packs +containing Joe's goods were strapped upon them, and then the trappers +turned to depart. The Indians did not move until they had mounted; +then they rose and advanced in a body to the edge of the wood, to see +the Pale-faces go away. Meanwhile Joe spoke a few words to Cameron, +and the men were ordered to halt, while the former dismounted and led +his horse towards the band of savages. + +"Peigans," he said, "you know the object for which I came into this +country was to make peace between you and the Pale-faces. I have often +told you so when you would not listen, and when you told me that I had +a double heart and told lies. You were wrong when you said this; but I +do not wonder, for you live among nations who do not fear God, and +who think it right to lie. I now repeat to you what I said before. +It would be good for the Red-men if they would make peace with the +Pale-faces, and if they would make peace with each other. I will now +convince you that I am in earnest, and have all along been speaking +the truth." + +Hereupon Joe Blunt opened his bundle of goods, and presented fully +one-half of the gaudy and brilliant contents to the astonished +Indians, who seemed quite taken aback by such generous treatment. +The result of this was that the two parties separated with mutual +expressions of esteem and good-will. The Indians then returned to the +forest, and the white men galloped back to their camp among the hills. + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +_New plans_--_Our travellers join the fur-traders, and see many +strange things_--_A curious fight_--_A narrow escape, and a prisoner +taken_. + + +Not long after the events related in the last chapter, our four +friends--Dick, and Joe, and Henri, and Crusoe--agreed to become for a +time members of Walter Cameron's band of trappers. Joe joined because +one of the objects which the traders had in view was similar to his +own mission--namely, the promoting of peace among the various Indian +tribes of the mountains and plains to the west. Joe, therefore, +thought it a good opportunity of travelling with a band of men who +could secure him a favourable hearing from the Indian tribes they +might chance to meet with in the course of their wanderings. Besides, +as the traders carried about a large supply of goods with them, he +could easily replenish his own nearly exhausted pack by hunting wild +animals and exchanging their skins for such articles as he might +require. + +Dick joined because it afforded him an opportunity of seeing the wild, +majestic scenery of the Rocky Mountains, and shooting the big-horned +sheep which abounded there, and the grizzly "bars," as Joe named them, +or "Caleb," as they were more frequently styled by Henri and the other +men. + +Henri joined because it was agreeable to the inclination of his own +rollicking, blundering, floundering, crashing disposition, and because +he would have joined anything that had been joined by the other two. + +Crusoe's reason for joining was single, simple, easy to be expressed, +easy to be understood, and commendable. _He_ joined--because Dick did. + +The very day after the party left the encampment where Dick had shot +the grizzly bear and the deer, he had the satisfaction of bringing +down a splendid specimen of the big-horned sheep. It came suddenly +out from a gorge of the mountain, and stood upon the giddy edge of a +tremendous precipice, at a distance of about two hundred and fifty +yards. + +"_You_ could not hit that," said a trapper to Henri, who was rather +fond of jeering him about his shortsightedness. + +"Non!" cried Henri, who didn't see the animal in the least; "say you +dat? ve shall see;" and he let fly with a promptitude that amazed his +comrades, and with a result that drew from them peals of laughter. + +"Why, you have missed the mountain!" + +"Oh, non! dat am eempossoble." + +It was true, nevertheless, for his ball had been arrested in its +flight by the stem of a tree not twenty yards before him. + +While the shot was yet ringing, and before the laugh above referred to +had pealed forth, Dick Varley fired, and the animal, springing wildly +into the air, fell down the precipice, and was almost dashed to +pieces at their feet. This Rocky Mountain or big-horned sheep was a +particularly large and fine one, but being a patriarch of the flock +was not well suited for food. It was considerably larger in size than +the domestic sheep, and might be described as somewhat resembling a +deer in the body and a ram in the head. Its horns were the chief point +of interest to Dick; and, truly, they were astounding! Their enormous +size was out of all proportion to the animal's body, and they curved +backwards and downwards, and then curled up again in a sharp point. +These creatures frequent the inaccessible heights of the Rocky +Mountains, and are difficult to approach. They have a great fondness +for salt, and pay regular visits to the numerous caverns of these +mountains, which are encrusted with a saline substance. + +Walter Cameron now changed his intention of proceeding to the +eastward, as he found the country not so full of beaver at that +particular spot as he had anticipated. He therefore turned towards +the west, penetrated into the interior of the mountains, and took a +considerable sweep through the lovely valleys on their western slopes. + +The expedition which this enterprising fur-trader was conducting was +one of the first that ever penetrated these wild regions in search of +furs. The ground over which they travelled was quite new to them, and +having no guide they just moved about at haphazard, encamping on the +margin of every stream or river on which signs of the presence of +beaver were discovered, and setting their traps. + +Beaver skins at this time were worth 25s. a-piece in the markets of +civilized lands, and in the Snake country, through which our friends +were travelling, thousands of them were to be had from the Indians for +trinkets and baubles that were scarce worth a farthing. A beaver skin +could be procured from the Indians for a brass finger-ring or a penny +looking-glass. Horses were also so numerous that one could be procured +for an axe or a knife. + +Let not the reader, however, hastily conclude that the traders cheated +the Indians in this traffic, though the profits were so enormous. The +ring or the axe was indeed a trifle to the trader, but the beaver skin +and the horse were equally trifles to the savage, who could procure as +many of them as he chose with very little trouble, while the ring and +the axe were in his estimation of priceless value. Besides, be it +remembered, to carry that ring and that axe to the far-distant haunts +of the Red-man cost the trader weeks and months of constant toil, +trouble, anxiety, and, alas! too frequently cost him his life! The +state of trade is considerably modified in these regions at the +present day. It is not more _justly_ conducted, for, in respect of the +value of goods given for furs, it was justly conducted _then_, but +time and circumstances have tended more to equalize the relative +values of articles of trade. + +The snow which had prematurely fallen had passed away, and the +trappers now found themselves wandering about in a country so +beautiful and a season so delightful, that it would have seemed to +them a perfect paradise, but for the savage tribes who hovered about +them, and kept them ever on the _qui vive_. + +They soon passed from the immediate embrace of stupendous heights and +dark gorges to a land of sloping ridges, which divided the country +into a hundred luxuriant vales, composed part of woodland and part of +prairie. Through these, numerous rivers and streams flowed deviously, +beautifying the landscape and enriching the land. There were also many +lakes of all sizes, and these swarmed with fish, while in some of them +were found the much-sought-after and highly-esteemed beaver. Salt +springs and hot springs of various temperatures abounded here, and +many of the latter were so hot that meat could be boiled in them. +Salt existed in all directions in abundance and of good quality. A +sulphurous spring was also discovered, bubbling out from the base of a +perpendicular rock three hundred feet high, the waters of which were +dark-blue and tasted like gunpowder. In short, the land presented +every variety of feature calculated to charm the imagination and +delight the eye. + +It was a mysterious land, too; for broad rivers burst in many places +from the earth, flowed on for a short space, and then disappeared +as if by magic into the earth from which they rose. Natural bridges +spanned the torrents in many places, and some of these were so +correctly formed that it was difficult to believe they had not been +built by the hand of man. They often appeared opportunely to our +trappers, and saved them the trouble and danger of fording rivers. +Frequently the whole band would stop in silent wonder and awe as they +listened to the rushing of waters under their feet, as if another +world of streams, and rapids, and cataracts were flowing below the +crust of earth on which they stood. Some considerable streams were +likewise observed to gush from the faces of precipices, some twenty or +thirty feet from their summits, while on the top no water was to be +seen. + +Wild berries of all kinds were found in abundance, and wild +vegetables, besides many nutritious roots. Among other fish, splendid +salmon were found in the lakes and rivers, and animal life swarmed on +hill and in dale. Woods and valleys, plains and ravines, teemed with +it. On every plain the red-deer grazed in herds by the banks of lake +and stream. Wherever there were clusters of poplar and elder trees and +saplings, the beaver was seen nibbling industriously with his sharp +teeth, and committing as much havoc in the forest as if he had been +armed with the woodman's axe; others sported in the eddies. Racoons +sat in the tree-tops; the marten, the black fox, and the wolf prowled +in the woods in quest of prey; mountain sheep and goats browsed on the +rocky ridges; and badgers peeped from their holes. + +Here, too, the wild horse sprang snorting and dishevelled from his +mountain retreats--with flourishing mane and tail, spanking step, and +questioning gaze--and thundered away over the plains and valleys, +while the rocks echoed back his shrill neigh. The huge, heavy, +ungainly elk, or moose-deer, _trotted_ away from the travellers with +speed equal to that of the mustang: elks seldom gallop; their best +speed is attained at the trot. Bears, too, black, and brown, and +grizzly, roamed about everywhere. + +So numerous were all these creatures that on one occasion the hunters +of the party brought in six wild horses, three bears, four elks, and +thirty red-deer; having shot them all a short distance ahead of the +main body, and almost without diverging from the line of march. And +this was a matter of everyday occurrence--as it had need to be, +considering the number of mouths that had to be filled. + +The feathered tribes were not less numerous. Chief among these were +eagles and vultures of uncommon size, the wild goose, wild duck, and +the majestic swan. + +In the midst of such profusion the trappers spent a happy time of it, +when not molested by the savages, but they frequently lost a horse or +two in consequence of the expertness of these thievish fellows. They +often wandered, however, for days at a time without seeing an Indian, +and at such times they enjoyed to the full the luxuries with which a +bountiful God had blessed these romantic regions. + +Dick Varley was almost wild with delight. It was his first excursion +into the remote wilderness; he was young, healthy, strong, and +romantic; and it is a question whether his or his dog's heart, or that +of the noble wild horse he bestrode, bounded most with joy at +the glorious sights and sounds and influences by which they were +surrounded. It would have been perfection, had it not been for the +frequent annoyance and alarms caused by the Indians. + +Alas! alas! that we who write and read about those wondrous scenes +should have to condemn our own species as the most degraded of all the +works of the Creator there! Yet so it is. Man, exercising his reason +and conscience in the path of love and duty which his Creator points +out, is God's noblest work; but man, left to the freedom of his own +fallen will, sinks morally lower than the beasts that perish. Well +may every Christian wish and pray that the name and the gospel of the +blessed Jesus may be sent speedily to the dark places of the earth; +for you may read of, and talk about, but you _cannot conceive_ the +fiendish wickedness and cruelty which causes tearless eyes to glare, +and maddened hearts to burst, in the lands of the heathen. + +While we are on this subject, let us add (and our young readers +will come to know it if they are spared to see many years) that +_civilization_ alone will never improve the heart. Let history speak, +and it will tell you that deeds of darkest hue have been perpetrated +in so-called civilized though pagan lands. Civilization is like the +polish that beautifies inferior furniture, which water will wash off +if it be but _hot enough_. Christianity resembles dye, which permeates +every fibre of the fabric, and which nothing can eradicate. + +The success of the trappers in procuring beaver here was great. In all +sorts of creeks and rivers they were found. One day they came to one +of the curious rivers before mentioned, which burst suddenly out of +a plain, flowed on for several miles, and then disappeared into the +earth as suddenly as it had risen. Even in this strange place beaver +were seen, so the traps were set, and a hundred and fifty were caught +at the first lift. + +The manner in which the party proceeded was as follows:--They marched +in a mass in groups or in a long line, according to the nature of +the ground over which they travelled. The hunters of the party went +forward a mile or two in advance, and scattered through the woods. +After them came the advance-guard, being the bravest and most stalwart +of the men mounted on their best steeds, and with rifle in hand; +immediately behind followed the women and children, also mounted, and +the pack-horses with the goods and camp equipage. Another band of +trappers formed the rear-guard to this imposing cavalcade. There was +no strict regimental order kept, but the people soon came to adopt the +arrangements that were most convenient for all parties, and at length +fell naturally into their places in the line of march. + +Joe Blunt usually was the foremost and always the most successful of +the hunters. He was therefore seldom seen on the march except at the +hour of starting, and at night when he came back leading his horse, +which always groaned under its heavy load of meat. Henri, being a +hearty, jovial soul and fond of society, usually kept with the main +body. As for Dick, he was everywhere at once, at least as much so as +it is possible for human nature to be! His horse never wearied; it +seemed to delight in going at full speed; no other horse in the troop +could come near Charlie, and Dick indulged him by appearing now at +the front, now at the rear, anon in the centre, and frequently +_nowhere_!--having gone off with Crusoe like a flash of lightning +after a buffalo or a deer. Dick soon proved himself to be the best +hunter of the party, and it was not long before he fulfilled his +promise to Crusoe and decorated his neck with a collar of grizzly bear +claws. Well, when the trappers came to a river where there were signs +of beaver they called a halt, and proceeded to select a safe and +convenient spot, near wood and water, for the camp. Here the property +of the band was securely piled in such a manner as to form a +breastwork or slight fortification, and here Walter Cameron +established headquarters. This was always the post of danger, being +exposed to sudden attack by prowling savages, who often dogged the +footsteps of the party in their journeyings to see what they could +steal. But Cameron was an old hand, and they found it difficult to +escape his vigilant eye. + +From this point all the trappers were sent forth in small parties +every morning in various directions, some on foot and some on +horseback, according to the distances they had to go; but they never +went farther than twenty miles, as they had to return to camp every +evening. + +Each trapper had ten steel traps allowed him. These he set every +night, and visited every morning, sometimes oftener when practicable, +selecting a spot in the stream where many trees had been cut down by +beavers for the purpose of damming up the water. In some places as +many as fifty tree stumps were seen in one spot, within the compass of +half an acre, all cut through at about eighteen inches from the +root. We may remark, in passing, that the beaver is very much like a +gigantic water-rat, with this marked difference, that its tail is very +broad and flat like a paddle. The said tail is a greatly-esteemed +article of food, as, indeed, is the whole body at certain seasons of +the year. The beaver's fore legs are very small and short, and it uses +its paws as hands to convey food to its mouth, sitting the while in an +erect position on its hind legs and tail. Its fur is a dense coat of +a grayish-coloured down, concealed by long coarse hair, which lies +smooth, and is of a bright chestnut colour. Its teeth and jaws are of +enormous power; with them it can cut through the branch of a tree as +thick as a walking-stick at one snap, and, as we have said, it gnaws +through thick trees themselves. + +As soon as a tree falls, the beavers set to work industriously to lop +off the branches, which, as well as the smaller trunks, they cut into +lengths, according to their weight and thickness. These are then +dragged by main force to the water-side, launched, and floated to +their destination. Beavers build their houses, or "lodges," under the +banks of rivers and lakes, and always select those of such depth of +water that there is no danger of their being frozen to the bottom. +When such cannot be found, and they are compelled to build in small +rivulets of insufficient depth, these clever little creatures dam up +the waters until they are deep enough. The banks thrown up by them +across rivulets for this purpose are of great strength, and would do +credit to human engineers. Their lodges are built of sticks, mud, and +stones, which form a compact mass; this freezes solid in winter, and +defies the assaults of that housebreaker, the wolverine, an animal +which is the beaver's implacable foe. From this lodge, which is +capable often of holding four old and six or eight young ones, a +communication is maintained with the water below the ice, so that, +should the wolverine succeed in breaking up the lodge, he finds the +family "not at home," they having made good their retreat by the +back-door. When man acts the part of housebreaker, however, he +cunningly shuts the back-door _first_, by driving stakes through the +ice, and thus stopping the passage. Then he enters, and, we almost +regret to say, finds the family at home. We regret it, because the +beaver is a gentle, peaceable, affectionate, hairy little creature, +towards which one feels an irresistible tenderness. But to return from +this long digression. + +Our trappers, having selected their several localities, set their +traps in the water, so that when the beavers roamed about at night +they put their feet into them, and were caught and drowned; for +although they can swim and dive admirably, they cannot live altogether +under water. + +Thus the different parties proceeded; and in the mornings the camp was +a busy scene indeed, for then the whole were engaged in skinning the +animals. The skins were always stretched, dried, folded up with the +hair in the inside, and laid by; and the flesh was used for food. + +But oftentimes the trappers had to go forth with the gun in one hand +and their traps in the other, while they kept a sharp look-out on the +bushes to guard against surprise. Despite their utmost efforts, a +horse was occasionally stolen before their very eyes, and sometimes +even an unfortunate trapper was murdered, and all his traps carried +off. + +An event of this kind occurred soon after the party had gained the +western slopes of the mountains. Three Iroquois Indians, who belonged +to the band of trappers, were sent to a stream about ten miles off. +Having reached their destination, they all entered the water to +set their traps, foolishly neglecting the usual precaution of one +remaining on the bank to protect the others. They had scarcely +commenced operations when three arrows were discharged into their +backs, and a party of Snake Indians rushed upon and slew them, +carrying away their traps and horses and scalps. This was not known +for several days, when, becoming anxious about their prolonged +absence, Cameron sent out a party, which found their mangled bodies +affording a loathsome banquet to the wolves and vultures. + +After this sad event, the trappers were more careful to go in larger +parties, and keep watch. + +As long as beaver were taken in abundance, the camp remained +stationary; but whenever the beaver began to grow scarce, the camp was +raised, and the party moved on to another valley. + +One day Dick Varley came galloping into camp with the news that there +were several bears in a valley not far distant, which he was anxious +not to disturb until a number of the trappers were collected together +to go out and surround them. + +On receiving the information, Walter Cameron shook his head. + +"We have other things to do, young man," said he, "than go a-hunting +after bears. I'm just about making up my mind to send off a party to +search out the valley on the other side of the Blue Mountains yonder, +and bring back word if there are beaver there; for if not, I mean +to strike away direct south. Now, if you've a mind to go with them, +you're welcome. I'll warrant you'll find enough in the way of +bear-hunting to satisfy you; perhaps a little Indian hunting to boot, +for if the Banattees get hold of your horses, you'll have a long hunt +before you find them again. Will you go?" + +"Ay, right gladly," replied Dick. "When do we start?" + +"This afternoon." + +Dick went off at once to his own part of the camp to replenish his +powder-horn and bullet-pouch, and wipe out his rifle. + +That evening the party, under command of a Canadian named Pierre, set +out for the Blue Hills. They numbered twenty men, and expected to be +absent three days, for they merely went to reconnoitre, not to trap. +Neither Joe nor Henri was of this party, both having been out hunting +when it was organized; but Crusoe and Charlie were, of course. + +Pierre, although a brave and trusty man, was of a sour, angry +disposition, and not a favourite with Dick; but the latter resolved to +enjoy himself, and disregard his sulky comrade. Being so well mounted, +he not unfrequently shot far ahead of his companions, despite their +warnings that he ran great risk by so doing. On one of these occasions +he and Crusoe witnessed a very singular fight, which is worthy of +record. + +Dick had felt a little wilder in spirit that morning than usual, and +on coming to a pretty open plain he gave the rein to Charlie, and with +an "_Adieu, mes camarade_," he was out of sight in a few minutes. He +rode on several miles in advance without checking speed, and then came +to a wood where rapid motion was inconvenient; so he pulled up, and, +dismounting, tied Charlie to a tree, while he sauntered on a short way +on foot. + +On coming to the edge of a small plain he observed two large birds +engaged in mortal conflict. Crusoe observed them too, and would soon +have put an end to the fight had Dick not checked him. Creeping as +close to the belligerents as possible, he found that one was a wild +turkey-cock, the other a white-headed eagle. These two stood with +their heads down and all their feathers bristling for a moment; then +they dashed at each other, and struck fiercely with their spurs, as +our domestic cocks do, but neither fell, and the fight was continued +for about five minutes without apparent advantage on either side. + +Dick now observed that, from the uncertainty of its motions, the +turkey-cock was blind, a discovery which caused a throb of compunction +to enter his breast for standing and looking on, so he ran forward. +The eagle saw him instantly, and tried to fly away, but was unable +from exhaustion. + +"At him, Crusoe," cried Dick, whose sympathies all lay with the other +bird. + +Crusoe went forward at a bound, and was met by a peck between the eyes +that would have turned most dogs; but Crusoe only winked, and the next +moment the eagle's career was ended. + +Dick found that the turkey-cock was quite blind, the eagle having +thrust out both its eyes, so, in mercy, he put an end to its +sufferings. + +The fight had evidently been a long and severe one, for the grass all +round the spot, for about twenty yards, was beaten to the ground, and +covered with the blood and feathers of the fierce combatants. + +Meditating on the fight which he had just witnessed, Dick returned +towards the spot where he had left Charlie, when he suddenly missed +Crusoe from his side. + +"Hallo, Crusoe! here, pup! where are you?" he cried. + +The only answer to this was a sharp whizzing sound, and an arrow, +passing close to his ear, quivered in a tree beyond. Almost at the +same moment Crusoe's angry roar was followed by a shriek from some one +in fear or agony. Cocking his rifle, the young hunter sprang through +the bushes towards his horse, and was just in time to save a Banattee +Indian from being strangled by the dog. It had evidently scented out +this fellow, and pinned him just as he was in the act of springing on +the back of Charlie, for the halter was cut, and the savage lay on the +ground close beside him. + +Dick called off the dog, and motioned to the Indian to rise, which he +did so nimbly that it was quite evident he had sustained no injury +beyond the laceration of his neck by Crusoe's teeth, and the surprise. + +He was a tall strong Indian for the tribe to which he belonged, so +Dick proceeded to secure him at once. Pointing to his rifle and to +the Indian's breast, to show what he might expect if he attempted to +escape, Dick ordered Crusoe to keep him steady in that position. + +The dog planted himself in front of the savage, who began to tremble +for his scalp, and gazed up in his face with a look which, to say the +least of it, was the reverse of amiable, while Dick went towards his +horse for the purpose of procuring a piece of cord to tie him with. +The Indian naturally turned his head to see what was going to be done, +but a peculiar _gurgle_ in Crusoe's throat made him turn it round +again very smartly, and he did not venture thereafter to move a +muscle. + +In a few seconds Dick returned with a piece of leather and tied his +hands behind his back. While this was being done the Indian glanced +several times at his bow, which lay a few feet away, where it had +fallen when the dog caught him; but Crusoe seemed to understand him, +for he favoured him with such an additional display of teeth, and +such a low--apparently distant, almost, we might say, subterranean +--_rumble_, that he resigned himself to his fate. + +His hands secured, a long line was attached to his neck with a running +noose, so that if he ventured to run away the attempt would effect its +own cure by producing strangulation. The other end of this line was +given to Crusoe, who at the word of command marched him off, while +Dick mounted Charlie and brought up the rear. + + +Great was the laughter and merriment when this apparition met the eyes +of the trappers; but when they heard that he had attempted to shoot +Dick their ire was raised, and a court-martial was held on the spot. + +"Hang the reptile!" cried one. + +"Burn him!" shouted another. + +"No, no," said a third; "don't imitate them villains: don't be cruel. +Let's shoot him." "Shoot 'im," cried Pierre. "Oui, dat is de ting; it +too goot pour lui, mais it shall be dooed." + +"Don't ye think, lads, it would be better to let the poor wretch off?" +said Dick Varley; "he'd p'r'aps give a good account o' us to his +people." + +There was a universal shout of contempt at this mild proposal. +Unfortunately, few of the men sent on this exploring expedition were +imbued with the peace-making spirit of their chief, and most of them +seemed glad to have a chance of venting their hatred of the poor +Indians on this unhappy wretch, who, although calm, looked sharply +from one speaker to another, to gather hope, if possible, from the +tones of their voices. + +Dick was resolved, at the risk of a quarrel with Pierre, to save the +poor man's life, and had made up his mind to insist on having him +conducted to the camp to be tried by Cameron, when one of the men +suggested that they should take the savage to the top of a hill about +three miles farther on, and there hang him up on a tree as a warning +to all his tribe. + +"Agreed, agreed!" cried the men; "come on." + +Dick, too, seemed to agree to this proposal, and hastily ordered +Crusoe to run on ahead with the savage; an order which the dog obeyed +so vigorously that, before the men had done laughing at him, he was a +couple of hundred yards ahead of them. + +"Take care that he don't get off!" cried Dick, springing on Charlie +and stretching out at a gallop. + +In a moment he was beside the Indian. Scraping together the little of +the Indian language he knew, he stooped down, and, cutting the thongs +that bound him, said,-- + +"Go! white men love the Indians." + +The man cast on his deliverer one glance of surprise, and the next +moment bounded aside into the bushes and was gone. + +A loud shout from the party behind showed that this act had been +observed; and Crusoe stood with the end of the line in his mouth, +and an expression on his face that said, "You're absolutely +incomprehensible, Dick! It's all right, I _know_, but to my feeble +capacity it _seems_ wrong." + +"Fat for you do dat?" shouted Pierre in a rage, as he came up with a +menacing look. + +Dick confronted him. "The prisoner was mine. I had a right to do with +him as it liked me." + +"True, true," cried several of the men who had begun to repent of +their resolution, and were glad the savage was off. "The lad's right. +Get along, Pierre." + +"You had no right, you vas wrong. Oui, et I have goot vill to give you +one knock on de nose." + +Dick looked Pierre in the face, as he said this, in a manner that +cowed him. + +"It is time," he said quietly, pointing to the sun, "to go on. Your +bourgeois expects that time won't be wasted." + +Pierre muttered something in an angry tone, and wheeling round his +horse, dashed forward at full gallop, followed by the rest of the men. + +The trappers encamped that night on the edge of a wide grassy plain, +which offered such tempting food for the horses that Pierre resolved +to forego his usual cautious plan of picketing them close to the camp, +and set them loose on the plain, merely hobbling them to prevent their +straying far. + +Dick remonstrated, but in vain. An insolent answer was all he got for +his pains. He determined, however, to keep Charlie close beside him +all night, and also made up his mind to keep a sharp look-out on the +other horses. + +At supper he again remonstrated. + +"No 'fraid," said Pierre, whose pipe was beginning to improve his +temper. "The red reptiles no dare to come in open plain when de moon +so clear." + +"Dun know that," said a taciturn trapper, who seldom ventured a remark +of any kind; "them varmints 'ud steal the two eyes out o' you' head +when they set their hearts on't." + +"Dat ar' umposs'ble, for dey have no hearts," said a half-breed; "dey +have von hole vere de heart vas be." + +This was received with a shout of laughter, in the midst of which an +appalling yell was heard, and, as if by magic, four Indians were seen +on the backs of four of the best horses, yelling like fiends, and +driving all the other horses furiously before them over the plain! + +How they got there was a complete mystery, but the men did not wait +to consider that point. Catching up their guns they sprang after them +with the fury of madmen, and were quickly scattered far and wide. Dick +ordered Crusoe to follow and help the men, and turned to spring on the +back of Charlie; but at that moment he observed an Indian's head and +shoulders rise above the grass, not fifty yards in advance from him, +so without hesitation he darted forward, intending to pounce upon him. + +Well would it have been for Dick Varley had he at that time possessed +a little more experience of the wiles and stratagems of the Banattees. +The Snake nation is subdivided into several tribes, of which those +inhabiting the Rocky Mountains, called the Banattees, are the most +perfidious. Indeed, they are confessedly the banditti of the hills, +and respect neither friend nor foe, but rob all who come in their way. + +Dick reached the spot where the Indian had disappeared in less than a +minute, but no savage was to be seen. Thinking he had crept ahead, he +ran on a few yards farther, and darted about hither and thither, +while his eye glanced from side to side. Suddenly a shout in the camp +attracted his attention, and looking back he beheld the savage on +Charlie's back turning to fly. Next moment he was off and away far +beyond the hope of recovery. Dick had left his rifle in the camp, +otherwise the savage would have gone but a short way. As it was, Dick +returned, and sitting down on a mound of grass, stared straight before +him with a feeling akin to despair. Even Crusoe could not have helped +him had he been there, for nothing on four legs, or on two, could keep +pace with Charlie. + +The Banattee achieved this feat by adopting a stratagem which +invariably deceives those who are ignorant of their habits and +tactics. When suddenly pursued the Banattee sinks into the grass, and, +serpent-like, creeps along with wonderful rapidity, not _from_ but +_towards_ his enemy, taking care, however, to avoid him, so that when +the pursuer reaches the spot where the pursued is supposed to be +hiding, he hears him shout a yell of defiance far away in the rear. + +It was thus that the Banattee eluded Dick and gained the camp almost +as soon as the other reached the spot where he had disappeared. + +One by one the trappers came back weary, raging, and despairing. In a +short time they all assembled, and soon began to reproach each other. +Ere long one or two had a fight, which resulted in several bloody +noses and black eyes, thus adding to the misery which, one would +think, had been bad enough without such additions. At last they +finished their suppers and their pipes, and then lay down to sleep +under the trees till morning, when they arose in a particularly silent +and sulky mood, rolled up their blankets, strapped their things on +their shoulders, and began to trudge slowly back to the camp on foot. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +_Wolves attack the horses, and Cameron circumvents the wolves_--_A +bear-hunt, in which Henri shines conspicuous_--_Joe and the +"Natter-list_"--_An alarm_--_A surprise and a capture_. + + +We must now return to the camp where Walter Cameron still guarded the +goods, and the men pursued their trapping avocations. + +Here seven of the horses had been killed in one night by wolves while +grazing in a plain close to the camp, and on the night following a +horse that had strayed was also torn to pieces and devoured. The +prompt and daring manner in which this had been done convinced the +trader that white wolves had unfortunately scented them out, and he +set several traps in the hope of capturing them. + +White wolves are quite distinct from the ordinary wolves that prowl +through woods and plains in large packs. They are much larger, +weighing sometimes as much as a hundred and thirty pounds; but they +are comparatively scarce, and move about alone, or in small bands of +three or four. Their strength is enormous, and they are so fierce that +they do not hesitate, upon occasions, to attack man himself. Their +method of killing horses is very deliberate. Two wolves generally +undertake the cold-blooded murder. They approach their victim with the +most innocent-looking and frolicsome gambols, lying down and rolling +about, and frisking presently, until the horse becomes a little +accustomed to them. Then one approaches right in front, the other +in rear, still frisking playfully, until they think themselves near +enough, when they make a simultaneous rush. The wolf which approaches +in rear is the true assailant; the rush of the other is a mere feint. +Then both fasten on the poor horse's haunches, and never let go till +the sinews are cut and he is rolling on his side. + +The horse makes comparatively little struggle in this deadly assault; +he seems paralyzed, and soon falls to rise no more. + +Cameron set his traps towards evening in a circle with a bait in the +centre, and then retired to rest. Next morning he called Joe Blunt, +and the two went off together. + +"It is strange that these rascally white wolves should be so bold when +the smaller kinds are so cowardly," remarked Cameron, as they walked +along. + +"So 'tis," replied Joe; "but I've seed them other chaps bold enough +too in the prairie when they were in large packs and starvin'." + +"I believe the small wolves follow the big fellows, and help them to +eat what they kill, though they generally sit round and look on at the +killing." + +"Hist!" exclaimed Joe, cocking his gun; "there he is, an' no mistake." + +There he was, undoubtedly. A wolf of the largest size with one of his +feet in the trap. He was a terrible-looking object, for, besides his +immense size and naturally ferocious aspect, his white hair bristled +on end and was all covered with streaks and spots of blood from his +bloody jaws. In his efforts to escape he had bitten the trap until he +had broken his teeth and lacerated his gums, so that his appearance +was hideous in the extreme. And when the two men came up he struggled +with all his might to fly at them. + +Cameron and Joe stood looking at him in a sort of wondering +admiration. + +"We'd better put a ball in him," suggested Joe after a time. "Mayhap +the chain won't stand sich tugs long." + +"True, Joe; if it break, we might get an ugly nip before we killed +him." + +So saying Cameron fired into the wolf's head and killed it. It was +found, on examination, that four wolves had been in the traps, but the +rest had escaped. Two of them, however, had gnawed off their paws and +left them lying in the traps. + +After this the big wolves did not trouble them again. The same +afternoon a bear-hunt was undertaken, which well-nigh cost one of the +Iroquois his life. It happened thus:-- + +While Cameron and Joe were away after the white wolves, Henri came +floundering into camp tossing his arms like a maniac, and shouting +that "seven bars wos be down in de bush close by!" It chanced that +this was an idle day with most of the men, so they all leaped on their +horses, and taking guns and knives sallied forth to give battle to the +bears. + +Arrived at the scene of action, they found the seven bears busily +engaged in digging up roots, so the men separated in order to surround +them, and then closed in. The place was partly open and partly covered +with thick bushes into which a horseman could not penetrate. + + +The moment the bears got wind of what was going forward they made off +as fast as possible, and then commenced a scene of firing, galloping, +and yelling that defies description! Four out of the seven were shot +before they gained the bushes; the other three were wounded, but made +good their retreat. As their places of shelter, however, were like +islands in the plain, they had no chance of escaping. + +The horsemen now dismounted and dashed recklessly into the bushes, +where they soon discovered and killed two of the bears; the third was +not found for some time. At last an Iroquois came upon it so suddenly +that he had not time to point his gun before the bear sprang upon him +and struck him to the earth, where it held him down. + +Instantly the place was surrounded by eager men; but the bushes were +so thick, and the fallen trees among which the bear stood were so +numerous, that they could not use their guns without running the risk +of shooting their companion. Most of them drew their knives and seemed +about to rush on the bear with these; but the monster's aspect, as it +glared around, was so terrible that they held back for a moment in +hesitation. + +At this moment Henri, who had been at some distance engaged in the +killing of one of the other bears, came rushing forward after his own +peculiar manner. "Ah! fat is eet--hay? de bar no go under yit?" + +Just then his eye fell on the wounded Iroquois with the bear above +him, and he uttered a yell so intense in tone that the bear himself +seemed to feel that something decisive was about to be done at last. +Henri did not pause, but with a flying dash he sprang like a spread +eagle, arms and legs extended, right into the bear's bosom. At the +same moment he sent his long hunting-knife down into its heart. But +Bruin is proverbially hard to kill, and although mortally wounded, he +had strength enough to open his jaws and close them on Henri's neck. + +There was a cry of horror, and at the same moment a volley was fired +at the bear's head; for the trappers felt that it was better to risk +shooting their comrades than see them killed before their eyes. +Fortunately the bullets took effect, and tumbled him over at once +without doing damage to either of the men, although several of the +balls just grazed Henri's temple and carried off his cap. + +Although uninjured by the shot, the poor Iroquois had not escaped +scathless from the paw of the bear. His scalp was torn almost off, and +hung down over his eyes, while blood streamed down his face. He was +conveyed by his comrades to the camp, where he lay two days in a state +of insensibility, at the end of which time he revived and recovered +daily. Afterwards when the camp moved he had to be carried; but in +the course of two months he was as well as ever, and quite as fond of +bear-hunting! + +Among other trophies of this hunt there were two deer and a buffalo, +which last had probably strayed from the herd. Four or five Iroquois +were round this animal whetting their knives for the purpose of +cutting it up when Henri passed, so he turned aside to watch them +perform the operation, quite regardless of the fact that his neck +and face were covered with blood which flowed from one or two small +punctures made by the bear. + +The Indians began by taking off the skin, which certainly did not +occupy them more than five minutes. Then they cut up the meat and made +a pack of it, and cut out the tongue, which is somewhat troublesome, +as that member requires to be cut out from under the jaw of the +animal, and not through the natural opening of the mouth. One of the +fore legs was cut off at the knee joint, and this was used as a hammer +with which to break the skull for the purpose of taking out the +brains, these being used in the process of dressing and softening the +animal's skin. An axe would have been of advantage to break the skull, +but in the hurry of rushing to the attack the Indians had forgotten +their axes; so they adopted the common fashion of using the buffalo's +hoof as a hammer, the shank being the handle. The whole operation of +flaying, cutting up, and packing the meat did not occupy more than +twenty minutes. Before leaving the ground these expert butchers +treated themselves to a little of the marrow and warm liver in a raw +state! + +Cameron and Joe walked up to the group while they were indulging in +this little feast. + +"Well, I've often seen that eaten, but I never could do it myself," +remarked the former. "No!" cried Joe in surprise; "now that's oncommon +cur'us. I've _lived_ on raw liver an' marrow-bones for two or three +days at a time, when we wos chased by the Camanchee Injuns an' didn't +dare to make a fire; an' it's ra'al good, it is. Won't ye try it +_now_?" + +Cameron shook his head. + +"No, thankee; I'll not refuse when I can't help it, but until then +I'll remain in happy ignorance of how good it is." + +"Well, it _is_ strange how some folk can't abide anything in the meat +way they ha'n't bin used to. D'ye know I've actually knowed men from +the cities as wouldn't eat a bit o' horseflesh for love or money. +Would ye believe it?" + +"I can well believe that, Joe, for I have met with such persons +myself; in fact, they are rather numerous. What are you chuckling at, +Joe?" + +"Chucklin'? If ye mean be that 'larfin in to myself,' it's because I'm +thinkin' o' a chap as once comed out to the prairies." + +"Let us walk back to the camp, Joe, and you can tell me about him as +we go along." + +"I think," continued Joe, "he comed from Washington, but I never could +make out right whether he wos a Government man or not. Anyhow, he wos +a pheelosopher--a natter-list I think he call his-self--" + +"A naturalist," suggested Cameron. + +"Ay, that wos more like it. Well, he wos about six feet two in his +moccasins, an' as thin as a ramrod, an' as blind as a bat--leastways +he had weak eyes an' wore green spectacles. He had on a gray shootin' +coat an' trousers an' vest an' cap, with rid whiskers an' a long nose +as rid at the point as the whiskers wos." + +"Well, this gentleman engaged me an' another hunter to go a trip with +him into the prairies, so off we sot one fine day on three hosses, +with our blankets at our backs--we wos to depend on the rifle for +victuals. At first I thought the natter-list one o' the cruellest +beggars as iver went on two long legs, for he used to go about +everywhere pokin' pins through all the beetles an' flies an' creepin' +things he could sot eyes on, an' stuck them in a box. But he told me +he comed here a-purpose to git as many o' them as he could; so says I, +'If that's it, I'll fill yer box in no time.' + +"'Will ye?' says he, quite pleased like. + +"'I will,' says I, an' galloped off to a place as was filled wi' all +sorts o' crawlin' things. So I sets to work, an' whenever I seed a +thing crawlin' I sot my fut on it an' crushed it, an' soon filled my +breast pocket. I cotched a lot o' butterflies too, an' stuffed them +into my shot-pouch, an' went back in an hour or two an' showed him the +lot. He put on his green spectacles an' looked at them as if he'd seen +a rattlesnake. + +"'My good man,' says he, 'you've crushed them all to pieces!' + +"'They'll taste as good for all that,' says I; for somehow I'd taken't +in me head that he'd heard o' the way the Injuns make soup o' the +grasshoppers, an' wos wantin' to try his hand at a new dish! + +"He laughed when I said this, an' told me he wos collectin' them to +take home to be _looked_ at. But that's not wot I was goin' to tell ye +about him," continued Joe; "I wos goin' to tell ye how we made him eat +horseflesh. He carried a revolver, too, this natter-list did, to load +wi' shot as small as dust a'most, an' shoot little birds with. I've +seed him miss birds only three feet away with it. An' one day he drew +it all of a suddent an' let fly at a big bum-bee that wos passin', +yellin' out that it wos the finest wot he had iver seed. He missed the +bee, of coorse, 'cause it wos a flyin' shot, he said, but he sent the +whole charge right into Martin's back--Martin was my comrade's name. +By good luck Martin had on a thick leather coat, so the shot niver got +the length o' his skin." + +"One day I noticed that the natter-list had stuffed small corks into +the muzzles of all the six barrels of his revolver. I wondered what +they wos for, but he wos al'ays doin' sich queer things that I +soon forgot it. 'Maybe,' thought I, jist before it went out o' my +mind--'maybe he thinks that'll stop the pistol from goin' off by +accident;' for ye must know he'd let it off three times the first day +by accident, an' well-nigh blowed off his leg the last time, only +the shot lodged in the back o' a big toad he'd jist stuffed into his +breeches pocket. Well, soon after we shot a buffalo bull, so when it +fell, off he jumps from his horse an' runs up to it. So did I, for I +wasn't sure the beast was dead, an' I had jist got up when it rose an' +rushed at the natter-list. + +"'Out o' the way,' I yelled, for my rifle was empty; but he didn't +move, so I rushed for'ard an' drew the pistol out o' his belt and let +fly in the bull's ribs jist as it ran the poor man down. Martin came +up that moment an' put a ball through its heart, an' then we went to +pick up the natter-list. He came to in a little, an' the first thing +he said was, 'Where's my revolver?' When I gave it to him he looked +at it, an' said with a solemcholy shake o' the head, 'There's a whole +barrel-full lost!' It turned out that he had taken to usin' the +barrels for bottles to hold things in, but he forgot to draw the +charges, so sure enough I had fired a charge o' bum-bees an' beetles +an' small shot into the buffalo! + +"But that's not what I wos goin' to tell ye yit. We corned to a part +o' the plains where we wos well-nigh starved for want o' game, an' the +natter-list got so thin that ye could a'most see through him, so I +offered to kill my horse, an' cut it up for meat; but you niver saw +sich a face he made. 'I'd rather die first,' says he, 'than eat it;' +so we didn't kill it. But that very day Martin got a shot at a wild +horse an' killed it. The natter-list was down in the bed o' a creek at +the time gropin' for creepers, an' he didn't see it. + +"'He'll niver eat it,' says Martin. + +"'That's true,' says I. + +"'Let's tell him it's a buffalo,' says he. + +"'That would be tellin' a lie,' says I. + +"So we stood lookin' at each other, not knowin' what to do. + +"'I'll tell ye what,' cries Martin; 'we'll cut it up, and take the +meat into camp an' cook it without _sayin' a word_.' + +"'Done,' says I, 'that's it;' for ye must know the poor critter wos no +judge o' meat. He couldn't tell one kind from another, an' he niver +axed questions. In fact he niver a'most spoke to us all the trip. +Well, we cut up the horse, an' carried the flesh an' marrowbones into +camp, takin' care to leave the hoofs an' skin behind, an' sot to work +an' roasted steaks an' marrowbones." + +"When the natter-list came back ye should ha' seen the joyful face he +put on when he smelt the grub, for he was all but starved out, poor +critter." + +"'What have we got here?' cried he, rubbin' his hands an' sittin' +down." + +"'Steaks an' marrow-bones,' says Martin." + +"'Capital!' says he. 'I'm _so_ hungry.'" + +"So he fell to work like a wolf. I niver seed a man pitch into +anything like as that natter-list did into that horseflesh." + +"'These are first-rate marrow-bones,' says he, squintin' with one eye +down the shin-bone o' the hind leg to see if it was quite empty." + +"'Yes, sir, they is,' answered Martin, as grave as a judge." + +"'Take another, sir,' says I." + +"'No, thankee,' says he with a sigh, for he didn't like to leave off." + +"Well, we lived for a week on horseflesh, an' first-rate livin' it +wos; then we fell in with buffalo, an' niver ran short again till we +got to the settlements, when he paid us our money an' shook hands, +sayin' we'd had a nice trip, an' he wished us well. Jist as we wos +partin' I said, says I, 'D'ye know what it wos we lived on for a week +arter we wos well-nigh starved in the prairies?'" + +"'What,' says he, 'when we got yon capital marrowbones?'" + +"'The same,' says I. 'Yon wos _horse_ flesh,' says I; 'an' I think +ye'll surely niver say again that it isn't first-rate livin'.'" + +"'Ye're jokin',' says he, turnin' pale." + +"'It's true, sir; as true as ye're standin' there.'" + +"Well, would ye believe it, he turned--that natter-list did--as sick +as a dog on the spot wot he wos standin' on, an' didn't taste meat +again for three days!" + +Shortly after the conclusion of Joe's story they reached the camp, +and here they found the women and children flying about in a state of +terror, and the few men who had been left in charge arming themselves +in the greatest haste. + +"Hallo! something wrong here," cried Cameron, hastening forward, +followed by Joe. "What has happened, eh?" + +"Injuns comin', monsieur; look dere," answered a trapper, pointing +down the valley. + +"Arm and mount at once, and come to the front of the camp," cried +Cameron in a tone of voice that silenced every other, and turned +confusion into order. + +The cause of all this outcry was a cloud of dust seen far down the +valley, which was raised by a band of mounted Indians who approached +the camp at full speed. Their numbers could not be made out, but they +were a sufficiently formidable band to cause much anxiety to +Cameron, whose men, at the time, were scattered to the various +trapping-grounds, and only ten chanced to be within call of the camp. +However, with these ten he determined to show a bold front to the +savages, whether they came as friends or foes. He therefore ordered +the women and children within the citadel formed of the goods and +packs of furs piled upon each other, which point of retreat was to +be defended to the last extremity. Then galloping to the front he +collected his men and swept down the valley at full speed. In a few +minutes they were near enough to observe that the enemy only numbered +four Indians, who were driving a band of about a hundred horses before +them, and so busy were they in keeping the troop together that Cameron +and his men were close upon them before they were observed. + +It was too late to escape. Joe Blunt and Henri had already swept round +and cut off their retreat. In this extremity the Indians slipped from +the backs of their steeds and darted into the bushes, where they were +safe from pursuit, at least on horseback, while the trappers got +behind the horses and drove them towards the camp. + +At this moment one of the horses sprang ahead of the others and made +for the mountain, with its mane and tail flying wildly in the breeze. + +"Marrow-bones and buttons!" shouted one of the men, "there goes Dick +Varley's horse." + +"So it am!" cried Henri, and dashed off in pursuit, followed by Joe +and two others. + +"Why, these are our own horses," said Cameron in surprise, as they +drove them into a corner of the hills from which they could not +escape. + +This was true, but it was only half the truth, for, besides their own +horses, they had secured upwards of seventy Indian steeds; a most +acceptable addition to their stud, which, owing to casualties and +wolves, had been diminishing too much of late. The fact was that the +Indians who had captured the horses belonging to Pierre and his party +were a small band of robbers who had travelled, as was afterwards +learned, a considerable distance from the south, stealing horses from +various tribes as they went along. As we have seen, in an evil hour +they fell in with Pierre's party and carried off their steeds, which +they drove to a pass leading from one valley to the other. Here they +united them with the main band of their ill-gotten gains, and while +the greater number of the robbers descended farther into the plains in +search of more booty, four of them were sent into the mountains with +the horses already procured. These four, utterly ignorant of the +presence of white men in the valley, drove their charge, as we have +seen, almost into the camp. + +Cameron immediately organized a party to go out in search of Pierre +and his companions, about whose fate he became intensely anxious, +and in the course of half-an-hour as many men as he could spare with +safety were despatched in the direction of the Blue Mountains. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +_Charlie's adventures with savages and bears_--_Trapping life_. + + +It is one thing to chase a horse; it is another thing to catch it. +Little consideration and less sagacity are required to convince us of +the truth of that fact. + +The reader may perhaps venture to think this rather a trifling fact. +We are not so sure of that. In this world of fancies, to have _any_ +fact incontestably proved and established is a comfort, and whatever +is a source of comfort to mankind is worthy of notice. Surely our +reader won't deny that! Perhaps he will, so we can only console +ourself with the remark that there are people in this world who would +deny _anything_--who would deny that there was a nose on their face if +you said there was! + +Well, to return to the point, which was the chase of a horse in the +abstract; from which we will rapidly diverge to the chase of Dick +Varley's horse in particular. This noble charger, having been ridden +by savages until all his old fire and blood and mettle were worked up +to a red heat, no sooner discovered that he was pursued than he gave +a snort of defiance, which he accompanied with a frantic shake of his +mane and a fling of contempt in addition to a magnificent wave of his +tail. Then he thundered up the valley at a pace which would speedily +have left Joe Blunt and Henri out of sight behind if--ay! that's the +word, _if_! What a word that _if_ is! what a world of _if's_ we live +in! There never was anything that wouldn't have been something else +_if_ something hadn't intervened to prevent it! Yes, we repeat Charlie +would have left his two friends miles and miles behind in what is +called "no time," _if_ he had not run straight into a gorge which was +surrounded by inaccessible precipices, and out of which there was no +exit except by the entrance, which was immediately barred by Henri, +while Joe advanced to catch the run-away. + +For two hours at least did Joe Blunt essay to catch Charlie, and +during that space of time he utterly failed The horse seemed to have +made up his mind for what is vulgarly termed "a lark." + +"It won't do, Henri," said Joe, advancing towards his companion, and +wiping his forehead with the cuff of his leathern coat; "I can't catch +him. The wind's a'most blowed out o' me body." + +"Dat am vexatiable," replied Henri, in a tone of commiseration. +"S'pose I wos make try?" + +"In that case I s'pose ye would fail. But go ahead, an' do what ye +can. I'll hold yer horse." + +So Henri began by a rush and a flourish of legs and arms that nearly +frightened the horse out of his wits. For half-an-hour he went through +all the complications of running and twisting of which he was capable, +without success, when Joe Blunt suddenly uttered a stentorian yell +that rooted him to the spot on which he stood. + +To account for this, we must explain that in the heights of the Rocky +Mountains vast accumulations of snow take place among the crevices and +gorges during winter. Such of these masses as form on steep slopes +are loosened by occasional thaws, and are precipitated in the form of +avalanches into the valleys below, carrying trees and stones along +with them in their thundering descent. In the gloomy gorge where +Dick's horse had taken refuge the precipices were so steep that many +avalanches had occurred, as was evident from the mounds of heaped snow +that lay at the foot of most of them. Neither stones nor trees were +carried down here, however, for the cliffs were nearly perpendicular, +and the snow slipping over their edges had fallen on the grass below. +Such an avalanche was now about to take place, and it was this that +caused Joe to utter his cry of alarm and warning. + +Henri and the horse were directly under the cliff over which it was +about to be hurled, the latter close to the wall of rock, the other at +some distance away from it. + +Joe cried again, "Back, Henri! back _vite_!" when the mass _flowed +over_ and fell with a roar like prolonged thunder. Henri sprang back +in time to save his life, though he was knocked down and almost +stunned; but poor Charlie was completely buried under the avalanche, +which now presented the appearance of a _hill_ of snow. + +The instant Henri recovered sufficiently, Joe and he mounted their +horses and galloped back to the camp as fast as possible. + +Meanwhile, another spectator stepped forward upon the scene they had +left, and surveyed the snow hill with a critical eye. This was no less +than a grizzly bear, which had, unobserved, been a spectator, and +which immediately proceeded to dig into the mound, with the purpose, +no doubt, of disentombing the carcass of the horse for purposes of his +own. + +While he was thus actively engaged the two hunters reached the camp, +where they found that Pierre and his party had just arrived. The men +sent out in search of them had scarcely advanced a mile when they +found them trudging back to the camp in a very disconsolate manner. +But all their sorrows were put to flight on hearing of the curious way +in which the horses had been returned to them with interest. + +Scarcely had Dick Varley, however, congratulated himself on the +recovery of his gallant steed, when he was thrown into despair by the +sudden arrival of Joe with the tidings of the catastrophe we have just +related. + +Of course there was a general rush to the rescue. Only a few men were +ordered to remain to guard the camp, while the remainder mounted their +horses and galloped towards the gorge where Charlie had been entombed. +On arriving, they found that Bruin had worked with such laudable zeal +that nothing but the tip of his tail was seen sticking out of the hole +which he had dug. The hunters could not refrain from laughing as they +sprang to the ground, and standing in a semicircle in front of the +hole, prepared to fire. But Crusoe resolved to have the honour of +leading the assault. He seized fast hold of Bruin's flank, and caused +his teeth to meet therein. Caleb backed out at once and turned round, +but before he could recover from his surprise a dozen bullets pierced +his heart and brain. + +"Now, lads," cried Cameron, setting to work with a large wooden +shovel, "work like niggers. If there's any life left in the horse, +it'll soon be smothered out unless we set him free." + +The men needed no urging, however. They worked as if their lives +depended on their exertions. Dick Varley, in particular, laboured like +a young Hercules, and Henri hurled masses of snow about in a most +surprising manner. Crusoe, too, entered heartily into the spirit of +the work, and, scraping with his forepaws, sent such a continuous +shower of snow behind him that he was speedily lost to view in a hole +of his own excavating. In the course of half-an-hour a cavern was dug +in the mound almost close up to the cliff, and the men were beginning +to look about for the crushed body of Dick's steed, when an +exclamation from Henri attracted their attention. + +"Ha! mes ami, here am be one hole." + +The truth of this could not be doubted, for the eccentric trapper had +thrust his shovel through the wall of snow into what appeared to be a +cavern beyond, and immediately followed up his remark by thrusting in +his head and shoulders. He drew them out in a few seconds, with a look +of intense amazement. + +"Voilà! Joe Blunt. Look in dere, and you shall see fat you vill +behold." + +"Why, it's the horse, I do b'lieve!" cried Joe. "Go ahead, lads!" + +So saying, he resumed his shovelling vigorously, and in a few minutes +the hole was opened up sufficiently to enable a man to enter. Dick +sprang in, and there stood Charlie close beside the cliff, looking +as sedate and, unconcerned as if all that had been going on had no +reference to him whatever. + +The cause of his safety was simple enough. The precipice beside which +he stood when the avalanche occurred overhung its base at that point +considerably, so that when the snow descended a clear space of several +feet wide was left all along its base. Here Charlie had remained in +perfect comfort until his friends dug him out. + +Congratulating themselves not a little on having saved the charger and +bagged a grizzly bear, the trappers remounted, and returned to the +camp. + +For some time after this nothing worthy of particular note occurred. +The trapping operations went on prosperously and without interruption +from the Indians, who seemed to have left the locality altogether. +During this period, Dick, and Crusoe, and Charlie had many excursions +together, and the silver rifle full many a time sent death to the +heart of bear, and elk, and buffalo; while, indirectly, it sent joy +to the heart of man, woman, and child in camp, in the shape of juicy +steaks and marrow-bones. Joe and Henri devoted themselves almost +exclusively to trapping beaver, in which pursuit they were so +successful that they speedily became wealthy men, according to +backwood notions of wealth. + +With the beaver that they caught they purchased from Cameron's store +powder and shot enough for a long hunting expedition, and a couple +of spare horses to carry their packs. They also purchased a large +assortment of such goods and trinkets as would prove acceptable to +Indians, and supplied themselves with new blankets, and a few pairs of +strong moccasins, of which they stood much in need. + +Thus they went on from day to day, until symptoms of the approach of +winter warned them that it was time to return to the Mustang Valley. +About this time an event occurred which totally changed the aspect +of affairs in these remote valleys of the Rocky Mountains, and +precipitated the departure of our four friends, Dick, Joe, Henri, and +Crusoe. This was the sudden arrival of a whole tribe of Indians. +As their advent was somewhat remarkable, we shall devote to it the +commencement of a new chapter. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +_Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their +doings--The stampede--Charlie again_. + + +One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the +rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or +two before. Crusoe was with him, of course. Dick had tied Charlie to a +tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of +which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that +hemmed it in. + +Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the +opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so +that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky. +Dick was gazing in dreamy silence at the jutting rocks and dark +caverns, and speculating on the probable number of bears that dwelt +there, when a slight degree of restlessness on the part of Crusoe +attracted him. + +"What is't, pup?" said he, laying his hand on the dog's broad back. + +Crusoe looked the answer, "I don't know, Dick, but it's _something_, +you may depend upon it, else I would not have disturbed you." + +Dick lifted his rifle from the ground, and laid it in the hollow of +his left arm. + +"There must be something in the wind," remarked Dick. + +As wind is known to be composed of two distinct gases, Crusoe felt +perfectly safe in replying "Yes" with his tail. Immediately after he +added, "Hallo! did you hear that?" with his ears. + +Dick did hear it, and sprang hastily to his feet, as a sound like, yet +unlike, distant thunder came faintly down upon the breeze. In a few +seconds the sound increased to a roar in which was mingled the wild +cries of men. Neither Dick nor Crusoe moved, for the sounds came from +behind the heights in front of them, and they felt that the only way +to solve the question, "What can the sounds be?" was to wait till the +sounds should solve it themselves. + +Suddenly the muffled sounds gave place to the distinct bellowing of +cattle, the clatter of innumerable hoofs, and the yells of savage men, +while at the same moment the edges of the opposite cliffs became alive +with Indians and buffaloes rushing about in frantic haste--the former +almost mad with savage excitement, the latter with blind rage and +terror. + +On reaching the edge of the dizzy precipice, the buffaloes turned +abruptly and tossed their ponderous heads as they coursed along the +edge. Yet a few of them, unable to check their headlong course, fell +over, and were dashed to pieces on the rocks below. Such falls, Dick +observed, were hailed with shouts of delight by the Indians, whose +sole object evidently was to enjoy the sport of driving the terrified +animals over the precipice. The wily savages had chosen their ground +well for this purpose. + +The cliff immediately opposite to Dick Varley was a huge projection +from the precipice that hemmed in the gorge, a species of cape or +promontory several hundred yards wide at the base, and narrowing +abruptly to a point. The sides of this wedge-shaped projection were +quite perpendicular--indeed, in some places the top overhung the +base--and they were at least three hundred feet high. Broken and +jagged rocks, of that peculiarly chaotic character which probably +suggested the name to this part of the great American chain, projected +from and were scattered all round the cliffs. Over these the Indians, +whose numbers increased every moment, strove to drive the luckless +herd of buffaloes that had chanced to fall in their way. The task was +easy. The unsuspecting animals, of which there were hundreds, +rushed in a dense mass upon the cape referred to. On they came with +irresistible impetuosity, bellowing furiously, while their hoofs +thundered on the turf with the muffled continuous roar of a distant +but mighty cataract; the Indians, meanwhile, urging them on by hideous +yells and frantic gestures. + +The advance-guard came bounding madly to the edge of the precipice. +Here they stopped short, and gazed affrighted at the gulf below. It +was but for a moment. The irresistible momentum of the flying mass +behind pushed them over. Down they came, absolutely a living cataract, +upon the rocks below. Some struck on the projecting rocks in the +descent, and their bodies were dashed almost in pieces, while their +blood spurted out in showers. Others leaped from rock to rock with +awful bounds, until, losing their foothold, they fell headlong; +while others descended sheer down into the sweltering mass that lay +shattered at the base of the cliffs. + +Dick Varley and his dog remained rooted to the rock, as they gazed at +the sickening sight, as if petrified. Scarce fifty of that noble herd +of buffaloes escaped the awful leap, but they escaped only to fall +before the arrows of their ruthless pursuers. Dick had often heard of +this tendency of the Indians, where buffaloes were very numerous, to +drive them over precipices in mere wanton sport and cruelty, but +he had never seen it until now, and the sight filled his soul with +horror. It was not until the din and tumult of the perishing herd and +the shrill yells of the Indians had almost died away that he turned to +quit the spot. But the instant he did so another shout was raised. The +savages had observed him, and were seen galloping along the cliffs +towards the head of the gorge, with the obvious intention of gaining +the other side and capturing him. Dick sprang on Charlie's back, and +the next instant was flying down the valley towards the camp. + +He did not, however, fear being overtaken, for the gorge could not be +crossed, and the way round the head of it was long and rugged; but he +was anxious to alarm the camp as quickly as possible, so that they +might have time to call in the more distant trappers and make +preparations for defence. + +"Where away now, youngster?" inquired Cameron, emerging from his tent +as Dick, taking the brook that flowed in front at a flying leap, came +crashing through the bushes into the midst of the fur-packs at full +speed. + +"Injuns!" ejaculated Dick, reining up, and vaulting out of the saddle. +"Hundreds of 'em. Fiends incarnate every one!" + +"Are they near?" + +"Yes; an hour'll bring them down on us. Are Joe and Henri far from +camp to-day?" + +"At Ten-mile Creek," replied Cameron with an expression of bitterness, +as he caught up his gun and shouted to several men, who hurried up on +seeing our hero burst into camp. + +"Ten-mile Creek!" muttered Dick. "I'll bring 'em in, though," he +continued, glancing at several of the camp horses that grazed close at +hand. + +In another moment he was on Charlie's back, the line of one of the +best horses was in his hand, and almost before Cameron knew what he +was about he was flying down the valley like the wind. Charlie often +stretched out at full speed to please his young master, but seldom +had he been urged forward as he was upon this occasion. The led horse +being light and wild, kept well up, and in a marvellously short space +of time they were at Ten-mile Creek. + +"Hallo, Dick, wot's to do?" inquired Joe Blunt, who was up to his +knees in the water setting a trap at the moment his friend galloped +up. + +"Injuns! Where's Henri?" demanded Dick. + +"At the head o' the dam there." + +Dick was off in a moment, and almost instantly returned with Henri +galloping beside him. + +No word was spoken. In time of action these men did not waste words. +During Dick's momentary absence, Joe Blunt had caught up his rifle and +examined the priming, so that when Dick pulled up beside him he merely +laid his hand on the saddle, saying, "All right!" as he vaulted on +Charlie's back behind his young companion. In another moment they were +away at full speed. The mustang seemed to feel that unwonted exertions +were required of him. Double weighted though he was, he kept well up +with the other horse, and in less than two hours after Dick's leaving +the camp the three hunters came in sight of it. + +Meanwhile Cameron had collected nearly all his forces and put his +camp in a state of defence before the Indians arrived, which they did +suddenly, and, as usual, at full gallop, to the amount of at least +two hundred. They did not at first seem disposed to hold friendly +intercourse with the trappers, but assembled in a semicircle round the +camp in a menacing attitude, while one of their chiefs stepped forward +to hold a palaver. For some time the conversation on both sides was +polite enough, but by degrees the Indian chief assumed an imperious +tone, and demanded gifts from the trappers, taking care to enforce +his request by hinting that thousands of his countrymen were not far +distant. Cameron stoutly refused, and the palaver threatened to come +to an abrupt and unpleasant termination just at the time that Dick and +his friends appeared on the scene of action. + +The brook was cleared at a bound; the three hunters leaped from their +steeds and sprang to the front with a degree of energy that had a +visible effect on the savages; and Cameron, seizing the moment, +proposed that the two parties should smoke a pipe and hold a council. +The Indians agreed, and in a few minutes they were engaged in animated +and friendly intercourse. The speeches were long, and the compliments +paid on either side were inflated, and, we fear, undeserved; but the +result of the interview was, that Cameron made the Indians a present +of tobacco and a few trinkets, and sent them back to their friends to +tell them that he was willing to trade with them. + +Next day the whole tribe arrived in the valley, and pitched their +deerskin tents on the plain opposite to the camp of the white men. +Their numbers far exceeded Cameron's expectation, and it was with some +anxiety that he proceeded to strengthen his fortifications as much as +circumstances and the nature of the ground would admit. + +The Indian camp, which numbered upwards of a thousand souls, was +arranged with great regularity, and was divided into three distinct +sections, each section being composed of a separate tribe. The Great +Snake nation at that time embraced three tribes or divisions--namely, +the Shirry-dikas, or dog-eaters; the War-are-ree-kas, or fish-eaters; +and the Banattees, or robbers. These were the most numerous and +powerful Indians on the west side of the Rocky Mountains. The +Shirry-dikas dwelt in the plains, and hunted the buffaloes; dressed +well; were cleanly; rich in horses; bold, independent, and good +warriors. The War-are-ree-kas lived chiefly by fishing, and were found +on the banks of the rivers and lakes throughout the country. They were +more corpulent, slovenly, and indolent than the Shirry-dikas, and more +peaceful. The Banattees, as we have before mentioned, were the robbers +of the mountains. They were a wild and contemptible race, and at +enmity with every one. In summer they went about nearly naked. In +winter they clothed themselves in the skins of rabbits and wolves. +Being excellent mimics, they could imitate the howling of wolves, the +neighing of horses, and the cries of birds, by which means they could +approach travellers, rob them, and then fly to their rocky fastnesses +in the mountains, where pursuit was vain. + +Such were the men who now assembled in front of the camp of the +fur-traders, and Cameron soon found that the news of his presence in +the country had spread far and wide among the natives, bringing them +to the neighbourhood of his camp in immense crowds, so that during the +next few days their numbers increased to thousands. + +Several long palavers quickly ensued between the red men and the +white, and the two great chiefs who seemed to hold despotic rule +over the assembled tribes were extremely favourable to the idea of +universal peace which was propounded to them. In several set speeches +of great length and very considerable power, these natural orators +explained their willingness to enter into amicable relations with all +the surrounding nations, as well as with the white men. + +"But," said Pee-eye-em, the chief of the Shirry-dikas, a man above +six feet high, and of immense muscular strength--"but my tribe cannot +answer for the Banattees, who are robbers, and cannot be punished, +because they dwell in scattered families among the mountains. The +Banattees are bad; they cannot be trusted." + +None of the Banattees were present at the council when this was said; +and if they had been it would have mattered little, for they were +neither fierce nor courageous, although bold enough in their own +haunts to murder and rob the unwary. + +The second chief did not quite agree with Pee-eye-em. He said that it +was impossible for them to make peace with their natural enemies, the +Peigans and the Blackfeet on the east side of the mountains. It was +very desirable, he admitted; but neither of these tribes would consent +to it, he felt sure. + +Upon this Joe Blunt rose and said, "The great chief of the +War-are-ree-kas is wise, and knows that enemies cannot be reconciled +unless deputies are sent to make proposals of peace." + +"The Pale-face does not know the Blackfeet," answered the chief. "Who +will go into the lands of the Blackfeet? My young men have been sent +once and again, and their scalps are now fringes to the leggings of +their enemies. The War-are-ree-kas do not cross the mountains but for +the purpose of making war." + +"The chief speaks truth," returned Joe; "yet there are three men round +the council fire who will go to the Blackfeet and the Peigans with +messages of peace from the Snakes if they wish it." + +Joe pointed to himself, Henri, and Dick as he spoke, and added, "We +three do not belong to the camp of the fur-traders; we only, lodge +with them for a time. The Great Chief of the white men has sent us to +make peace with the Red-men, and to tell them that he desires to trade +with them--to exchange hatchets, and guns, and blankets for furs." + +This declaration interested the two chiefs greatly, and after a good +deal of discussion they agreed to take advantage of Joe Blunt's offer; +and appoint him as a deputy to the court of their enemies. Having +arranged these matters to their satisfaction, Cameron bestowed a red +flag and a blue surtout with brass buttons on each of the chiefs, and +a variety of smaller articles on the other members of the council, and +sent them away in a particularly amiable frame of mind. + +Pee-eye-em burst the blue surtout at the shoulders and elbows in +putting it on, as it was much too small for his gigantic frame; +but never having seen such an article of apparel before, he either +regarded this as the natural and proper consequence of putting it on, +or was totally indifferent to it, for he merely looked at the rents +with a smile of satisfaction, while his squaw surreptitiously cut off +the two back buttons and thrust them into her bosom. + +By the time the council closed the night was far advanced, and a +bright moon was shedding a flood of soft light over the picturesque +and busy scene. + +"I'll go to the Injun camp," said Joe to Walter Cameron, as the chiefs +rose to depart. "The season's far enough advanced already; it's time +to be off; and if I'm to speak for the Redskins in the Blackfeet +Council, I'd need to know what to say." + +"Please yourself, Master Blunt," answered Cameron. "I like your +company and that of your friends, and if it suited you I would be +glad to take you along with us to the coast of the Pacific; but your +mission among the Indians is a good one, and I'll help it on all I +can.--I suppose you will go also?" he added, turning to Dick Varley, +who was still seated beside the council fire caressing Crusoe. + +"Wherever Joe goes, I go," answered Dick. + +Crusoe's tail, ears, and eyes demonstrated high approval of the +sentiment involved in this speech. + +"And your friend Henri?" + +"He goes too," answered Joe. "It's as well that the Redskins should +see the three o' us before we start for the east side o' the +mountains.--Ho, Henri! come here, lad." + +Henri obeyed, and in a few seconds the three friends crossed the +brook to the Indian camp, and were guided to the principal lodge by +Pee-eye-em. Here a great council was held, and the proposed attempt +at negotiations for peace with their ancient enemies fully discussed. +While they were thus engaged, and just as Pee-eye-em had, in the +energy of an enthusiastic peroration, burst the blue surtout _almost_ +up to the collar, a distant rushing sound was heard, which caused +every man to spring to his feet, run out of the tent, and seize his +weapons. + +"What can it be, Joe?" whispered Dick as they stood at the tent door +leaning on their rifles, and listening intently. + +"Dun'no'," answered Joe shortly. + +Most of the numerous fires of the camp had gone out, but the bright +moon revealed the dusky forms of thousands of Indians, whom the +unwonted sound had startled, moving rapidly about. + +The mystery was soon explained. The Indian camp was pitched on an open +plain of several miles in extent, which took a sudden bend half-a-mile +distant, where a spur of the mountains shut out the farther end of +the valley from view. From beyond this point the dull rumbling sound +proceeded. Suddenly there was a roar as if a mighty cataract had been +let loose upon the scene. At the same moment a countless herd of wild +horses came thundering round the base of the mountain and swept over +the plain straight towards the Indian camp. + +"A stampede!" cried Joe, springing to the assistance of Pee-eye-em, +whose favourite horses were picketed near the tent. + +On they came like a living torrent, and the thunder of a thousand +hoofs was soon mingled with the howling of hundreds of dogs in the +camp, and the yelling of Indians, as they vainly endeavoured to +restrain the rising excitement of their steeds. Henri and Dick stood +rooted to the ground, gazing in silent wonder at the fierce and +uncontrollable gallop of the thousands of panic-stricken horses that +bore down upon the camp with the tumultuous violence of a mighty +cataract. + +As the maddened troop drew nigh, the camp horses began to snort and +tremble violently, and when the rush of the wild steeds was almost +upon them, they became ungovernable with terror, broke their halters +and hobbles, and dashed wildly about. To add to the confusion at that +moment, a cloud passed over the moon and threw the whole scene into +deep obscurity. Blind with terror, which was probably increased by the +din of their own mad flight, the galloping troop came on, and with a +sound like the continuous roar of thunder that for an instant drowned +the yell of dog and man they burst upon the camp, trampling over +packs and skins, and dried meat, etc., in their headlong speed, and +overturning several of the smaller tents. In another moment they swept +out upon the plain beyond, and were soon lost in the darkness of the +night, while the yelping of dogs, as they vainly pursued them, mingled +and gradually died away with the distant thunder of their retreat. + +This was a _stampede_, one of the most extraordinary scenes that can +be witnessed in the western wilderness. + +"Lend a hand, Henri," shouted Joe, who was struggling with a powerful +horse. "Wot's comed over yer brains, man? This brute'll git off if you +don't look sharp." + +Dick and Henri both answered to the summons, and they succeeded in +throwing the struggling animal on its side and holding it down +until its excitement was somewhat abated. Pee-eye-em had also been +successful in securing his favourite hunter: but nearly every other +horse belonging to the camp had broken loose and joined the whirlwind +gallop. But they gradually dropped out, and before morning the most of +them were secured by their owners. As there were at least two thousand +horses and an equal number of dogs in the part of the Indian camp +which had been thus overrun by the wild mustangs, the turmoil, as may +be imagined, was prodigious! Yet, strange to say, no accident of a +serious nature occurred beyond the loss of several chargers. + +In the midst of this exciting scene there was one heart which beat +with a nervous vehemence that well-nigh burst it. This was the heart +of Dick Varley's horse, Charlie. Well known to him was that distant +rumbling sound that floated on the night air into the fur-traders' +camp, where he was picketed close to Cameron's tent. Many a time had +he heard the approach of such a wild troop, and often, in days not +long gone by, had his shrill neigh rung out as he joined and led +the panic-stricken band. He was first to hear the sound, and by his +restive actions to draw the attention of the fur-traders to it. As a +precautionary measure they all sprang up and stood by their horses to +soothe them, but as a brook with a belt of bushes and quarter of a +mile of plain intervened between their camp and the mustangs as they +flew past, they had little or no trouble in restraining them. Not +so, however, with Charlie. At the very moment that his master was +congratulating himself on the supposed security of his position, he +wrenched the halter from the hand of him who held it, burst through +the barrier of felled trees that had been thrown round the camp, +cleared the brook at a bound, and with a wild hilarious neigh resumed +his old place in the ranks of the free-born mustangs of the prairie. + +Little did Dick think, when the flood of horses swept past him, that +his own good steed was there, rejoicing in his recovered liberty. But +Crusoe knew it. Ay, the wind had borne down the information to his +acute nose before the living storm burst upon the camp; and when +Charlie rushed past, with the long tough halter trailing at his heels, +Crusoe sprang to his side, seized the end of the halter with his +teeth, and galloped off along with him. + +It was a long gallop and a tough one, but Crusoe held on, for it was a +settled principle in his mind _never_ to give in. At first the check +upon Charlie's speed was imperceptible, but by degrees the weight of +the gigantic dog began to tell, and after a time they fell a little +to the rear; then by good fortune the troop passed through a mass of +underwood, and the line getting entangled brought their mad career +forcibly to a close; the mustangs passed on, and the two friends were +left to keep each other company in the dark. + +How long they would have remained thus is uncertain, for neither +of them had sagacity enough to undo a complicated entanglement. +Fortunately, however, in his energetic tugs at the line, Crusoe's +sharp teeth partially severed it, and a sudden start on the part of +Charlie caused it to part. Before he could escape, Crusoe again seized +the end of it, and led him slowly but steadily back to the Indian +camp, never halting or turning aside until he had placed the line in +Dick Varley's hand. + +"Hallo, pup! where have ye bin? How did ye bring him here?" exclaimed +Dick, as he gazed in amazement at his foam-covered horse. + +Crusoe wagged his tail, as if to say, "Be thankful that you've got +him, Dick, my boy, and don't ask questions that you know I can't +answer." + +"He must ha' broke loose and jined the stampede," remarked Joe, coming +out of the chief's tent at the moment; "but tie him up, Dick, and come +in, for we want to settle about startin' to-morrow or nixt day." + +Having fastened Charlie to a stake, and ordered Crusoe to watch him, +Dick re-entered the tent where the council had reassembled, and where +Pee-eye-em--having, in the recent struggle, split the blue surtout +completely up to the collar, so that his backbone was visible +throughout the greater part of its length--was holding forth in +eloquent strains on the subject of peace in general and peace with the +Blackfeet, the ancient enemies of the Shirry-dikas, in particular. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +_Plans and prospects--Dick becomes home-sick, and Henri +metaphysical--Indians attack the camp--A blow-up._ + + +On the following day the Indians gave themselves up to unlimited +feasting, in consequence of the arrival of a large body of hunters +with an immense supply of buffalo meat. It was a regular day of +rejoicing. Upwards of six hundred buffaloes had been killed and as the +supply of meat before their arrival had been ample, the camp was now +overflowing with plenty. + + +Feasts were given by the chiefs, and the medicine men went about the +camp uttering loud cries, which were meant to express gratitude to the +Great Spirit for the bountiful supply of food. They also carried a +portion of meat to the aged and infirm who were unable to hunt for +themselves, and had no young men in their family circle to hunt for +them. + +This arrival of the hunters was a fortunate circumstance, as it put +the Indians in great good-humour, and inclined them to hold friendly +intercourse with the trappers, who for some time continued to drive a +brisk trade in furs. Having no market for the disposal of their furs, +the Indians of course had more than they knew what to do with, and +were therefore glad to exchange those of the most beautiful and +valuable kind for a mere trifle, so that the trappers laid aside their +traps for a time and devoted themselves to traffic. + +Meanwhile Joe Blunt and his friends made preparations for their return +journey. + +"Ye see," remarked Joe to Henri and Dick, as they sat beside the fire +in Pee-eye-em's lodge, and feasted on a potful of grasshopper soup, +which the great chief's squaw had just placed before them--"ye see, my +calc'lations is as follows. Wot with trappin' beavers and huntin', we +three ha' made enough to set us up, an it likes us, in the Mustang +Valley--" + +"Ha!" interrupted Dick, remitting for a few seconds the use of his +teeth in order to exercise his tongue--ha! Joe, but it don't like +_me_! What, give up a hunter's life and become a farmer? I should +think not!" + +"Bon!" ejaculated Henri, but whether the remark had reference to the +grasshopper soup or the sentiment we cannot tell. + +"Well," continued Joe, commencing to devour a large buffalo steak with +a hunter's appetite, "ye'll please yourselves, lads, as to that; but +as I wos sayin', we've got a powerful lot o' furs, an' a big pack o' +odds and ends for the Injuns we chance to meet with by the way, an' +powder and lead to last us a twelvemonth, besides five good horses to +carry us an' our packs over the plains; so if it's agreeable to you, I +mean to make a bee-line for the Mustang Valley. We're pretty sure to +meet with Blackfeet on the way, and if we do we'll try to make peace +between them an' the Snakes. I 'xpect it'll be pretty well on for six +weeks afore we git to home, so we'll start to-morrow." + +"Dat is fat vill do ver' vell," said Henri; "vill you please donnez me +one petit morsel of steak." + +"I'm ready for anything, Joe," cried Dick; "you are leader. Just point +the way, and I'll answer for two o' us followin' ye--eh! won't we, +Crusoe?" + +"We will," remarked the dog quietly. + +"How comes it," inquired Dick, "that these Indians don't care for our +tobacco?" + +"They like their own better, I s'pose," answered Joe; "most all the +western Injuns do. They make it o' the dried leaves o' the shumack +and the inner bark o' the red-willow, chopped very small an' mixed +together. They call this stuff _kinnekinnik_; but they like to mix +about a fourth o' our tobacco with it, so Pee-eye-em tells me, an' +he's a good judge. The amount that red-skinned mortal smokes _is_ +oncommon." + +"What are they doin' yonder?" inquired Dick, pointing to a group of +men who had been feasting for some time past in front of a tent within +sight of our trio. + +"Goin' to sing, I think," replied Joe. + +As he spoke six young warriors were seen to work their bodies about +in a very remarkable way, and give utterance to still more remarkable +sounds, which gradually increased until the singers burst out into +that terrific yell, or war-whoop, for which American savages have long +been famous. Its effect would have been appalling to unaccustomed +ears. Then they allowed their voices to die away in soft, plaintive +tones, while their action corresponded thereto. Suddenly the furious +style was revived, and the men wrought themselves into a condition +little short of madness, while their yells rang wildly through the +camp. This was too much for ordinary canine nature to withstand, so +all the dogs in the neighbourhood joined in the horrible chorus. + +Crusoe had long since learned to treat the eccentricities of Indians +and their curs with dignified contempt. He paid no attention to this +serenade, but lay sleeping by the fire until Dick and his companions +rose to take leave of their host and return to the camp of the +fur-traders. The remainder of that night was spent in making +preparations for setting forth on the morrow; and when, at gray dawn, +Dick and Crusoe lay down to snatch a few hours' repose, the yells and +howling in the Snake camp were going on as vigorously as ever. + +The sun had arisen, and his beams were just tipping the summits of the +Rocky Mountains, causing the snowy peaks to glitter like flame, and +the deep ravines and gorges to look sombre and mysterious by contrast, +when Dick and Joe and Henri mounted their gallant steeds, and, with +Crusoe gambolling before, and the two pack-horses trotting by their +side, turned their faces eastward, and bade adieu to the Indian camp. + +Crusoe was in great spirits. He was perfectly well aware that he and +his companions were on their way home, and testified his satisfaction +by bursts of scampering over the hills and valleys. Doubtless he +thought of Dick Varley's cottage, and of Dick's mild, kind-hearted +mother. Undoubtedly, too, he thought of his own mother, Fan, and +felt a glow of filial affection as he did so. Of this we feel quite +certain. He would have been unworthy the title of hero if he hadn't. +Perchance he thought of Grumps, but of this we are not quite so sure. +We rather think, upon the whole, that he did. + +Dick, too, let his thoughts run away in the direction of _home_. +Sweet word! Those who have never left it cannot, by any effort of +imagination, realize the full import of the word "home." Dick was a +bold hunter; but he was young, and this was his first long expedition. +Oftentimes, when sleeping under the trees and gazing dreamily up +through the branches at the stars, had he thought of home, until +his longing heart began to yearn to return. He repelled such tender +feelings, however, when they became too strong, deeming them unmanly, +and sought to turn his mind to the excitements of the chase; but +latterly his efforts were in vain. He became thoroughly home-sick, and +while admitting the fact to himself, he endeavoured to conceal it from +his comrades. He thought that he was successful in this attempt. Poor +Dick Varley! as yet he was sadly ignorant of human nature. Henri knew +it, and Joe Blunt knew it. Even Crusoe knew that something was wrong +with his master, although he could not exactly make out what it was. +But Crusoe made memoranda in the note-book of his memory. He jotted +down the peculiar phases of his master's new disease with the care and +minute exactness of a physician, and, we doubt not, ultimately +added the knowledge of the symptoms of home-sickness to his already +well-filled stores of erudition. + +It was not till they had set out on their homeward journey that +Dick Varley's spirits revived, and it was not till they reached the +beautiful prairies on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and +galloped over the greensward towards the Mustang Valley, that Dick +ventured to tell Joe Blunt what his feelings had been. + +"D'ye know, Joe," he said confidentially, reining up his gallant steed +after a sharp gallop--"d'ye know I've bin feelin' awful low for some +time past." + +"I know it, lad," answered Joe, with a quiet smile, in which there +was a dash of something that implied he knew more than he chose to +express. + +Dick felt surprised, but he continued, "I wonder what it could have +bin. I never felt so before." + +"'Twas home-sickness, boy," returned Joe. + +"How d'ye know that?" + +"The same way as how I know most things--by experience an' +obsarvation. I've bin home-sick myself once, but it was long, long +agone." + +Dick felt much relieved at this candid confession by such a bronzed +veteran, and, the chords of sympathy having been struck, he opened up +his heart at once, to the evident delight of Henri, who, among other +curious partialities, was extremely fond of listening to and taking +part in conversations that bordered on the metaphysical, and were hard +to be understood. Most conversations that were not connected with +eating and hunting were of this nature to Henri. + +"Hom'-sik," he cried, "veech mean bein' sik of hom'! Hah! dat is fat I +am always be, ven I goes hout on de expedition. Oui, vraiment." + +"I always packs up," continued Joe, paying no attention to Henri's +remark--"I always packs up an' sets off for home when I gits +home-sick. It's the best cure; an' when hunters are young like +you, Dick, it's the only cure. I've knowed fellers a'most die o' +home-sickness, an' I'm told they _do_ go under altogether sometimes." + +"Go onder!" exclaimed Henri; "oui, I vas all but die myself ven I +fust try to git away from hom'. If I have not git away, I not be here +to-day." + +Henri's idea of home-sickness was so totally opposed to theirs that +his comrades only laughed, and refrained from attempting to set him +right. + +"The fust time I wos took bad with it wos in a country somethin' like +that," said Joe, pointing to the wide stretch of undulating prairie, +dotted with clusters of trees and meandering streamlets, that lay +before them. "I had bin out about two months, an' was makin' a good +thing of it, for game wos plenty, when I began to think somehow more +than usual o' home. My mother wos alive then." + +Joe's voice sank to a deep, solemn tone as he said this, and for a few +minutes he rode on in silence. + +"Well, it grew worse and worse. I dreamed o' home all night an' +thought of it all day, till I began to shoot bad, an' my comrades wos +gittin' tired o' me; so says I to them one night, says I, 'I give out, +lads; I'll make tracks for the settlement to-morrow.' They tried to +laugh me out of it at first, but it was no go, so I packed up, bid +them good-day, an' sot off alone on a trip o' five hundred miles. The +very first mile o' the way back I began to mend, and before two days I +wos all right again." + +Joe was interrupted at this point by the sudden appearance of a +solitary horseman on the brow of an eminence not half-a-mile distant. +The three friends instantly drove their pack-horses behind a clump of +trees; but not in time to escape the vigilant eye of the Red-man, who +uttered a loud shout, which brought up a band of his comrades at full +gallop. + +"Remember, Henri," cried Joe Blunt, "our errand is one of _peace_." + +The caution was needed, for in the confusion of the moment Henri was +making preparation to sell his life as dearly as possible. Before +another word could be uttered, they were surrounded by a troop of +about twenty yelling Blackfeet Indians. They were, fortunately, not a +war party, and, still more fortunately, they were peaceably disposed, +and listened to the preliminary address of Joe Blunt with exemplary +patience; after which the two parties encamped on the spot, the +council fire was lighted, and every preparation made for a long +palaver. + +We will not trouble the reader with the details of what was said on +this occasion. The party of Indians was a small one, and no chief of +any importance was attached to it. Suffice it to say that the pacific +overtures made by Joe were well received, the trifling gifts made +thereafter were still better received, and they separated with mutual +expressions of good-will. + +Several other bands which were afterwards met with were equally +friendly, and only one war party was seen. Joe's quick eye observed +it in time to enable them to retire unseen behind the shelter of some +trees, where they remained until the Indian warriors were out of +sight. + +The next party they met with, however, were more difficult to manage, +and, unfortunately, blood was shed on both sides before our travellers +escaped. + +It was at the close of a beautiful day that a war party of Blackfeet +were seen riding along a ridge on the horizon. It chanced that the +prairie at this place was almost destitute of trees or shrubs large +enough to conceal the horses. By dashing down the grassy wave into +the hollow between the two undulations, and dismounting, Joe hoped to +elude the savages, so he gave the word; but at the same moment a shout +from the Indians told that they were discovered. + +"Look sharp, lads! throw down the packs on the highest point of the +ridge," cried Joe, undoing the lashings, seizing one of the bales of +goods, and hurrying to the top of the undulation with it; "we must +keep them at arm's-length, boys--be alive! War parties are not to be +trusted." + +Dick and Henri seconded Joe's efforts so ably that in the course of +two minutes the horses were unloaded, the packs piled in the form of a +wall in front of a broken piece of ground, the horses picketed close +beside them, and our three travellers peeping over the edge, with +their rifles cocked, while the savages--about thirty in number--came +sweeping down towards them. + +"I'll try to git them to palaver," said Joe Blunt; "but keep yer eye +on 'em, Dick, an' if they behave ill, shoot the _horse_ o' the leadin' +chief. I'll throw up my left hand, as a signal. Mind, lad, don't hit +human flesh till my second signal is given, and see that Henri don't +draw till I git back to ye." + +So saying, Joe sprang lightly over the slight parapet of their little +fortress, and ran swiftly out, unarmed, towards the Indians. In a +few seconds he was close up with them, and in another moment was +surrounded. At first the savages brandished their spears and rode +round the solitary man, yelling like fiends, as if they wished to +intimidate him; but as Joe stood like a statue, with his arms crossed, +and a grave expression of contempt on his countenance, they quickly +desisted, and, drawing near, asked him where he came from, and what he +was doing there. + +Joe's story was soon told; but instead of replying, they began to +shout vociferously, and evidently meant mischief. + +"If the Blackfeet are afraid to speak to the Pale-face, he will go +back to his braves," said Joe, passing suddenly between two of the +warriors and taking a few steps towards the camp. + +Instantly every bow was bent, and it seemed as if our bold hunter were +about to be pierced by a score of arrows, when he turned round and +cried,--"The Blackfeet must not advance a single step. The first that +moves his _horse_ shall die. The second that moves _himself_ shall +die." + +To this the Blackfeet chief replied scornfully, "The Pale-face talks +with a big mouth. We do not believe his words. The Snakes are liars; +we will make no peace with them." + +While he was yet speaking, Joe threw up his hand; there was a loud +report, and the noble horse of the savage chief lay struggling in +death agony on the ground. + +The use of the rifle, as we have before hinted, was little known at +this period among the Indians of the far west, and many had never +heard the dreaded report before, although all were aware, from +hearsay, of its fatal power. The fall of the chief's horse, therefore, +quite paralyzed them for a few moments, and they had not recovered +from their surprise when a second report was heard, a bullet whistled +past, and a second horse fell. At the same moment there was a loud +explosion in the camp of the Pale-faces, a white cloud enveloped it, +and from the midst of this a loud shriek was heard, as Dick, Henri, +and Crusoe bounded over the packs with frantic gestures. + +At this the gaping savages wheeled their steeds round, the dismounted +horsemen sprang on behind two of their comrades, and the whole band +dashed away over the plains as if they were chased by evil spirits. + +Meanwhile Joe hastened towards his comrades in a state of great +anxiety, for he knew at once that one of the powder-horns must have +been accidentally blown up. + +"No damage done, boys, I hope?" he cried on coming up. + +"Damage!" cried Henri, holding his hands tight over his face. "Oh! +oui, great damage--moche damage; me two eyes be blowed out of dere +holes." + +"Not quite so bad as that, I hope," said Dick, who was very slightly +singed, and forgot his own hurts in anxiety about his comrade. "Let me +see." + +"My eye!" exclaimed Joe Blunt, while a broad grin overspread his +countenance, "ye've not improved yer looks, Henri." + +This was true. The worthy hunter's hair was singed to such an extent +that his entire countenance presented the appearance of a universal +frizzle. Fortunately the skin, although much blackened, was quite +uninjured--a fact which, when he ascertained it beyond a doubt, +afforded so much satisfaction to Henri that he capered about shouting +with delight, as if some piece of good fortune had befallen him. + +The accident had happened in consequence of Henri having omitted to +replace the stopper of his powder-horn, and when, in his anxiety for +Joe, he fired at random amongst the Indians, despite Dick's entreaties +to wait, a spark communicated with the powder-horn and blew him up. +Dick and Crusoe were only a little singed, but the former was not +disposed to quarrel with an accident which had sent their enemies so +promptly to the right-about. + +This band followed them for some nights, in the hope of being able to +steal their horses while they slept; but they were not brave enough to +venture a second time within range of the death-dealing rifle. + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +_Dangers of the prairie_--_Our travellers attacked by Indians, and +delivered in a remarkable manner_. + + +There are periods in the life of almost all men A when misfortunes +seem to crowd upon them in rapid succession, when they escape from +one danger only to encounter another, and when, to use a well-known +expression, they succeed in leaping out of the frying-pan at the +expense of plunging into the fire. + +So was it with our three friends upon this occasion. They were +scarcely rid of the Blackfeet, who found them too watchful to be +caught napping, when, about daybreak one morning, they encountered a +roving band of Camanchee Indians, who wore such a warlike aspect that +Joe deemed it prudent to avoid them if possible. + +"They don't see us yit, I guess," said Joe, as he and his companions +drove the horses into a hollow between the grassy waves of the +prairie, "an' if we only can escape their sharp eyes till we're in +yonder clump o' willows, we're safe enough." + +"But why don't you ride up to them, Joe," inquired Dick, "and make +peace between them and the Pale-faces, as you ha' done with other +bands?" + +"Because it's o' no use to risk our scalps for the chance o' makin' +peace wi' a rovin' war party. Keep yer head down, Henri! If they git +only a sight o' the top o' yer cap, they'll be down on us like a +breeze o' wind." + +"Ha! let dem come!" said Henri. + +"They'll come without askin' yer leave," remarked Joe, dryly. + +Notwithstanding his defiant expression, Henri had sufficient prudence +to induce him to bend his head and shoulders, and in a few minutes +they reached the shelter of the willows unseen by the savages. At +least so thought Henri, Joe was not quite sure about it, and Dick +hoped for the best. + +In the course of half-an-hour the last of the Camanchees was seen to +hover for a second on the horizon, like a speck of black against the +sky, and then to disappear. + +Immediately the three hunters vaulted on their steeds and resumed +their journey; but before that evening closed they had sad evidence of +the savage nature of the band from which they had escaped. On passing +the brow of a slight eminence, Dick, who rode first, observed that +Crusoe stopped and snuffed the breeze in an anxious, inquiring manner. + +"What is't, pup?" said Dick, drawing up, for he knew that his faithful +dog never gave a false alarm. + +Crusoe replied by a short, uncertain bark, and then bounding forward, +disappeared behind a little wooded knoll. In another moment a long, +dismal howl floated over the plains. There was a mystery about the +dog's conduct which, coupled with his melancholy cry, struck the +travellers with a superstitious feeling of dread, as they sat looking +at each other in surprise. + +"Come, let's clear it up," cried Joe Blunt, shaking the reins of his +steed, and galloping forward. A few strides brought them to the other +side of the knoll, where, scattered upon the torn and bloody turf, +they discovered the scalped and mangled remains of about twenty or +thirty human beings. Their skulls had been cleft by the tomahawk and +their breasts pierced by the scalping-knife, and from the position in +which many of them lay it was evident that they had been slain while +asleep. + +Joe's brow flushed and his lips became tightly compressed as he +muttered between his set teeth, "Their skins are white." + +A short examination sufficed to show that the men who had thus been +barbarously murdered while they slept had been a band of trappers or +hunters, but what their errand had been, or whence they came, they +could not discover. + +Everything of value had been carried off, and all the scalps had been +taken. Most of the bodies, although much mutilated, lay in a posture +that led our hunters to believe they had been killed while asleep; but +one or two were cut almost to pieces, and from the blood-bespattered +and trampled sward around, it seemed as if they had struggled long and +fiercely for life. Whether or not any of the savages had been slain, +it was impossible to tell, for if such had been the case, their +comrades, doubtless, had carried away their bodies. + +That they had been slaughtered by the party of Camanchees who had been +seen at daybreak was quite clear to Joe; but his burning desire to +revenge the death of the white men had to be stifled, as his party was +so small. + +Long afterwards it was discovered that this was a band of trappers +who, like those mentioned at the beginning of this volume, had set out +to avenge the death of a comrade; but God, who has retained the right +of vengeance in his own hand, saw fit to frustrate their purpose, by +giving them into the hands of the savages whom they had set forth to +slay. + +As it was impossible to bury so many bodies, the travellers resumed +their journey, and left them to bleach there in the wilderness; but +they rode the whole of that day almost without uttering a word. + +Meanwhile the Camanchees, who had observed the trio, and had ridden +away at first for the purpose of deceiving them into the belief that +they had passed unobserved, doubled on their track, and took a long +sweep in order to keep out of sight until they could approach under +the shelter of a belt of woodland towards which the travellers now +approached. + +The Indians adopted this course instead of the easier method of +simply pursuing so weak a party, because the plains at this part were +bordered by a long stretch of forest into which the hunters could have +plunged, and rendered pursuit more difficult, if not almost useless. +The detour thus taken was so extensive that the shades of evening were +beginning to descend before they could put their plan into execution. +The forest lay about a mile to the right of our hunters, like some +dark mainland, of which the prairie was the sea and the scattered +clumps of wood the islands. + +"There's no lack o' game here," said Dick Varley, pointing to a herd +of buffaloes which rose at their approach and fled away towards the +wood. + +"I think we'll ha' thunder soon," remarked Joe. "I never feel it +onnatteral hot like this without lookin' out for a plump." + +"Ha! den ve better look hout for one goot tree to get b'low," +suggested Henri. "Voilà!" he added, pointing with his finger towards +the plain; "dere am a lot of wild hosses." + +A troop of about thirty wild horses appeared, as he spoke, on the brow +of a ridge, and advanced slowly towards them. + +"Hist!" exclaimed Joe, reining up; "hold on, lads. Wild horses! my +rifle to a pop-gun there's wilder men on t'other side o' them." + +"What mean you, Joe?" inquired Dick, riding close up. + +"D'ye see the little lumps on the shoulder o' each horse?" said Joe. +"Them's Injun's _feet_; an' if we don't want to lose our scalps we'd +better make for the forest." + +Joe proved himself to be in earnest by wheeling round and making +straight for the thick wood as fast as his horse could run. The others +followed, driving the pack-horses before them. + +The effect of this sudden movement on the so-called "wild horses" +was very remarkable, and to one unacquainted with the habits of the +Camanchee Indians must have appeared almost supernatural. In the +twinkling of an eye every steed had a rider on its back, and before +the hunters had taken five strides in the direction of the forest, the +whole band were in hot pursuit, yelling like furies. + +The manner in which these Indians accomplish this feat is very +singular, and implies great activity and strength of muscle on the +part of the savages. + +The Camanchees are low in stature, and usually are rather corpulent. +In their movements on foot they are heavy and ungraceful, and they +are, on the whole, a slovenly and unattractive race of men. But the +instant they mount their horses they seem to be entirely changed, and +surprise the spectator with the ease and elegance of their movements. +Their great and distinctive peculiarity as horsemen is the power they +have acquired of throwing themselves suddenly on either side of their +horse's body, and clinging on in such a way that no part of them is +visible from the other side save the foot by which they cling. In this +manner they approach their enemies at full gallop, and, without rising +again to the saddle, discharge their arrows at them over the horses' +backs, or even under their necks. + +This apparently magical feat is accomplished by means of a halter of +horse-hair, which is passed round under the neck of the horse and both +ends braided into the mane, on the withers, thus forming a loop which +hangs under the neck and against the breast. This being caught by the +hand, makes a sling, into which the elbow falls, taking the weight +of the body on the middle of the upper arm. Into this loop the rider +drops suddenly and fearlessly, leaving his heel to hang over the +horse's back to steady him, and also to restore him to his seat when +desired. + +By this stratagem the Indians had approached on the present occasion +almost within rifle range before they were discovered, and it required +the utmost speed of the hunters' horses to enable them to avoid +being overtaken. One of the Indians, who was better mounted than his +fellows, gained on the fugitives so much that he came within arrow +range, but reserved his shaft until they were close on the margin of +the wood, when, being almost alongside of Henri, he fitted an arrow to +his bow. Henri's eye was upon him, however. Letting go the line of the +pack-horse which he was leading, he threw forward his rifle; but at +the same moment the savage disappeared behind his horse, and an arrow +whizzed past the hunter's ear. + +Henri fired at the horse, which dropped instantly, hurling the +astonished Camanchee upon the ground, where he lay for some time +insensible. In a few seconds pursued and pursuers entered the wood, +where both had to advance with caution, in order to avoid being swept +off by the overhanging branches of the trees. + +Meanwhile the sultry heat of which Joe had formerly spoken increased +considerably, and a rumbling noise, as if of distant thunder, was +heard; but the flying hunters paid no attention to it, for the led +horses gave them so much trouble, and retarded their flight so much, +that the Indians were gradually and visibly gaining on them. + +"We'll ha' to let the packs go," said Joe, somewhat bitterly, as he +looked over his shoulder. "Our scalps'll pay for't, if we don't." + +Henri uttered a peculiar and significant _hiss_ between his teeth, as +he said, "P'r'aps ve better stop and fight!" + +Dick said nothing, being resolved to do exactly what Joe Blunt bid +him; and Crusoe, for reasons best known to himself, also said nothing, +but bounded along beside his master's horse, casting an occasional +glance upwards to catch any signal that might be given. + +They had passed over a considerable space of ground, and were +forcing their way at the imminent hazard of their necks through a +densely-clothed part of the wood, when the sound above referred to +increased, attracting the attention of both parties. In a few seconds +the air was filled with a steady and continuous rumbling sound, like +the noise of a distant cataract. Pursuers and fugitives drew rein +instinctively, and came to a dead stand; while the rumbling increased +to a roar, and evidently approached them rapidly, though as yet +nothing to cause it could be seen, except that there was a dense, dark +cloud overspreading the sky to the southward. The air was oppressively +still and hot. + +"What can it be?" inquired Dick, looking at Joe, who was gazing with +an expression of wonder, not unmixed with concern, at the southern +sky. + +"Dun'no', boy. I've bin more in the woods than in the clearin' in my +day, but I niver heerd the likes o' that." + + +"It am like t'ondre," said Henri; "mais it nevair do stop." + + +This was true. The sound was similar to continuous, uninterrupted +thunder. On it came with a magnificent roar that shook the very earth, +and revealed itself at last in the shape of a mighty whirlwind. In a +moment the distant woods bent before it, and fell like grass before +the scythe. It was a whirling hurricane, accompanied by a deluge of +rain such as none of the party had ever before witnessed. Steadily, +fiercely, irresistibly it bore down upon them, while the crash of +falling, snapping, and uprooting trees mingled with the dire artillery +of that sweeping storm like the musketry on a battle-field. + +"Follow me, lads!" shouted Joe, turning his horse and dashing at full +speed towards a rocky eminence that offered shelter. But shelter +was not needed. The storm was clearly defined. Its limits were +as distinctly marked by its Creator as if it had been a living +intelligence sent forth to put a belt of desolation round the world; +and, although the edge of devastation was not five hundred yards from +the rock behind which the hunters were stationed, only a few drops of +ice-cold rain fell upon them. + +It passed directly between the Camanchee Indians and their intended +victims, placing between them a barrier which it would have taken days +to cut through. The storm blew for an hour, then it travelled onward +in its might, and was lost in the distance. Whence it came and whither +it went none could tell, but far as the eye could see on either hand +an avenue a quarter of a mile wide was cut through the forest. It had +levelled everything with the dust; the very grass was beaten flat; the +trees were torn, shivered, snapped across, and crushed; and the earth +itself in many places was ploughed up and furrowed with deep scars. +The chaos was indescribable, and it is probable that centuries will +not quite obliterate the work of that single hour. + +While it lasted, Joe and his comrades remained speechless and +awe-stricken. When it passed, no Indians were to be seen. So our +hunters remounted their steeds, and, with feelings of gratitude to +God for having delivered them alike from savage foes and from the +destructive power of the whirlwind, resumed their journey towards the +Mustang Valley. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + +_Anxious fears followed by a joyful surprise--Safe home at last, and +happy hearts_. + + +One fine afternoon, a few weeks after the storm of which we have given +an account in the last chapter, old Mrs. Varley was seated beside her +own chimney corner in the little cottage by the lake, gazing at the +glowing logs with the earnest expression of one whose thoughts were +far away. Her kind face was paler than usual, and her hands rested +idly on her knee, grasping the knitting-wires to which was attached a +half-finished stocking. + +On a stool near to her sat young Marston, the lad to whom, on the day +of the shooting-match, Dick Varley had given his old rifle. The boy +had an anxious look about him, as he lifted his eyes from time to time +to the widow's face. + +"Did ye say, my boy, that they were _all_ killed?" inquired Mrs. +Varley, awaking from her reverie with a deep sigh. + +"Every one," replied Marston. "Jim Scraggs, who brought the news, said +they wos all lying dead with their scalps off. They wos a party o' +white men." + +Mrs. Varley sighed again, and her face assumed an expression of +anxious pain as she thought of her son Dick being exposed to a similar +fate. Mrs. Varley was not given to nervous fears, but as she listened +to the boy's recital of the slaughter of a party of white men, news +of which had just reached the valley, her heart sank, and she prayed +inwardly to Him who is the husband of the widow that her dear one +might be protected from the ruthless hand of the savage. + +After a short pause, during which young Marston fidgeted about and +looked concerned, as if he had something to say which he would fain +leave unsaid, Mrs. Varley continued,-- + +"Was it far off where the bloody deed was done?" + +"Yes; three weeks off, I believe. And Jim Scraggs said that he found +a knife that looked like the one wot belonged to--to--" the lad +hesitated. + +"To whom, my boy? Why don't ye go on?" + +"To your son Dick." + +The widow's hands dropped by her side, and she would have fallen had +not Marston caught her. + +"O mother dear, don't take on like that!" he cried, smoothing down the +widow's hair as her head rested on his breast. + +For some time Mrs. Varley suffered the boy to fondle her in silence, +while her breast laboured with anxious dread. + +"Tell me all," she said at last, recovering a little. "Did Jim +see--Dick?" + +"No," answered the boy. "He looked at all the bodies, but did not find +his; so he sent me over here to tell ye that p'r'aps he's escaped." + +Mrs. Varley breathed more freely, and earnestly thanked God; but her +fears soon returned when she thought of his being a prisoner, and +recalled the tales of terrible cruelty often related of the savages. + +While she was still engaged in closely questioning the lad, Jim +Scraggs himself entered the cottage, and endeavoured in a gruff sort +of way to reassure the widow. + +"Ye see, mistress," he said, "Dick is an oncommon tough customer, an' +if he could only git fifty yards' start, there's not an Injun in the +West as could git hold o' him agin; so don't be takin' on." + +"But what if he's been taken prisoner?" said the widow. + +"Ay, that's jest wot I've comed about. Ye see it's not onlikely he's +bin took; so about thirty o' the lads o' the valley are ready jest now +to start away and give the red riptiles chase, an' I come to tell ye; +so keep up heart, mistress." + +With this parting word of comfort, Jim withdrew, and Marston soon +followed, leaving the widow to weep and pray in solitude. + +Meanwhile an animated scene was going on near the block-house. Here +thirty of the young hunters of the Mustang Valley were assembled, +actively engaged in supplying themselves with powder and lead, and +tightening their girths, preparatory to setting out in pursuit of the +Indians who had murdered the white men; while hundreds of boys and +girls, and not a few matrons, crowded round and listened to the +conversation, and to the deep threats of vengeance that were uttered +ever and anon by the younger men. + +Major Hope, too, was among them. The worthy major, unable to restrain +his roving propensities, determined to revisit the Mustang Valley, and +had arrived only two days before. + +Backwoodsmen's preparations are usually of the shortest and simplest. +In a few minutes the cavalcade was ready, and away they went towards +the prairies, with the bold major at their head. But their journey was +destined to come to an abrupt and unexpected close. A couple of hours' +gallop brought them to the edge of one of those open plains which +sometimes break up the woodland near the verge of the great prairies. +It stretched out like a green lake towards the horizon, on which, just +as the band of horsemen reached it, the sun was descending in a blaze +of glory. + +With a shout of enthusiasm, several of the younger members of the +party sprang forward into the plain at a gallop; but the shout was +mingled with one of a different tone from the older men. + +"Hist!--hallo!--hold on, ye catamounts! There's Injuns ahead!" + +The whole band came to a sudden halt at this cry, and watched eagerly, +and for some time in silence, the motions of a small party of horsemen +who were seen in the far distance, like black specks on the golden +sky. + +"They come this way, I think," said Major Hope, after gazing +steadfastly at them for some minutes. + +Several of the old hands signified their assent to this suggestion by +a grunt, although to unaccustomed eyes the objects in question looked +more like crows than horsemen, and their motion was for some time +scarcely perceptible. + + +"I sees pack-horses among them," cried young Marston in an excited +tone; "an' there's three riders; but there's som'thin' else, only wot +it be I can't tell." + +"Ye've sharp eyes, younker," remarked one of the men, "an' I do +b'lieve ye're right." + +Presently the horsemen approached, and soon there was a brisk fire of +guessing as to who they could be. It was evident that the strangers +observed the cavalcade of white men, and regarded them as friends, for +they did not check the headlong speed at which they approached. In a +few minutes they were clearly made out to be a party of three horsemen +driving pack-horses before them, and _somethin_' which some of the +hunters guessed was a buffalo calf. + +Young Marston guessed too, but his guess was different. Moreover, it +was uttered with a yell that would have done credit to the fiercest +of all the savages. "Crusoe!" he shouted, while at the same moment he +brought his whip heavily down on the flank of his little horse, and +sprang over the prairie like an arrow. + +One of the approaching horsemen was far ahead of his comrades, and +seemed as if encircled with the flying and voluminous mane of his +magnificent horse. + +"Ha! ho!" gasped Marston in a low tone to himself, as he flew along. +"Crusoe! I'd know ye, dog, among a thousand! A buffalo calf! Ha! git +on with ye!" + +This last part of the remark was addressed to his horse, and was +followed by a whack that increased the pace considerably. + +The space between two such riders was soon devoured. + +"Hallo! Dick--Dick Varley!" + +"Eh! why, Marston, my boy!" + +The friends reined up so suddenly that one might have fancied they had +met like the knights of old in the shock of mortal conflict. + +"Is't yerself, Dick Varley?" + +Dick held out his hand, and his eyes glistened, but he could not find +words. + +Marston seized it, and pushing his horse close up, vaulted nimbly off +and alighted on Charlie's back behind his friend. + +"Off ye go, Dick! I'll take ye to yer mother." + +Without reply, Dick shook the reins, and in another minute was in the +midst of the hunters. + +To the numberless questions that were put to him he only waited to +shout aloud, "We're all safe! They'll tell ye all about it," he added, +pointing to his comrades, who were now close at hand; and then, +dashing onward, made straight for home, with little Marston clinging +to his waist like a monkey. + +Charlie was fresh, and so was Crusoe, so you may be sure it was not +long before they all drew up opposite the door of the widow's cottage. +Before Dick could dismount, Marston had slipped off, and was already +in the kitchen. + +"Here's Dick, mother!" + +The boy was an orphan, and loved the widow so much that he had come at +last to call her mother. + +Before another word could be uttered, Dick Varley was in the room. +Marston immediately stepped out and softly shut the door. Reader, we +shall not open it! + +Having shut the door, as we have said, Marston ran down to the edge of +the lake and yelled with delight--usually terminating each paroxysm +with the Indian war-whoop, with which he was well acquainted. Then he +danced, and then he sat down on a rock, and became suddenly aware that +there were other hearts there, close beside him, as glad as his own. +Another mother of the Mustang Valley was rejoicing over a long-lost +son. + +Crusoe and his mother Fan were scampering round each other in a manner +that evinced powerfully the strength of their mutual affection. + +Talk of holding converse! Every hair on Crusoe's body, every motion +of his limbs, was eloquent with silent language. He gazed into his +mother's mild eyes as if he would read her inmost soul (supposing that +she had one). He turned his head to every possible angle, and cocked +his ears to every conceivable elevation, and rubbed his nose against +Fan's, and barked softly, in every imaginable degree of modulation, +and varied these proceedings by bounding away at full speed over the +rocks of the beach, and in among the bushes and out again, but always +circling round and round Fan, and keeping her in view! + +It was a sight worth seeing, and young Marston sat down on a rock, +deliberately and enthusiastically, to gloat over it. But perhaps the +most remarkable part of it has not yet been referred to. There was yet +another heart there that was glad--exceeding glad that day. It was a +little one too, but it was big for the body that held it. Grumps was +there, and all that Grumps did was to sit on his haunches and stare at +Fan and Crusoe, and wag his tail as well as he could in so awkward a +position! Grumps was evidently bewildered with delight, and had lost +nearly all power to express it. Crusoe's conduct towards him, too, was +not calculated to clear his faculties. Every time he chanced to pass +near Grumps in his elephantine gambols, he gave him a passing touch +with his nose, which always knocked him head over heels; whereat +Grumps invariably got up quickly and wagged his tail with additional +energy. Before the feelings of those canine friends were calmed, they +were all three ruffled into a state of comparative exhaustion. + +Then young Marston called Crusoe to him, and Crusoe, obedient to the +voice of friendship, went. + +"Are you happy, my dog?" + +"You're a stupid fellow to ask such a question; however it's an +amiable one. Yes, I am." + +"What do _you_ want, ye small bundle o' hair?" + +This was addressed to Grumps, who came forward innocently, and sat +down to listen to the conversation. + +On being thus sternly questioned the little dog put down its +ears flat, and hung its head, looking up at the same time with a +deprecatory look, as if to say, "Oh dear, I beg pardon. I--I only want +to sit near Crusoe, please; but if you wish it, I'll go away, sad and +lonely, with my tail _very_ much between my legs; indeed I will, only +say the word, but--but I'd _rather_ stay if I might." + +"Poor bundle!" said Marston, patting its head, "you can stay then. +Hooray! Crusoe, are you happy, I say? Does your heart bound in you +like a cannon ball that wants to find its way out, and can't, eh?" +Crusoe put his snout against Marston's cheek, and in the excess of +his joy the lad threw his arms round the dog's neck and hugged it +vigorously--a piece of impulsive affection which that noble animal +bore with characteristic meekness, and which Grumps regarded with +idiotic satisfaction. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + +_Rejoicings_--_The feast at the block-house_--_Grumps and Crusoe come +out strong_--The closing scene_. + + +The day of Dick's arrival with his companions was a great day in the +annals of the Mustang Valley, and Major Hope resolved to celebrate it +by an impromptu festival at the old block-house; for many hearts in +the valley had been made glad that day, and he knew full well that, +under such circumstances, some safety-valve must be devised for the +escape of overflowing excitement. + +A messenger was sent round to invite the population to assemble +without delay in front of the block-house. With backwoods-like +celerity the summons was obeyed; men, women, and children hurried +towards the central point, wondering, yet more than half suspecting, +what was the major's object in calling them together. + +They were not long in doubt. The first sight that presented itself, +as they came trooping up the slope in front of the log-hut, was an +ox roasting whole before a gigantic bonfire. Tables were being +extemporized on the broad level plot in front of the gate. Other fires +there were, of smaller dimensions, on which sundry steaming pots were +placed, and various joints of wild horse, bear, and venison roasted, +and sent forth a savoury odour as well as a pleasant hissing noise. +The inhabitants of the block-house were self-taught brewers, and the +result of their recent labours now stood displayed in a row of goodly +casks of beer--the only beverage with which the dwellers in these +far-off regions were wont to regale themselves. + +The whole scene, as the cooks moved actively about upon the lawn, and +children romped round the fires, and settlers came flocking through +the forests, might have recalled the revelry of merry England in the +olden time, though the costumes of the far west were perhaps somewhat +different from those of old England. + +No one of all the band assembled there on that day of rejoicing +required to ask what it was all about. Had any one been in doubt for a +moment, a glance at the centre of the crowd assembled round the gate +of the western fortress would have quickly enlightened him. For there +stood Dick Varley, and his mild-looking mother, and his loving dog +Crusoe. There, too, stood Joe Blunt, like a bronzed warrior returned +from the fight, turning from one to another as question poured in upon +question almost too rapidly to permit of a reply. There, too, stood +Henri, making enthusiastic speeches to whoever chose to listen to +him--now glaring at the crowd with clenched fists and growling voice, +as he told of how Joe and he had been tied hand and foot, and lashed +to poles, and buried in leaves, and threatened with a slow death by +torture; at other times bursting into a hilarious laugh as he held +forth on the predicament of Mahtawa, when that wily chief was treed +by Crusoe in the prairie. Young Marston was there, too, hanging about +Dick, whom he loved as a brother and regarded as a perfect hero. +Grumps, too, was there, and Fan. Do you think, reader, that Grumps +looked at any one but Crusoe? If you do, you are mistaken. Grumps +on that day became a regular, an incorrigible, utter, and perfect +nuisance to everybody--not excepting himself, poor beast! Grumps was +a dog of one idea, and that idea was Crusoe. Out of that great idea +there grew one little secondary idea, and that idea was that the only +joy on earth worth mentioning was to sit on his haunches, exactly +six inches from Crusoe's nose, and gaze steadfastly into his face. +Wherever Crusoe went Grumps went. If Crusoe stopped, Grumps was +down before him in an instant. If Crusoe bounded away, which in the +exuberance of his spirits he often did, Grumps was after him like a +bundle of mad hair. He was in everybody's way, in Crusoe's way, and +being, so to speak, "beside himself," was also in his own way. If +people trod upon him accidentally, which they often did, Grumps +uttered a solitary heart-rending yell proportioned in intensity to the +excruciating nature of the torture he endured, then instantly resumed +his position and his fascinated stare. Crusoe generally held his head +up, and gazed over his little friend at what was going on around him; +but if for a moment he permitted his eye to rest on the countenance of +Grumps, that creature's tail became suddenly imbued with an amount of +wriggling vitality that seemed to threaten its separation from the +body. + +It was really quite interesting to watch this unblushing, and +disinterested, and utterly reckless display of affection on the part +of Grumps, and the amiable way in which Crusoe put up with it. We +say put up with it advisedly, because it must have been a very great +inconvenience to him, seeing that if he attempted to move, his +satellite moved in front of him, so that his only way of escaping +temporarily was by jumping over Grumps's head. + +Grumps was everywhere all day. Nobody, almost, escaped trampling on +part of him. He tumbled over everything, into everything, and against +everything. He knocked himself, singed himself, and scalded himself, +and in fact forgot himself altogether; and when, late that night, +Crusoe went with Dick into his mother's cottage, and the door +was shut, Grumps stretched his ruffled, battered, ill-used, and +dishevelled little body down on the door-step, thrust his nose against +the opening below the door, and lay in humble contentment all night, +for he knew that Crusoe was there. + +Of course such an occasion could not pass without a shooting-match. +Rifles were brought out after the feast was over, just before the sun +went down into its bed on the western prairies, and "the nail" was +soon surrounded by bullets, tipped by Joe Blunt and Jim Scraggs, and +of course driven home by Dick Varley, whose "silver rifle" had now +become in its owner's hand a never-failing weapon. Races, too, were +started, and here again Dick stood pre-eminent; and when night +spread her dark mantle over the scene, the two best fiddlers in the +settlement were placed on empty beer-casks, and some danced by the +light of the monster fires, while others listened to Joe Blunt as +he recounted their adventures on the prairies and among the Rocky +Mountains. + +There were sweethearts, and wives, and lovers at the feast, but we +question if any heart there was so full of love, and admiration, and +gratitude, as that of the Widow Varley as she watched her son Dick +throughout that merry evening. + + * * * * * + +Years rolled by, and the Mustang Valley prospered. Missionaries went +there, and a little church was built, and to the blessings of a +fertile land were added the far greater blessings of Christian light +and knowledge. One sad blow fell on the Widow Varley's heart. Her only +brother, Daniel Hood, was murdered by the Indians. Deeply and long she +mourned, and it required all Dick's efforts and those of the pastor of +the settlement to comfort her. But from the first the widow's heart +was sustained by the loving Hand that dealt the blow, and when time +blunted the keen edge of her feelings her face became as sweet and +mild, though not so lightsome, as before. + +Joe Blunt and Henri became leading men in the councils of the Mustang +Valley; but Dick Varley preferred the woods, although, as long as his +mother lived, he hovered round her cottage--going off sometimes for a +day, sometimes for a week, but never longer. After her head was laid +in the dust, Dick took altogether to the woods, with Crusoe and +Charlie, the wild horse, as his only companions, and his mother's +Bible in the breast of his hunting-shirt. And soon Dick, the bold +hunter, and his dog Crusoe became renowned in the frontier settlements +from the banks of the Yellowstone River to the Gulf of Mexico. + +Many a grizzly bear did the famous "silver rifle" lay low, and many a +wild, exciting chase and adventure did Dick go through; but during +his occasional visits to the Mustang Valley he was wont to say to Joe +Blunt and Henri--with whom he always sojourned--that "nothin' he +ever felt or saw came up to his _first_ grand dash over the western +prairies into the heart of the Rocky Mountains." And in saying this, +with enthusiasm in his eye and voice, Dick invariably appealed to, and +received a ready affirmative glance from, his early companion and his +faithful loving friend, the dog Crusoe. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dog Crusoe and His Master +by Robert Michael Ballantyne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DOG CRUSOE AND HIS MASTER *** + +***** This file should be named 10929-8.txt or 10929-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/2/10929/ + +Produced by Dave Morgan, Bradley Norton and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +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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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Dog Crusoe and His Master + A Story of Adventure in the Western Prairies + +Author: Robert Michael Ballantyne + +Release Date: February 4, 2004 [EBook #10929] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DOG CRUSOE AND HIS MASTER *** + + + + +Produced by Dave Morgan, Bradley Norton and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +</pre> + + <img border="0" src="Crusoe/image002.jpg" alt="Crusoe/image002.jpg" width="400" height="600"/><BR> +<h1>THE DOG CRUSOE</h1><BR> +<BR> +AND<BR> +<BR> +HIS MASTER<BR> +<BR> +A Story of Adventure in the Western Prairies<BR> +<BR> +By<BR> +<BR> +<b>Robert Michael Ballantyne</b><BR> +<BR> +Author of "The Coral Island," "The Young Fur-Traders," "Ungava,"<BR> +<BR> +"The Gorilla-Hunters," "The World of Ice,"<BR> +<BR> +"Martin Rattler."<BR> +<BR> +Etc.<BR> +<BR> +1894<BR> + <br> +<i>CONTENTS</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER I.<BR> +<BR> +<i>The backwoods settlement--Crusoe's parentage and early history--The<BR> +agonizing pains and sorrows of his puppyhood, and other interesting<BR> +matters</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER II.<BR> +<BR> +<i>A shooting-match and its consequences--New friends introduced to<BR> +the reader--Crusoe and his mother change masters</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER III.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Speculative remarks with which the reader may or may not agree--An<BR> +old woman--Hopes and wishes commingled with hard facts--The dog<BR> +Crusoe's education begun</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER IV.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Our hero enlarged upon</i>--<i>Grumps</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER V.<BR> +<BR> +<i>A mission of peace--Unexpected joys--Dick and Crusoe set off for<BR> +the land of the Redskins, and meet with adventures by the way as a<BR> +matter of course--in the wild woods</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER VI.<BR> +<BR> +<i>The great prairies of the far west--A remarkable colony discovered,<BR> +and a miserable night endured</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER VII.<BR> +<BR> +<i>The "wallering" peculiarities of buffalo bulls--The first buffalo<BR> +hunt<BR> +and its consequences--Crusoe comes to the rescue--Pawnees<BR> +discovered--A monster buffalo hunt--Joe acts the part of<BR> +ambassador</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER VIII.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Dick and his friends visit the Indians and see many<BR> +wonders--Crusoe,<BR> +too, experiences a few surprises, and teaches Indian dogs a lesson--An<BR> +Indian dandy--A foot-race</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER IX.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Crusoe acts a conspicuous and humane part--A friend gained--A great<BR> +feast</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER X.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Perplexities--Our hunters plan their escape--Unexpected<BR> +interruption--The tables turned--Crusoe mounts guard--The escape</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER XI.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Evening meditations and morning reflections--Buffaloes, badgers,<BR> +antelopes, and accidents--An old bull and the wolves--"Mad<BR> +tails"--Henri floored,<BR> +etc</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER XII.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Wanderings on the prairie--A war party--Chased by Indians--A bold<BR> +leap for life</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER XIII.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Escape from Indians--A discovery--Alone in the desert</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER XIV.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Crusoe's return, and his private adventures among the Indians--Dick<BR> +at a very low ebb--Crusoe saves him</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER XV.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Health and happiness return--Incidents of the journey--A buffalo<BR> +shot--A wild horse "creased"--Dick's battle with a mustang</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER XVI.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Dick becomes a horse tamer--Resumes his journey--Charlie's<BR> +doings--Misfortunes which lead to, but do not terminate in, the Rocky<BR> +Mountains--A grizzly bear</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER XVII.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Dick's first fight with a grizzly--Adventure with a deer--A<BR> +surprise</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER XVIII.<BR> +<BR> +<i>A surprise, and a piece of good news--The fur-traders--Crusoe<BR> +proved, and the Peigans pursued>.</i><BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER XIX.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Adventures with the Peigans--Crusoe does good service as a<BR> +discoverer--The savages outwitted--The rescue</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER XX.<BR> +<BR> +<i>New plans--Our travellers join the fur-traders, and see many<BR> +strange things--A curious fight--A narrow escape, and a <BR> +prisoner taken</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER XXI.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Wolves attack the horses, and Cameron circumvents the wolves--A<BR> +bear-hunt, in which Henri shines conspicuous--Joe and the<BR> +"Natter-list"--An alarm--A surprise and a capture</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER XXII.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Charlie's adventures with savages and bears--Trapping life</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER XXIII.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their<BR> +doings--The stampede--Charlie again</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER XXIV.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Plans and prospects--Dick becomes home-sick, and Henri<BR> +metaphysical--The Indians attack the camp--A blow-up</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER XXV.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Dangers of the prairie--Our travellers attacked by Indians, and<BR> +delivered in a remarkable manner</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER XXVI.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Anxious fears followed by a joyful surprise--Safe home at last, and<BR> +happy hearts</i>.<BR> +<BR> +CHAPTER XXVII.<BR> +<BR> +<i>Rejoicings--The feast at the block-house--Grumps and Crusoe come<BR> +out strong--The closing scene</i>.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h1>THE DOG CRUSOE.</h1><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER I.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>The backwoods settlement--Crusoe's parentage, and early<BR> +history--The agonizing pains and sorrows of his puppyhood, <BR> +and other interesting matters</i>.<BR> +<BR> +The dog Crusoe was once a pup. Now do not,<BR> +courteous reader, toss your head contemptuously,<BR> +and exclaim, "Of course he was; I could have told <i>you</i><BR> +that." You know very well that you have often seen a<BR> +man above six feet high, broad and powerful as a lion,<BR> +with a bronzed shaggy visage and the stern glance of an<BR> +eagle, of whom you have said, or thought, or heard others<BR> +say, "It is scarcely possible to believe that such a man<BR> +was once a squalling baby." If you had seen our hero<BR> +in all the strength and majesty of full-grown doghood,<BR> +you would have experienced a vague sort of surprise<BR> +had we told you--as we now repeat--that the dog<BR> +Crusoe was once a pup--a soft, round, sprawling,<BR> +squeaking pup, as fat as a tallow candle, and as blind<BR> +as a bat.<BR> +<BR> +But we draw particular attention to the fact of<BR> +Crusoe's having once been a pup, because in connection<BR> +with the days of his puppyhood there hangs a tale.<BR> +<BR> +This peculiar dog may thus be said to have had two<BR> +tails--one in connection with his body, the other with<BR> +his career. This tale, though short, is very harrowing,<BR> +and as it is intimately connected with Crusoe's subsequent<BR> +history we will relate it here. But before doing<BR> +so we must beg our reader to accompany us beyond the<BR> +civilized portions of the United States of America--beyond<BR> +the frontier settlements of the "far west," into<BR> +those wild prairies which are watered by the great<BR> +Missouri River--the Father of Waters--and his numerous<BR> +tributaries.<BR> +<BR> +Here dwell the Pawnees, the Sioux, the Delawarers,<BR> +the Crows, the Blackfeet, and many other tribes of Red<BR> +Indians, who are gradually retreating step by step towards<BR> +the Rocky Mountains as the advancing white<BR> +man cuts down their trees and ploughs up their prairies.<BR> +Here, too, dwell the wild horse and the wild ass, the<BR> +deer, the buffalo, and the badger; all, men and brutes<BR> +alike, wild as the power of untamed and ungovernable<BR> +passion can make them, and free as the wind that<BR> +sweeps over their mighty plains.<BR> +<BR> +There is a romantic and exquisitely beautiful spot on<BR> +the banks of one of the tributaries above referred<BR> +to--long stretch of mingled woodland and meadow, with<BR> +a magnificent lake lying like a gem in its green bosom--which<BR> +goes by the name of the Mustang Valley.<BR> +This remote vale, even at the present day, is but thinly<BR> +peopled by white men, and is still a frontier settlement<BR> +round which the wolf and the bear prowl curiously,<BR> +and from which the startled deer bounds terrified away.<BR> +At the period of which we write the valley had just<BR> +been taken possession of by several families of squatters,<BR> +who, tired of the turmoil and the squabbles of the <i>then</i><BR> +frontier settlements, had pushed boldly into the far<BR> +west to seek a new home for themselves, where they<BR> +could have "elbow room," regardless alike of the<BR> +dangers they might encounter in unknown lands and of<BR> +the Redskins who dwelt there.<BR> +<BR> +The squatters were well armed with axes, rifles, and<BR> +ammunition. Most of the women were used to dangers<BR> +and alarms, and placed implicit reliance in the power<BR> +of their fathers, husbands, and brothers to protect them;<BR> +and well they might, for a bolder set of stalwart men<BR> +than these backwoodsmen never trod the wilderness.<BR> +Each had been trained to the use of the rifle and the<BR> +axe from infancy, and many of them had spent so much<BR> +of their lives in the woods that they were more than a<BR> +match for the Indian in his own peculiar pursuits of<BR> +hunting and war. When the squatters first issued from<BR> +the woods bordering the valley, an immense herd of<BR> +wild horses or mustangs were browsing on the plain.<BR> +These no sooner beheld the cavalcade of white men<BR> +than, uttering a wild neigh, they tossed their flowing<BR> +manes in the breeze and dashed away like a whirlwind.<BR> +This incident procured the valley its name.<BR> +<BR> +The new-comers gave one satisfied glance at their<BR> +future home, and then set to work to erect log huts<BR> +forthwith. Soon the axe was heard ringing through<BR> +the forests, and tree after tree fell to the ground, while<BR> +the occasional sharp ring of a rifle told that the hunters<BR> +were catering successfully for the camp. In course of<BR> +time the Mustang Valley began to assume the aspect of<BR> +a thriving settlement, with cottages and waving fields<BR> +clustered together in the midst of it.<BR> +<BR> +Of course the savages soon found it out and paid it<BR> +occasional visits. These dark-skinned tenants of the<BR> +woods brought furs of wild animals with them, which<BR> +they exchanged with the white men for knives, and<BR> +beads, and baubles and trinkets of brass and tin. But<BR> +they hated the "Pale-faces" with bitter hatred, because<BR> +their encroachments had at this time materially curtailed<BR> +the extent of their hunting-grounds, and nothing<BR> +but the numbers and known courage of the squatters<BR> +prevented these savages from butchering and scalping<BR> +them all.<BR> +<BR> +The leader of this band of pioneers was a Major<BR> +Hope, a gentleman whose love for nature in its wildest<BR> +aspects determined him to exchange barrack life for a<BR> +life in the woods. The major was a first-rate shot, a<BR> +bold, fearless man, and an enthusiastic naturalist. He<BR> +was past the prime of life, and being a bachelor, was<BR> +unencumbered with a family. His first act on reaching<BR> +the site of the new settlement was to commence the<BR> +erection of a block-house, to which the people might<BR> +retire in case of a general attack by the Indians.<BR> +<BR> +In this block-house Major Hope took up his abode<BR> +as the guardian of the settlement. And here the dog<BR> +Crusoe was born; here he sprawled in the early morn<BR> +of life; here he leaped, and yelped, and wagged his<BR> +shaggy tail in the excessive glee of puppyhood; and<BR> +from the wooden portals of this block-house he bounded<BR> +forth to the chase in all the fire, and strength, and<BR> +majesty of full-grown doghood.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe's father and mother were magnificent Newfoundlanders.<BR> +There was no doubt as to their being of<BR> +the genuine breed, for Major Hope had received them<BR> +as a parting gift from a brother officer, who had brought<BR> +them both from Newfoundland itself. The father's<BR> +name was Crusoe, the mother's name was Fan. Why<BR> +the father had been so called no one could tell. The<BR> +man from whom Major Hope's friend had obtained the<BR> +pair was a poor, illiterate fisherman, who had never<BR> +heard of the celebrated "Robinson" in all his life. All<BR> +he knew was that Fan had been named after his own<BR> +wife. As for Crusoe, he had got him from a friend,<BR> +who had got him from another friend, whose cousin had<BR> +received him as a marriage-gift from a friend of <i>his</i>;<BR> +and that each had said to the other that the dog's name<BR> +was "Crusoe," without reasons being asked or given on<BR> +either side. On arriving at New York the major's<BR> +friend, as we have said, made him a present of the dogs.<BR> +Not being much of a dog fancier, he soon tired of old<BR> +Crusoe, and gave him away to a gentleman, who took<BR> +him down to Florida, and that was the end of him. He<BR> +was never heard of more.<BR> +<BR> +When Crusoe, junior, was born, he was born, of<BR> +course, without a name. That was given to him afterwards<BR> +in honour of his father. He was also born in<BR> +company with a brother and two sisters, all of whom<BR> +drowned themselves accidentally, in the first month of<BR> +their existence, by falling into the river which flowed<BR> +past the block-house--a calamity which occurred,<BR> +doubtless, in consequence of their having gone out without<BR> +their mother's leave. Little Crusoe was with his<BR> +brother and sisters at the time, and fell in along with<BR> +them, but was saved from sharing their fate by his<BR> +mother, who, seeing what had happened, dashed with<BR> +an agonized howl into the water, and, seizing him in<BR> +her mouth, brought him ashore in a half-drowned condition.<BR> +She afterwards brought the others ashore one<BR> +by one, but the poor little things were dead.<BR> +<BR> +And now we come to the harrowing part of our tale,<BR> +for the proper understanding of which the foregoing<BR> +dissertation was needful.<BR> +<BR> +One beautiful afternoon, in that charming season of<BR> +the American year called the Indian summer, there<BR> +came a family of Sioux Indians to the Mustang Valley,<BR> +and pitched their tent close to the block-house. A<BR> +young hunter stood leaning against the gate-post of the<BR> +palisades, watching the movements of the Indians, who,<BR> +having just finished a long "palaver" or talk with<BR> +Major Hope, were now in the act of preparing supper.<BR> +A fire had been kindled on the greensward in front of<BR> +the tent, and above it stood a tripod, from which depended<BR> +a large tin camp-kettle. Over this hung an ill-favoured<BR> +Indian woman, or squaw, who, besides attending<BR> +to the contents of the pot, bestowed sundry cuffs and<BR> +kicks upon her little child, which sat near to her playing<BR> +with several Indian curs that gambolled round the fire.<BR> +The master of the family and his two sons reclined on<BR> +buffalo robes, smoking their stone pipes or calumets in<BR> +silence. There was nothing peculiar in their appearance.<BR> +Their faces were neither dignified nor coarse in<BR> +expression, but wore an aspect of stupid apathy, which<BR> +formed a striking contrast to the countenance of the<BR> +young hunter, who seemed an amused spectator of their<BR> +proceedings.<BR> +<BR> +The youth referred to was very unlike, in many<BR> +respects, to what we are accustomed to suppose a backwoods<BR> +hunter should be. He did not possess that quiet<BR> +gravity and staid demeanour which often characterize<BR> +these men. True, he was tall and strongly made, but<BR> +no one would have called him stalwart, and his frame<BR> +indicated grace and agility rather than strength. But<BR> +the point about him which rendered him different from<BR> +his companions was his bounding, irrepressible flow of<BR> +spirits, strangely coupled with an intense love of solitary<BR> +wandering in the woods. None seemed so well fitted<BR> +for social enjoyment as he; none laughed so heartily, or<BR> +expressed such glee in his mischief-loving eye; yet for<BR> +days together he went off alone into the forest, and<BR> +wandered where his fancy led him, as grave and silent<BR> +as an Indian warrior.<BR> +<BR> +After all, there was nothing mysterious in this. The<BR> +boy followed implicitly the dictates of nature within<BR> +him. He was amiable, straightforward, sanguine, and<BR> +intensely <i>earnest</i>. When he laughed, he let it out, as<BR> +sailors have it, "with a will." When there was good<BR> +cause to be grave, no power on earth could make him<BR> +smile. We have called him boy, but in truth he was<BR> +about that uncertain period of life when a youth is said<BR> +to be neither a man nor a boy. His face was good-looking<BR> +(<i>every</i> earnest, candid face is) and masculine;<BR> +his hair was reddish-brown and his eye bright-blue.<BR> +He was costumed in the deerskin cap, leggings, moccasins,<BR> +and leathern shirt common to the western hunter.<BR> +"You seem tickled wi' the Injuns, Dick Varley,"<BR> +said a man who at that moment issued from the blockhouse.<BR> +<BR> +"That's just what I am, Joe Blunt," replied the<BR> +youth, turning with a broad grin to his companion.<BR> +<BR> +"Have a care, lad; do not laugh at 'em too much.<BR> +They soon take offence; an' them Redskins never forgive."<BR> +<BR> +"But I'm only laughing at the baby," returned the<BR> +youth, pointing to the child, which, with a mixture of<BR> +boldness and timidity, was playing with a pup, wrinkling<BR> +up its fat visage into a smile when its playmate<BR> +rushed away in sport, and opening wide its jet-black<BR> +eyes in grave anxiety as the pup returned at full gallop.<BR> +<BR> +"It 'ud make an owl laugh," continued young Varley,<BR> +"to see such a queer pictur' o' itself."<BR> +<BR> +He paused suddenly, and a dark frown covered his<BR> +face as he saw the Indian woman stoop quickly down,<BR> +catch the pup by its hind-leg with one hand, seize a<BR> +heavy piece of wood with the other, and strike it several<BR> +violent blows on the throat. Without taking the<BR> +trouble to kill the poor animal outright, the savage then<BR> +held its still writhing body over the fire in order to<BR> +singe off the hair before putting it into the pot to be<BR> +cooked.<BR> +<BR> +The cruel act drew young Varley's attention more<BR> +closely to the pup, and it flashed across his mind that<BR> +this could be no other than young Crusoe, which neither<BR> +he nor his companion had before seen, although they had<BR> +often heard others speak of and describe it.<BR> +<BR> +Had the little creature been one of the unfortunate<BR> +Indian curs, the two hunters would probably have<BR> +turned from the sickening sight with disgust, feeling<BR> +that, however much they might dislike such cruelty,<BR> +it would be of no use attempting to interfere with<BR> +Indian usages. But the instant the idea that it was<BR> +Crusoe occurred to Varley he uttered a yell of anger,<BR> +and sprang towards the woman with a bound that<BR> +caused the three Indians to leap to their feet and grasp<BR> +their tomahawks.<BR> +<BR> +Blunt did not move from the gate, but threw forward<BR> +his rifle with a careless motion, but an expressive glance,<BR> +that caused the Indians to resume their seats and pipes<BR> +with an emphatic "Wah!" of disgust at having been<BR> +startled out of their propriety by a trifle; while Dick<BR> +Varley snatched poor Crusoe from his dangerous and<BR> +painful position, scowled angrily in the woman's face,<BR> +and turning on his heel, walked up to the house, holding<BR> +the pup tenderly in his arms.<BR> +<BR> +Joe Blunt gazed after his friend with a grave, solemn<BR> +expression of countenance till he disappeared; then he<BR> +looked at the ground, and shook his head.<BR> +<BR> +Joe was one of the regular out-and-out backwoods<BR> +hunters, both in appearance and in fact--broad, tall,<BR> +massive, lion-like; gifted with the hunting, stalking,<BR> +running, and trail-following powers of the savage, and<BR> +with a superabundance of the shooting and fighting<BR> +powers, the daring, and dash of the Anglo-Saxon. He<BR> +was grave, too--seldom smiled, and rarely laughed.<BR> +His expression almost at all times was a compound of<BR> +seriousness and good-humour. With the rifle he was<BR> +a good, steady shot, but by no means a "crack"<BR> +one. His ball never failed to <i>hit</i>, but it often failed<BR> +to <i>kill</i>.<BR> +<BR> +After meditating a few seconds, Joe Blunt again<BR> +shook his head, and muttered to himself, "The boy's<BR> +bold enough, but he's too reckless for a hunter. There<BR> +was no need for that yell, now--none at all."<BR> +<BR> +Having uttered this sagacious remark, he threw his<BR> +rifle into the hollow of his left arm, turned round, and<BR> +strode off with a long, slow step towards his own cottage.<BR> +<BR> +Blunt was an American by birth, but of Irish extraction,<BR> +and to an attentive ear there was a faint echo of the<BR> +<i>brogue</i> in his tone, which seemed to have been handed<BR> +down to him as a threadbare and almost worn-out heirloom.<BR> +<BR> +Poor Crusoe was singed almost naked. His wretched<BR> +tail seemed little better than a piece of wire filed off to<BR> +a point, and he vented his misery in piteous squeaks as<BR> +the sympathetic Varley confided him tenderly to the<BR> +care of his mother. How Fan managed to cure him no<BR> +one can tell, but cure him she did, for, in the course of<BR> +a few weeks, Crusoe was as well and sleek and fat as<BR> +ever.<BR> +<BR> +<img border="0" src="Crusoe/image001.jpg" alt="Crusoe/image001.jpg" width="400" height="600"/><BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER II.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>A shooting-match and its consequences</i>--<i>New friends<BR> +introduced to the reader</i>--<i>Crusoe and his mother<BR> +change masters</i>.<BR> +<BR> +Shortly after the incident narrated in the last<BR> +chapter the squatters of the Mustang Valley lost<BR> +their leader. Major Hope suddenly announced his intention<BR> +of quitting the settlement and returning to the<BR> +civilized world. Private matters, he said, required his<BR> +presence there--matters which he did not choose to<BR> +speak of, but which would prevent his returning again<BR> +to reside among them. Go he must, and, being a man<BR> +of determination, go he did; but before going he distributed<BR> +all his goods and chattels among the settlers.<BR> +He even gave away his rifle, and Fan and Crusoe.<BR> +These last, however, he resolved should go together;<BR> +and as they were well worth having, he announced that<BR> +he would give them to the best shot in the valley. He<BR> +stipulated that the winner should escort him to the<BR> +nearest settlement eastward, after which he might return<BR> +with the rifle on his shoulder.<BR> +<BR> +Accordingly, a long level piece of ground on the<BR> +river's bank, with a perpendicular cliff at the end of<BR> +it, was selected as the shooting-ground, and, on the<BR> +appointed day, at the appointed hour, the competitors<BR> +began to assemble.<BR> +<BR> +"Well, lad, first as usual," exclaimed Joe Blunt, as he<BR> +reached the ground and found Dick Varley there before<BR> +him.<BR> +<BR> +"I've bin here more than an hour lookin' for a new<BR> +kind o' flower that Jack Morgan told me he'd seen.<BR> +And I've found it too. Look here; did you ever see<BR> +one like it before?"<BR> +<BR> +Blunt leaned his rifle against a tree, and carefully<BR> +examined the flower.<BR> +<BR> +"Why, yes, I've seed a-many o' them up about the<BR> +Rocky Mountains, but never one here-away. It seems<BR> +to have gone lost itself. The last I seed, if I remimber<BR> +rightly, wos near the head-waters o' the Yellowstone<BR> +River, it wos--jest where I shot a grizzly bar."<BR> +<BR> +"Was that the bar that gave you the wipe on the<BR> +cheek?" asked Varley, forgetting the flower in his<BR> +interest about the bear.<BR> +<BR> +"It wos. I put six balls in that bar's carcass, and<BR> +stuck my knife into its heart ten times, afore it gave<BR> +out; an' it nearly ripped the shirt off my back afore I<BR> +wos done with it."<BR> +<BR> +"I would give my rifle to get a chance at a grizzly!"<BR> +exclaimed Varley, with a sudden burst of enthusiasm.<BR> +<BR> +"Whoever got it wouldn't have much to brag of," remarked<BR> +a burly young backwoodsman, as he joined them.<BR> +<BR> +His remark was true, for poor Dick's weapon was<BR> +but a sorry affair. It missed fire, and it hung fire; and<BR> +even when it did fire, it remained a matter of doubt in<BR> +its owner's mind whether the slight deviations from<BR> +the direct line made by his bullets were the result of<BR> +<i>his</i> or <i>its</i> bad shooting.<BR> +<BR> +Further comment upon it was checked by the arrival<BR> +of a dozen or more hunters on the scene of action.<BR> +They were a sturdy set of bronzed, bold, fearless men,<BR> +and one felt, on looking at them, that they would prove<BR> +more than a match for several hundreds of Indians in<BR> +open fight. A few minutes after, the major himself<BR> +came on the ground with the prize rifle on his shoulder,<BR> +and Fan and Crusoe at his heels--the latter tumbling,<BR> +scrambling, and yelping after its mother, fat and clumsy,<BR> +and happy as possible, having evidently quite forgotten<BR> +that it had been nearly roasted alive only a few weeks<BR> +before.<BR> +<BR> +Immediately all eyes were on the rifle, and its merits<BR> +were discussed with animation.<BR> +<BR> +And well did it deserve discussion, for such a piece<BR> +had never before been seen on the western frontier. It<BR> +was shorter in the barrel and larger in the bore than<BR> +the weapons chiefly in vogue at that time, and, besides<BR> +being of beautiful workmanship, was silver-mounted.<BR> +But the grand peculiarity about it, and that which<BR> +afterwards rendered it the mystery of mysteries to the<BR> +savages, was that it had two sets of locks--one percussion,<BR> +the other flint--so that, when caps failed, by<BR> +taking off the one set of locks and affixing the others,<BR> +it was converted into a flint rifle. The major, however,<BR> +took care never to run short of caps, so that the flint<BR> +locks were merely held as a reserve in case of need.<BR> +<BR> +"Now, lads," cried Major Hope, stepping up to the<BR> +point whence they were to shoot, "remember the terms.<BR> +He who first drives the nail obtains the rifle, Fan, and<BR> +her pup, and accompanies me to the nearest settlement.<BR> +Each man shoots with his own gun, and draws lots for<BR> +the chance."<BR> +<BR> +"Agreed," cried the men.<BR> +<BR> +"Well, then, wipe your guns and draw lots. Henri<BR> +will fix the nail. Here it is."<BR> +<BR> +The individual who stepped, or rather plunged forward<BR> +to receive the nail was a rare and remarkable<BR> +specimen of mankind. Like his comrades, he was half<BR> +a farmer and half a hunter. Like them, too, he was<BR> +clad in deerskin, and was tall and strong--nay, more,<BR> +he was gigantic. But, unlike them, he was clumsy,<BR> +awkward, loose-jointed, and a bad shot. Nevertheless<BR> +Henri was an immense favourite in the settlement, for<BR> +his good-humour knew no bounds. No one ever saw<BR> +him frown. Even when fighting with the savages, as<BR> +he was sometimes compelled to do in self-defence, he<BR> +went at them with a sort of jovial rage that was almost<BR> +laughable. Inconsiderate recklessness was one of his<BR> +chief characteristics, so that his comrades were rather<BR> +afraid of him on the war-trail or in the hunt, where<BR> +caution and frequently <i>soundless</i> motion were essential<BR> +to success or safety. But when Henri had a comrade<BR> +at his side to check him he was safe enough, being<BR> +humble-minded and obedient. Men used to say he<BR> +must have been born under a lucky star, for, notwithstanding<BR> +his natural inaptitude for all sorts of backwoods<BR> +life, he managed to scramble through everything<BR> +with safety, often with success, and sometimes with<BR> +credit.<BR> +<BR> +To see Henri stalk a deer was worth a long day's<BR> +journey. Joe Blunt used to say he was "all jints<BR> +together, from the top of his head to the sole of his<BR> +moccasin." He threw his immense form into the most<BR> +inconceivable contortions, and slowly wound his way,<BR> +sometimes on hands and knees, sometimes flat, through<BR> +bush and brake, as if there was not a bone in his body,<BR> +and without the slightest noise. This sort of work was<BR> +so much against his plunging nature that he took long<BR> +to learn it; but when, through hard practice and the loss<BR> +of many a fine deer, he came at length to break himself<BR> +in to it, he gradually progressed to perfection, and<BR> +ultimately became the best stalker in the valley. This,<BR> +and this alone, enabled him to procure game, for, being<BR> +short-sighted, he could hit nothing beyond fifty yards,<BR> +except a buffalo or a barn-door.<BR> +<BR> +Yet that same lithe body, which seemed as though<BR> +totally unhinged, could no more be bent, when the<BR> +muscles were strung, than an iron post. No one<BR> +wrestled with Henri unless he wished to have his back<BR> +broken. Few could equal and none could beat him<BR> +at running or leaping except Dick Varley. When<BR> +Henri ran a race even Joe Blunt laughed outright, for<BR> +arms and legs went like independent flails. When he<BR> +leaped, he hurled himself into space with a degree of<BR> +violence that seemed to insure a somersault; yet he<BR> +always came down with a crash on his feet. Plunging<BR> +was Henri's forte. He generally lounged about the<BR> +settlement when unoccupied, with his hands behind his<BR> +back, apparently in a reverie, and when called on to act,<BR> +he seemed to fancy he must have lost time, and could<BR> +only make up for it by <i>plunging</i>. This habit got him<BR> +into many awkward scrapes, but his herculean power<BR> +as often got him out of them. He was a French-Canadian,<BR> +and a particularly bad speaker of the English<BR> +language.<BR> +<BR> +We offer no apology for this elaborate introduction<BR> +of Henri, for he was as good-hearted a fellow as ever<BR> +lived, and deserves special notice.<BR> +<BR> +But to return. The sort of rifle practice called<BR> +"driving the nail," by which this match was to be<BR> +decided, was, and we believe still is, common among the<BR> +hunters of the far west. It consisted in this: an<BR> +ordinary large-headed nail was driven a short way into<BR> +a plank or a tree, and the hunters, standing at a distance<BR> +of fifty yards or so, fired at it until they succeeded in<BR> +driving it home. On the present occasion the major<BR> +resolved to test their shooting by making the distance<BR> +seventy yards.<BR> +<BR> +Some of the older men shook their heads.<BR> +<BR> +"It's too far," said one; "ye might as well try to<BR> +snuff the nose o' a mosquito."<BR> +<BR> +"Jim Scraggs is the only man as'll hit that," said<BR> +another.<BR> +<BR> +The man referred to was a long, lank, lantern-jawed<BR> +fellow, with a cross-grained expression of countenance.<BR> +He used the long, heavy Kentucky rifle, which, from<BR> +the ball being little larger than a pea, was called a pea-rifle.<BR> +Jim was no favourite, and had been named<BR> +Scraggs by his companions on account of his appearance.<BR> +<BR> +In a few minutes the lots were drawn, and the<BR> +shooting began. Each hunter wiped out the barrel of<BR> +his piece with his ramrod as he stepped forward; then,<BR> +placing a ball in the palm of his left hand, he drew the<BR> +stopper of his powder-horn with his teeth, and poured<BR> +out as much powder as sufficed to cover the bullet.<BR> +This was the regular <i>measure</i> among them. Little<BR> +time was lost in firing, for these men did not "hang"<BR> +on their aim. The point of the rifle was slowly raised<BR> +to the object, and the instant the sight covered it the<BR> +ball sped to its mark. In a few minutes the nail was<BR> +encircled by bullet holes, scarcely two of which were<BR> +more than an inch distant from the mark, and one--fired<BR> +by Joe Blunt--entered the tree close beside it.<BR> +<BR> +"Ah, Joe!" said the major, "I thought you would<BR> +have carried off the prize."<BR> +<BR> +"So did not I, sir," returned Blunt, with a shake of<BR> +his head. "Had it a-bin a half-dollar at a hundred<BR> +yards, I'd ha' done better, but I never <i>could</i> hit the nail.<BR> +It's too small to <i>see</i>."<BR> +<BR> +"That's cos ye've got no eyes," remarked Jim Scraggs,<BR> +with a sneer, as he stepped forward.<BR> +<BR> +All tongues were now hushed, for the expected<BR> +champion was about to fire. The sharp crack of the<BR> +rifle was followed by a shout, for Jim had hit the nail-head<BR> +on the edge, and part of the bullet stuck to it.<BR> +<BR> +"That wins if there's no better," said the major,<BR> +scarce able to conceal his disappointment. "Who comes<BR> +next?"<BR> +<BR> +To this question Henri answered by stepping up to<BR> +the line, straddling his legs, and executing preliminary<BR> +movements with his rifle, that seemed to indicate an<BR> +intention on his part to throw the weapon bodily at the<BR> +mark. He was received with a shout of mingled laughter<BR> +and applause. After gazing steadily at the mark for<BR> +a few seconds, a broad grin overspread his countenance,<BR> +and looking round at his companions, he<BR> +said,--"Ha! mes boys, I can-not behold de nail at all!"<BR> +<BR> +"Can ye 'behold' the <i>tree</i>?" shouted a voice, when<BR> +the laugh that followed this announcement had somewhat<BR> +abated.<BR> +<BR> +"Oh! oui," replied Henri quite coolly; "I can see<BR> +<i>him</i>, an' a goot small bit of de forest beyond."<BR> +<BR> +"Fire at it, then. If ye hit the tree ye desarve the<BR> +rifle--leastways ye ought to get the pup."<BR> +<BR> +Henri grinned again, and fired instantly, without<BR> +taking aim.<BR> +<BR> +The shot was followed by an exclamation of surprise,<BR> +for the bullet was found close beside the nail.<BR> +<BR> +"It's more be good luck than good shootin'," remarked<BR> +Jim Scraggs.<BR> +<BR> +"Possiblement," answered Henri modestly, as he retreated<BR> +to the rear and wiped out his rifle; "mais I<BR> +have kill most of my deer by dat same goot luck."<BR> +<BR> +"Bravo, Henri!" said Major Hope as he passed;<BR> +"you <i>deserve</i> to win, anyhow. Who's next?"<BR> +<BR> +"Dick Varley," cried several voices; "where's Varley?<BR> +Come on, youngster, an' take yer shot."<BR> +<BR> +The youth came forward with evident reluctance.<BR> +"It's of no manner o' use," he whispered to Joe Blunt<BR> +as he passed, "I can't depend on my old gun."<BR> +<BR> +"Never give in," whispered Blunt, encouragingly.<BR> +<BR> +Poor Varley's want of confidence in his rifle was<BR> +merited, for, on pulling the trigger, the faithless lock<BR> +missed fire.<BR> +<BR> +"Lend him another gun," cried several voices.<BR> +<BR> +"'Gainst rules laid down by Major Hope," said<BR> +Scraggs.<BR> +<BR> +"Well, so it is; try again."<BR> +<BR> +Varley did try again, and so successfully, too, that<BR> +the ball hit the nail on the head, leaving a portion of<BR> +the lead sticking to its edge.<BR> +<BR> +Of course this was greeted with a cheer, and a loud<BR> +dispute began as to which was the better shot of the<BR> +two.<BR> +<BR> +"There are others to shoot yet," cried the major.<BR> +"Make way. Look out."<BR> +<BR> +The men fell back, and the few hunters who had not<BR> +yet fired took their shots, but without coming nearer<BR> +the mark.<BR> +<BR> +It was now agreed that Jim Scraggs and Dick Varley,<BR> +being the two best shots, should try over again, and it<BR> +was also agreed that Dick should have the use of Blunt's<BR> +rifle. Lots were again drawn for the first shot, and it<BR> +fell to Dick, who immediately stepped out, aimed somewhat<BR> +hastily, and fired.<BR> +<BR> +"Hit again!" shouted those who had run forward to<BR> +examine the mark. "<i>Half</i> the bullet cut off by the<BR> +nail head!"<BR> +<BR> +Some of the more enthusiastic of Dick's friends<BR> +cheered lustily, but the most of the hunters were grave<BR> +and silent, for they knew Jim's powers, and felt that he<BR> +would certainly do his best. Jim now stepped up to<BR> +the line, and, looking earnestly at the mark, threw forward<BR> +his rifle.<BR> +<BR> +At that moment our friend Crusoe, tired of tormenting<BR> +his mother, waddled stupidly and innocently<BR> +into the midst of the crowd of men, and in so doing<BR> +received Henri's heel and the full weight of his elephantine<BR> +body on its fore paw. The horrible and electric<BR> +yell that instantly issued from his agonized throat could<BR> +only be compared, as Joe Blunt expressed it, "to the<BR> +last dyin' screech o' a bustin' steam biler!" We cannot<BR> +say that the effect was startling, for these backwoodsmen<BR> +had been born and bred in the midst of alarms,<BR> +and were so used to them that a "bustin' steam biler"<BR> +itself, unless it had blown them fairly off their legs,<BR> +would not have startled them. But the effect, such as<BR> +it was, was sufficient to disconcert the aim of Jim<BR> +Scraggs, who fired at the same instant, and missed the<BR> +nail by a hair's-breadth.<BR> +<BR> +'Turning round in towering wrath, Scraggs aimed a<BR> +kick at the poor pup, which, had it taken effect, would<BR> +certainly have terminated the innocent existence of that<BR> +remarkable dog on the spot; but quick as lightning<BR> +Henri interposed the butt of his rifle, and Jim's shin<BR> +met it with a violence that caused him to howl with<BR> +rage and pain.<BR> +<BR> +"Oh! pardon me, broder," cried Henri, shrinking<BR> +back, with the drollest expression of mingled pity and<BR> +glee.<BR> +<BR> +Jim's discretion, on this occasion, was superior to his<BR> +valour; he turned away with a coarse expression of<BR> +anger and left the ground.<BR> +<BR> +Meanwhile the major handed the silver rifle to young<BR> +Varley. "It couldn't have fallen into better hands," he<BR> +said. "You'll do it credit, lad, I know that full well;<BR> +and let me assure you it will never play you false.<BR> +Only keep it clean, don't overcharge it, aim true, and it<BR> +will never miss the mark."<BR> +<BR> +While the hunters crowded round Dick to congratulate<BR> +him and examine the piece, he stood with a mingled<BR> +feeling of bashfulness and delight at his unexpected good<BR> +fortune. Recovering himself suddenly, he seized his old<BR> +rifle, and dropping quietly to the outskirts of the crowd,<BR> +while the men were still busy handling and discussing<BR> +the merits of the prize, went up, unobserved, to a boy<BR> +of about thirteen years of age, and touched him on the<BR> +shoulder.<BR> +<BR> +"Here, Marston, you know I often said ye should<BR> +have the old rifle when I was rich enough to get a new<BR> +one. Take it <i>now</i>, lad. It's come to ye sooner than<BR> +either o' us expected."<BR> +<BR> +"Dick," said the boy, grasping his friend's hand<BR> +warmly, "ye're true as heart of oak. It's good of 'ee;<BR> +that's a fact."<BR> +<BR> +"Not a bit, boy; it costs me nothin' to give away an<BR> +old gun that I've no use for, an's worth little, but it<BR> +makes me right glad to have the chance to do it."<BR> +<BR> +Marston had longed for a rifle ever since he could<BR> +walk; but his prospects of obtaining one were very poor<BR> +indeed at that time, and it is a question whether he did<BR> +not at that moment experience as much joy in handling<BR> +the old piece as his friend felt in shouldering the prize.<BR> +<BR> +A difficulty now occurred which had not before been<BR> +thought of. This was no less than the absolute refusal<BR> +of Dick Varley's canine property to follow him. Fan<BR> +had no idea of changing masters without her consent<BR> +being asked or her inclination being consulted.<BR> +<BR> +"You'll have to tie her up for a while, I fear," said<BR> +the major.<BR> +<BR> +"No fear," answered the youth. "Dog natur's like<BR> +human natur'!"<BR> +<BR> +Saying this he seized Crusoe by the neck, stuffed<BR> +him comfortably into the bosom of his hunting-shirt,<BR> +and walked rapidly away with the prize rifle on his<BR> +shoulder.<BR> +<BR> +Fan had not bargained for this. She stood irresolute,<BR> +gazing now to the right and now to the left, as the<BR> +major retired in one direction and Dick with Crusoe in<BR> +another. Suddenly Crusoe, who, although comfortable<BR> +in body, was ill at ease in spirit, gave utterance to a<BR> +melancholy howl. The mother's love instantly prevailed.<BR> +For one moment she pricked up her ears at the sound,<BR> +and then, lowering them, trotted quietly after her new<BR> +master, and followed him to his cottage on the margin<BR> +of the lake.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER III.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Speculative remarks with which the reader may or may not agree--An<BR> +old woman--Hopes and wishes commingled with hard facts--The dog <BR> +Crusoe's education begun</i>.<BR> +<BR> +It is pleasant to look upon a serene, quiet, humble<BR> +face. On such a face did Richard Varley look<BR> +every night when he entered his mother's cottage. Mrs.<BR> +Varley was a widow, and she had followed the fortunes<BR> +of her brother, Daniel Hood, ever since the death of her<BR> +husband. Love for her only brother induced her to<BR> +forsake the peaceful village of Maryland and enter upon<BR> +the wild life of a backwoods settlement. Dick's mother<BR> +was thin, and old, and wrinkled, but her face was<BR> +stamped with a species of beauty which <i>never</i><BR> +fades--the beauty of a loving look. Ah! the brow of snow<BR> +and the peach-bloom cheek may snare the heart of man<BR> +for a time, but the <i>loving look</i> alone can forge that<BR> +adamantine chain that time, age, eternity shall never<BR> +break.<BR> +<BR> +Mistake us not, reader, and bear with us if we attempt<BR> +to analyze this look which characterized Mrs. Varley.<BR> +A rare diamond is worth stopping to glance at, even<BR> +when one is in a hurry. The brightest jewel in the<BR> +human heart is worth a thought or two. By <i>a loving</i><BR> +<i>look</i> we do not mean a look of love bestowed on a<BR> +beloved object. <i>That</i> is common enough; and thankful<BR> +should we be that it is so common in a world that's<BR> +overfull of hatred. Still less do we mean that smile<BR> +and look of intense affection with which some people--good<BR> +people too--greet friend and foe alike, and by<BR> +which effort to work out their <i>beau ideal</i> of the expression<BR> +of Christian love they do signally damage their<BR> +cause, by saddening the serious and repelling the gay.<BR> +Much less do we mean that <i>perpetual</i> smile of good-will<BR> +which argues more of personal comfort and self-love<BR> +than anything else. No; the loving look we speak of<BR> +is as often grave as gay. Its character depends very<BR> +much on the face through which it beams. And it<BR> +cannot be counterfeited. Its <i>ring</i> defies imitation. Like<BR> +the clouded sun of April, it can pierce through tears of<BR> +sorrow; like the noontide sun of summer, it can blaze<BR> +in warm smiles; like the northern lights of winter, it<BR> +can gleam in depths of woe;--but it is always the same,<BR> +modified, doubtless, and rendered more or less patent to<BR> +others, according to the natural amiability of him or her<BR> +who bestows it. No one can put it on; still less can<BR> +any one put it off. Its range is universal; it embraces<BR> +all mankind, though, <i>of course</i>, it is intensified on a few<BR> +favoured objects; its seat is in the depths of a renewed<BR> +heart, and its foundation lies in love to God.<BR> +<BR> +Young Varley's mother lived in a cottage which was<BR> +of the smallest possible dimensions consistent with comfort.<BR> +It was made of logs, as, indeed, were all the other<BR> +cottages in the valley. The door was in the centre, and<BR> +a passage from it to the back of the dwelling divided it<BR> +into two rooms. One of these was sub-divided by a<BR> +thin partition, the inner room being Mrs. Varley's bedroom,<BR> +the outer Dick's. Daniel Hood's dormitory was<BR> +a corner of the kitchen, which apartment served also as<BR> +a parlour.<BR> +<BR> +The rooms were lighted by two windows, one on each<BR> +side of the door, which gave to the house the appearance<BR> +of having a nose and two eyes. Houses of this kind<BR> +have literally got a sort of <i>expression</i> on--if we may<BR> +use the word--their countenances. <i>Square</i> windows<BR> +give the appearance of easy-going placidity; <i>longish</i><BR> +ones, that of surprise. Mrs. Varley's was a surprise<BR> +cottage; and this was in keeping with the scene in<BR> +which it stood, for the clear lake in front, studded with<BR> +islands, and the distant hills beyond, composed a scene<BR> +so surprisingly beautiful that it never failed to call forth<BR> +an expression of astonished admiration from every new<BR> +visitor to the Mustang Valley.<BR> +<BR> +"My boy," exclaimed Mrs. Varley, as her son entered<BR> +the cottage with a bound, "why so hurried to-day?<BR> +Deary me! where got you the grand gun?"<BR> +<BR> +"Won it, mother!"<BR> +<BR> +"Won it, my son?"<BR> +<BR> +"Ay, won it, mother. Druve the nail <i>almost</i>, and<BR> +would ha' druve it <i>altogether</i> had I bin more used to<BR> +Joe Blunt's rifle."<BR> +<BR> +Mrs. Varley's heart beat high, and her face flushed<BR> +with pride as she gazed at her son, who laid the rifle on<BR> +the table for her inspection, while he rattled off an<BR> +animated and somewhat disjointed account of the<BR> +match.<BR> +<BR> +"Deary me! now that was good, that was cliver.<BR> +But what's that scraping at the door?"<BR> +<BR> +"Oh! that's Fan; I forgot her. Here! here! Fan!<BR> +Come in, good dog," he cried, rising and opening the<BR> +door.<BR> +<BR> +Fan entered and stopped short, evidently uncomfortable.<BR> +<BR> +"My boy, what do ye with the major's dog?"<BR> +<BR> +"Won her too, mother!"<BR> +<BR> +"Won her, my son?"<BR> +<BR> +"Ay, won her, and the pup too; see, here it is!" and<BR> +he plucked Crusoe from his bosom.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe having found his position to be one of great<BR> +comfort had fallen into a profound slumber, and on<BR> +being thus unceremoniously awakened he gave forth a<BR> +yelp of discontent that brought Fan in a state of frantic<BR> +sympathy to his side.<BR> +<BR> +"There you are, Fan; take it to a corner and make<BR> +yourself at home.--Ay, that's right, mother, give her<BR> +somethin' to eat; she's hungry, I know by the look o'<BR> +her eye."<BR> +<BR> +"Deary me, Dick!" said Mrs. Varley, who now proceeded<BR> +to spread the youth's mid-day meal before him,<BR> +"did ye drive the nail three times?"<BR> +<BR> +"No, only once, and that not parfetly. Brought 'em<BR> +all down at one shot--rifle, Fan, an' pup!"<BR> +<BR> +"Well, well, now that was cliver; but--." Here the<BR> +old woman paused and looked grave.<BR> +<BR> +"But what, mother?"<BR> +<BR> +"You'll be wantin' to go off to the mountains now, I<BR> +fear me, boy."<BR> +<BR> +"Wantin' <i>now</i>!" exclaimed the youth earnestly; "I'm<BR> +<i>always</i> wantin'. I've bin wantin' ever since I could<BR> +walk; but I won't go till you let me, mother, that I<BR> +won't!" And he struck the table with his fist so forcibly<BR> +that the platters rung again.<BR> +<BR> +"You're a good boy, Dick; but you're too young yit<BR> +to ventur' among the Redskins."<BR> +<BR> +"An' yit, if I don't ventur' young, I'd better not ventur'<BR> +at all. You know, mother dear, I don't want to<BR> +leave you; but I was born to be a hunter, and everybody<BR> +in them parts is a hunter, and I can't hunt in the<BR> +kitchen you know, mother!"<BR> +<BR> +At this point the conversation was interrupted by a<BR> +sound that caused young Varley to spring up and seize<BR> +his rifle, and Fan to show her teeth and growl.<BR> +<BR> +"Hist, mother! that's like horses' hoofs," he whispered,<BR> +opening the door and gazing intently in the<BR> +direction whence the sound came.<BR> +<BR> +Louder and louder it came, until an opening in the<BR> +forest showed the advancing cavalcade to be a party of<BR> +white men. In another moment they were in full view--a<BR> +band of about thirty horsemen, clad in the leathern<BR> +costume and armed with the long rifle of the far west.<BR> +Some wore portions of the gaudy Indian dress, which<BR> +gave to them a brilliant, dashing look. They came on<BR> +straight for the block-house, and saluted the Varleys<BR> +with a jovial cheer as they swept past at full speed.<BR> +Dick returned the cheer with compound interest, and<BR> +calling out, "They're trappers, mother; I'll be back in an<BR> +hour," bounded off like a deer through the woods, taking<BR> +a short cut in order to reach the block-house before<BR> +them. He succeeded, for, just as he arrived at the<BR> +house, the cavalcade wheeled round the bend in the<BR> +river, dashed up the slope, and came to a sudden halt<BR> +on the green. Vaulting from their foaming steeds they<BR> +tied them to the stockades of the little fortress, which<BR> +they entered in a body.<BR> +<BR> +Hot haste was in every motion of these men. They<BR> +were trappers, they said, on their way to the Rocky<BR> +Mountains to hunt and trade furs. But one of their<BR> +number had been treacherously murdered and scalped<BR> +by a Pawnee chief, and they resolved to revenge his<BR> +death by an attack on one of the Pawnee villages. They<BR> +would teach these "red reptiles" to respect white men,<BR> +they would, come of it what might; and they had<BR> +turned aside here to procure an additional supply of<BR> +powder and lead.<BR> +<BR> +In vain did the major endeavour to dissuade these<BR> +reckless men from their purpose. They scoffed at the<BR> +idea of returning good for evil, and insisted on being<BR> +supplied. The log hut was a store as well as a place of<BR> +defence, and as they offered to pay for it there was no<BR> +refusing their request--at least so the major thought.<BR> +The ammunition was therefore given to them, and in<BR> +half-an-hour they were away again at full gallop over<BR> +the plains on their mission of vengeance. "Vengeance<BR> +is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." But these men<BR> +knew not what God said, because they never read his<BR> +Word and did not own his sway.<BR> +<BR> +Young Varley's enthusiasm was considerably damped<BR> +when he learned the errand on which the trappers were<BR> +bent. From that time forward he gave up all desire<BR> +to visit the mountains in company with such men, but<BR> +he still retained an intense longing to roam at large<BR> +among their rocky fastnesses and gallop out upon the<BR> +wide prairies.<BR> +<BR> +Meanwhile he dutifully tended his mother's cattle and<BR> +sheep, and contented himself with an occasional deer-hunt<BR> +in the neighbouring forests. He devoted himself<BR> +also to the training of his dog Crusoe--an operation<BR> +which at first cost him many a deep sigh.<BR> +<BR> +Every one has heard of the sagacity and almost reasoning<BR> +capabilities of the Newfoundland dog. Indeed, some<BR> +have even gone the length of saying that what is called<BR> +instinct in these animals is neither more nor less than<BR> +reason. And in truth many of the noble, heroic, and<BR> +sagacious deeds that have actually been performed by<BR> +Newfoundland dogs incline us almost to believe that,<BR> +like man, they are gifted with reasoning powers.<BR> +<BR> +But every one does not know the trouble and patience<BR> +that is required in order to get a juvenile dog to understand<BR> +what its master means when he is endeavouring<BR> +to instruct it.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe's first lesson was an interesting but not a very<BR> +successful one. We may remark here that Dick Varley<BR> +had presented Fan to his mother to be her watch-dog,<BR> +resolving to devote all his powers to the training of the<BR> +pup. We may also remark, in reference to Crusoe's<BR> +appearance (and we did not remark it sooner, chiefly<BR> +because up to this period in his eventful history he was<BR> +little better than a ball of fat and hair), that his coat<BR> +was mingled jet-black and pure white, and remarkably<BR> +glossy, curly, and thick.<BR> +<BR> +A week after the shooting-match Crusoe's education<BR> +began. Having fed him for that period with his own<BR> +hand, in order to gain his affection, Dick took him out<BR> +one sunny forenoon to the margin of the lake to give<BR> +him his first lesson.<BR> +<BR> +And here again we must pause to remark that,<BR> +although a dog's heart is generally gained in the first<BR> +instance through his mouth, yet, after it is thoroughly<BR> +gained, his affection is noble and disinterested. He can<BR> +scarcely be driven from his master's side by blows; and<BR> +even when thus harshly repelled, is always ready, on the<BR> +shortest notice and with the slightest encouragement, to<BR> +make it up again.<BR> +<BR> +Well; Dick Varley began by calling out, "Crusoe!<BR> +Crusoe! come here, pup."<BR> +<BR> +Of course Crusoe knew his name by this time, for it<BR> +had been so often used as a prelude to his meals that<BR> +he naturally expected a feed whenever he heard it.<BR> +This portal to his brain had already been open for<BR> +some days; but all the other doors were fast locked,<BR> +and it required a great deal of careful picking to open<BR> +them.<BR> +<BR> +"Now, Crusoe, come here."<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe bounded clumsily to his master's side, cocked<BR> +his ears, and wagged his tail,--so far his education was<BR> +perfect. We say he bounded <i>clumsily</i>, for it must be<BR> +remembered that he was still a very young pup, with<BR> +soft, flabby muscles.<BR> +<BR> +"Now, I'm goin' to begin yer edication, pup; think<BR> +o' that."<BR> +<BR> +Whether Crusoe thought of that or not we cannot<BR> +say, but he looked up in his master's face as he spoke,<BR> +cocked his ears very high, and turned his head slowly<BR> +to one side, until it could not turn any farther in that<BR> +direction; then he turned it as much to the other side;<BR> +whereat his master burst into an uncontrollable fit of<BR> +laughter, and Crusoe immediately began barking vociferously.<BR> +<BR> +"Come, come," said Dick, suddenly checking his mirth,<BR> +"we mustn't play, pup, we must work."<BR> +<BR> +Drawing a leathern mitten from his belt, the youth<BR> +held it to Crusoe's nose, and then threw it a yard away,<BR> +at the same time exclaiming in a loud, distinct tone,<BR> +"Fetch it."<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe entered at once into the spirit of this part of<BR> +his training; he dashed gleefully at the mitten, and<BR> +proceeded to worry it with intense gratification. As<BR> +for "Fetch it," he neither understood the words nor<BR> +cared a straw about them.<BR> +<BR> +Dick Varley rose immediately, and rescuing the<BR> +mitten, resumed his seat on a rock.<BR> +<BR> +"Come here, Crusoe," he repeated.<BR> +<BR> +"Oh! certainly, by all means," said Crusoe--no! he<BR> +didn't exactly <i>say</i> it, but really he <i>looked</i> these words<BR> +so<BR> +evidently that we think it right to let them stand as<BR> +they are written. If he could have finished the sentence,<BR> +he would certainly have said, "Go on with that game<BR> +over again, old boy; it's quite to my taste--the jolliest<BR> +thing in life, I assure you!" At least, if we may not<BR> +positively assert that he would have said that, no one<BR> +else can absolutely affirm that he wouldn't.<BR> +<BR> +Well, Dick Varley did do it over again, and Crusoe<BR> +worried the mitten over again, utterly regardless of<BR> +"Fetch it."<BR> +<BR> +Then they did it again, and again, and again, but<BR> +without the slightest apparent advancement in the path<BR> +of canine knowledge; and then they went home.<BR> +<BR> +During all this trying operation Dick Varley never<BR> +once betrayed the slightest feeling of irritability or impatience.<BR> +He did not expect success at first; he was<BR> +not therefore disappointed at failure.<BR> +<BR> +Next day he had him out again--and the next--and<BR> +the next--and the next again, with the like unfavourable result. In<BR> +short,<BR> +it seemed at last as if Crusoe's<BR> +mind had been deeply imbued with the idea that he<BR> +had been born expressly for the purpose of worrying<BR> +that mitten, and he meant to fulfil his destiny to the<BR> +letter.<BR> +<BR> +Young Varley had taken several small pieces of meat<BR> +in his pocket each day, with the intention of rewarding<BR> +Crusoe when he should at length be prevailed on to<BR> +fetch the mitten; but as Crusoe was not aware of the<BR> +treat that awaited him, of course the mitten never was<BR> +"fetched."<BR> +<BR> +At last Dick Varley saw that this system would never<BR> +do, so he changed his tactics, and the next morning gave<BR> +Crusoe no breakfast, but took him out at the usual hour<BR> +to go through his lesson. This new course of conduct<BR> +seemed to perplex Crusoe not a little, for on his way<BR> +down to the beach he paused frequently and looked<BR> +back at the cottage, and then expressively up at his<BR> +master's face. But the master was inexorable; he went<BR> +on, and Crusoe followed, for <i>true</i> love had now taken<BR> +possession of the pup's young heart, and he preferred his<BR> +master's company to food.<BR> +<BR> +Varley now began by letting the learner smell a piece<BR> +of meat, which he eagerly sought to devour, but was<BR> +prevented, to his immense disgust. Then the mitten<BR> +was thrown as heretofore, and Crusoe made a few steps<BR> +towards it, but being in no mood for play he turned<BR> +back.<BR> +<BR> +"Fetch it," said the teacher.<BR> +<BR> +"I won't," replied the learner mutely, by means of<BR> +that expressive sign--<i>not doing it</i>.<BR> +<BR> +Hereupon Dick Varley rose, took up the mitten, and<BR> +put it into the pup's mouth. Then, retiring a couple of<BR> +yards, he held out the piece of meat and said, "Fetch it."<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe instantly spat out the glove and bounded<BR> +towards the meat--once more to be disappointed.<BR> +<BR> +This was done a second time, and Crusoe came forward<BR> +<i>with the mitten in his mouth</i>. It seemed as if it<BR> +had been done accidentally, for he dropped it before<BR> +coming quite up. If so, it was a fortunate accident,<BR> +for it served as the tiny fulcrum on which to place the<BR> +point of that mighty lever which was destined ere long<BR> +to raise him to the pinnacle of canine erudition. Dick<BR> +Varley immediately lavished upon him the tenderest<BR> +caresses and gave him a lump of meat. But he quickly<BR> +tried it again lest he should lose the lesson. The dog<BR> +evidently felt that if he did not fetch that mitten he<BR> +should have no meat or caresses. In order, however,<BR> +to make sure that there was no mistake, Dick laid the<BR> +mitten down beside the pup, instead of putting it into<BR> +his mouth, and, retiring a few paces, cried, "Fetch it."<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe looked uncertain for a moment, then he picked<BR> +up the mitten and laid it at his master's feet. The<BR> +lesson was learned at last! Dick Varley tumbled all<BR> +the meat out of his pocket on the ground, and, while<BR> +Crusoe made a hearty breakfast, he sat down on a rock<BR> +and whistled with glee at having fairly picked the lock,<BR> +and opened <i>another</i> door into one of the many chambers<BR> +of his dog's intellect.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER IV.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Our hero enlarged upon--Grumps</i>.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +Two years passed away. The Mustang Valley settlement<BR> +advanced prosperously, despite one or two<BR> +attacks made upon it by the savages, who were, however,<BR> +firmly repelled. Dick Varley had now become a man,<BR> +and his pup Crusoe had become a full-grown dog. The<BR> +"silver rifle," as Dick's weapon had come to be named,<BR> +was well known among the hunters and the Redskins of<BR> +the border-lands, and in Dick's hands its bullets were as<BR> +deadly as its owner's eye was quick and true.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe's education, too, had been completed. Faithfully<BR> +and patiently had his young master trained his<BR> +mind, until he fitted him to be a meet companion in the<BR> +hunt. To "carry" and "fetch" were now but trifling<BR> +portions of the dog's accomplishments. He could dive<BR> +a fathom deep in the lake and bring up any article that<BR> +might have been dropped or thrown in. His swimming<BR> +powers were marvellous, and so powerful were his<BR> +muscles that he seemed to spurn the water while passing<BR> +through it, with his broad chest high out of the<BR> +curling wave, at a speed that neither man nor beast<BR> +could keep up with for a moment. His intellect now<BR> +was sharp and quick as a needle; he never required a<BR> +second bidding. When Dick went out hunting, he<BR> +used frequently to drop a mitten or a powder-horn unknown<BR> +to the dog, and after walking miles away from<BR> +it, would stop short and look down into the mild, gentle<BR> +face of his companion.<BR> +<BR> +"Crusoe," he said, in the same quiet tones with<BR> +which he would have addressed a human friend, "I've<BR> +dropped my mitten; go fetch it, pup." Dick continued<BR> +to call it "pup" from habit.<BR> +<BR> +One glance of intelligence passed from Crusoe's eye,<BR> +and in a moment he was away at full gallop, nor did<BR> +he rest until the lost article was lying at his master's<BR> +feet. Dick was loath to try how far back on his track<BR> +Crusoe would run if desired. He had often gone back<BR> +five and six miles at a stretch; but his powers did not<BR> +stop here. He could carry articles back to the spot<BR> +from which they had been taken and leave them there.<BR> +He could head the game that his master was pursuing<BR> +and turn it back; and he would guard any object he<BR> +was desired to "watch" with unflinching constancy.<BR> +But it would occupy too much space and time to<BR> +enumerate all Crusoe's qualities and powers. His<BR> +biography will unfold them.<BR> +<BR> +In personal appearance he was majestic, having<BR> +grown to an immense size even for a Newfoundland.<BR> +Had his visage been at all wolfish in character, his<BR> +aspect would have been terrible. But he possessed in<BR> +an eminent degree that mild, humble expression of face<BR> +peculiar to his race. When roused or excited, and<BR> +especially when bounding through the forest with the<BR> +chase in view, he was absolutely magnificent. At other<BR> +times his gait was slow, and he seemed to prefer a quiet<BR> +walk with Dick Varley to anything else under the sun.<BR> +But when Dick was inclined to be boisterous, Crusoe's<BR> +tail and ears rose at a moment's notice, and he was<BR> +ready for anything. Moreover, he obeyed commands<BR> +instantly and implicitly. In this respect he put to<BR> +shame most of the boys of the settlement, who were by<BR> +no means famed for their habits of prompt obedience.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe's eye was constantly watching the face of his<BR> +master. When Dick said "Go" he went, when he said<BR> +"Come" he came. If he had been in the midst of an<BR> +excited bound at the throat of a stag, and Dick had<BR> +called out, "Down, Crusoe," he would have sunk to the<BR> +earth like a stone. No doubt it took many months of<BR> +training to bring the dog to this state of perfection,<BR> +but Dick accomplished it by patience, perseverance, and<BR> +<i>love</i>.<BR> +<BR> +Besides all this, Crusoe could speak! He spoke by<BR> +means of the dog's dumb alphabet in a way that defies<BR> +description. He conversed, so to speak, with his extremities--his head<BR> +and<BR> +his tail. But his eyes, his soft<BR> +brown eyes, were the chief medium of communication.<BR> +If ever the language of the eyes was carried to perfection,<BR> +it was exhibited in the person of Crusoe. But,<BR> +indeed, it would be difficult to say which part of his expressive<BR> +face expressed most--the cocked ears of expectation,<BR> +the drooped ears of sorrow; the bright, full eye<BR> +of joy, the half-closed eye of contentment, and the<BR> +frowning eye of indignation accompanied with a slight,<BR> +a very slight pucker of the nose and a gleam of dazzling<BR> +ivory--ha! no enemy ever saw this last piece of<BR> +canine language without a full appreciation of what it<BR> +meant. Then as to the tail--the modulations of meaning<BR> +in the varied wag of that expressive member--oh!<BR> +it's useless to attempt description. Mortal man cannot<BR> +conceive of the delicate shades of sentiment expressible<BR> +by a dog's tail, unless he has studied the subject--the<BR> +wag, the waggle, the cock, the droop, the slope, the<BR> +wriggle! Away with description--it is impotent and<BR> +valueless here!<BR> +<BR> +As we have said, Crusoe was meek and mild. He<BR> +had been bitten, on the sly, by half the ill-natured curs<BR> +in the settlement, and had only shown his teeth in return.<BR> +He had no enmities--though several enemies--and<BR> +he had a thousand friends, particularly among the<BR> +ranks of the weak and the persecuted, whom he always<BR> +protected and avenged when opportunity offered. A<BR> +single instance of this kind will serve to show his character.<BR> +<BR> +One day Dick and Crusoe were sitting on a rock beside<BR> +the lake--the same identical rock near which, when<BR> +a pup, the latter had received his first lesson. They<BR> +were conversing as usual, for Dick had elicited such a<BR> +fund of intelligence from the dog's mind, and had injected<BR> +such wealth of wisdom into it, that he felt convinced<BR> +it understood every word he said.<BR> +<BR> +"This is capital weather, Crusoe; ain't it, pup?"<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe made a motion with his head which was<BR> +quite as significant as a nod.<BR> +<BR> +"Ha! my pup, I wish that you and I might go and<BR> +have a slap at the grizzly bars, and a look at the Rocky<BR> +Mountains. Wouldn't it be nuts, pup?"<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe looked dubious.<BR> +<BR> +"What, you don't agree with me! Now tell me,<BR> +pup, wouldn't ye like to grip a bar?"<BR> +<BR> +Still Crusoe looked dubious, but made a gentle motion<BR> +with his tail, as though he would have said, "I've seen<BR> +neither Rocky Mountains nor grizzly bars, and know<BR> +nothin' about 'em, but I'm open to conviction."<BR> +<BR> +"You're a brave pup," rejoined Dick, stroking the<BR> +dog's huge head affectionately. "I wouldn't give you<BR> +for ten times your weight in golden dollars--if there<BR> +be sich things."<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe made no reply whatever to this. He regarded<BR> +it as a truism unworthy of notice; he evidently felt that<BR> +a comparison between love and dollars was preposterous.<BR> +<BR> +At this point in the conversation a little dog with a<BR> +lame leg hobbled to the edge of the rocks in front of<BR> +the spot where Dick was seated, and looked down into<BR> +the water, which was deep there. Whether it did so<BR> +for the purpose of admiring its very plain visage in the<BR> +liquid mirror, or finding out what was going on among<BR> +the fish, we cannot say, as it never told us; but at that<BR> +moment a big, clumsy, savage-looking dog rushed out<BR> +from the neighbouring thicket and began to worry it.<BR> +<BR> +"Punish him, Crusoe," said Dick quickly.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe made one bound that a lion might have been<BR> +proud of, and seizing the aggressor by the back, lifted<BR> +him off his legs and held him, howling, in the air--at<BR> +the same time casting a look towards his master for<BR> +further instructions.<BR> +<BR> +"Pitch him in," said Dick, making a sign with his<BR> +hand.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe turned and quietly dropped the dog into the<BR> +lake. Having regarded his struggles there for a few<BR> +moments with grave severity of countenance, he walked<BR> +slowly back and sat down beside his master.<BR> +<BR> +The little dog made good its retreat as fast as three<BR> +legs would carry it; and the surly dog, having swum<BR> +ashore, retired sulkily, with his tail very much between<BR> +his legs.<BR> +<BR> +Little wonder, then, that Crusoe was beloved by<BR> +great and small among the well-disposed of the canine<BR> +tribe of the Mustang Valley.<BR> +<BR> +But Crusoe was not a mere machine. When not<BR> +actively engaged in Dick Varley's service, he busied<BR> +himself with private little matters of his own. He<BR> +undertook modest little excursions into the woods or<BR> +along the margin of the lake, sometimes alone, but<BR> +more frequently with a little friend whose whole heart<BR> +and being seemed to be swallowed up in admiration of<BR> +his big companion. Whether Crusoe botanized or<BR> +geologized on these excursions we will not venture to<BR> +say. Assuredly he seemed as though he did both, for<BR> +he poked his nose into every bush and tuft of moss,<BR> +and turned over the stones, and dug holes in the ground--and,<BR> +in short, if he did not understand these sciences,<BR> +he behaved very much as if he did. Certainly he<BR> +knew as much about them as many of the human<BR> +species do.<BR> +<BR> +In these walks he never took the slightest notice of<BR> +Grumps (that was the little dog's name), but Grumps<BR> +made up for this by taking excessive notice of him.<BR> +When Crusoe stopped, Grumps stopped and sat down<BR> +to look at him. When Crusoe trotted on, Grumps<BR> +trotted on too. When Crusoe examined a bush, Grumps<BR> +sat down to watch him; and when he dug a hole,<BR> +Grumps looked into it to see what was there. Grumps<BR> +never helped him; his sole delight was in looking on.<BR> +They didn't converse much, these two dogs. To be in<BR> +each other's company seemed to be happiness enough--at<BR> +least Grumps thought so.<BR> +<BR> +There was one point at which Grumps stopped short,<BR> +however, and ceased to follow his friend, and that was<BR> +when he rushed headlong into the lake and disported<BR> +himself for an hour at a time in its cool waters. Crusoe<BR> +was, both by nature and training, a splendid water-dog.<BR> +Grumps, on the contrary, held water in abhorrence; so<BR> +he sat on the shore of the lake disconsolate when his<BR> +friend was bathing, and waited till he came out. The<BR> +only time when Grumps was thoroughly nonplussed<BR> +was when Dick Varley's whistle sounded faintly in the<BR> +far distance. Then Crusoe would prick up his ears<BR> +and stretch out at full gallop, clearing ditch, and fence,<BR> +and brake with his strong elastic bound, and leaving<BR> +Grumps to patter after him as fast as his four-inch<BR> +legs would carry him. Poor Grumps usually arrived at<BR> +the village to find both dog and master gone, and would<BR> +betake himself to his own dwelling, there to lie down<BR> +and sleep, and dream, perchance, of rambles and gambols<BR> +with his gigantic friend.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER V.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>A mission of peace--Unexpected joys--Dick and Crusoe set off for<BR> +the land of the Redskins, and meet with adventures by the<BR> +way as a matter of course--Night in the wild woods</i>.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +One day the inhabitants of Mustang Valley were<BR> +thrown into considerable excitement by the<BR> +arrival of an officer of the United States army and a<BR> +small escort of cavalry. They went direct to the blockhouse,<BR> +which, since Major Hope's departure, had become<BR> +the residence of Joe Blunt--that worthy having, by<BR> +general consent, been deemed the fittest man in the<BR> +settlement to fill the major's place.<BR> +<BR> +Soon it began to be noised abroad that the strangers<BR> +had been sent by Government to endeavour to bring<BR> +about, if possible, a more friendly state of feeling between<BR> +the Whites and the Indians by means of presents,<BR> +and promises, and fair speeches.<BR> +<BR> +The party remained all night in the block-house, and<BR> +ere long it was reported that Joe Blunt had been requested,<BR> +and had consented, to be the leader and chief<BR> +of a party of three men who should visit the neighbouring<BR> +tribes of Indians to the west and north of the<BR> +valley as Government agents. Joe's knowledge of two<BR> +or three different Indian dialects, and his well-known<BR> +sagacity, rendered him a most fitting messenger on such<BR> +an errand. It was also whispered that Joe was to have<BR> +the choosing of his comrades in this mission, and many<BR> +were the opinions expressed and guesses made as to who<BR> +would be chosen.<BR> +<BR> +That same evening Dick Varley was sitting in his<BR> +mother's kitchen cleaning his rifle. His mother was<BR> +preparing supper, and talking quietly about the obstinacy<BR> +of a particular hen that had taken to laying her<BR> +eggs in places where they could not be found. Fan<BR> +was coiled up in a corner sound asleep, and Crusoe was<BR> +sitting at one side of the fire looking on at things in<BR> +general.<BR> +<BR> +"I wonder," remarked Mrs. Varley, as she spread the<BR> +table with a pure white napkin--"I wonder what the<BR> +sodgers are doin' wi' Joe Blunt."<BR> +<BR> +As often happens when an individual is mentioned,<BR> +the worthy referred to opened the door at that moment<BR> +and stepped into the room.<BR> +<BR> +"Good e'en t'ye, dame," said the stout hunter, doffing<BR> +his cap, and resting his rifle in a corner, while Dick<BR> +rose and placed a chair for him.<BR> +<BR> +"The same to you, Master Blunt," answered the widow;<BR> +"you've jist comed in good time for a cut o' venison."<BR> +<BR> +"Thanks, mistress; I s'pose we're beholden to the<BR> +silver rifle for that."<BR> +<BR> +"To the hand that aimed it, rather," suggested the<BR> +widow.<BR> +<BR> +"Nay, then, say raither to the dog that turned it,"<BR> +said Dick Varley. "But for Crusoe, that buck would<BR> +ha' bin couched in the woods this night."<BR> +<BR> +"Oh! if it comes to that," retorted Joe, "I'd lay it<BR> +to the door o' Fan, for if she'd niver bin born nother<BR> +would Crusoe. But it's good an' tender meat, whativer<BR> +ways ye got it. Howsiver, I've other things to talk<BR> +about jist now. Them sodgers that are eatin' buffalo<BR> +tongues up at the block-house as if they'd niver ate meat<BR> +before, and didn't hope to eat again for a twelvemonth--"<BR> +<BR> +"Ay, what o' them?" interrupted Mrs. Varley; "I've<BR> +bin wonderin' what was their errand."<BR> +<BR> +"Of coorse ye wos, Dame Varley, and I've comed<BR> +here a purpis to tell ye. They want me to go to the<BR> +Redskins to make peace between them and us; and<BR> +they've brought a lot o' goods to make them presents<BR> +withal--beads, an' knives, an' lookin'-glasses, an' vermilion<BR> +paint, an' sich like, jist as much as'll be a light<BR> +load for one horse--for, ye see, nothin' can be done wi'<BR> +the Redskins without gifts."<BR> +<BR> +"'Tis a blessed mission," said the widow; "I wish it<BR> +may succeed. D'ye think ye'll go?"<BR> +<BR> +"Go? ay, that will I."<BR> +<BR> +"I only wish they'd made the offer to me," said Dick<BR> +with a sigh.<BR> +<BR> +"An' so they do make the offer, lad. They've gin<BR> +me leave to choose the two men I'm to take with me,<BR> +and I've corned straight to ask <i>you</i>. Ay or no, for we<BR> +must up an' away by break o' day to-morrow."<BR> +<BR> +Mrs. Varley started. "So soon?" she said, with a<BR> +look of anxiety.<BR> +<BR> +"Ay; the Pawnees are at the Yellow Creek jist at<BR> +this time, but I've heerd they're 'bout to break up<BR> +camp an' away west; so we'll need to use haste."<BR> +<BR> +"May I go, mother?" asked Dick, with a look of<BR> +anxiety.<BR> +<BR> +There was evidently a conflict in the widow's breast,<BR> +but it quickly ceased.<BR> +<BR> +"Yes, my boy," she said in her own low, quiet voice;<BR> +"and God go with ye. I knew the time must come<BR> +soon, an' I thank him that your first visit to the Redskins<BR> +will be on an errand o' peace. 'Blessed are the<BR> +peace-makers: for they shall be called the children of<BR> +God.'"<BR> +<BR> +Dick grasped his mother's hand and pressed it to his<BR> +cheek in silence. At the same moment Crusoe, seeing<BR> +that the deeper feelings of his master were touched, and<BR> +deeming it his duty to sympathize, rose up and thrust<BR> +his nose against him.<BR> +<BR> +"Ah, pup," cried the young man hastily, "you must<BR> +go too.--Of course Crusoe goes, Joe Blunt?"<BR> +<BR> +"Hum! I don't know that. There's no dependin' on<BR> +a dog to keep his tongue quiet in times o' danger."<BR> +<BR> +"Believe me," exclaimed Dick, flashing with enthusiasm,<BR> +"Crusoe's more trustworthy than I am myself.<BR> +If ye can trust the master, ye're safe to trust the pup."<BR> +<BR> +"Well, lad, ye may be right. We'll take him."<BR> +<BR> +"Thanks, Joe. And who else goes with us?"<BR> +<BR> +"I've' bin castin' that in my mind for some time, an'<BR> +I've fixed to take Henri. He's not the safest man in<BR> +the valley, but he's the truest, that's a fact. And now,<BR> +youngster, get yer horse an' rifle ready, and come to the<BR> +block-house at daybreak to-morrow.--Good luck to ye,<BR> +mistress, till we meet agin."<BR> +<BR> +Joe Blunt rose, and taking up his rifle--without<BR> +which he scarcely ever moved a foot from his own door--left<BR> +the cottage with rapid strides.<BR> +<BR> +"My son," said Mrs. Varley, kissing Dick's cheek as<BR> +he resumed his seat, "put this in the little pocket I<BR> +made for it in your hunting-shirt."<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +She handed him a small pocket Bible.<BR> +<BR> +"Dear mother," he said, as he placed the book carefully<BR> +within the breast of his coat, "the Redskin that<BR> +takes that from me must take my scalp first. But<BR> +don't fear for me. You've often said the Lord would<BR> +protect me. So he will, mother, for sure it's an errand<BR> +o' peace."<BR> +<BR> +"Ay that's it, that's it," murmured the widow in a<BR> +half-soliloquy.<BR> +<BR> +Dick Varley spent that night in converse with his<BR> +mother, and next morning at daybreak he was at the<BR> +place of meeting, mounted on his sturdy little horse,<BR> +with the "silver rifle" on his shoulder and Crusoe by<BR> +his side.<BR> +<BR> +"That's right, lad, that's right. Nothin' like keepin'<BR> +yer time," said Joe, as he led out a pack-horse from the<BR> +gate of the block-house, while his own charger was held<BR> +ready saddled by a man named Daniel Brand, who had<BR> +been appointed to the charge of the block-house in his<BR> +absence.<BR> +<BR> +"Where's Henri?--oh, here he comes!" exclaimed<BR> +Dick, as the hunter referred to came thundering up<BR> +the slope at a charge, on a horse that resembled its<BR> +rider in size and not a little in clumsiness of appearance.<BR> +<BR> +"Ah! mes boy. Him is a goot one to go," cried<BR> +<BR> +Henri, remarking Dick's smile as he pulled up. "No<BR> +hoss on de plain can beat dis one, surement."<BR> +<BR> +"Now then, Henri, lend a hand to fix this pack; we've<BR> +no time to palaver."<BR> +<BR> +By this time they were joined by several of the<BR> +soldiers and a few hunters who had come to see them<BR> +start.<BR> +<BR> +"Remember, Joe," said one, "if you don't come back<BR> +in three months we'll all come out in a band to seek you."<BR> +<BR> +"If we don't come back in less than that time, what's<BR> +left o' us won't be worth seekin' for," said Joe, tightening<BR> +the girth of his saddle.<BR> +<BR> +"Put a bit in yer own mouth, Henri," cried another,<BR> +as the Canadian arranged his steed's bridle; "yell need<BR> +it more than yer horse when ye git 'mong the red<BR> +reptiles."<BR> +<BR> +"Vraiment, if mon mout' needs one bit, yours will<BR> +need one padlock."<BR> +<BR> +"Now, lads, mount!" cried Joe Blunt as he vaulted<BR> +into the saddle.<BR> +<BR> +Dick Varley sprang lightly on his horse, and Henri<BR> +made a rush at his steed and hurled his huge frame<BR> +across its back with a violence that ought to have<BR> +brought it to the ground; but the tall, raw-boned, broad-chested<BR> +roan was accustomed to the eccentricities of its<BR> +master, and stood the shock bravely. Being appointed<BR> +to lead the pack-horse, Henri seized its halter. Then<BR> +the three cavaliers shook their reins, and, waving their<BR> +hands to their comrades, they sprang into the woods at<BR> +full gallop, and laid their course for the "far west."<BR> +<BR> +For some time they galloped side by side in silence,<BR> +each occupied with his own thoughts, Crusoe keeping<BR> +close beside his master's horse. The two elder hunters<BR> +evidently ruminated on the object of their mission and<BR> +the prospects of success, for their countenances were<BR> +grave and their eyes cast on the ground. Dick Varley,<BR> +too, thought upon the Red-men, but his musings were<BR> +deeply tinged with the bright hues of a <i>first</i> adventure.<BR> +The mountains, the plains, the Indians, the bears, the<BR> +buffaloes, and a thousand other objects, danced wildly<BR> +before his mind's eye, and his blood careered through<BR> +his veins and flushed his forehead as he thought of<BR> +what he should see and do, and felt the elastic vigour<BR> +of youth respond in sympathy to the light spring of<BR> +his active little steed. He was a lover of nature, too,<BR> +and his flashing eyes glanced observantly from side to<BR> +side as they swept along--sometimes through glades<BR> +of forest trees, sometimes through belts of more open<BR> +ground and shrubbery; anon by the margin of a stream<BR> +or along the shores of a little lake, and often over short<BR> +stretches of flowering prairie-land--while the firm,<BR> +elastic turf sent up a muffled sound from the tramp of<BR> +their mettlesome chargers. It was a scene of wild,<BR> +luxuriant beauty, that might almost (one could fancy)<BR> +have drawn involuntary homage to its bountiful Creator<BR> +from the lips even of an infidel.<BR> +<BR> +After a time Joe Blunt reined up, and they proceeded<BR> +at an easy ambling pace. Joe and his friend Henri<BR> +were so used to these beautiful scenes that they had<BR> +long ceased to be enthusiastically affected by them,<BR> +though they never ceased to delight in them.<BR> +<BR> +"I hope," said Joe, "that them sodgers'll go their<BR> +ways soon. I've no notion o' them chaps when they're<BR> +left at a place wi' nothin' to do but whittle sticks."<BR> +<BR> +"Why, Joe!" exclaimed Dick Varley in a tone of<BR> +surprise, "I thought you were admirin' the beautiful<BR> +face o' nature all this time, and ye're only thinkin' about<BR> +the sodgers. Now, that's strange!"<BR> +<BR> +"Not so strange after all, lad," answered Joe. "When<BR> +a man's used to a thing, he gits to admire an' enjoy it<BR> +without speakin' much about it. But it <i>is</i> true, boy,<BR> +that mankind gits in coorse o' time to think little o'<BR> +the blissin's he's used to."<BR> +<BR> +"Oui, c'est <i>vrai</i>!" murmured Henri emphatically.<BR> +<BR> +"Well, Joe Blunt, it may be so, but I'm thankful<BR> +<i>I'm</i> not used to this sort o' thing yet," exclaimed<BR> +Varley. "Let's have another gallop--so ho! come<BR> +along, Crusoe!" shouted the youth as he shook his reins<BR> +and flew over a long stretch of prairie on which at that<BR> +moment they entered.<BR> +<BR> +Joe smiled as he followed his enthusiastic companion,<BR> +but after a short run he pulled up.<BR> +<BR> +"Hold on, youngster," he cried; "ye must larn to do<BR> +as ye're bid, lad. It's trouble enough to be among wild<BR> +Injuns and wild buffaloes, as I hope soon to be, without<BR> +havin' wild comrades to look after."<BR> +<BR> +Dick laughed, and reined in his panting horse. "I'll<BR> +be as obedient as Crusoe," he said, "and no one can<BR> +beat him."<BR> +<BR> +"Besides," continued Joe, "the horses won't travel<BR> +far if we begin by runnin' all the wind out o'<BR> +them."<BR> +<BR> +"Wah!" exclaimed Henri, as the led horse became<BR> +restive; "I think we must give to him de pack-hoss for<BR> +to lead, eh?"<BR> +<BR> +"Not a bad notion, Henri. We'll make that the<BR> +penalty of runnin' off again; so look out, Master Dick."<BR> +<BR> +"I'm down," replied Dick, with a modest air, "obedient<BR> +as a baby, and won't run off again--till--the<BR> +next time. By the way, Joe, how many days' provisions<BR> +did ye bring?"<BR> +<BR> +"Two. That's 'nough to carry us to the Great<BR> +Prairie, which is three weeks distant from this. Our<BR> +own good rifles must make up the difference, and keep<BR> +us when we get there."<BR> +<BR> +"And s'pose we neither find deer nor buffalo," suggested<BR> +Dick.<BR> +<BR> +"I s'pose we'll have to starve."<BR> +<BR> +"Dat is cumfer'able to tink upon," remarked Henri.<BR> +<BR> +"More comfortable to think o' than to undergo," said<BR> +Dick; "but I s'pose there's little chance o' that."<BR> +<BR> +"Well, not much," replied Joe Blunt, patting his<BR> +horse's neck, "but d'ye see, lad, ye niver can count for<BR> +sartin on anythin'. The deer and buffalo ought to be<BR> +thick in them plains at this time--and when the buffalo<BR> +<i>are</i> thick they covers the plains till ye can hardly see<BR> +the end o' them; but, ye see, sometimes the rascally<BR> +Redskins takes it into their heads to burn the prairies,<BR> +and sometimes ye find the place that should ha' bin<BR> +black wi' buffalo, black as a coal wi' fire for miles an'<BR> +miles on end. At other times the Redskins go huntin'<BR> +in 'ticlur places, and sweeps them clean o' every hoof<BR> +that don't git away. Sometimes, too, the animals seems<BR> +to take a scunner at a place, and keeps out o' the way.<BR> +But one way or another men gin' rally manage to<BR> +scramble through."<BR> +<BR> +"Look yonder, Joe," exclaimed Dick, pointing to the<BR> +summit of a distant ridge, where a small black object<BR> +was seen moving against the sky, "that's a deer, ain't<BR> +it?"<BR> +<BR> +Joe shaded his eyes with his hand, and gazed earnestly<BR> +at the object in question. "Ye're right, boy; and by<BR> +good luck we've got the wind of him. Cut in an' take<BR> +your chance now. There's a long strip o' wood as'll<BR> +let ye git close to him."<BR> +<BR> +Before the sentence was well finished Dick and<BR> +Crusoe were off at full gallop. For a few hundred<BR> +yards they coursed along the bottom of a hollow; then<BR> +turning to the right they entered the strip of wood, and<BR> +in a few minutes gained the edge of it. Here Dick<BR> +dismounted.<BR> +<BR> +"You can't help me here, Crusoe. Stay where you<BR> +are, pup, and hold my horse."<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe seized the end of the line, which was fastened<BR> +to the horse's nose, in his mouth, and lay down on<BR> +a hillock of moss, submissively placing his chin on his<BR> +forepaws, and watching his master as he stepped noiselessly<BR> +through the wood. In a few minutes Dick<BR> +emerged from among the trees, and creeping from bush<BR> +to bush, succeeded in getting to within six hundred<BR> +yards of the deer, which was a beautiful little antelope.<BR> +Beyond the bush behind which he now crouched all was<BR> +bare open ground, without a shrub or a hillock large<BR> +enough to conceal the hunter. There was a slight undulation<BR> +in the ground, however, which enabled him to<BR> +advance about fifty yards farther, by means of lying<BR> +down quite flat and working himself forward like a serpent.<BR> +Farther than this he could not move without<BR> +being seen by the antelope, which browsed on the ridge<BR> +before him in fancied security. The distance was too<BR> +great even for a long shot; but Dick knew of a weak<BR> +point in this little creature's nature which enabled him<BR> +to accomplish his purpose--a weak point which it shares<BR> +in common with animals of a higher order--namely,<BR> +curiosity.<BR> +<BR> +The little antelope of the North American prairies is<BR> +intensely curious about everything that it does not<BR> +quite understand, and will not rest satisfied until it has<BR> +endeavoured to clear up the mystery. Availing himself<BR> +of this propensity, Dick did what both Indians and<BR> +hunters are accustomed to do on these occasions--he<BR> +put a piece of rag on the end of his ramrod, and keeping<BR> +his person concealed and perfectly still, waved this<BR> +miniature flag in the air. The antelope noticed it at<BR> +once, and, pricking up its ears, began to advance, timidly<BR> +and slowly, step by step, to see what remarkable phenomenon<BR> +it could be. In a few seconds the flag was<BR> +lowered, a sharp crack followed, and the antelope fell<BR> +dead upon the plain.<BR> +<BR> +"Ha, boy! that's a good supper, anyhow," cried Joe,<BR> +as he galloped up and dismounted.<BR> +<BR> +"Goot! dat is better nor dried meat," added Henri.<BR> +"Give him to me; I will put him on my hoss, vich is<BR> +strongar dan yourn. But ver is your hoss?"<BR> +<BR> +"He'll be here in a minute," replied Dick, putting his<BR> +fingers to his mouth and giving forth a shrill whistle.<BR> +<BR> +The instant Crusoe heard the sound he made a savage<BR> +and apparently uncalled-for dash at the horse's heels.<BR> +This wild act, so contrary to the dog's gentle nature, was<BR> +a mere piece of acting. He knew that the horse would<BR> +not advance without getting a fright, so he gave him<BR> +one in this way, which sent him off at a gallop. Crusoe<BR> +followed close at his heels, so as to bring the line alongside<BR> +of the nag's body, and thereby prevent its getting<BR> +entangled; but despite his best efforts the horse got on<BR> +one side of a tree and he on the other, so he wisely let<BR> +go his hold of the line, and waited till more open ground<BR> +enabled him to catch it again. Then he hung heavily<BR> +back, gradually checked the horse's speed, and finally<BR> +trotted him up to his master's side.<BR> +<BR> +"'Tis a cliver cur, good sooth," exclaimed Joe Blunt<BR> +in surprise.<BR> +<BR> +"Ah, Joe! you haven't seen much of Crusoe yet.<BR> +He's as good as a man any day. I've done little else<BR> +but train him for two years gone by, and he can do<BR> +most anything but shoot--he can't handle the rifle<BR> +nohow."<BR> +<BR> +"Ha! then, I tink perhaps hims could if he wos try,"<BR> +said Henri, plunging on to his horse with a laugh, and<BR> +arranging the carcass of the antelope across the pommel<BR> +of his saddle.<BR> +<BR> +Thus they hunted and galloped, and trotted and<BR> +ambled on through wood and plain all day, until the<BR> +sun began to descend below the tree-tops of the bluffs<BR> +on the west. Then Joe Blunt looked about him for a<BR> +place on which to camp, and finally fixed on a spot<BR> +under the shadow of a noble birch by the margin of a<BR> +little stream. The carpet of grass on its banks was soft<BR> +like green velvet, and the rippling waters of the brook<BR> +were clear as crystal--very different from the muddy<BR> +Missouri into which it flowed.<BR> +<BR> +While Dick Varley felled and cut up firewood, Henri<BR> +unpacked the horses and turned them loose to graze,<BR> +and Joe kindled the fire and prepared venison steaks<BR> +and hot tea for supper.<BR> +<BR> +In excursions of this kind it is customary to "hobble"<BR> +the horses--that is, to tie their fore-legs together, so<BR> +that they cannot run either fast or far, but are free<BR> +enough to amble about with a clumsy sort of hop in<BR> +search of food. This is deemed a sufficient check on<BR> +their tendency to roam, although some of the knowing<BR> +horses sometimes learn to hop so fast with their hobbles<BR> +as to give their owners much trouble to recapture them.<BR> +But when out in the prairies where Indians are known<BR> +or supposed to be in the neighbourhood, the horses are<BR> +picketed by means of a pin or stake attached to the<BR> +ends of their long lariats, as well as hobbled; for Indians<BR> +deem it no disgrace to steal or tell lies, though<BR> +they think it disgraceful to be found out in doing either.<BR> +And so expert are these dark-skinned natives of the<BR> +western prairies, that they will creep into the midst of<BR> +an enemy's camp, cut the lariats and hobbles of several<BR> +horses, spring suddenly on their backs, and gallop away.<BR> +<BR> +They not only steal from white men, but tribes that<BR> +are at enmity steal from each other, and the boldness<BR> +with which they do this is most remarkable. When<BR> +Indians are travelling in a country where enemies are<BR> +prowling, they guard their camps at night with jealous<BR> +care. The horses in particular are both hobbled and<BR> +picketed, and sentries are posted all round the camp.<BR> +Yet, in spite of these precautions, hostile Indians manage<BR> +to elude the sentries and creep into the camp. When a<BR> +thief thus succeeds in effecting an entrance, his chief<BR> +danger is past. He rises boldly to his feet, and wrapping<BR> +his blanket or buffalo robe round him, he walks up<BR> +and down as if he were a member of the tribe. At the<BR> +same time he dexterously cuts the lariats of such horses<BR> +as he observes are not hobbled. He dare not stoop to<BR> +cut the hobbles, as the action would be observed, and<BR> +suspicion would be instantly aroused. He then leaps<BR> +on the best horse he can find, and uttering a terrific<BR> +war-whoop darts away into the plains, driving the loosened<BR> +horses before him.<BR> +<BR> +No such dark thieves were supposed to be near the<BR> +camp under the birch-tree, however, so Joe, and Dick,<BR> +and Henri ate their supper in comfort, and let their<BR> +horses browse at will on the rich pasturage.<BR> +<BR> +A bright ruddy fire was soon kindled, which created,<BR> +as it were, a little ball of light in the midst of surrounding<BR> +darkness for the special use of our hardy hunters.<BR> +Within this magic circle all was warm, comfortable, and<BR> +cheery; outside all was dark, and cold, and dreary by<BR> +contrast.<BR> +<BR> +When the substantial part of supper was disposed of,<BR> +tea and pipes were introduced, and conversation began<BR> +to flow. Then the three saddles were placed in a row;<BR> +each hunter wrapped himself in his blanket, and pillowing<BR> +his head on his saddle, stretched his feet towards<BR> +the fire and went to sleep, with his loaded rifle by his<BR> +side and his hunting-knife handy in his belt. Crusoe<BR> +mounted guard by stretching himself out <i>couchant</i> at<BR> +Dick Varley's side. The faithful dog slept lightly, and<BR> +never moved all night; but had any one observed him<BR> +closely he would have seen that every fitful flame that<BR> +burst from the sinking fire, every unusual puff of wind,<BR> +and every motion of the horses that fed or rested hard<BR> +by, had the effect of revealing a speck of glittering<BR> +white in Crusoe's watchful eye.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>The great prairies of the far west</i>--<i>A remarkable colony<BR> +discovered, and a miserable night endured</i>.<BR> +<BR> +Of all the hours of the night or day the hour that<BR> +succeeds the dawn is the purest, the most joyous,<BR> +and the best. At least so think we, and so think hundreds<BR> +and thousands of the human family. And so<BR> +thought Dick Varley, as he sprang suddenly into a<BR> +sitting posture next morning, and threw his arms with<BR> +an exulting feeling of delight round the neck of Crusoe,<BR> +who instantly sat up to greet him.<BR> +<BR> +This was an unusual piece of enthusiasm on the part<BR> +of Dick; but the dog received it with marked satisfaction,<BR> +rubbed his big hairy cheek against that of his<BR> +young master, and arose from his sedentary position in<BR> +order to afford free scope for the use of his tail.<BR> +<BR> +"Ho! Joe Blunt! Henri! Up, boys, up! The sun<BR> +will have the start o' us. I'll catch the nags."<BR> +<BR> +So saying Dick bounded away into the woods, with<BR> +Crusoe gambolling joyously at his heels. Dick soon<BR> +caught his own horse, and Crusoe caught Joe's. Then<BR> +the former mounted and quickly brought in the other<BR> +two.<BR> +<BR> +Returning to the camp he found everything packed<BR> +and ready to strap on the back of the pack-horse.<BR> +"That's the way to do it, lad," cried Joe. "Here,<BR> +Henri, look alive and git yer beast ready. I do believe<BR> +ye're goin' to take another snooze!"<BR> +<BR> +Henri was indeed, at that moment, indulging in a<BR> +gigantic stretch and a cavernous yawn; but he finished<BR> +both hastily, and rushed at his poor horse as if he intended<BR> +to slay it on the spot. He only threw the saddle<BR> +on its back, however, and then threw himself on the<BR> +saddle.<BR> +<BR> +"Now then, all ready?"<BR> +<BR> +"Ay"--"Oui, yis!"<BR> +<BR> +And away they went at full stretch again on their<BR> +journey.<BR> +<BR> +Thus day after day they travelled, and night after<BR> +night they laid them down to sleep under the trees of<BR> +the forest, until at length they reached the edge of the<BR> +Great Prairie.<BR> +<BR> +It was a great, a memorable day in the life of Dick<BR> +Varley, that on which he first beheld the prairie--the<BR> +vast boundless prairie. He had heard of it, talked of<BR> +it, dreamed about it, but he had never--no, he had<BR> +never realized it. 'Tis always thus. Our conceptions<BR> +of things that we have not seen are almost invariably<BR> +wrong. Dick's eyes glittered, and his heart swelled, and<BR> +his cheeks flushed, and his breath came thick and quick.<BR> +<BR> +"There it is," he gasped, as the great rolling plain<BR> +broke suddenly on his enraptured gaze; "that's it--oh!--"<BR> +<BR> +Dick uttered a yell that would have done credit to<BR> +the fiercest chief of the Pawnees, and being unable to<BR> +utter another word, he swung his cap in the air and<BR> +sprang like an arrow from a bow over the mighty ocean<BR> +of grass. The sun had just risen to send a flood of<BR> +golden glory over the scene, the horses were fresh, so<BR> +the elder hunters, gladdened by the beauty of all around<BR> +them, and inspired by the irresistible enthusiasm of<BR> +their young companion, gave the reins to the horses and<BR> +flew after him. It was a glorious gallop, that first<BR> +headlong dash over the boundless prairie of the "far<BR> +west."<BR> +<BR> +The prairies have often been compared, most justly,<BR> +to the ocean. There is the same wide circle of space<BR> +bounded on all sides by the horizon; there is the same<BR> +swell, or undulation, or succession of long low unbroken<BR> +waves that marks the ocean when it is calm; they are<BR> +canopied by the same pure sky, and swept by the same<BR> +untrammelled breezes. There are islands, too--clumps<BR> +of trees and willow-bushes--which rise out of this<BR> +grassy ocean to break and relieve its uniformity; and<BR> +these vary in size and numbers as do the isles of ocean,<BR> +being numerous in some places, while in others they are<BR> +so scarce that the traveller does not meet one in a long<BR> +day's journey. Thousands of beautiful flowers decked<BR> +the greensward, and numbers of little birds hopped<BR> +about among them.<BR> +<BR> +"Now, lads," said Joe Blunt, reining up, "our troubles<BR> +begin to-day."<BR> +<BR> +"Our troubles?--our joys, you mean!" exclaimed<BR> +Dick Varley.<BR> +<BR> +"P'r'aps I don't mean nothin' o' the sort," retorted<BR> +Joe. "Man wos never intended to swaller his joys<BR> +without a strong mixtur' o' troubles. I s'pose he couldn't stand 'em<BR> +pure.<BR> +Ye see we've got to the prairie now--"<BR> +<BR> +"One blind hoss might see dat!" interrupted Henri.<BR> +<BR> +"An' we may or may not diskiver buffalo. An'<BR> +water's scarce, too, so we'll need to look out for it pretty<BR> +sharp, I guess, else we'll lose our horses, in which case<BR> +we may as well give out at once. Besides, there's<BR> +rattlesnakes about in sandy places, we'll ha' to look out<BR> +for them; an' there's badger holes, we'll need to look<BR> +sharp for them lest the horses put their feet in 'em; an'<BR> +there's Injuns, who'll look out pretty sharp for <i>us</i> if<BR> +they once get wind that we're in them parts."<BR> +<BR> +"Oui, yis, mes boys; and there's rain, and tunder, and<BR> +lightin'," added Henri, pointing to a dark cloud which<BR> +was seen rising on the horizon ahead of them.<BR> +<BR> +"It'll be rain," remarked Joe; "but there's no thunder<BR> +in the air jist now. We'll make for yonder clump<BR> +o' bushes and lay by till it's past."<BR> +<BR> +Turning a little to the right of the course they had<BR> +been following, the hunters galloped along one of the<BR> +hollows between the prairie waves before mentioned, in<BR> +the direction of a clump of willows. Before reaching<BR> +it, however, they passed over a bleak and barren plain<BR> +where there was neither flower nor bird. Here they<BR> +were suddenly arrested by a most extraordinary sight--at<BR> +least it was so to Dick Varley, who had never seen<BR> +the like before. This was a colony of what Joe called<BR> +"prairie-dogs." On first beholding them Crusoe uttered<BR> +a sort of half growl, half bark of surprise, cocked his<BR> +tail and ears, and instantly prepared to charge; but he<BR> +glanced up at his master first for permission. Observing<BR> +that his finger and his look commanded "silence," he<BR> +dropped his tail at once and stepped to the rear. He<BR> +did not, however, cease to regard the prairie-dogs with<BR> +intense curiosity.<BR> +<BR> +These remarkable little creatures have been egregiously<BR> +misnamed by the hunters of the west, for they<BR> +bear not the slightest resemblance to dogs, either in formation<BR> +or habits. They are, in fact, the marmot, and in<BR> +size are little larger than squirrels, which animals they<BR> +resemble in some degree. They burrow under the light<BR> +soil, and throw it up in mounds like moles.<BR> +<BR> +Thousands of them were running about among their<BR> +dwellings when Dick first beheld them; but the moment<BR> +they caught sight of the horsemen rising over the ridge<BR> +they set up a tremendous hubbub of consternation.<BR> +Each little beast instantly mounted guard on the top of<BR> +his house, and prepared, as it were, "to receive cavalry."<BR> +<BR> +The most ludicrous thing about them was that, although<BR> +the most timid and cowardly creatures in the<BR> +world, they seemed the most impertinent things that<BR> +ever lived! Knowing that their holes afforded them a<BR> +perfectly safe retreat, they sat close beside them; and as<BR> +the hunters slowly approached, they elevated their heads,<BR> +wagged their little tails, showed their teeth, and chattered<BR> +at them like monkeys. The nearer they came the<BR> +more angry and furious did the prairie-dogs become,<BR> +until Dick Varley almost fell off his horse with suppressed<BR> +laughter. They let the hunters come close up,<BR> +waxing louder and louder in their wrath; but the instant<BR> +a hand was raised to throw a stone or point a<BR> +gun, a thousand little heads dived into a thousand holes,<BR> +and a thousand little tails wriggled for an instant in<BR> +the air--then a dead silence reigned over the deserted<BR> +scene.<BR> +<BR> +"Bien, them's have dive into de bo'-els of de eart',"<BR> +said Henri with a broad grin.<BR> +<BR> +Presently a thousand noses appeared, and nervously<BR> +disappeared, like the wink of an eye. Then they appeared<BR> +again, and a thousand pair of eyes followed.<BR> +Instantly, like Jack in the box, they were all on the top<BR> +of their hillocks again, chattering and wagging their<BR> +little tails as vigorously as ever. You could not say<BR> +that you <i>saw</i> them jump out of their holes. Suddenly,<BR> +as if by magic, they <i>were</i> out; then Dick tossed up his<BR> +arms, and suddenly, as if by magic, they were gone!<BR> +<BR> +Their number was incredible, and their cities were<BR> +full of riotous activity. What their occupations were<BR> +the hunters could not ascertain, but it was perfectly<BR> +evident that they visited a great deal and gossiped<BR> +tremendously, for they ran about from house to house,<BR> +and sat chatting in groups; but it was also observed<BR> +that they never went far from their own houses. Each<BR> +seemed to have a circle of acquaintance in the immediate<BR> +neighbourhood of his own residence, to which in case of<BR> +sudden danger he always fled.<BR> +<BR> +But another thing about these prairie-dogs (perhaps,<BR> +considering their size, we should call them prairie-doggies), another<BR> +thing<BR> +about them, we say, was that<BR> +each doggie lived with an owl, or, more correctly, an<BR> +owl lived with each doggie! This is such an extraordinary<BR> +<i>fact</i> that we could scarce hope that men would<BR> +believe us, were our statement not supported by dozens<BR> +of trustworthy travellers who have visited and written<BR> +about these regions. The whole plain was covered with<BR> +these owls. Each hole seemed to be the residence of an<BR> +owl and a doggie, and these incongruous couples lived<BR> +together apparently in perfect harmony.<BR> +<BR> +We have not been able to ascertain from travellers<BR> +<i>why</i> the owls have gone to live with these doggies, so<BR> +we beg humbly to offer our own private opinion to the<BR> +reader. We assume, then, that owls find it absolutely<BR> +needful to have holes. Probably prairie-owls cannot dig<BR> +holes for themselves. Having discovered, however, a<BR> +race of little creatures that could, they very likely determined<BR> +to take forcible possession of the holes made<BR> +by them. Finding, no doubt, that when they did so<BR> +the doggies were too timid to object, and discovering,<BR> +moreover, that they were sweet, innocent little creatures,<BR> +the owls resolved to take them into partnership,<BR> +and so the thing was settled--that's how it came about,<BR> +no doubt of it!<BR> +<BR> +There is a report that rattlesnakes live in these holes<BR> +also; but we cannot certify our reader of the truth of<BR> +this. Still it is well to be acquainted with a report that<BR> +is current among the men of the backwoods. If it be<BR> +true, we are of opinion that the doggie's family is the<BR> +most miscellaneous and remarkable on the face of--or,<BR> +as Henri said, in the bo'-els of the earth.<BR> +<BR> +Dick and his friends were so deeply absorbed in<BR> +watching these curious little creatures that they did not<BR> +observe the rapid spread of the black clouds over the<BR> +sky. A few heavy drops of rain now warned them to<BR> +seek shelter, so wheeling round they dashed off at full<BR> +speed for the clump of willows, which they gained just<BR> +as the rain began to descend in torrents.<BR> +<BR> +"Now, lads, do it slick. Off packs and saddles," cried<BR> +Joe Blunt, jumping from his horse. "I'll make a hut<BR> +for ye, right off."<BR> +<BR> +"A hut, Joe! what sort o' hut can ye make here?"<BR> +inquired Dick.<BR> +<BR> +"Ye'll see, boy, in a minute."<BR> +<BR> +"Ach! lend me a hand here, Dick; de bockle am<BR> +tight as de hoss's own skin. Ah! dere all right."<BR> +<BR> +"Hallo! what's this?" exclaimed Dick, as Crusoe<BR> +advanced with something in his mouth. "I declare, it's<BR> +a bird o' some sort."<BR> +<BR> +"A prairie-hen," remarked Joe, as Crusoe laid the<BR> +bird at Dick's feet; "capital for supper."<BR> +<BR> +"Ah! dat chien is superb! goot dog. Come here, I<BR> +vill clap you."<BR> +<BR> +But Crusoe refused to be caressed. Meanwhile, Joe<BR> +and Dick formed a sort of beehive-looking hut by<BR> +bending down the stems of a tall bush and thrusting<BR> +their points into the ground. Over this they threw the<BR> +largest buffalo robe, and placed another on the ground<BR> +below it, on which they laid their packs of goods.<BR> +These they further secured against wet by placing<BR> +several robes over them and a skin of parchment. Then<BR> +they sat down on this pile to rest, and consider what<BR> +should be done next.<BR> +<BR> +"'Tis a bad look-out," said Joe, shaking his head.<BR> +<BR> +"I fear it is," replied Dick in a melancholy tone.<BR> +<BR> +Henri said nothing, but he sighed deeply on looking<BR> +up at the sky, which was now of a uniform watery gray,<BR> +while black clouds drove athwart it. The rain was<BR> +pouring in torrents, and the wind began to sweep it in<BR> +broad sheets over the plains, and under their slight covering,<BR> +so that in a short time they were wet to the skin.<BR> +The horses stood meekly beside them, with their tails<BR> +and heads equally pendulous; and Crusoe sat before his<BR> +master, looking at him with an expression that seemed<BR> +to say, "Couldn't you put a stop to this if you were to<BR> +try?"<BR> +<BR> +"This'll never do. I'll try to git up a fire," said<BR> +Dick, jumping up in desperation.<BR> +<BR> +"Ye may save yerself the trouble," remarked Joe<BR> +dryly--at least as dryly as was possible in the circumstances.<BR> +<BR> +However, Dick did try, but he failed signally. Everything<BR> +was soaked and saturated. There were no large<BR> +trees; most of the bushes were green, and the dead ones<BR> +were soaked. The coverings were slobbery, the skins<BR> +they sat on were slobbery, the earth itself was slobbery;<BR> +so Dick threw his blanket (which was also slobbery)<BR> +round his shoulders, and sat down beside his companions<BR> +to grin and bear it. As for Joe and Henri, they were<BR> +old hands and accustomed to such circumstances. From<BR> +the first they had resigned themselves to their fate, and<BR> +wrapping their wet blankets round them sat down, side<BR> +by side, wisely to endure the evils that they could not<BR> +cure.<BR> +<BR> +There is an old rhyme, by whom composed we know<BR> +not, and it matters little, which runs thus,--<BR> +<BR> +/*<BR> +"For every evil under the sun<BR> +There is a remedy--or there's none.<BR> +*/<BR> +/*<BR> +If there is--try and find it;<BR> +If there isn't--never mind it!"<BR> +*/<BR> +<BR> +There is deep wisdom here in small compass. The<BR> +principle involved deserves to be heartily recommended.<BR> +Dick never heard of the lines, but he knew the principle<BR> +well, so he began to "never mind it" by sitting down<BR> +beside his companions and whistling vociferously. As<BR> +the wind rendered this a difficult feat, he took to singing<BR> +instead. After that he said, "Let's eat a bite, Joe,<BR> +and then go to bed."<BR> +<BR> +"Be all means," said Joe, who produced a mass of<BR> +dried deer's meat from a wallet.<BR> +<BR> +"It's cold grub," said Dick, "and tough."<BR> +<BR> +But the hunters' teeth were sharp and strong, so they<BR> +ate a hearty supper and washed it down with a drink<BR> +of rain water collected from a pool on the top of their<BR> +hut. They now tried to sleep, for the night was advancing,<BR> +and it was so dark that they could scarce see<BR> +their hands when held up before their faces. They sat<BR> +back to back, and thus, in the form of a tripod, began<BR> +to snooze. Joe's and Henri's seasoned frames would<BR> +have remained stiff as posts till morning; but Dick's<BR> +body was young and pliant, so he hadn't been asleep a<BR> +few seconds when he fell forward into the mud and<BR> +effectually awakened the others. Joe gave a grunt,<BR> +and Henri exclaimed, "Hah!" but Dick was too sleepy<BR> +and miserable to say anything. Crusoe, however, rose<BR> +up to show his sympathy, and laid his wet head on his<BR> +master's knee as he resumed his place. This catastrophe<BR> +happened three times in the space of an hour, and by<BR> +the third time they were all awakened up so thoroughly<BR> +that they gave up the attempt to sleep, and amused<BR> +each other by recounting their hunting experiences and<BR> +telling stories. So engrossed did they become that day<BR> +broke sooner than they had expected, and just in proportion<BR> +as the gray light of dawn rose higher into the<BR> +eastern sky did the spirits of these weary men rise<BR> +within their soaking bodies.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER VII.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>The "wallering" peculiarities of buffalo bulls--The first buffalo<BR> +hunt and its consequences--Crusoe comes to the rescue--Pawnees <BR> +discovered--A monster buffalo hunt--Joe acts the part of ambassador</i>.<BR> +<BR> +Fortunately the day that succeeded the dreary<BR> +night described in the last chapter was warm<BR> +and magnificent. The sun rose in a blaze of splendour,<BR> +and filled the atmosphere with steam from the moist<BR> +earth.<BR> +<BR> +The unfortunates in the wet camp were not slow to<BR> +avail themselves of his cheering rays. They hung up<BR> +everything on the bushes to dry, and by dint of extreme<BR> +patience and cutting out the comparatively dry hearts<BR> +of several pieces of wood, they lighted a fire and boiled<BR> +some rain-water, which was soon converted into soup.<BR> +This, and the exercise necessary for the performance of<BR> +these several duties, warmed and partially dried them;<BR> +so that when they once more mounted their steeds and<BR> +rode away, they were in a state of comparative comfort<BR> +and in excellent spirits. The only annoyance was the<BR> +clouds of mosquitoes and large flies that assailed men<BR> +and horses whenever they checked their speed.<BR> +<BR> +"I tell ye wot it is," said Joe Blunt, one fine morning<BR> +about a week after they had begun to cross the prairie,<BR> +"it's my 'pinion that we'll come on buffaloes soon. Them<BR> +tracks are fresh, an' yonder's one o' their wallers that's<BR> +bin used not long agone."<BR> +<BR> +"I'll go have a look at it," cried Dick, trotting away<BR> +as he spoke.<BR> +<BR> +Everything in these vast prairies was new to Dick<BR> +Varley, and he was kept in a constant state of excitement<BR> +during the first week or two of his journey. It<BR> +is true he was quite familiar with the names and habits<BR> +of all the animals that dwelt there; for many a time and<BR> +oft had he listened to the "yarns" of the hunters and<BR> +trappers of the Mustang Valley, when they returned<BR> +laden with rich furs from their periodical hunting expeditions.<BR> +But this knowledge of his only served to<BR> +whet his curiosity and his desire to <i>see</i> the denizens of<BR> +the prairies with his own eyes; and now that his wish<BR> +was accomplished, it greatly increased the pleasures of<BR> +his journey.<BR> +<BR> +Dick had just reached the "wallow" referred to by<BR> +Joe Blunt, and had reined up his steed to observe it<BR> +leisurely, when a faint hissing sound reached his ear.<BR> +Looking quickly back, he observed his two companions<BR> +crouching on the necks of their horses, and slowly descending<BR> +into a hollow of the prairie in front of them,<BR> +as if they wished to bring the rising ground between<BR> +them and some object in advance. Dick instantly followed<BR> +their example, and was soon at their heels.<BR> +<BR> +"Ye needn't look at the waller," whispered Joe, "for<BR> +a' tother side o' the ridge there's a bull <i>wallerin</i>'."<BR> +<BR> +"Ye don't mean it!" exclaimed Dick, as they all dismounted<BR> +and picketed their horses to the plain.<BR> +"Oui," said Henri, tumbling off his horse, while a<BR> +broad grin overspread his good-natured countenance,<BR> +"it is one fact! One buffalo bull be wollerin' like a<BR> +enormerous hog. Also, dere be t'ousands o' buffaloes<BR> +farder on."<BR> +<BR> +"Can ye trust yer dog keepin' back?" inquired Joe,<BR> +with a dubious glance at Crusoe.<BR> +<BR> +"Trust him! Ay, I wish I was as sure o' myself."<BR> +<BR> +"Look to yer primin', then, an' we'll have tongues<BR> +and marrow bones for supper to-night, I'se warrant.<BR> +Hist! down on yer knees and go softly. We might<BR> +ha' run them down on horseback, but it's bad to wind<BR> +yer beasts on a trip like this, if ye can help it; an' it's<BR> +about as easy to stalk them. Leastways, we'll try.<BR> +Lift yer head slowly, Dick, an' don't show more nor the<BR> +half o't above the ridge."<BR> +<BR> +Dick elevated his head as directed, and the scene that<BR> +met his view was indeed well calculated to send an<BR> +electric shock to the heart of an ardent sportsman.<BR> +The vast plain beyond was absolutely blackened with<BR> +countless herds of buffaloes, which were browsing on<BR> +the rich grass. They were still so far distant that their<BR> +bellowing, and the trampling of their myriad hoofs, only<BR> +reached the hunters like a faint murmur on the breeze.<BR> +In the immediate foreground, however, there was a<BR> +group of about half-a-dozen buffalo cows feeding quietly,<BR> +and in the midst of them an enormous old bull was<BR> +enjoying himself in his wallow. The animals, towards<BR> +which our hunters now crept with murderous intent,<BR> +are the fiercest and the most ponderous of the ruminating<BR> +inhabitants of the western wilderness. The name of<BR> +<i>buffalo</i>, however, is not correct. The animal is the <i>bison,<BR> +</i> and bears no resemblance whatever to the buffalo proper;<BR> +but as the hunters of the far west, and, indeed,<BR> +travellers generally, have adopted the misnomer, we bow<BR> +to the authority of custom and adopt it too.<BR> +<BR> +Buffaloes roam in countless thousands all over the<BR> +North American prairies, from the Hudson Bay Territories,<BR> +north of Canada, to the shores of the Gulf of<BR> +Mexico.<BR> +<BR> +The advance of white men to the west has driven<BR> +them to the prairies between the Missouri and the Rocky<BR> +Mountains, and has somewhat diminished their numbers;<BR> +but even thus diminished, they are still innumerable in<BR> +the more distant plains. Their colour is dark brown,<BR> +but it varies a good deal with the seasons. The hair<BR> +or fur, from its great length in winter and spring and<BR> +exposure to the weather, turns quite light; but when<BR> +the winter coat is shed off, the new growth is a beautiful<BR> +dark brown, almost approaching to jet-black. In<BR> +form the buffalo somewhat resembles the ox, but its<BR> +head and shoulders are much larger, and are covered<BR> +with a profusion of long shaggy hair which adds greatly<BR> +to the fierce aspect of the animal. It has a large hump<BR> +on the shoulder, and its fore-quarters are much larger,<BR> +in proportion, than the hind-quarters. The horns are<BR> +short and thick, the hoofs are cloven, and the tail is<BR> +short, with a tuft of hair at the extremity.<BR> +<BR> +It is scarcely possible to conceive a wilder or more<BR> +ferocious and terrible monster than a buffalo bull. He<BR> +often grows to the enormous weight of two thousand<BR> +pounds. His lion-like mane falls in shaggy confusion<BR> +quite over his head and shoulders, down to the ground.<BR> +When he is wounded he becomes imbued with the spirit<BR> +of a tiger: he stamps, bellows, roars, and foams forth<BR> +his rage with glaring eyes and steaming nostrils, and<BR> +charges furiously at man and horse with utter recklessness.<BR> +Fortunately, however, he is not naturally pugnacious,<BR> +and can be easily thrown into a sudden panic.<BR> +Moreover, the peculiar position of his eye renders this<BR> +creature not so terrible as he would otherwise be to the<BR> +hunter. Owing to the stiff structure of the neck, and<BR> +the sunken, downward-looking eyeball, the buffalo cannot,<BR> +without an effort, see beyond the direct line of<BR> +vision presented to the habitual carriage of his head.<BR> +When, therefore, he is wounded, and charges, he does so<BR> +in a straight line, so that his pursuer can leap easily<BR> +out of his way. The pace of the buffalo is clumsy, and<BR> +<i>apparently</i> slow, yet, when chased, he dashes away over<BR> +the plains in blind blundering terror, at a rate that<BR> +leaves all but good horses far behind. He cannot keep<BR> +the pace up, however, and is usually soon overtaken.<BR> +Were the buffalo capable of the same alert and agile<BR> +motions of head and eye peculiar to the deer or wild<BR> +horse, in addition to his "bovine rage," he would be the<BR> +most formidable brute on earth. There is no object,<BR> +perhaps, so terrible as the headlong advance of a herd<BR> +of these animals when thoroughly aroused by terror.<BR> +They care not for their necks. All danger in front is<BR> +forgotten, or not seen, in the terror of that from which<BR> +they fly. No thundering cataract is more tremendously<BR> +irresistible than the black bellowing torrent which sometimes<BR> +pours through the narrow defiles of the Rocky<BR> +Mountains, or sweeps like a roaring flood over the<BR> +trembling plains.<BR> +<BR> +The wallowing, to which we have referred, is a luxury<BR> +usually indulged in during the hot months of summer,<BR> +when the buffaloes are tormented by flies, and heat, and<BR> +drought. At this season they seek the low grounds in<BR> +the prairies where there is a little stagnant water lying<BR> +amongst the grass, and the ground underneath, being<BR> +saturated, is soft. The leader of the herd, a shaggy old<BR> +bull, usually takes upon himself to prepare the wallow.<BR> +<BR> +It was a rugged monster of the largest size that did<BR> +so on the present occasion, to the intense delight of<BR> +Dick Varley, who begged Joe to lie still and watch the<BR> +operation before trying to shoot one of the buffalo<BR> +cows. Joe consented with a nod, and the four spectators--for<BR> +Crusoe was as much taken up with the<BR> +proceedings as any of them--crouched in the grass, and<BR> +looked on.<BR> +<BR> +Coming up to the swampy spot, the old bull gave a<BR> +grunt of satisfaction, and going down on one knee,<BR> +plunged his short thick horns into the mud, tore it up,<BR> +and cast it aside. Having repeated this several times,<BR> +he plunged his head in, and brought it forth saturated<BR> +with dirty water and bedaubed with lumps of mud,<BR> +through which his fierce eyes gazed, with a ludicrous<BR> +expression of astonishment, straight in the direction of<BR> +the hunters, as if he meant to say, "I've done it that<BR> +time, and no mistake!" The other buffaloes seemed to<BR> +think so too, for they came up and looked on with an<BR> +expression that seemed to say, "Well done, old fellow;<BR> +try that again!"<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +The old fellow did try it again, and again, and again,<BR> +plunging, and ramming, and tearing up the earth, until<BR> +he formed an excavation large enough to contain his<BR> +huge body. In this bath he laid himself comfortably<BR> +down, and began to roll and wallow about until he<BR> +mixed up a trough full of thin soft mud, which<BR> +completely covered him. When he came out of the<BR> +hole there was scarcely an atom of his former self<BR> +visible!<BR> +<BR> +The coat of mud thus put on by bulls is usually permitted<BR> +by them to dry, and is not finally got rid of<BR> +until long after, when oft-repeated rollings on the grass<BR> +and washings by rain at length clear it away.<BR> +<BR> +When the old bull vacated this delectable bath,<BR> +another bull, scarcely if at all less ferocious-looking,<BR> +stepped forward to take his turn; but he was interrupted<BR> +by a volley from the hunters, which scattered<BR> +the animals right and left, and sent the mighty herds<BR> +in the distance flying over the prairie in wild terror.<BR> +The very turmoil of their own mad flight added to their<BR> +panic, and the continuous thunder of their hoofs was<BR> +heard until the last of them disappeared on the horizon.<BR> +The family party which had been fired at, however, did<BR> +not escape so well, Joe's rifle wounded a fat young<BR> +cow, and Dick Varley brought it down. Henri had<BR> +done his best, but as the animals were too far distant<BR> +for his limited vision, he missed the cow he fired at, and<BR> +hit the young bull whose bath had been interrupted.<BR> +The others scattered and fled.<BR> +<BR> +"Well done, Dick," exclaimed Joe Blunt, as they all<BR> +ran up to the cow that had fallen. "Your first shot at<BR> +the buffalo was a good un. Come, now, an' I'll show ye<BR> +how to cut it up an' carry off the tit-bits."<BR> +<BR> +"Ah, mon dear ole bull!" exclaimed Henri, gazing<BR> +after the animal which he had wounded, and which was<BR> +now limping slowly away. "You is not worth goin'<BR> +after. Farewell--adieu."<BR> +<BR> +"He'll be tough enough, I warrant," said Joe; "an'<BR> +we've more meat here nor we can lift."<BR> +<BR> +"But wouldn't it be as well to put the poor brute<BR> +out o' pain?" suggested Dick.<BR> +<BR> +"Oh, he'll die soon enough," replied Joe, tucking up<BR> +his sleeves and drawing his long hunting-knife.<BR> +<BR> +Dick, however, was not satisfied with this way of<BR> +looking at it. Saying that he would be back in a few<BR> +minutes, he reloaded his rifle, and calling Crusoe to his<BR> +side, walked quickly after the wounded bull, which was<BR> +now hid from view in a hollow of the plain.<BR> +<BR> +In a few minutes he came in sight of it, and ran<BR> +forward with his rifle in readiness.<BR> +<BR> +"Down, Crusoe," he whispered; "wait for me here."<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe crouched in the grass instantly, and Dick<BR> +advanced. As he came on, the bull observed him, and<BR> +turned round bellowing with rage and pain to receive<BR> +him. The aspect of the brute on a near view was so<BR> +terrible that Dick involuntarily stopped too, and gazed<BR> +with a mingled feeling of wonder and awe, while it<BR> +bristled with passion, and blood-streaked foam dropped<BR> +from its open jaws, and its eyes glared furiously.<BR> +Seeing that Dick did not advance, the bull charged him<BR> +with a terrific roar; but the youth had firm nerves,<BR> +and although the rush of such a savage creature at full<BR> +speed was calculated to try the courage of any man,<BR> +especially one who had never seen a buffalo bull before,<BR> +Dick did not lose presence of mind. He remembered<BR> +the many stories he had listened to of this very thing<BR> +that was now happening; so, crushing down his excitement<BR> +as well as he could, he cocked his rifle and<BR> +awaited the charge. He knew that it was of no use to<BR> +fire at the head of the advancing foe, as the thickness<BR> +of the skull, together with the matted hair on the forehead,<BR> +rendered it impervious to a bullet.<BR> +<BR> +When the bull was within a yard of him he leaped<BR> +lightly to one side and it passed. Just as it did so,<BR> +Dick aimed at its heart and fired, but his knowledge of<BR> +the creature's anatomy was not yet correct. The ball<BR> +entered the shoulder too high, and the bull, checking<BR> +himself as well as he could in his headlong rush, turned<BR> +round and made at Dick again.<BR> +<BR> +The failure, coupled with the excitement, proved too<BR> +much for Dick; he could not resist discharging his<BR> +second barrel at the brute's head as it came on. He<BR> +might as well have fired at a brick wall. It shook its<BR> +shaggy front, and with a hideous bellow thundered forward.<BR> +Again Dick sprang to one side, but in doing so<BR> +a tuft of grass or a stone caught his foot, and he fell<BR> +heavily to the ground.<BR> +<BR> +Up to this point Crusoe's admirable training had<BR> +nailed him to the spot where he had been left, although<BR> +the twitching of every fibre in his body and a low continuous<BR> +whine showed how gladly he would have hailed<BR> +permission to join in the combat; but the instant he<BR> +saw his master down, and the buffalo turning to charge<BR> +again, he sprang forward with a roar that would have<BR> +done credit to his bovine enemy, and seized him by the<BR> +nose. So vigorous was the rush that he well-nigh<BR> +pulled the bull down on its side. One toss of its head,<BR> +however, sent Crusoe high into the air; but it accomplished<BR> +this feat at the expense of its nose, which was<BR> +torn and lacerated by the dog's teeth.<BR> +<BR> +Scarcely had Crusoe touched the ground, which he<BR> +did with a sounding thump, than he sprang up and<BR> +flew at his adversary again. This time, however, he<BR> +adopted the plan of barking furiously and biting by<BR> +rapid yet terrible snaps as he found opportunity, thus<BR> +keeping the bull entirely engrossed, and affording Dick<BR> +an opportunity of reloading his rifle, which he was not<BR> +slow to do. Dick then stepped close up, and while the<BR> +two combatants were roaring in each other's faces, he<BR> +shot the buffalo through the heart. It fell to the earth<BR> +with a deep groan.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe's rage instantly vanished on beholding this,<BR> +and he seemed to be filled with tumultuous joy at his<BR> +master's escape, for he gambolled round him, and whined<BR> +and fawned upon him in a manner that could not be<BR> +misunderstood.<BR> +<BR> +"Good dog; thank'ee, my pup," said Dick, patting<BR> +Crusoe's head as he stooped to brush the dust from his<BR> +leggings. "I don't know what would ha' become o' me<BR> +but for your help, Crusoe."<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe turned his head a little to one side, wagged<BR> +his tail, and looked at Dick with an expression that<BR> +said quite plainly, "I'd die for you, I would--not<BR> +once, or twice, but ten times, fifty times if need be--and<BR> +that not merely to save your life, but even to<BR> +please you."<BR> +<BR> +There is no doubt whatever that Crusoe felt something<BR> +of this sort. The love of a Newfoundland dog to<BR> +its master is beyond calculation or expression. He who<BR> +once gains such love carries the dog's life in his hand.<BR> +But let him who reads note well, and remember that<BR> +there is only one coin that can purchase such love, and<BR> +that is <i>kindness</i>. The coin, too, must be genuine. Kindness<BR> +merely <i>expressed</i> will not do, it must be <i>felt</i>.<BR> +<BR> +"Hallo, boy, ye've bin i' the wars!" exclaimed Joe,<BR> +raising himself from his task as Dick and Crusoe returned.<BR> +<BR> +"You look more like it than I do," retorted Dick,<BR> +laughing.<BR> +<BR> +This was true, for cutting up a buffalo carcass with<BR> +no other instrument than a large knife is no easy<BR> +matter. Yet western hunters and Indians can do it<BR> +without cleaver or saw, in a way that would surprise<BR> +a civilized butcher not a little. Joe was covered with<BR> +blood up to the elbows. His hair, happening to have<BR> +a knack of getting into his eyes, had been so often<BR> +brushed off with bloody hands, that his whole visage<BR> +was speckled with gore, and his dress was by no means<BR> +immaculate.<BR> +<BR> +While Dick related his adventure, or <i>mis</i>-adventure,<BR> +with the bull, Joe and Henri completed the cutting out<BR> +of the most delicate portions of the buffalo--namely,<BR> +the hump on its shoulder--which is a choice piece,<BR> +much finer than the best beef--and the tongue, and<BR> +a few other parts. The tongues of buffaloes are superior<BR> +to those of domestic cattle. When all was ready<BR> +the meat was slung across the back of the pack-horse;<BR> +and the party, remounting their horses, continued their<BR> +journey, having first cleansed themselves as well as they<BR> +could in the rather dirty waters of an old wallow.<BR> +<BR> +"See," said Henri, turning to Dick and pointing to a<BR> +circular spot of green as they rode along, "that is one<BR> +old <i>dry</i> waller."<BR> +<BR> +"Ay," remarked Joe; "after the waller dries, it becomes<BR> +a ring o' greener grass than the rest o' the plain,<BR> +as ye see. Tis said the first hunters used to wonder<BR> +greatly at these myster'ous circles, and they invented<BR> +all sorts o' stories to account for 'em. Some said they<BR> +wos fairy-rings, but at last they comed to know they<BR> +wos nothin' more nor less than places where buffaloes<BR> +wos used to waller in. It's often seemed to me that if<BR> +we knowed the <i>raisons</i> o' things, we wouldn't be so<BR> +much puzzled wi' them as we are."<BR> +<BR> +The truth of this last remark was so self-evident<BR> +and incontrovertible that it elicited no reply, and the<BR> +three friends rode on for a considerable time in silence.<BR> +<BR> +It was now past noon, and they were thinking of<BR> +calling a halt for a short rest to the horses and a pipe<BR> +to themselves, when Joe was heard to give vent to one<BR> +of those peculiar hisses that always accompanied either<BR> +a surprise or a caution. In the present case it indicated<BR> +both.<BR> +<BR> +"What now, Joe?"<BR> +<BR> +"Injuns!" ejaculated Joe.<BR> +<BR> +"Eh! fat you say? Ou is dey?"<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe at this moment uttered a low growl. Ever<BR> +since the day he had been partially roasted he had<BR> +maintained a rooted antipathy to Red-men. Joe immediately<BR> +dismounted, and placing his ear to the ground<BR> +listened intently. It is a curious fact that by placing<BR> +the ear close to the ground sounds can be heard distinctly<BR> +which could not be heard at all if the listener<BR> +were to maintain an erect position.<BR> +<BR> +"They're arter the buffalo," said Joe, rising, "an' I<BR> +think it's likely they're a band o' Pawnees. Listen an'<BR> +ye'll hear their shouts quite plain."<BR> +<BR> +Dick and Henri immediately lay down and placed<BR> +their ears to the ground.<BR> +<BR> +"Now, me hear noting," said Henri, jumping up, "but<BR> +me ear is like me eyes--ver' short-sighted."<BR> +<BR> +"I do hear something," said Dick as he got up, "but<BR> +the beating o' my own heart makes row enough to spoil<BR> +my hearin'."<BR> +<BR> +Joe Blunt smiled. "Ah! lad, ye're young, an' yer<BR> +blood's too hot yet; but bide a bit--you'll cool down<BR> +soon. I wos like you once. Now, lads, what think<BR> +ye we should do?"<BR> +<BR> +"You know best, Joe."<BR> +<BR> +"Oui, nodoubtedly.'<BR> +<BR> +"Then wot I advise is that we gallop to the broken<BR> +sand hillocks ye see yonder, get behind them, an' take<BR> +a peep at the Redskins. If they are Pawnees, we'll go<BR> +up to them at once; if not, we'll hold a council o' war<BR> +on the spot."<BR> +<BR> +Having arranged this, they mounted and hastened<BR> +towards the hillocks in question, which they reached<BR> +after ten minutes' gallop at full stretch. The sandy<BR> +mounds afforded them concealment, and enabled them<BR> +to watch the proceedings of the savages in the plain<BR> +below. The scene was the most curious and exciting<BR> +that can be conceived. The centre of the plain before<BR> +them was crowded with hundreds of buffaloes, which<BR> +were dashing about in the most frantic state of alarm.<BR> +To whatever point they galloped they were met by<BR> +yelling savages on horseback, who could not have<BR> +been fewer in numbers than a thousand, all being<BR> +armed with lance, bow, and quiver, and mounted on<BR> +active little horses. The Indians had completely surrounded<BR> +the herd of buffaloes, and were now advancing<BR> +steadily towards them, gradually narrowing the circle,<BR> +and whenever the terrified animals endeavoured to<BR> +break through the line, they rushed to that particular<BR> +spot in a body, and scared them back again into the<BR> +centre.<BR> +<BR> +Thus they advanced until they closed in on their<BR> +prey and formed an unbroken circle round them, whilst<BR> +the poor brutes kept eddying and surging to and fro<BR> +in a confused mass, hooking and climbing upon each<BR> +other, and bellowing furiously. Suddenly the horsemen<BR> +made a rush, and the work of destruction began.<BR> +The tremendous turmoil raised a cloud of dust that<BR> +obscured the field in some places, and hid it from our<BR> +hunters' view. Some of the Indians galloped round<BR> +and round the circle, sending their arrows whizzing up<BR> +to the feathers in the sides of the fattest cows. Others<BR> +dashed fearlessly into the midst of the black heaving<BR> +mass, and, with their long lances, pierced dozens of<BR> +them to the heart. In many instances the buffaloes,<BR> +infuriated by wounds, turned fiercely on their assailants<BR> +and gored the horses to death, in which cases the men<BR> +had to trust to their nimble legs for safety. Sometimes<BR> +a horse got jammed in the centre of the swaying<BR> +mass, and could neither advance nor retreat. Then<BR> +the savage rider leaped upon the buffaloes' backs, and<BR> +springing from one to another, like an acrobat, gained<BR> +the outer edge of the circle; not failing, however, in his<BR> +strange flight, to pierce with his lance several of the<BR> +fattest of his stepping-stones as he sped along.<BR> +<BR> +A few of the herd succeeded in escaping from the<BR> +blood and dust of this desperate battle, and made off<BR> +over the plains; but they were quickly overtaken, and<BR> +the lance or the arrow brought them down on the green<BR> +turf. Many of the dismounted riders were chased by<BR> +bulls; but they stepped lightly to one side, and, as the<BR> +animals passed, drove their arrows deep into their sides.<BR> +Thus the tumultuous war went on, amid thundering<BR> +tread, and yell, and bellow, till the green plain was<BR> +transformed into a sea of blood and mire, and every<BR> +buffalo of the herd was laid low.<BR> +<BR> +It is not to be supposed that such reckless warfare<BR> +is invariably waged without damage to the savages.<BR> +Many were the wounds and bruises received that day,<BR> +and not a few bones were broken, but happily no lives<BR> +were lost.<BR> +<BR> +"Now, lads, now's our time. A bold and fearless<BR> +look's the best at all times. Don't look as if ye<BR> +doubted their friendship; and mind, wotever ye do,<BR> +don't use yer arms. Follow me."<BR> +<BR> +Saying this, Joe Blunt leaped on his horse, and,<BR> +bounding over the ridge at full speed, galloped headlong<BR> +across the plain.<BR> +<BR> +The savages observed the strangers instantly, and a<BR> +loud yell announced the fact as they assembled from<BR> +all parts of the field brandishing their bows and spears.<BR> +Joe's quick eye soon distinguished their chief, towards<BR> +whom he galloped, still at full speed, till within a yard<BR> +or two of his horse's head; then he reined up suddenly.<BR> +So rapidly did Joe and his comrades approach, and so<BR> +instantaneously did they pull up, that their steeds were<BR> +thrown almost on their haunches.<BR> +<BR> +The Indian chief did not move a muscle. He was<BR> +a tall, powerful savage, almost naked, and mounted on<BR> +a coal-black charger, which he sat with the ease of a<BR> +man accustomed to ride from infancy. He was, indeed,<BR> +a splendid-looking savage, but his face wore a dark<BR> +frown, for, although he and his band had visited the<BR> +settlements and trafficked with the fur-traders on the<BR> +Missouri, he did not love the "Pale-faces," whom he<BR> +regarded as intruders on the hunting-grounds of his<BR> +fathers, and the peace that existed between them at<BR> +that time was of a very fragile character. Indeed, it<BR> +was deemed by the traders impossible to travel through<BR> +the Indian country at that period except in strong force,<BR> +and it was the very boldness of the present attempt that<BR> +secured to our hunters anything like a civil reception.<BR> +<BR> +Joe, who could speak the Pawnee tongue fluently,<BR> +began by explaining the object of his visit, and spoke<BR> +of the presents which he had brought for the great<BR> +chief; but it was evident that his words made little<BR> +impression. As he discoursed to them the savages crowded round the<BR> +little party, and began to handle and examine their dresses and <BR> +weapons with a degree of rudeness that caused Joe considerable <BR> +anxiety.<BR> +<BR> +"Mahtawa believes that the heart of the Pale-face<BR> +is true," said the savage, when Joe paused, "but he<BR> +does not choose to make peace. The Pale-faces are<BR> +grasping. They never rest. They turn their eyes to<BR> +the great mountains and say, 'There we will stop.'<BR> +But even there they will not stop. They are never<BR> +satisfied; Mahtawa knows them well."<BR> +<BR> +This speech sank like a death-knell into the hearts<BR> +of the hunters, for they knew that if the savages refused<BR> +to make peace, they would scalp them all and appropriate<BR> +their goods. To make things worse, a dark-visaged<BR> +Indian suddenly caught hold of Henri's rifle,<BR> +and, ere he was aware, had plucked it from his hand.<BR> +The blood rushed to the gigantic hunter's forehead, and<BR> +he was on the point of springing at the man, when Joe<BR> +said in a deep quiet voice,--<BR> +<BR> +"Be still, Henri. You will but hasten death."<BR> +<BR> +At this moment there was a movement in the outskirts<BR> +of the circle of horsemen, and another chief rode<BR> +into the midst of them. He was evidently higher in<BR> +rank than Mahtawa, for he spoke authoritatively to the<BR> +crowd, and stepped in before him. The hunters drew<BR> +little comfort from the appearance of his face, however,<BR> +for it scowled upon them. He was not so powerful<BR> +a man as Mahtawa, but he was more gracefully<BR> +formed, and had a more noble and commanding countenance.<BR> +<BR> +"Have the Pale-faces no wigwams on the great river<BR> +that they should come to spy out the lands of the<BR> +Pawnee?" he demanded.<BR> +<BR> +"We have not come to spy your country," answered<BR> +Joe, raising himself proudly as he spoke, and taking off<BR> +his cap. "We have come with a message from the great<BR> +chief of the Pale-faces, who lives in the village far<BR> +beyond the great river where the sun rises. He says,<BR> +Why should the Pale-face and the Red-man fight?<BR> +They are brothers. The same Manitou[*] watches over<BR> +both. The Pale-faces have more beads, and guns, and<BR> +blankets, and knives, and vermilion than they require;<BR> +they wish to give some of these things for the skins<BR> +and furs which the Red-man does not know what to<BR> +do with. The great chief of the Pale-faces has sent me<BR> +to say, Why should we fight? let us smoke the pipe of<BR> +peace."<BR> +<BR> +At the mention of beads and blankets the face of the<BR> +wily chief brightened for a moment. Then he said<BR> +sternly,--<BR> +<BR> +"The heart of the Pale-face is not true. He has<BR> +come here to trade for himself. San-it-sa-rish has eyes<BR> +that can see; they are not shut. Are not these your<BR> +goods?" The chief pointed to the pack-horse as he spoke.<BR> +<BR> +"Trappers do not take their goods into the heart<BR> +of an enemy's camp," returned Joe. "San-it-sa-rish is<BR> +wise, and will understand this. These are gifts to the<BR> +chief of the Pawnees. There are more awaiting him<BR> +when the pipe of peace is smoked. I have said. What<BR> +message shall we take back to the great chief of the<BR> +Pale-faces?"<BR> +<BR> +[Footnote *: The Indian name for God.]<BR> +<BR> +San-it-sa-rish was evidently mollified.<BR> +<BR> +"The hunting-field is not the council tent," he said.<BR> +"The Pale-faces will go with us to our village."<BR> +<BR> +Of course Joe was too glad to agree to this proposal,<BR> +but he now deemed it politic to display a little firmness.<BR> +<BR> +"We cannot go till our rifle is restored. It will not<BR> +do to go back and tell the great chief of the Pale-faces<BR> +that the Pawnees are thieves."<BR> +<BR> +The chief frowned angrily.<BR> +<BR> +"The Pawnees are true; they are not thieves. They<BR> +choose to <i>look</i> at the rifle of the Pale-face. It shall be<BR> +returned."<BR> +<BR> +The rifle was instantly restored, and then our hunters<BR> +rode off with the Indians towards their camp. On the<BR> +way they met hundreds of women and children going<BR> +to the scene of the great hunt, for it was their special<BR> +duty to cut up the meat and carry it into camp. The<BR> +men, considering that they had done quite enough in<BR> +killing it, returned to smoke and eat away the fatigues<BR> +of the chase.<BR> +<BR> +As they rode along, Dick Varley observed that some<BR> +of the "braves," as Indian warriors are styled, were<BR> +eating pieces of the bloody livers of the buffaloes in a<BR> +raw state, at which he expressed not a little disgust.<BR> +<BR> +"Ah, boy! you're green yet," remarked Joe Blunt in<BR> +an undertone. "Mayhap ye'll be thankful to do that<BR> +same yerself some day."<BR> +<BR> +"Well, I'll not refuse to try when it is needful," said<BR> +Dick with a laugh; "meanwhile I'm content to see the<BR> +Redskins do it, Joe Blunt."<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Dick and his friends visit the Indians and see many<BR> +wonders--Crusoe, too, experiences a few surprises, and teaches <BR> +Indian dogs a lesson--An Indian dandy--A foot-race.</i><BR> +<BR> +The Pawnee village, at which they soon arrived, was<BR> +situated in the midst of a most interesting and<BR> +picturesque scene.<BR> +<BR> +It occupied an extensive plain which sloped gently<BR> +down to a creek,[*] whose winding course was marked<BR> +by a broken line of wood, here and there interspersed<BR> +with a fine clump of trees, between the trunks of which<BR> +the blue waters of a lake sparkled in the distance.<BR> +Hundreds of tents or "lodges" of buffalo-skins covered<BR> +the ground, and thousands of Indians--men, women,<BR> +and children--moved about the busy scene. Some<BR> +were sitting in their lodges, lazily smoking their pipes.<BR> +But these were chiefly old and infirm veterans, for all<BR> +the young men had gone to the hunt which we have just<BR> +described. The women were stooping over their fires,<BR> +busily preparing maize and meat for their husbands<BR> +and brothers; while myriads of little brown and naked<BR> +children romped about everywhere, filling the air with<BR> +their yells and screams, which were only equalled, if not<BR> +surpassed, by the yelping dogs that seemed innumerable.<BR> +<BR> +[Footnote *: In America small rivers or rivulets are termed "creeks."]<BR> +<BR> +Far as the eye could reach were seen scattered herds<BR> +of horses. These were tended by little boys who were<BR> +totally destitute of clothing, and who seemed to enjoy<BR> +with infinite zest the pastime of shooting-practice with<BR> +little bows and arrows. No wonder that these Indians<BR> +become expert bowmen. There were urchins there,<BR> +scarce two feet high, with round bullets of bodies and<BR> +short spindle-shanks, who could knock blackbirds off<BR> +the trees at every shot, and cut the heads off the taller<BR> +flowers with perfect certainty! There was much need,<BR> +too, for the utmost proficiency they could attain, for the<BR> +very existence of the Indian tribes of the prairies depends<BR> +on their success in hunting the buffalo.<BR> +<BR> +There are hundreds and thousands of North American<BR> +savages who would undoubtedly perish, and their tribes<BR> +become extinct, if the buffaloes were to leave the prairies<BR> +or die out. Yet, although animals are absolutely essential<BR> +to their existence, they pursue and slay them with<BR> +improvident recklessness, sometimes killing hundreds of<BR> +them merely for the sake of the sport, the tongues, and<BR> +the marrow bones. In the bloody hunt described in the<BR> +last chapter, however, the slaughter of so many was not<BR> +wanton, because the village that had to be supplied with<BR> +food was large, and, just previous to the hunt, they had<BR> +been living on somewhat reduced allowance. Even the<BR> +blackbirds shot by the brown-bodied urchins before mentioned<BR> +had been thankfully put into the pot. Thus<BR> +precarious is the supply of food among the Red-men,<BR> +who on one day are starving, and the next are revelling<BR> +in superabundance.<BR> +<BR> +But to return to our story. At one end of this village<BR> +the creek sprang over a ledge of rock in a low cascade<BR> +and opened out into a beautiful lake, the bosom<BR> +of which was studded with small islands. Here were<BR> +thousands of those smaller species of wild water-fowl<BR> +which were either too brave or too foolish to be scared<BR> +away by the noise of the camp. And here, too, dozens<BR> +of children were sporting on the beach, or paddling<BR> +about in their light bark canoes.<BR> +<BR> +"Isn't it strange," remarked Dick to Henri, as they<BR> +passed among the tents towards the centre of the village--"isn't<BR> +it strange that them Injuns should be so<BR> +fond o' fightin', when they've got all they can want--a<BR> +fine country, lots o' buffalo, an', as far as I can see,<BR> +happy homes?"<BR> +<BR> +"Oui, it is remarkaibel, vraiment. Bot dey do more<BR> +love war to peace. Dey loves to be excit-ed, I s'pose."<BR> +<BR> +"Humph! One would think the hunt we seed a little<BR> +agone would be excitement enough. But, I say, that<BR> +must he the chiefs tent, by the look o't."<BR> +<BR> +Dick was right. The horsemen pulled up and dismounted<BR> +opposite the principal chief's tent, which was<BR> +a larger and more elegant structure than the others.<BR> +Meanwhile an immense concourse of women, children,<BR> +and dogs gathered round the strangers, and while the<BR> +latter yelped their dislike to white men, the former<BR> +chattered continuously, as they discussed the appearance<BR> +of the strangers and their errand, which latter soon<BR> +became known. An end was put to this by San-it-sa-rish<BR> +desiring the hunters to enter the tent, and spreading<BR> +a buffalo robe for them to sit on. Two braves<BR> +carried in their packs, and then led away their horses.<BR> +<BR> +All this time Crusoe had kept as close as possible to<BR> +his master's side, feeling extremely uncomfortable in the<BR> +midst of such a strange crowd, the more especially that<BR> +the ill-looking Indian curs gave him expressive looks<BR> +of hatred, and exhibited some desire to rush upon him<BR> +in a body, so that he had to keep a sharp look-out<BR> +all round him. When therefore Dick entered the tent,<BR> +Crusoe endeavoured to do so along with him; but he<BR> +was met by a blow on the nose from an old squaw, who<BR> +scolded him in a shrill voice and bade him begone.<BR> +<BR> +Either our hero's knowledge of the Indian language<BR> +was insufficient to enable him to understand the order,<BR> +or he had resolved not to obey it, for instead of retreating,<BR> +he drew a deep gurgling breath, curled his nose,<BR> +and displayed a row of teeth that caused the old woman<BR> +to draw back in alarm. Crusoe's was a forgiving spirit.<BR> +The instant that opposition ceased he forgot the injury,<BR> +and was meekly advancing, when Dick held up his<BR> +finger.<BR> +<BR> +"Go outside, pup, and wait."<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe's tail drooped; with a deep sigh he turned<BR> +and left the tent. He took up a position near the entrance,<BR> +however, and sat down resignedly. So meek,<BR> +indeed, did the poor dog look that six mangy-looking<BR> +curs felt their dastardly hearts emboldened to make a<BR> +rush at him with boisterous yells.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe did not rise. He did not even condescend to<BR> +turn his head toward them; but he looked at them out<BR> +of the corner of his dark eye, wrinkled--very slightly--the<BR> +skin of his nose, exhibited two beautiful fangs,<BR> +and gave utterance to a soft remark, that might be described as quiet,<BR> +deep-toned gurgling. It wasn't much,<BR> +but it was more than enough for the valiant six, who<BR> +paused and snarled violently.<BR> +<BR> +It was a peculiar trait of Crusoe's gentle nature that,<BR> +the moment any danger ceased, he resumed his expression<BR> +of nonchalant gravity. The expression on this<BR> +occasion was misunderstood, however; and as about two<BR> +dozen additional yelping dogs had joined the ranks of<BR> +the enemy, they advanced in close order to the attack.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe still sat quiet, and kept his head high; but he<BR> +<i>looked</i> at them again, and exhibited four fangs for their<BR> +inspection. Among the pack there was one Indian dog<BR> +of large size--almost as large as Crusoe himself--which<BR> +kept well in the rear, and apparently urged the lesser<BR> +dogs on. The little dogs didn't object, for little dogs<BR> +are generally the most pugnacious. At this big dog<BR> +Crusoe directed a pointed glance, but said nothing.<BR> +Meanwhile a particularly small and vicious cur, with a<BR> +mere rag of a tail, crept round by the back of the tent,<BR> +and coming upon Crusoe in rear, snapped at his tail<BR> +sharply, and then fled shrieking with terror and surprise,<BR> +no doubt, at its own temerity.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe did not bark; he seldom barked; he usually<BR> +either said nothing, or gave utterance to a prolonged<BR> +roar of indignation of the most terrible character, with<BR> +barks, as it were, mingled through it. It somewhat<BR> +resembled that peculiar and well-known species of thunder,<BR> +the prolonged roll of which is marked at short<BR> +intervals in its course by cannon-like cracks. It was<BR> +a continuous, but, so to speak, <i>knotted</i> roar.<BR> +<BR> +On receiving the snap, Crusoe gave forth <i>the</i> roar<BR> +with a majesty and power that scattered the pugnacious<BR> +front rank of the enemy to the winds. Those that still<BR> +remained, half stupified, he leaped over with a huge<BR> +bound, and alighted, fangs first, on the back of the big<BR> +dog. There was one hideous yell, a muffled scramble of<BR> +an instant's duration, and the big dog lay dead upon<BR> +the plain!<BR> +<BR> +It was an awful thing to do, but Crusoe evidently<BR> +felt that the peculiar circumstances of the case required<BR> +that an example should be made; and to say truth, all<BR> +things considered, we cannot blame him. The news<BR> +must have been carried at once through the canine portion<BR> +of the camp, for Crusoe was never interfered with<BR> +again after that.<BR> +<BR> +Dick witnessed this little incident; but he observed<BR> +that the Indian chief cared not a straw about it, and as<BR> +his dog returned quietly and sat down in its old place<BR> +he took no notice of it either, but continued to listen<BR> +to the explanations which Joe gave to the chief, of the<BR> +desire of the Pale-faces to be friends with the Red-men.<BR> +<BR> +Joe's eloquence would have done little for him on<BR> +this occasion had his hands been empty, but he followed<BR> +it up by opening one of his packs and displaying the<BR> +glittering contents before the equally glittering eyes of<BR> +the chief and his squaws.<BR> +<BR> +"These," said Joe, "are the gifts that the great chief<BR> +of the Pale-faces sends to the great chief of the Pawnees.<BR> +And he bids me say that there are many more things in<BR> +his stores which will be traded for skins with the Red-men,<BR> +when they visit him; and he also says that if the<BR> +Pawnees will not steal horses any more from the Pale-faces, they shall<BR> +receive gifts of knives, and guns, and<BR> +powder, and blankets every year."<BR> +<BR> +"Wah!" grunted the chief; "it is good. The great<BR> +chief is wise. We will smoke the pipe of peace."<BR> +<BR> +The things that afforded so much satisfaction to San-it-sa-rish<BR> +were the veriest trifles. Penny looking-glasses<BR> +in yellow gilt tin frames, beads of various colours, needles,<BR> +cheap scissors and knives, vermilion paint, and coarse<BR> +scarlet cloth, etc. They were of priceless value, however,<BR> +in the estimation of the savages, who delighted to<BR> +adorn themselves with leggings made from the cloth,<BR> +beautifully worked with beads by their own ingenious<BR> +women. They were thankful, too, for knives even of<BR> +the commonest description, having none but bone ones<BR> +of their own; and they gloried in daubing their faces<BR> +with intermingled streaks of charcoal and vermilion.<BR> +To gaze at their visages, when thus treated, in the little<BR> +penny looking-glasses is their summit of delight!<BR> +<BR> +Joe presented the chief with a portion of these coveted<BR> +goods, and tied up the remainder. We may remark<BR> +here that the only thing which prevented the savages<BR> +from taking possession of the whole at once, without<BR> +asking permission, was the promise of the annual gifts,<BR> +which they knew would not be forthcoming were any<BR> +evil to befall the deputies of the Pale-faces. Nevertheless,<BR> +it cost them a severe struggle to restrain their<BR> +hands on this occasion, and Joe and his companions felt<BR> +that they would have to play their part well in order<BR> +to fulfil their mission with safety and credit.<BR> +<BR> +"The Pale-faces may go now and talk with the<BR> +braves," said San-it-sa-rish, after carefully examining<BR> +everything that was given to him; "a council will be<BR> +called soon, and we will smoke the pipe of peace."<BR> +<BR> +Accepting this permission to retire, the hunters immediately<BR> +left the tent; and being now at liberty to do<BR> +what they pleased, they amused themselves by wandering<BR> +about the village.<BR> +<BR> +"He's a cute chap that," remarked Joe, with a sarcastic<BR> +smile; "I don't feel quite easy about gettin' away.<BR> +He'll bother the life out o' us to get all the goods we've<BR> +got, and, ye see, as we've other tribes to visit, we must<BR> +give away as little as we can here."<BR> +<BR> +"Ha! you is right," said Henri; "dat fellow's eyes<BR> +twinkle at de knives and tings like two stars."<BR> +<BR> +"Fire-flies, ye should say. Stars are too soft an'<BR> +beautiful to compare to the eyes o' yon savage," said<BR> +Dick, laughing. "I wish we were well away from<BR> +them. That rascal Mahtawa is an ugly customer."<BR> +<BR> +"True, lad," returned Joe; "had <i>he</i> bin the great<BR> +chief our scalps had bin dryin' in the smoke o' a Pawnee<BR> +wigwam afore now. What now, lad?"<BR> +<BR> +Joe's question was put in consequence of a gleeful<BR> +smile that overspread the countenance of Dick Varley,<BR> +who replied by pointing to a wigwam towards which<BR> +they were approaching.<BR> +<BR> +"Oh! that's only a dandy," exclaimed Joe. "There's<BR> +lots o' them in every Injun camp. They're fit for<BR> +nothin' but dress, poor contemptible critters."<BR> +<BR> +Joe accompanied his remark with a sneer, for of all<BR> +pitiable objects he regarded an unmanly man as the<BR> +most despicable. He consented, however, to sit down<BR> +on a grassy bank and watch the proceedings of this<BR> +Indian dandy, who had just seated himself in front of<BR> +his wigwam for the purpose of making his toilet.<BR> +<BR> +He began it by greasing his whole person carefully<BR> +and smoothly over with buffalo fat, until he shone like<BR> +a patent leather boot; then he rubbed himself almost<BR> +dry, leaving the skin sleek and glossy. Having proceeded<BR> +thus far, he took up a small mirror, a few inches<BR> +in diameter, which he or some other member of the tribe<BR> +must have procured during one of their few excursions<BR> +to the trading-forts of the Pale-faces, and examined himself,<BR> +as well as he could, in so limited a space. Next,<BR> +he took a little vermilion from a small parcel and<BR> +rubbed it over his face until it presented the somewhat<BR> +demoniac appearance of a fiery red. He also drew a<BR> +broad red score along the crown of his head, which was<BR> +closely shaved, with the exception of the usual tuft or<BR> +scalplock on the top. This scalplock stood bristling<BR> +straight up a few inches, and then curved over and<BR> +hung down his back about two feet. Immense care and<BR> +attention was bestowed on this lock. He smoothed it,<BR> +greased it, and plaited it into the form of a pigtail.<BR> +Another application was here made to the glass, and the<BR> +result was evidently satisfactory, to judge from the<BR> +beaming smile that played on his features. But, not<BR> +content with the general effect, he tried the effect of<BR> +expression--frowned<BR> +portentously, scowled savagely, gaped<BR> +hideously, and grinned horribly a ghastly smile.<BR> +<BR> +Then our dandy fitted into his ears, which were<BR> +bored in several places, sundry ornaments, such as rings,<BR> +wampum, etc., and hung several strings of beads round<BR> +his neck. Besides these he affixed one or two ornaments<BR> +to his arms, wrists, and ankles, and touched in a<BR> +few effects with vermilion on the shoulders and breast.<BR> +After this, and a few more glances at the glass, he put<BR> +on a pair of beautiful moccasins, which, besides being<BR> +richly wrought with beads, were soft as chamois leather<BR> +and fitted his feet like gloves. A pair of leggings of<BR> +scarlet cloth were drawn on, attached to a waist-belt,<BR> +and bound below the knee with broad garters of variegated<BR> +bead-work.<BR> +<BR> +It was some time before this Adonis was quite satisfied<BR> +with himself. He retouched the paint on his shoulders<BR> +several times, and modified the glare of that on his<BR> +wide-mouthed, high-cheek-boned visage, before he could<BR> +tear himself away; but at last he did so, and throwing<BR> +a large piece of scarlet cloth over his shoulders, he thrust<BR> +his looking-glass under his belt, and proceeded to mount<BR> +his palfrey, which was held in readiness near to the<BR> +tent door by one of his wives. The horse was really a<BR> +fine animal, and seemed worthy of a more warlike<BR> +master. His shoulders, too, were striped with red paint,<BR> +and feathers were intertwined with his mane and tail, while<BR> +the bridle was decorated with various jingling ornaments.<BR> +<BR> +Vaulting upon his steed, with a large fan of wild<BR> +goose and turkey feathers in one hand, and a whip<BR> +dangling at the wrist of the other, this incomparable<BR> +dandy sallied forth for a promenade--that being his<BR> +chief delight when there was no buffalo hunting to be<BR> +done. Other men who were not dandies sharpened<BR> +their knives, smoked, feasted, and mended their spears<BR> +and arrows at such seasons of leisure, or played at<BR> +athletic games.<BR> +"Let's follow my buck," said Joe Blunt.<BR> +<BR> +"Oui. Come 'long," replied Henri, striding after the<BR> +rider at a pace that almost compelled his comrades<BR> +to run.<BR> +<BR> +"Hold on!" cried Dick, laughing; "we don't want<BR> +to keep him company. A distant view is quite enough<BR> +o' sich a chap as that."<BR> +<BR> +"Mais you forgit I cannot see far."<BR> +<BR> +"So much the better," remarked Joe; "it's my<BR> +opinion we've seen enough o' him. Ah! he's goin' to<BR> +look on at the games. Them's worth lookin' at."<BR> +<BR> +The games to which Joe referred were taking place<BR> +on a green level plain close to the creek, and a little<BR> +above the waterfall before referred to. Some of the<BR> +Indians were horse-racing, some jumping, and others<BR> +wrestling; but the game which proved most attractive<BR> +was throwing the javelin, in which several of the young<BR> +braves were engaged.<BR> +<BR> +This game is played by two competitors, each armed<BR> +with a dart, in an arena about fifty yards long. One<BR> +of the players has a hoop of six inches in diameter.<BR> +At a signal they start off on foot at full speed, and on<BR> +reaching the middle of the arena the Indian with the<BR> +hoop rolls it along before them, and each does his best<BR> +to send a javelin through the hoop before the other.<BR> +He who succeeds counts so many points; if both miss,<BR> +the nearest to the hoop is allowed to count, but not so<BR> +much as if he had "ringed" it. The Indians are very<BR> +fond of this game, and will play at it under a broiling<BR> +sun for hours together. But a good deal of the interest<BR> +attaching to it is owing to the fact that they make it a<BR> +means of gambling. Indians are inveterate gamblers,<BR> +and will sometimes go on until they lose horses, bows,<BR> +blankets, robes, and, in short, their whole personal<BR> +property. The consequences are, as might be expected,<BR> +that fierce and bloody quarrels sometimes arise in which<BR> +life is often lost.<BR> +<BR> +"Try your hand at that," said Henri to Dick.<BR> +<BR> +"By all means," cried Dick, handing his rifle to his<BR> +friend, and springing into the ring enthusiastically.<BR> +<BR> +A general shout of applause greeted the Pale-face,<BR> +who threw off' his coat and tightened his belt, while, a<BR> +young Indian presented him with a dart.<BR> +<BR> +"Now, see that ye do us credit, lad," said Joe.<BR> +<BR> +"I'll try," answered Dick.<BR> +<BR> +In a moment they were off. The young Indian<BR> +rolled away the hoop, and Dick threw his dart with<BR> +such vigour that it went deep into the ground, but<BR> +missed the hoop by a foot at least. The young Indian's<BR> +first dart went through the centre.<BR> +<BR> +"Ha!" exclaimed Joe Blunt to the Indians near him,<BR> +"the lad's not used to that game; try him at a race.<BR> +Bring out your best brave--he whose bound is like the<BR> +hunted deer."<BR> +<BR> +We need scarcely remind the reader that Joe spoke<BR> +in the Indian language, and that the above is a correct<BR> +rendering of the sense of what he said.<BR> +<BR> +The name of Tarwicadia, or the little chief, immediately<BR> +passed from lip to lip, and in a few minutes an<BR> +Indian, a little below the medium size, bounded into<BR> +the arena with an indiarubber-like elasticity that caused<BR> +a shade of anxiety to pass over Joe's face.<BR> +<BR> +"Ah, boy!" he whispered, "I'm afeard you'll find<BR> +him a tough customer."<BR> +<BR> +"That's just what I want," replied Dick. "He's<BR> +supple enough, but he wants muscle in the thigh.<BR> +We'll make it a long heat."<BR> +<BR> +"Right, lad, ye're right."<BR> +<BR> +Joe now proceeded to arrange the conditions of the<BR> +race with the chiefs around him. It was fixed that the<BR> +distance to be run should be a mile, so that the race<BR> +would be one of two miles, out and back. Moreover,<BR> +the competitors were to run without any clothes, except<BR> +a belt and a small piece of cloth round the loins. This<BR> +to the Indians was nothing, for they seldom wore more<BR> +in warm weather; but Dick would have preferred to<BR> +keep on part of his dress. The laws of the course,<BR> +however, would not permit of this, so he stripped and<BR> +stood forth, the <i>beau-ideal</i> of a well-formed, agile man.<BR> +He was greatly superior in size to his antagonist, and<BR> +more muscular, the savage being slender and extremely<BR> +lithe and springy.<BR> +<BR> +"Ha! I will run too," shouted Henri, bouncing forward<BR> +with clumsy energy, and throwing off his coat<BR> +just as they were going to start.<BR> +<BR> +The savages smiled at this unexpected burst, and<BR> +made no objection, considering the thing in the light of<BR> +a joke.<BR> +<BR> +The signal was given, and away they went. Oh! it<BR> +would have done you good to have seen the way in<BR> +which Henri manoeuvred his limbs on this celebrated<BR> +occasion! He went over the ground with huge elephantine<BR> +bounds, runs, and jumps. He could not have been<BR> +said to have one style of running; he had a dozen<BR> +styles, all of which came into play in the course of half<BR> +as many minutes. The other two ran like the wind;<BR> +yet although Henri <i>appeared</i> to be going heavily over<BR> +the ground, he kept up with them to the turning-point.<BR> +As for Dick, it became evident in the first few minutes<BR> +that he could outstrip his antagonist with ease, and<BR> +was hanging back a little all the time. He shot ahead<BR> +like an arrow when they came about half-way back,<BR> +and it was clear that the real interest of the race was<BR> +to lie in the competition between Henri and Tarwicadia.<BR> +<BR> +Before they were two-thirds of the way back, Dick<BR> +walked in to the winning-point, and turned to watch<BR> +the others. Henri's wind was about gone, for he exerted<BR> +himself with such violence that he wasted half<BR> +his strength. The Indian, on the contrary, was comparatively<BR> +fresh, but he was not so fleet as his antagonist,<BR> +whose tremendous strides carried him over the<BR> +ground at an incredible pace. On they came neck and<BR> +neck, till close on the score that marked the winning-point.<BR> +Here the value of enthusiasm came out strongly<BR> +in the case of Henri. He <i>felt</i> that he could not gain<BR> +an inch on Tarwicadia to save his life, but just as he<BR> +came up he observed the anxious faces of his comrades<BR> +and the half-sneering countenances of the savages. His<BR> +heart thumped against his ribs, every muscle thrilled<BR> +with a gush of conflicting feelings, and he <i>hurled</i> himself<BR> +over the score like a cannon shot, full six inches<BR> +ahead of the little chief!<BR> +<BR> +But the thing did not by any means end here. Tarwicadia<BR> +pulled up the instant he had passed. Not so<BR> +our Canadian. Such a clumsy and colossal frame was<BR> +not to be checked in a moment. The crowd of Indians<BR> +opened up to let him pass, but unfortunately a small<BR> +tent that stood in the way was not so obliging. Into<BR> +it he went, head foremost, like a shell, carried away the<BR> +corner post with his shoulder, and brought the whole<BR> +affair down about his own ears and those of its inmates,<BR> +among whom were several children and two or three<BR> +dogs. It required some time to extricate them all from<BR> +the ruins, but when this was effected it was found that<BR> +no serious damage had been done to life or limb.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Crusoe acts a conspicuous and humane part</i>--<i>A friend<BR> +gained</i>--<i>A great feast</i>.<BR> +<BR> +When the foot-race was concluded the three<BR> +hunters hung about looking on at the various<BR> +games for some time, and then strolled towards the lake.<BR> +<BR> +"Ye may be thankful yer neck's whole," said Joe,<BR> +grinning, as Henri rubbed his shoulder with a rueful<BR> +look. "An' we'll have to send that Injun and his family<BR> +a knife and some beads to make up for the fright they<BR> +got."<BR> +<BR> +"Ha! an' fat is to be give to me for my broke<BR> +shoulder?"<BR> +<BR> +"Credit, man, credit," said Dick Varley, laughing.<BR> +<BR> +"Credit! fat is dat?"<BR> +<BR> +"Honour and glory, lad, and the praises of them<BR> +savages."<BR> +<BR> +"Ha! de praise? more probeebale de ill-vill of de<BR> +rascale. I seed dem scowl at me not ver' pritty."<BR> +<BR> +"That's true, Henri; but sich as it is it's all ye'll git."<BR> +<BR> +"I vish," remarked Henri after a pause--"I vish I<BR> +could git de vampum belt de leetle chief had on. It<BR> +vas superb. Fat place do vampums come from?"<BR> +<BR> +"They're shells--"<BR> +<BR> +"Oui," interrupted Henri; "I know <i>fat</i> dey is. Dey<BR> +is shells, and de Injuns tink dem goot monish, mais I<BR> +ask you <i>fat place</i> de come from."<BR> +<BR> +"They are thought to be gathered on the shores o'<BR> +the Pacific," said Joe. "The Injuns on the west o' the<BR> +Rocky Mountains picks them up and exchanges them<BR> +wi' the fellows hereaway for horses and skins--so I'm<BR> +told."<BR> +<BR> +At this moment there was a wild cry of terror heard<BR> +a short distance ahead of them. Rushing forward they<BR> +observed an Indian woman flying frantically down the<BR> +river's bank towards the waterfall, a hundred yards<BR> +above which an object was seen struggling in the water.<BR> +<BR> +"'Tis her child," cried Joe, as the mother's frantic cry<BR> +reached his ear. "It'll be over the fall in a minute!<BR> +Run, Dick, you're quickest."<BR> +<BR> +They had all started forward at speed, but Dick and<BR> +Crusoe were far ahead, and abreast of the spot in a few<BR> +seconds.<BR> +<BR> +"Save it, pup," cried Dick, pointing to the child,<BR> +which had been caught in an eddy, and was for a few<BR> +moments hovering on the edge of the stream that rushed<BR> +impetuously towards the fall.<BR> +<BR> +The noble Newfoundland did not require to be told<BR> +what to do. It seems a natural instinct in this sagacious<BR> +species of dog to save man or beast that chances<BR> +to be struggling in the water, and many are the authentic<BR> +stories related of Newfoundland dogs saving life in cases<BR> +of shipwreck. Indeed, they are regularly trained to the<BR> +work in some countries; and nobly, fearlessly, disinterestedly<BR> +do they discharge their trust, often in the midst<BR> +of appalling dangers. Crusoe sprang from the bank<BR> +with such impetus that his broad chest ploughed up the<BR> +water like the bow of a boat, and the energetic workings<BR> +of his muscles were indicated by the force of each<BR> +successive propulsion as he shot ahead.<BR> +<BR> +In a few seconds he reached the child and caught it<BR> +by the hair. Then he turned to swim back, but the<BR> +stream had got hold of him. Bravely he struggled, and<BR> +lifted the child breast-high out of the water in his<BR> +powerful efforts to stem the current. In vain. Each<BR> +moment he was carried inch by inch down until he was<BR> +on the brink of the fall, which, though not high, was a<BR> +large body of water and fell with a heavy roar. He<BR> +raised himself high out of the stream with the vigour of<BR> +his last struggle, and then fell back into the abyss.<BR> +<BR> +By this time the poor mother was in a canoe as close<BR> +to the fall as she could with safety approach, and the<BR> +little bark danced like a cockle-shell on the turmoil of<BR> +waters as she stood with uplifted paddle and staring<BR> +eyeballs awaiting the rising of the child.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe came up almost instantly, but <i>alone</i>, for the<BR> +dash over the fall had wrenched the child from his teeth.<BR> +He raised himself high up, and looked anxiously round<BR> +for a moment. Then he caught sight of a little hand<BR> +raised above the boiling flood. In one moment he had<BR> +the child again by the hair, and just as the prow of the<BR> +Indian woman's canoe touched the shore he brought the<BR> +child to land.<BR> +<BR> +Springing towards him, the mother snatched her child<BR> +from the flood, and gazed at its death-like face with eyeballs<BR> +starting from their sockets. Then she laid her<BR> +cheek on its cold breast, and stood like a statue of despair.<BR> +There was one slight pulsation of the heart and<BR> +a gentle motion of the hand! The child still lived.<BR> +Opening up her blanket she laid her little one against<BR> +her naked, warm bosom, drew the covering close around<BR> +it, and sitting down on the bank wept aloud for joy.<BR> +<BR> +"Come--come 'way quick," cried Henri, hurrying off<BR> +to hide the emotion which he could not crush down.<BR> +<BR> +"Ay, she don't need our help now," said Joe, following<BR> +his comrade.<BR> +<BR> +As for Crusoe, he walked along by his master's side<BR> +with his usual quiet, serene look of good-will towards all<BR> +mankind. Doubtless a feeling of gladness at having<BR> +saved a human life filled his shaggy breast, for he wagged<BR> +his tail gently after each shake of his dripping sides;<BR> +but his meek eyes were downcast, save when raised to<BR> +receive the welcome and unusually fervent caress. Crusoe<BR> +did not know that those three men loved him as<BR> +though he had been a brother.<BR> +<BR> +On their way back to the village the hunters were<BR> +met by a little boy, who said that a council was to be<BR> +held immediately, and their presence was requested.<BR> +<BR> +The council was held in the tent of the principal<BR> +chief, towards which all the other chiefs and many of<BR> +the noted braves hurried. Like all Indian councils, it<BR> +was preceded by smoking the "medicine pipe," and was<BR> +followed by speeches from several of the best orators.<BR> +The substance of the discourse differed little from what<BR> +has been already related in reference to the treaty between<BR> +the Pale-faces, and upon the whole it was satisfactory.<BR> +But Joe Blunt could not fail to notice that<BR> +Mahtawa maintained sullen silence during the whole<BR> +course of the meeting.<BR> +<BR> +He observed also that there was a considerable change<BR> +in the tone of the meeting when he informed them that<BR> +he was bound on a similar errand of peace to several of<BR> +the other tribes, especially to one or two tribes which<BR> +were the Pawnees' bitter enemies at that time. These<BR> +grasping savages having quite made up their minds that<BR> +they were to obtain the entire contents of the two bales<BR> +of goods, were much mortified on hearing that part was<BR> +to go to other Indian tribes. Some of them even hinted<BR> +that this would not be allowed, and Joe feared at one<BR> +time that things were going to take an unfavourable<BR> +turn. The hair of his scalp, as he afterwards said,<BR> +"began to lift a little and feel oneasy." But San-it-sa-rish<BR> +stood honestly to his word, said that it would be<BR> +well that the Pale-faces and the Pawnees should be<BR> +brothers, and hoped that they would not forget the<BR> +promise of annual presents from the hand of the great<BR> +chief who lived in the big village near the rising sun.<BR> +<BR> +Having settled this matter amicably, Joe distributed<BR> +among the Indians the proportion of his goods designed<BR> +for them; and then they all adjourned to another tent,<BR> +where a great feast was prepared for them.<BR> +<BR> +"Are ye hungry?" inquired Joe of Dick as they<BR> +walked along.<BR> +<BR> +"Ay, that am I. I feel as if I could eat a buffalo<BR> +alive. Why, it's my 'pinion we've tasted nothin' since<BR> +daybreak-this mornin'."<BR> +<BR> +"Well, I've often told ye that them Redskins think<BR> +it a disgrace to give in eatin' till all that's set before<BR> +them at a feast is bolted. We'll ha' to stretch oursel's,<BR> +we will."<BR> +<BR> +"I'se got a plenty room," remarked Henri.<BR> +<BR> +"Ye have, but ye'll wish ye had more in a little."<BR> +<BR> +"Bien, I not care!"<BR> +<BR> +In quarter of an hour all the guests invited to this<BR> +great "medicine feast" were assembled. No women were<BR> +admitted. They never are at Indian feasts.<BR> +<BR> +We may remark in passing that the word "medicine,"<BR> +as used among the North American Indians, has a very<BR> +much wider signification than it has with us. It is an<BR> +almost inexplicable word. When asked, they cannot<BR> +give a full or satisfactory explanation of it themselves.<BR> +In the general, we may say that whatever is mysterious<BR> +is "medicine." Jugglery and conjuring, of a noisy,<BR> +mysterious, and, we must add, rather silly nature, is<BR> +"medicine," and the juggler is a "medicine man." These<BR> +medicine men undertake cures; but they are regular<BR> +charlatans, and know nothing whatever of the diseases<BR> +they pretend to cure or their remedies. They carry<BR> +bags containing sundry relics; these are "medicine bags."<BR> +Every brave has his own private medicine bag. Everything<BR> +that is incomprehensible, or supposed to be supernatural,<BR> +religious, or medical, is "medicine." This feast,<BR> +being an unusual one, in honour of strangers, and in<BR> +connection with a peculiar and unexpected event, was<BR> +"medicine." Even Crusoe, since his gallant conduct in<BR> +saving the Indian child, was "medicine;" and Dick<BR> +Varley's double-barrelled rifle, which had been an object<BR> +of wonder ever since his arrival at the village, was<BR> +tremendous "medicine!"<BR> +<BR> +Of course the Indians were arrayed in their best.<BR> +Several wore necklaces of the claws of the grizzly bear,<BR> +of which they are extremely proud; and a gaudily picturesque<BR> +group they were. The chief, however, had<BR> +undergone a transformation that well-nigh upset the<BR> +gravity of our hunters, and rendered Dick's efforts to<BR> +look solemn quite abortive. San-it-sa-rish had once been<BR> +to the trading-forts of the Pale-faces, and while there<BR> +had received the customary gift of a blue surtout with<BR> +brass buttons, and an ordinary hat, such as gentlemen<BR> +wear at home. As the coat was a good deal too small<BR> +for him, a terrible length of dark, bony wrist appeared<BR> +below the cuffs. The waist was too high, and it was<BR> +with great difficulty that he managed to button the<BR> +garment across his broad chest. Being ignorant of the<BR> +nature of a hat, the worthy savage had allowed the<BR> +paper and string with which it had been originally<BR> +covered to remain on, supposing them to be part and<BR> +parcel of the hat; and this, together with the high collar<BR> +of the coat, which gave him a crushed-up appearance,<BR> +the long black naked legs, and the painted visage, gave<BR> +to him a <i>tout ensemble</i> which we can compare to nothing,<BR> +as there was nothing in nature comparable to it.<BR> +<BR> +Those guests who assembled first passed their time in<BR> +smoking the medicine pipe until the others should arrive,<BR> +for so long as a single invited guest is absent the feast<BR> +cannot begin. Dignified silence was maintained while<BR> +the pipe thus circulated from hand to hand. When the<BR> +last guest arrived they began.<BR> +<BR> +The men were seated in two rows, face to face.<BR> +Feasts of this kind usually consist of but one species of<BR> +food, and on the present occasion it was an enormous<BR> +caldron full of maize which had to be devoured. About<BR> +fifty sat down to eat a quantity of what may be termed<BR> +thick porridge that would have been ample allowance<BR> +for a hundred ordinary men. Before commencing, San-it-sa-rish<BR> +desired an aged medicine man to make an oration,<BR> +which he did fluently and poetically. Its subject<BR> +was the praise of the giver of the feast. At the end of<BR> +each period there was a general "hou! hou!" of assent--equivalent<BR> +to the "hear! hear!" of civilized men.<BR> +<BR> +Other orators then followed, all of whom spoke with<BR> +great ease and fluency, and some in the most impassioned<BR> +strains, working themselves and their audience up to the<BR> +highest pitch of excitement, now shouting with frenzied<BR> +violence till their eyes glared from their sockets and the<BR> +veins of their foreheads swelled almost to bursting as<BR> +they spoke of war and chase, anon breaking into soft<BR> +modulated and pleasing tones while they dilated upon<BR> +the pleasures of peace and hospitality.<BR> +<BR> +After these had finished, a number of wooden bowls<BR> +full of maize porridge were put down between the guests--one<BR> +bowl to each couple facing each other. But before<BR> +commencing a portion was laid aside and dedicated to<BR> +their gods, with various mysterious ceremonies; for here,<BR> +as in other places where the gospel is not known, the<BR> +poor savages fancied that they could propitiate God with<BR> +sacrifices. They had never heard of the "sacrifice of a<BR> +broken spirit and a contrite heart." This offering being<BR> +made, the feast began in earnest. Not only was it a<BR> +rule in this feast that every mouthful should be swallowed<BR> +by each guest, however unwilling and unable he<BR> +should be to do so, but he who could dispose of it with<BR> +greatest speed was deemed the greatest man--at least<BR> +on that occasion--while the last to conclude his supper<BR> +was looked upon with some degree of contempt!<BR> +<BR> +It seems strange that such a custom should ever have<BR> +arisen, and one is not a little puzzled in endeavouring<BR> +to guess at the origin of it. There is one fact that<BR> +occurs to us as the probable cause. The Indian is, as<BR> +we have before hinted, frequently reduced to a state<BR> +bordering on starvation, and in a day after he may be<BR> +burdened with superabundance of food. He oftentimes<BR> +therefore eats as much as he can stuff into his body<BR> +when he is blessed with plenty, so as to be the better<BR> +able to withstand the attacks of hunger that may possibly<BR> +be in store for him. The amount that an Indian<BR> +will thus eat at a single meal is incredible. He seems<BR> +to have the power of distending himself for the reception<BR> +of a quantity that would kill a civilized man.<BR> +Children in particular become like tightly inflated little<BR> +balloons after a feast, and as they wear no clothing, the<BR> +extraordinary rotundity is very obvious, not to say<BR> +ridiculous. We conclude therefore that unusual powers<BR> +of gormandizing, being useful, come at last to be cultivated<BR> +as praiseworthy.<BR> +<BR> +By good fortune Dick and Joe Blunt happened to<BR> +have such enormous gluttons as <i>vis-à-vis</i> that the portions<BR> +of their respective bowls which they could not<BR> +devour were gobbled up for them. By good capacity<BR> +and digestion, with no small amount of effort, Henri<BR> +managed to dispose of his own share; but he was last of<BR> +being done, and fell in the savages' esteem greatly. The<BR> +way in which that sticky compost of boiled maize went<BR> +down was absolutely amazing. The man opposite Dick,<BR> +in particular, was a human boa-constrictor. He well-nigh<BR> +suffocated Dick with suppressed laughter. He was<BR> +a great raw-boned savage, with a throat of indiarubber,<BR> +and went quickly and quietly on swallowing mass after<BR> +mass with the solemn gravity of an owl. It mattered<BR> +not a straw to him that Dick took comparatively small<BR> +mouthfuls, and nearly choked on them too for want of<BR> +liquid to wash them down. Had Dick eaten none at all<BR> +he would have uncomplainingly disposed of the whole.<BR> +Jack the Giant-Killer's feats were nothing to his; and<BR> +when at last the bowl was empty, he stopped short like<BR> +a machine from which the steam had been suddenly cut<BR> +off, and laid down his buffalo horn-spoon <i>without</i> a sigh.<BR> +<BR> +Dick sighed, though with relief and gratitude, when<BR> +his bowl was empty.<BR> +<BR> +"I hope I may never have to do it again," said Joe<BR> +that night as they wended their way back to the chief's<BR> +tent after supper. "I wouldn't be fit for anything for<BR> +a week arter it."<BR> +<BR> +Dick could only laugh, for any allusion to the feast<BR> +instantly brought back that owl-like gourmand to whom<BR> +he was so deeply indebted.<BR> +<BR> +Henri groaned. "Oh! mes boy, I am speechless! I<BR> +am ready for bust! Oui--hah! I veesh it vas to-morrow."<BR> +<BR> +Many a time that night did Henri "veesh it vas to-morrow,"<BR> +as he lay helpless on his back, looking up<BR> +through the roof of the chief's tent at the stars, and<BR> +listening enviously to the plethoric snoring of Joe Blunt.<BR> +<BR> +He was entertained, however, during those waking<BR> +hours with a serenade such as few civilized ears ever<BR> +listen to. This was nothing else than a vocal concert<BR> +performed by all the dogs of the village, and as they<BR> +amounted to nearly two thousand the orchestra was a<BR> +pretty full one.<BR> +<BR> +These wretches howled as if they had all gone mad.<BR> +Yet there was "method in their madness;" for they congregated<BR> +in a crowd before beginning, and sat down on<BR> +their haunches. Then one, which seemed to be the conductor,<BR> +raised his snout to the sky and uttered a long,<BR> +low, melancholy wail. The others took it up by twos<BR> +and threes, until the whole pack had their noses pointing<BR> +to the stars and their throats distended to the uttermost,<BR> +while a prolonged yell filled the air. Then it sank<BR> +gradually, one or two (bad performers probably) making<BR> +a yelping attempt to get it up again at the wrong time.<BR> +Again the conductor raised his nose, and out it came--full<BR> +swing. There was no vociferous barking. It was<BR> +simple wolfish howling increased in fervour to an electric<BR> +yell, with slight barks running continuously through it<BR> +like an obbligato accompaniment.<BR> +<BR> +When Crusoe first heard the unwonted sound he<BR> +sprang to his feet, bristled up like a hyena, showed all<BR> +his teeth, and bounded out of the tent blazing with indignation<BR> +and astonishment. When he found out what<BR> +it was he returned quite sleek, and with a look of profound<BR> +contempt on his countenance as he resumed his<BR> +place by his master's side and went to sleep.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER X.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Perplexities</i>--<i>Our hunters plan their<BR> +escape</i>--<i>Unexpected interruption</i>--<i>The tables <BR> +turned</i>--<i>Crusoe mounts guard</i>--<i>The escape</i>.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +Dick Varley sat before the fire ruminating. We<BR> +do not mean to assert that Dick had been previously<BR> +eating grass. By no means. For several days<BR> +past he had been mentally subsisting on the remarkable<BR> +things that he heard and saw in the Pawnee village,<BR> +and wondering how he was to get away without being<BR> +scalped. He was now chewing the cud of this intellectual<BR> +fare. We therefore repeat emphatically--in case any<BR> +reader should have presumed to contradict us--that<BR> +Dick Varley sat before the fire <i>ruminating</i>!<BR> +<BR> +Joe Blunt likewise sat by the fire along with him,<BR> +ruminating too, and smoking besides. Henri also sat<BR> +there smoking, and looking a little the worse of his<BR> +late supper.<BR> +<BR> +"I don't like the look o' things," said Joe, blowing<BR> +a whiff of smoke slowly from his lips, and watching it<BR> +as it ascended into the still air. "That blackguard<BR> +Mahtawa is determined not to let us off till he gits all<BR> +our goods; an' if he gits them, he may as well take our<BR> +scalps too, for we would come poor speed in the prairies<BR> +without guns, horses, or goods."<BR> +<BR> +Dick looked at his friend with an expression of concern.<BR> +"What's to be done?" said he.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +"Ve must escape," answered Henri; but his tone was<BR> +not a hopeful one, for he knew the danger of their<BR> +position better than Dick.<BR> +<BR> +"Ay, we must escape--at least we must try," said<BR> +Joe. "But I'll make one more effort to smooth over<BR> +San-it-sa-rish, an' git him to snub that villain Mahtawa."<BR> +<BR> +Just as he spoke the villain in question entered the<BR> +tent with a bold, haughty air, and sat down before the<BR> +fire in sullen silence. For some minutes no one spoke,<BR> +and Henri, who happened at the time to be examining<BR> +the locks of Dick's rifle, continued to inspect them with<BR> +an appearance of careless indifference that he was far<BR> +from feeling.<BR> +<BR> +Now, this rifle of Dick's had become a source of<BR> +unceasing wonder to the Indians--wonder which was<BR> +greatly increased by the fact that no one could discharge<BR> +it but himself. Dick had, during his short stay at the<BR> +Pawnee village, amused himself and the savages by exhibiting<BR> +his marvellous powers with the "silver rifle."<BR> +Since it had been won by him at the memorable match<BR> +in the Mustang Valley, it had scarce ever been out of<BR> +his hand, so that he had become decidedly the best shot<BR> +in the settlement, could "bark" squirrels (that is, hit<BR> +the bark of the branch on which a squirrel happened<BR> +to be standing, and so kill it by the concussion alone),<BR> +and could "drive the nail" every shot. The silver rifle,<BR> +as we have said, became "great medicine" to the Red-men<BR> +when they saw it kill at a distance which the few<BR> +wretched guns they had obtained from the fur-traders<BR> +could not even send a spent ball to. The double shot,<BR> +too, filled them with wonder and admiration; but that<BR> +which they regarded with an almost supernatural feeling<BR> +of curiosity was the percussion cap, which, in Dick's<BR> +hands, always exploded, but in theirs was utterly useless!<BR> +<BR> +This result was simply owing to the fact that Dick,<BR> +after firing, handed the rifle to the Indians without<BR> +renewing the cap; so that when they loaded and attempted<BR> +to fire, of course it merely snapped. When he<BR> +wished again to fire, he adroitly exchanged the old cap<BR> +for a new one. He was immensely tickled by the<BR> +solemn looks of the Indians at this most incomprehensible<BR> +of all "medicines," and kept them for some days<BR> +in ignorance of the true cause, intending to reveal it<BR> +before he left. But circumstances now arose which<BR> +banished all trifling thoughts from his mind.<BR> +<BR> +Mahtawa raised his head suddenly, and said, pointing<BR> +to the silver rifle, "Mahtawa wishes to have the two-shotted<BR> +medicine gun. He will give his best horse in exchange."<BR> +<BR> +"Mahtawa is liberal," answered Joe; "but the pale-faced<BR> +youth cannot part with it. He has far to travel,<BR> +and must shoot buffaloes by the way."<BR> +<BR> +"The pale-faced youth shall have a bow and arrows<BR> +to shoot the buffalo," rejoined the Indian.<BR> +<BR> +"He cannot use the bow and arrow," answered Joe.<BR> +"He has not been trained like the Red-man."<BR> +<BR> +Mahtawa was silent for a few seconds, and his dark<BR> +brows frowned more heavily than ever over his eyes.<BR> +<BR> +"The Pale-faces are too bold," he exclaimed, working<BR> +himself into a passion. "They are in the power of<BR> +Mahtawa. If they will not give the gun he will take<BR> +it."<BR> +<BR> +He sprang suddenly to his feet as he spoke, and<BR> +snatched the rifle from Henri's hand.<BR> +<BR> +Henri being ignorant of the language had not been<BR> +able to understand the foregoing conversation, although<BR> +he saw well enough that it was not an agreeable one;<BR> +but no sooner did he find himself thus rudely and unexpectedly<BR> +deprived of the rifle than he jumped up,<BR> +wrenched it in a twinkling from the Indian's grasp, and<BR> +hurled him violently out of the tent.<BR> +<BR> +In a moment Mahtawa drew his knife, uttered a<BR> +savage yell, and sprang on the reckless hunter, who,<BR> +however, caught his wrist, and held it as if in a vice.<BR> +The yell brought a dozen warriors instantly to the spot,<BR> +and before Dick had time to recover from his astonishment,<BR> +Henri was surrounded and pinioned despite his<BR> +herculean struggles.<BR> +<BR> +Before Dick could move, Joe Blunt grasped his arm,<BR> +and whispered quickly, "Don't rise. You can't help<BR> +him. They daren't kill him till San-it-sa-rish agrees."<BR> +<BR> +Though much surprised, Dick obeyed, but it required<BR> +all his efforts, both of voice and hand, to control Crusoe,<BR> +whose mind was much too honest and straightforward<BR> +to understand such subtle pieces of diplomacy, and who<BR> +strove to rush to the rescue of his ill-used friend.<BR> +<BR> +When the tumult had partly subsided, Joe Blunt rose<BR> +and said,--"Have the Pawnee braves turned traitors that they<BR> +draw the knife against those who have smoked with them the pipe of<BR> +peace<BR> +and eaten their maize? The<BR> +Pale-faces are three; the Pawnees are thousands. If<BR> +evil has been done, let it be laid before the chief.<BR> +Mahtawa wishes to have the medicine gun. Although<BR> +we said, No, we could not part with it, he tried to take<BR> +it by force. Are we to go back to the great chief of<BR> +the Pale-faces and say that the Pawnees are thieves?<BR> +Are the Pale-faces henceforth to tell their children when<BR> +they steal, 'That is bad; that is like the Pawnee?'<BR> +No; this must not be. The rifle shall be restored, and<BR> +we will forget this disagreement. Is it not so?"<BR> +<BR> +There was an evident disposition on the part of<BR> +many of the Indians, with whom Mahtawa was no favourite,<BR> +to applaud this speech; but the wily chief sprang<BR> +forward, and, with flashing eyes, sought to turn the<BR> +tables.<BR> +<BR> +"The Pale-face speaks with soft words, but his heart<BR> +is false. Is he not going to make peace with the enemies<BR> +of the Pawnee? Is he not going to take goods to<BR> +them, and make them gifts and promises? The Pale-faces<BR> +are spies. They come to see the weakness of the<BR> +Pawnee camp; but they have found that it is strong.<BR> +Shall we suffer the false hearts to escape? Shall they<BR> +live? No; we will hang their scalps in our wigwams,<BR> +for they have <i>struck a chief</i>, and we will keep all their<BR> +goods for our squaws--wah!"<BR> +<BR> +This allusion to keeping all the goods had more effect<BR> +on the minds of the vacillating savages than the chief's<BR> +eloquence. But a new turn was given to their thoughts<BR> +by Joe Blunt remarking in a quiet, almost contemptuous<BR> +tone,--<BR> +<BR> +"Mahtawa is not the <i>great</i> chief."<BR> +<BR> +"True, true," they cried, and immediately hurried to<BR> +the tent of San-it-sa-rish.<BR> +<BR> +Once again this chief stood between the hunters and<BR> +the savages, who wanted but a signal to fall on them.<BR> +There was a long palaver, which ended in Henri being<BR> +set at liberty and the rifle being restored.<BR> +<BR> +That evening, as the three friends sat beside their<BR> +fire eating their supper of boiled maize and buffalo meat,<BR> +they laughed and talked as carelessly as ever; but the<BR> +gaiety was assumed, for they were at the time planning<BR> +their escape from a tribe which, they foresaw, would<BR> +not long refrain from carrying out their wishes, and<BR> +robbing, perhaps murdering them.<BR> +<BR> +"Ye see," said Joe with a perplexed air, while he<BR> +drew a piece of live charcoal from the fire with his<BR> +fingers and lighted his pipe--"ye see, there's more difficulties<BR> +in the way o' gettin' off than ye think--"<BR> +<BR> +"Oh, nivare mind de difficulties," interrupted Henri,<BR> +whose wrath at the treatment he had received had not<BR> +yet cooled down. "Ve must jump on de best horses<BR> +ve can git hold, shake our fists at de red reptiles, and<BR> +go away fast as ve can. De best hoss <i>must</i> vin de<BR> +race."<BR> +<BR> +Joe shook his head. "A hundred arrows would be<BR> +in our backs before we got twenty yards from the<BR> +camp. Besides, we can't tell which are the best horses.<BR> +Our own are the best in my 'pinion, but how are we to<BR> +git' em?"<BR> +<BR> +"I know who has charge o' them," said Dick. "I<BR> +saw them grazing near the tent o' that poor squaw<BR> +whose baby was saved by Crusoe. Either her husband<BR> +looks after them or some neighbours."<BR> +<BR> +"That's well," said Joe. "That's one o' my difficulties<BR> +gone."<BR> +<BR> +"What are the others?"<BR> +<BR> +"Well, d'ye see, they're troublesome. We can't git<BR> +the horses out o' camp without bein' seen, for the red<BR> +rascals would see what we were at in a jiffy. Then, if<BR> +we do git 'em out, we can't go off without our bales,<BR> +an' we needn't think to take 'em from under the nose<BR> +o' the chief and his squaws without bein' axed questions.<BR> +To go off without them would niver do at all."<BR> +<BR> +"Joe," said Dick earnestly, "I've hit on a plan."<BR> +<BR> +"Have ye, Dick--what is't?"<BR> +<BR> +"Come and I'll let ye see," answered Dick, rising<BR> +hastily and quitting the tent, followed by his comrades<BR> +and his faithful dog.<BR> +<BR> +It may be as well to remark here, that no restraint<BR> +whatever had yet been put on the movements of our<BR> +hunters as long as they kept to their legs, for it was<BR> +well known that any attempt by men on foot to escape<BR> +from mounted Indians on the plains would be hopeless.<BR> +Moreover, the savages thought that as long as there was<BR> +a prospect of their being allowed to depart peaceably<BR> +with their goods, they would not be so mad as to fly<BR> +from the camp, and, by so doing, risk their lives and<BR> +declare war with their entertainers. They had therefore<BR> +been permitted to wander unchecked, as yet, far<BR> +beyond the outskirts of the camp, and amuse themselves<BR> +in paddling about the lake in the small Indian canoes<BR> +and shooting wild-fowl.<BR> +<BR> +Dick now led the way through the labyrinths of<BR> +tents in the direction of the lake, and they talked and<BR> +laughed loudly, and whistled to Crusoe as they went,<BR> +in order to prevent their purpose being suspected. For<BR> +the purpose of further disarming suspicion, they went<BR> +without their rifles. Dick explained his plan by the<BR> +way, and it was at once warmly approved of by his<BR> +comrades.<BR> +<BR> +On reaching the lake they launched a small canoe,<BR> +into which Crusoe was ordered to jump; then, embarking,<BR> +they paddled swiftly to the opposite shore, singing<BR> +a canoe song as they dipped their paddles in the moonlit<BR> +waters of the lake. Arrived at the other side, they<BR> +hauled the canoe up and hurried through the thin belt<BR> +of wood and willows that intervened between the lake<BR> +and the prairie. Here they paused.<BR> +<BR> +"Is that the bluff, Joe?"<BR> +<BR> +"No, Dick; that's too near. T'other one'll be best--far<BR> +away to the right. It's a little one, and there's<BR> +others near it. The sharp eyes o' the Redskins won't<BR> +be so likely to be prowlin' there."<BR> +<BR> +"Come on, then; but we'll have to take down by the<BR> +lake first."<BR> +<BR> +In a few minutes the hunters were threading their<BR> +way through the outskirts of the wood at a rapid trot,<BR> +in the opposite direction from the bluff, or wooded knoll,<BR> +which they wished to reach. This they did lest prying<BR> +eyes should have followed them. In quarter of an hour<BR> +they turned at right angles to their track, and struck<BR> +straight out into the prairie, and after a long run they<BR> +edged round and came in upon the bluff from behind.<BR> +<BR> +It was merely a collection of stunted but thick-growing<BR> +willows.<BR> +<BR> +Forcing their way into the centre of this they began<BR> +to examine it.<BR> +<BR> +"It'll do," said Joe.<BR> +<BR> +"De very ting," remarked Henri.<BR> +<BR> +"Come here, Crusoe."<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe bounded to his master's side, and looked up<BR> +in his face.<BR> +<BR> +"Look at this place, pup; smell it well."<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe instantly set off all round among the willows,<BR> +in and out, snuffing everywhere, and whining with excitement.<BR> +<BR> +"Come here, good pup; that will do. Now, lads,<BR> +we'll go back." So saying, Dick and his friends left<BR> +the bluff, and retraced their steps to the camp. Before<BR> +they had gone far, however, Joe halted, and said,--<BR> +<BR> +"D'ye know, Dick, I doubt if the pup's so cliver as<BR> +ye think. What if he don't quite onderstand ye?"<BR> +<BR> +Dick replied by taking off his cap and throwing it<BR> +down, at the same time exclaiming, "Take it yonder,<BR> +pup," and pointing with his hand towards the bluff.<BR> +The dog seized the cap, and went off with it at full<BR> +speed towards the willows, where it left it, and came<BR> +galloping back for the expected reward--not now, as in<BR> +days of old, a bit of meat, but a gentle stroke of its<BR> +head and a hearty clap on its shaggy side.<BR> +<BR> +"Good pup! go now an' fetch it."<BR> +<BR> +Away he went with a bound, and in a few seconds<BR> +came back and deposited the cap at his master's feet.<BR> +<BR> +"Will that do?" asked Dick, triumphantly.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +"Ay, lad, it will. The pup's worth its weight in<BR> +goold."<BR> +<BR> +"Oui, I have said, and I say it agen, de dog is <i>human</i>,<BR> +so him is. If not, fat am he?"<BR> +<BR> +Without pausing to reply to this perplexing question,<BR> +Dick stepped forward again, and in half-an-hour or<BR> +so they were back in the camp.<BR> +<BR> +"Now for <i>your</i> part of the work, Joe. Yonder's the<BR> +squaw that owns the half-drowned baby. Everything<BR> +depends on her."<BR> +<BR> +Dick pointed to the Indian woman as he spoke. She<BR> +was sitting beside her tent, and playing at her knee<BR> +was the identical youngster who had been saved by<BR> +Crusoe.<BR> +<BR> +"I'll manage it," said Joe, and walked towards her,<BR> +while Dick and Henri returned to the chief's tent.<BR> +<BR> +"Does the Pawnee woman thank the Great Spirit<BR> +that her child is saved?" began Joe as he came up.<BR> +<BR> +"She does," answered the woman, looking up at the<BR> +hunter. "And her heart is warm to the Pale-faces."<BR> +<BR> +After a short silence Joe continued,--<BR> +<BR> +"The Pawnee chiefs do not love the Pale-faces.<BR> +Some of them hate them."<BR> +<BR> +"The Dark Flower knows it," answered the woman;<BR> +"she is sorry. She would help the Pale-faces if she<BR> +could."<BR> +<BR> +This was uttered in a low tone, and with a meaning<BR> +glance of the eye.<BR> +<BR> +Joe hesitated again--could he trust her? Yes; the<BR> +feelings that filled her breast and prompted her words<BR> +were not those of the Indian just now--they were those of a<BR> +<i>mother</i>,<BR> +whose gratitude was too full for utterance.<BR> +<BR> +"Will the Dark Flower," said Joe, catching the name<BR> +she had given herself, "help the Pale-face if he opens<BR> +his heart to her? Will she risk the anger of her<BR> +nation?"<BR> +<BR> +"She will," replied the woman; "she will do what<BR> +she can."<BR> +<BR> +Joe and his dark friend now dropped their high-sounding<BR> +style of speech, and spoke for some minutes<BR> +rapidly in an undertone. It was finally arranged that<BR> +on a given day, at a certain hour, the woman should<BR> +take the four horses down the shores of the lake to<BR> +its lower end, as if she were going for firewood, there<BR> +cross the creek at the ford, and drive them to the<BR> +willow bluff, and guard them till the hunters should<BR> +arrive.<BR> +<BR> +Having settled this, Joe returned to the tent and<BR> +informed his comrades of his success.<BR> +<BR> +During the next three days Joe kept the Indians in<BR> +good-humour by giving them one or two trinkets, and<BR> +speaking in glowing terms of the riches of the white<BR> +men, and the readiness with which they would part<BR> +with them to the savages if they would only make<BR> +peace.<BR> +<BR> +Meanwhile, during the dark hours of each night,<BR> +Dick managed to abstract small quantities of goods<BR> +from their pack, in room of which he stuffed in pieces<BR> +of leather to keep up the size and appearance. The<BR> +goods thus taken out he concealed about his person, and<BR> +went off with a careless swagger to the outskirts of<BR> +the village, with Crusoe at his heels. Arrived there,<BR> +he tied the goods in a small piece of deerskin, and gave<BR> +the bundle to the dog, with the injunction, "Take it<BR> +yonder, pup."<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe took it up at once, darted off at full speed<BR> +with the bundle in his mouth, down the shore of the<BR> +lake towards the ford of the river, and was soon lost<BR> +to view. In this way, little by little, the goods were<BR> +conveyed by the faithful dog to the willow bluff and<BR> +left there, while the stuffed pack still remained in safe<BR> +keeping in the chiefs tent.<BR> +<BR> +Joe did not at first like the idea of thus sneaking off<BR> +from the camp, and more than once made strong efforts<BR> +to induce San-it-sa-rish to let him go; but even that<BR> +chief's countenance was not so favourable as it had been.<BR> +It was clear that he could not make up his mind to let<BR> +slip so good a chance of obtaining guns, powder and<BR> +shot, horses, and goods, without any trouble; so Joe<BR> +made up his mind to give them the slip at once.<BR> +<BR> +A dark night was chosen for the attempt, and the<BR> +Indian woman went off with the horses to the place<BR> +where firewood for the camp was usually cut. Unfortunately,<BR> +the suspicion of that wily savage Mahtawa<BR> +had been awakened, and he stuck close to the hunters<BR> +all day--not knowing what was going on, but feeling<BR> +convinced that something was brewing which he resolved<BR> +to watch, without mentioning his suspicions to<BR> +any one.<BR> +<BR> +"I think that villain's away at last," whispered Joe<BR> +to his comrades. "It's time to go, lads; the moon<BR> +won't be up for an hour. Come along."<BR> +<BR> +"Have ye got the big powder-horn, Joe?"<BR> +<BR> +"Ay, ay, all right."<BR> +<BR> +"Stop! stop! my knife, my couteau. Ah, here I be!<BR> +Now, boy."<BR> +<BR> +The three set off as usual, strolling carelessly to the<BR> +outskirts of the camp; then they quickened their pace,<BR> +and, gaining the lake, pushed off in a small canoe.<BR> +<BR> +At the same moment Mahtawa stepped from the<BR> +bushes, leaped into another canoe, and followed them.<BR> +<BR> +"Ha! he must die," muttered Henri.<BR> +<BR> +"Not at all," said Joe; "we'll manage him without<BR> +that."<BR> +<BR> +The chief landed and strode boldly up to them, for<BR> +he knew well that whatever their purpose might be<BR> +they would not venture to use their rifles within sound<BR> +of the camp at that hour of the night. As for their<BR> +knives, he could trust to his own active limbs and the<BR> +woods to escape and give the alarm if need be.<BR> +<BR> +"The Pale-faces hunt very late," he said, with a<BR> +malicious grin. "Do they love the dark better than<BR> +the sunshine?"<BR> +<BR> +"Not so," replied Joe, coolly; "but we love to<BR> +walk by the light of the moon. It will be up in less<BR> +than an hour, and we mean to take a long ramble to-night."<BR> +<BR> +"The Pawnee chief loves to walk by the moon, too;<BR> +he will go with the Pale-faces."<BR> +<BR> +"Good!" ejaculated Joe. "Come along, then."<BR> +<BR> +The party immediately set forward, although the<BR> +savage was a little taken by surprise at the indifferent<BR> +way in which Joe received his proposal to accompany<BR> +them. He walked on to the edge of the prairie, however,<BR> +and then stopped.<BR> +<BR> +"The Pale-faces must go alone," said he; "Mahtawa<BR> +will return to his tent."<BR> +<BR> +Joe replied to this intimation by seizing him suddenly<BR> +by the throat and choking back the yell that would<BR> +otherwise have brought the Pawnee warriors rushing to<BR> +the scene of action in hundreds. Mahtawa's hand was<BR> +on the handle of his scalping-knife in a moment, but<BR> +before he could draw it his arms were glued to his sides<BR> +by the bear-like embrace of Henri, while Dick tied a<BR> +handkerchief quickly yet firmly round his mouth. The<BR> +whole thing was accomplished in two minutes. After<BR> +taking his knife and tomahawk away, they loosened<BR> +their gripe and escorted him swiftly over the prairie.<BR> +<BR> +Mahtawa was perfectly submissive after the first<BR> +convulsive struggle was over. He knew that the men<BR> +who walked on each side of him grasping his arms were<BR> +more than his match singly, so he wisely made no resistance.<BR> +<BR> +Hurrying him to a clump of small trees on the plain<BR> +which was so far distant from the village that a yell<BR> +could not be heard, they removed the bandage from<BR> +Mahtawa's mouth.<BR> +<BR> +"<i>Must</i> he be kill?" inquired Henri, in a tone of<BR> +commiseration.<BR> +<BR> +"Not at all," answered Joe; "we'll tie him to a tree<BR> +and leave him here."<BR> +<BR> +"Then he vill be starve to deat'. Oh, dat is more<BR> +horrobell!"<BR> +<BR> +"He must take his chance o' that. I've no doubt<BR> +his friends'll find him in a day or two, an' he's game<BR> +to last for a week or more. But you'll have to run to<BR> +the willow bluff, Dick, and bring a bit of line to tie him.<BR> +We can't spare it well; but there's no help."<BR> +<BR> +"But there <i>is</i> help," retorted Dick. "Just order the<BR> +villain to climb into that tree."<BR> +<BR> +"Why so, lad?"<BR> +<BR> +"Don't ask questions, but do what I bid ye."<BR> +<BR> +The hunter smiled for a moment as he turned to the<BR> +Indian, and ordered him to climb up a small tree near<BR> +to which he stood. Mahtawa looked surprised, but<BR> +there was no alternative. Joe's authoritative tone<BR> +brooked no delay, so he sprang into the tree like a<BR> +monkey.<BR> +<BR> +"Crusoe," said Dick, "<i>watch him!</i>"<BR> +<BR> +The dog sat quietly down at the foot of the tree, and<BR> +fixed his eyes on the savage with a glare that spoke<BR> +unutterable things. At the same time he displayed his<BR> +full complement of teeth, and uttered a sound like<BR> +distant thunder.<BR> +<BR> +Joe almost laughed, and Henri did laugh outright.<BR> +<BR> +"Come along; he's safe now," cried Dick, hurrying<BR> +away in the direction of the willow bluff, which they<BR> +soon reached, and found that the faithful squaw had<BR> +tied their steeds to the bushes, and, moreover, had<BR> +bundled up their goods into a pack, and strapped it on<BR> +the back of the pack-horse; but she had not remained<BR> +with them.<BR> +<BR> +"Bless yer dark face!" ejaculated Joe, as he sprang<BR> +into the saddle and rode out of the clump of bushes.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +He was followed immediately by the others, and in<BR> +three minutes they were flying over the plain at full<BR> +speed.<BR> +<BR> +On gaining the last far-off ridge, that afforded a<BR> +distant view of the woods skirting the Pawnee camp,<BR> +they drew up; and Dick, putting his fingers to his<BR> +mouth, drew a long, shrill whistle.<BR> +<BR> +It reached the willow bluff like a faint echo. At the<BR> +same moment the moon arose and more clearly revealed<BR> +Crusoe's cataleptic glare at the Indian chief, who, being<BR> +utterly unarmed, was at the dog's mercy. The instant<BR> +the whistle fell on his ear, however, he dropped his eyes,<BR> +covered his teeth, and, leaping through the bushes, flew<BR> +over the plains like an arrow. At the same instant<BR> +Mahtawa, descending from his tree, ran as fast as he<BR> +could towards the village, uttering the terrible war-whoop<BR> +when near enough to be heard. No sound sends<BR> +such a thrill through an Indian camp. Every warrior<BR> +flew to arms, and vaulted on his steed. So quickly<BR> +was the alarm given that in less than ten minutes a<BR> +thousand hoofs were thundering on the plain, and<BR> +faintly reached the ears of the fugitives.<BR> +<BR> +Joe smiled. "It'll puzzle them to come up wi' nags<BR> +like ours. They're in prime condition, too--lots o' wind<BR> +in' em. If we only keep out o' badger holes we may<BR> +laugh at the red varmints."<BR> +<BR> +Joe's opinion of Indian horses was correct. In a very<BR> +few minutes the sound of hoofs died away; but the<BR> +fugitives did not draw bridle during the remainder of<BR> +that night, for they knew not how long the pursuit<BR> +might be continued. By pond, and brook, and bluff<BR> +they passed, down in the grassy bottoms and over the<BR> +prairie waves--nor checked their headlong course till<BR> +the sun blazed over the level sweep of the eastern plain<BR> +as if it arose out of the mighty ocean.<BR> +<BR> +Then they sprang from the saddle, and hastily set<BR> +about the preparation of their morning meal.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER XI.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Evening meditations and morning reflections--Buffaloes, badgers,<BR> +antelopes, and accidents--An old bull and the wolves--"Mad <BR> +tails"--Henri floored, etc.</i><BR> +<BR> +There is nothing that prepares one so well for the<BR> +enjoyment of rest, both mental and physical, as a<BR> +long-protracted period of excitement and anxiety, followed<BR> +up by bodily fatigue. Excitement alone banishes<BR> +rest; but, united with severe physical exertion, it prepares<BR> +for it. At least, courteous reader, this is our<BR> +experience; and certainly this was the experience of our<BR> +three hunters as they lay on their backs beneath the<BR> +branches of a willow bush and gazed serenely up at the<BR> +twinkling stars two days after their escape from the<BR> +Indian village.<BR> +<BR> +They spoke little; they were too tired for that, also<BR> +they were too comfortable. Their respective suppers of<BR> +fresh antelope steak, shot that day, had just been disposed<BR> +of. Their feet were directed towards the small<BR> +fire on which the said steaks had been cooked, and<BR> +which still threw a warm, ruddy glow over the encampment.<BR> +Their blankets were wrapped comfortably round<BR> +them, and tucked in as only hunters and mothers know<BR> +<i>how</i> to tuck them in. Their respective pipes delivered<BR> +forth, at stated intervals, three richly yellow puffs of<BR> +smoke, as if a three-gun battery were playing upon the<BR> +sky from that particular spot of earth. The horses<BR> +were picketed and hobbled in a rich grassy bottom close<BR> +by, from which the quiet munch of their equine jaws<BR> +sounded pleasantly, for it told of healthy appetites,<BR> +and promised speed on the morrow. The fear of being<BR> +overtaken during the night was now past, and the<BR> +faithful Crusoe, by virtue of sight, hearing, and smell,<BR> +guaranteed them against sudden attack during the hours<BR> +of slumber. A perfume of wild flowers mingled with<BR> +the loved odours of the "weed," and the tinkle of a<BR> +tiny rivulet fell sweetly on their ears. In short, the<BR> +"Pale-faces" were supremely happy, and disposed to be<BR> +thankful for their recent deliverance and their present<BR> +comforts.<BR> +<BR> +"I wonder what the stars are," said Dick, languidly<BR> +taking the pipe out of his mouth.<BR> +<BR> +"Bits o' fire," suggested Joe.<BR> +<BR> +"I tink dey are vorlds," muttered Henri, "an' have<BR> +peepels in dem. I have hear men say dat."<BR> +<BR> +A long silence followed, during which, no doubt, the<BR> +star-gazers were working out various theories in their<BR> +own minds.<BR> +<BR> +"Wonder," said Dick again, "how far off they be."<BR> +<BR> +"A mile or two, maybe," said Joe.<BR> +<BR> +Henri was about to laugh sarcastically at this, but<BR> +on further consideration he thought it would be more<BR> +comfortable not to, so he lay still. In another minute<BR> +he said,--<BR> +<BR> +"Joe Blunt, you is ver' igrant. Don't you know dat<BR> +de books say de stars be hondreds, tousands--oh!<BR> +milleryons of mile away to here, and dat dey is more<BR> +bigger dan dis vorld?"<BR> +<BR> +Joe snored lightly, and his pipe fell out of his<BR> +mouth at this point, so the conversation dropped.<BR> +Presently Dick asked in a low tone, "I say, Henri,<BR> +are ye asleep?"<BR> +<BR> +"Oui," replied Henry faintly. "Don't speak, or you<BR> +vill vaken me."<BR> +<BR> +"Ah, Crusoe! you're not asleep, are you, pup?" No<BR> +need to ask that question. The instantaneous wag of<BR> +that speaking tail and the glance of that wakeful eye,<BR> +as the dog lifted his head and laid his chin on Dick's<BR> +arm, showed that he had been listening to every word<BR> +that was spoken. We cannot say whether he understood<BR> +it, but beyond all doubt he heard it. Crusoe<BR> +never presumed to think of going to sleep until his<BR> +master was as sound as a top, then he ventured to indulge<BR> +in that light species of slumber which is familiarly known<BR> +as "sleeping with one eye open." But, comparatively as<BR> +well as figuratively speaking, Crusoe slept usually with<BR> +one eye and a half open, and the other half was never<BR> +very tightly shut.<BR> +<BR> +Gradually Dick's pipe fell out of his mouth, an<BR> +event which the dog, with an exercise of instinct almost,<BR> +if not quite, amounting to reason, regarded as a<BR> +signal for him to go off. The camp fire went slowly<BR> +out, the stars twinkled down at their reflections in the<BR> +brook, and a deep breathing of wearied men was the<BR> +only sound that rose in harmony with the purling<BR> +stream.<BR> +<BR> +Before the sun rose next morning, and while many of<BR> +the brighter stars were still struggling for existence<BR> +with the approaching day, Joe was up and buckling on<BR> +the saddle-bags, while he shouted to his unwilling companions<BR> +to rise.<BR> +<BR> +"If it depended on you," he said, "the Pawnees<BR> +wouldn't be long afore they got our scalps. Jump, ye<BR> +dogs, an' lend a hand, will ye?"<BR> +<BR> +A snore from Dick and a deep sigh from Henri was<BR> +the answer to this pathetic appeal. It so happened,<BR> +however, that Henri's pipe, in falling from his lips, had<BR> +emptied the ashes just under his nose, so that the sigh<BR> +referred to drew a quantity thereof into his throat and<BR> +almost choked him. Nothing could have been a more<BR> +effective awakener. He was up in a moment coughing<BR> +vociferously. Most men have a tendency to vent ill-humour<BR> +on some one, and they generally do it on one<BR> +whom they deem to be worse than themselves. Henri,<BR> +therefore, instead of growling at Joe for rousing him,<BR> +scolded Dick for not rising.<BR> +<BR> +"Ha, mauvais dog! bad chien! vill you dare to look<BR> +to me?"<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe did look with amiable placidity, as though to<BR> +say, "Howl away, old boy, I won't budge till Dick does."<BR> +<BR> +With a mighty effort Giant Sleep was thrown off at<BR> +last, and the hunters were once more on their journey,<BR> +cantering lightly over the soft turf.<BR> +<BR> +"Ho, let's have a run!" cried Dick, unable to repress<BR> +the feelings aroused by the exhilarating morning air.<BR> +<BR> +"Have a care, boy," cried Joe, as they stretched out<BR> +at full gallop. "Keep off the ridge; it's riddled wi'<BR> +badger--Ha! I thought so."<BR> +<BR> +At that moment Dick's horse put its foot into a<BR> +badger-hole and turned completely over, sending its<BR> +rider through the air in a curve that an East Indian<BR> +acrobat would have envied. For a few seconds Dick<BR> +lay flat on his back, then he jumped up and laughed,<BR> +while his comrades hurried up anxiously to his assistance.<BR> +<BR> +"No bones broke?" inquired Joe.<BR> +<BR> +Dick gave a hysterical gasp. "I--I think not."<BR> +<BR> +"Let's have a look. No, nothin' to speak o', be<BR> +good luck. Ye should niver go slap through a badger<BR> +country like that, boy; always keep i' the bottoms, where<BR> +the grass is short. Now then, up ye go. That's it!"<BR> +<BR> +Dick remounted, though not with quite so elastic a<BR> +spring as usual, and they pushed forward at a more<BR> +reasonable pace.<BR> +<BR> +Accidents of this kind are of common occurrence in<BR> +the prairies. Some horses, however, are so well trained<BR> +that they look sharp out for these holes, which are generally<BR> +found to be most numerous on the high and dry<BR> +grounds. But in spite of all the caution both of man<BR> +and horse many ugly falls take place, and sometimes<BR> +bones are broken.<BR> +<BR> +They had not gone far after this accident when an<BR> +antelope leaped from a clump of willows, and made for<BR> +a belt of woodland that lay along the margin of a stream<BR> +not half-a-mile off.<BR> +<BR> +"Hurrah!" cried Dick, forgetting his recent fall.<BR> +"Come along, Crusoe." And away they went again<BR> +full tilt, for the horse had not been injured by its<BR> +somersault.<BR> +<BR> +The antelope which Dick was thus wildly pursuing<BR> +was of the same species as the one he had shot some<BR> +time before--namely, the prong-horned antelope. These<BR> +graceful creatures have long, slender limbs, delicately-formed<BR> +heads, and large, beautiful eyes. The horns are<BR> +black, and rather short; they have no branches, like<BR> +the antlers of the red-deer, but have a single projection<BR> +on each horn, near the head, and the extreme points<BR> +of the horns curve suddenly inwards, forming the<BR> +hook or prong from which the name of the animal<BR> +is derived. Their colour is dark yellowish brown.<BR> +They are so fleet that not one horse in a hundred<BR> +can overtake them; and their sight and sense of smell<BR> +are so acute that it would be next to impossible to kill<BR> +them, were it not for the inordinate curiosity which<BR> +we have before referred to. The Indians manage to<BR> +attract these simple little creatures by merely lying<BR> +down on their backs and kicking their heels in the air,<BR> +or by waving any white object on the point of an arrow,<BR> +while the hunter keeps concealed by lying flat in the<BR> +grass. By these means a herd of antelopes may be<BR> +induced to wheel round and round an object in timid<BR> +but intense surprise, gradually approaching until they<BR> +come near enough to enable the hunter to make sure of<BR> +his mark. Thus the animals, which of all others <i>ought</i><BR> +to be the most difficult to slay, are, in consequence of<BR> +their insatiable curiosity, more easily shot than any other<BR> +deer of the plains.<BR> +<BR> +May we not gently suggest to the reader for his or<BR> +her consideration that there are human antelopes, so to<BR> +speak, whose case bears a striking resemblance to the<BR> +prong-horn of the North American prairie?<BR> +<BR> +Dick's horse was no match for the antelope, neither<BR> +was Crusoe; so they pulled up shortly and returned to<BR> +their companions, to be laughed at.<BR> +<BR> +"It's no manner o' use to wind yer horse, lad, after<BR> +sich game. They're not much worth, an', if I mistake<BR> +not, we'll be among the buffalo soon. There's fresh<BR> +tracks everywhere, and the herds are scattered now. Ye<BR> +see, when they keep together in bands o' thousands ye<BR> +don't so often fall in wi' them. But when they scatters<BR> +about in twos, an' threes, an' sixes ye may shoot them<BR> +every day as much as ye please."<BR> +<BR> +Several groups of buffalo had already been seen on<BR> +the horizon, but as a red-deer had been shot in a belt<BR> +of woodland the day before they did not pursue them.<BR> +The red-deer is very much larger than the prong-horned<BR> +antelope, and is highly esteemed both for its flesh and<BR> +its skin, which latter becomes almost like chamois<BR> +leather when dressed. Notwithstanding this supply of<BR> +food, the hunters could not resist the temptation to give<BR> +chase to a herd of about nine buffaloes that suddenly<BR> +came into view as they overtopped an undulation in the<BR> +plain.<BR> +<BR> +"It's no use," cried Dick, "I <i>must</i> go at them!"<BR> +<BR> +Joe himself caught fire from the spirit of his young<BR> +friend, so calling to Henri to come on and let the pack-horse<BR> +remain to feed, he dashed away in pursuit. The<BR> +buffaloes gave one stare of surprise, and then fled as fast<BR> +as possible. At first it seemed as if such huge, unwieldy<BR> +carcasses could not run very fast; but in a few<BR> +minutes they managed to get up a pace that put the<BR> +horses to their mettle. Indeed, at first it seemed as if<BR> +the hunters did not gain an inch; but by degrees they<BR> +closed with them, for buffaloes are not long winded.<BR> +<BR> +On nearing the herd, the three men diverged from<BR> +each other and selected their animals. Henri, being<BR> +short-sighted, naturally singled out the largest; and the<BR> +largest--also naturally--was a tough old bull. Joe<BR> +brought down a fat young cow at the first shot, and<BR> +Dick was equally fortunate. But he well-nigh shot<BR> +Crusoe, who, just as he was about to fire, rushed in unexpectedly<BR> +and sprang at the animal's throat, for which<BR> +piece of recklessness he was ordered back to watch the<BR> +pack-horse.<BR> +<BR> +Meanwhile, Henri, by dint of yelling, throwing his<BR> +arms wildly about, and digging his heels into the sides<BR> +of his long-legged horse, succeeded in coming close up<BR> +with the bull, which once or twice turned his clumsy<BR> +body half round and glared furiously at its pursuer<BR> +with its small black eyes. Suddenly it stuck out its<BR> +tail, stopped short, and turned full round. Henri stopped<BR> +short also. Now, the sticking out of a buffalo's tail has<BR> +a peculiar significance which it is well to point out. It<BR> +serves, in a sense, the same purpose to the hunter that<BR> +the compass does to the mariner--it points out where to<BR> +go and what to do. When galloping away in ordinary<BR> +flight, the buffalo carries his tail like ordinary cattle,<BR> +which indicates that you may push on. When wounded,<BR> +he lashes it from side to side, or carries it over his back,<BR> +up in the air; this indicates, "Look out! haul off a<BR> +bit!" But when he carries it stiff and horizontal, with<BR> +a <i>slight curve</i> in the middle of it, it says plainly, "Keep<BR> +back, or kill me as quick as you can," for that is what<BR> +Indians call the <i>mad tail</i>, and is a sign that mischief is<BR> +brewing.<BR> +<BR> +Henri's bull displayed the mad tail just before turning,<BR> +but he didn't observe it, and, accordingly, waited for the<BR> +bull to move and show his shoulder for a favourable<BR> +shot. But instead of doing this he put his head down,<BR> +and, foaming with rage, went at him full tilt. The big<BR> +horse never stirred; it seemed to be petrified, Henri<BR> +had just time to fire at the monster's neck, and the next<BR> +moment was sprawling on his back, with the horse rolling<BR> +over four or five yards beyond him. It was a most<BR> +effective tableau--Henri rubbing his shins and grinning<BR> +with pain, the horse gazing in affright as he rose trembling<BR> +from the plain, and the buffalo bull looking on<BR> +half stunned, and evidently very much surprised at the<BR> +result of his charge.<BR> +<BR> +Fortunately, before he could repeat the experiment,<BR> +Dick galloped up and put a ball through his heart.<BR> +<BR> +Joe and his comrades felt a little ashamed of their<BR> +exploit on this occasion, for there was no need to have<BR> +killed three animals--they could not have carried with<BR> +them more than a small portion of one--and they upbraided<BR> +themselves several times during the operation of<BR> +cutting out the tongues and other choice portions of the<BR> +two victims. As for the bull, he was almost totally<BR> +useless, so they left him as a gift to the wolves.<BR> +<BR> +Now that they had come among the buffalo, wolves<BR> +were often seen sneaking about and licking their hungry<BR> +jaws; but although they approached pretty near to the<BR> +camp at nights, they did not give the hunters any concern.<BR> +Even Crusoe became accustomed to them at last,<BR> +and ceased to notice them. These creatures are very<BR> +dangerous sometimes, however, and when hard pressed<BR> +by hunger will even attack man. The day after this<BR> +hunt the travellers came upon a wounded old buffalo<BR> +which had evidently escaped from the Indians (for a<BR> +couple of arrows were sticking in its side), only to fall<BR> +a prey to his deadly enemies, the white wolves. These<BR> +savage brutes hang on the skirts of the herds of buffaloes<BR> +to attack and devour any one that may chance, from<BR> +old age or from being wounded, to linger behind the rest.<BR> +The buffalo is tough and fierce, however, and fights so<BR> +desperately that, although surrounded by fifty or a<BR> +hundred wolves, he keeps up the unequal combat for<BR> +several days before he finally succumbs.<BR> +<BR> +The old bull that our travellers discovered had evidently<BR> +been long engaged with his ferocious adversaries,<BR> +for his limbs and flesh were torn in shreds in<BR> +many places, and blood was streaming from his sides.<BR> +Yet he had fought so gallantly that he had tossed and<BR> +stamped to death dozens of the enemy. There could<BR> +not have been fewer than fifty wolves round him; and<BR> +they had just concluded another of many futile attacks<BR> +when the hunters came up, for they were ranged in a<BR> +circle round their huge adversary--some lying down,<BR> +some sitting on their haunches to rest, and others sneaking<BR> +about, lolling out their red tongues and licking their<BR> +chops as if impatient to renew the combat. The poor<BR> +buffalo was nearly spent, and it was clear that a few<BR> +hours more would see him torn to shreds and his bones<BR> +picked clean.<BR> +<BR> +"Ugh! de brutes," ejaculated Henri.<BR> +<BR> +"They don't seem to mind us a bit," remarked Dick,<BR> +as they rode up to within pistol shot.<BR> +<BR> +"It'll be merciful to give the old fellow a shot," said<BR> +Joe. "Them varmints are sure to finish him at last."<BR> +<BR> +Joe raised his rifle as he spoke, and fired. The old<BR> +bull gave his last groan and fell, while the wolves,<BR> +alarmed by the shot, fled in all directions; but they did<BR> +not run far. They knew well that some portion, at<BR> +least, of the carcass would fall to their share; so they<BR> +sat down at various distances all round, to wait as<BR> +patiently as they might for the hunters to retire. Dick<BR> +left the scene with a feeling of regret that the villanous<BR> +wolves should have their feast so much sooner than they<BR> +expected.<BR> +<BR> +Yet, after all, why should we call these wolves villanous?<BR> +They did nothing wrong--nothing contrary to<BR> +the laws of their peculiar nature. Nay, if we come to<BR> +reason upon it, they rank higher in this matter than<BR> +man; for while the wolf does no violence to the laws of<BR> +its instincts, man often deliberately silences the voice of<BR> +conscience, and violates the laws of his own nature.<BR> +But we will not insist on the term, good reader, if you<BR> +object strongly to it. We are willing to admit that the<BR> +wolves are <i>not</i> villanous, but, <i>assuredly</i>, they are<BR> +unlovable.<BR> +<BR> +In the course of the afternoon the three horsemen<BR> +reached a small creek, the banks of which were lined<BR> +with a few stunted shrubs and trees. Having eaten<BR> +nothing since the night before, they dismounted here to<BR> +"feed," as Joe expressed it.<BR> +<BR> +"Cur'ous thing," remarked Joe, as he struck a light<BR> +by means of flint, steel, and tinder-box--"cur'ous thing<BR> +that we're made to need sich a lot o' grub. If we could<BR> +only get on like the sarpints, now, wot can breakfast on<BR> +a rabbit, and then wait a month or two for dinner!<BR> +Ain't it cur'ous?"<BR> +<BR> +Dick admitted that it was, and stooped to blow the<BR> +fire into a blaze.<BR> +<BR> +Here Henri uttered a cry of consternation, and stood<BR> +speechless, with his mouth open.<BR> +<BR> +"What's the matter? what is't?" cried Dick and Joe,<BR> +seizing their rifles instinctively.<BR> +<BR> +"De--grub--him--be--forgat!"<BR> +<BR> +There was a look of blank horror, and then a burst<BR> +of laughter from Dick Varley. "Well, well," cried he,<BR> +"we've got lots o' tea an' sugar, an' some flour; we can<BR> +git on wi' that till we shoot another buffalo, or a--ha!"<BR> +<BR> +Dick observed a wild turkey stalking among the<BR> +willows as he spoke. It was fully a hundred yards off,<BR> +and only its head was seen above the leaves. This was<BR> +a matter of little moment, however, for by aiming a<BR> +little lower he knew that he must hit the body. But<BR> +Dick had driven the nail too often to aim at its body;<BR> +he aimed at the bird's eye, and cut its head off.<BR> +<BR> +"Fetch it, Crusoe."<BR> +<BR> +In three minutes it was at Dick's feet, and it is not<BR> +too much to say that in five minutes more it was in the<BR> +pot.<BR> +<BR> +As this unexpected supply made up for the loss of the<BR> +meat which Henri had forgotten at their last halting-place,<BR> +their equanimity was restored; and while the meal<BR> +was in preparation Dick shouldered his rifle and went<BR> +into the bush to try for another turkey. He did not<BR> +get one, however, but he shot a couple of prairie-hens,<BR> +which are excellent eating. Moreover, he found a large<BR> +quantity of wild grapes and plums. These were unfortunately<BR> +not nearly ripe, but Dick resolved to try his<BR> +hand at a new dish, so he stuffed the breast of his coat<BR> +full of them.<BR> +<BR> +After the pot was emptied, Dick washed it out, and<BR> +put a little clean water in it. Then he poured some<BR> +flour in, and stirred it well. While this was heating, he<BR> +squeezed the sour grapes and plums into what Joe<BR> +called a "mush," mixed it with a spoonful of sugar, and<BR> +emptied it into the pot. He also skimmed a quantity<BR> +of the fat from the remains of the turkey soup and<BR> +added that to the mess, which he stirred with earnest<BR> +diligence till it boiled down into a sort of thick porridge.<BR> +<BR> +"D'ye think it'll be good?" asked Joe gravely; "I've<BR> +me doubts of it."<BR> +<BR> +"We'll see.--Hold the tin dish, Henri."<BR> +<BR> +"Take care of de fingers. Ha! it looks magnifique--superb!"<BR> +<BR> +The first spoonful produced an expression on Henri's<BR> +face that needed not to be interpreted. It was as sour<BR> +as vinegar.<BR> +<BR> +"Ye'll ha' to eat it yerself, Dick, lad," cried Joe,<BR> +throwing down his spoon, and spitting out the unsavoury<BR> +mess.<BR> +<BR> +"Nonsense," cried Dick, bolting two or three mouthfuls,<BR> +and trying to look as if he liked it. "Try again;<BR> +it's not so bad as you think."<BR> +<BR> +"Ho-o-o-o-o!" cried Henri, after the second mouthful.<BR> +"Tis vinégre. All de sugare in de pack would not<BR> +make more sweeter one bite of it."<BR> +<BR> +Dick was obliged to confess the dish a failure, so it<BR> +was thrown out after having been offered to Crusoe,<BR> +who gave it one sniff and turned away in silence. Then<BR> +they mounted and resumed their journey.<BR> +<BR> +At this place mosquitoes and horse-flies troubled our<BR> +hunters and their steeds a good deal. The latter especially<BR> +were very annoying to the poor horses. They bit<BR> +them so much that the blood at last came trickling<BR> +down their sides. They were troubled also, once or<BR> +twice, by cockchafers and locusts, which annoyed them,<BR> +not indeed by biting, but by flying blindly against their<BR> +faces, and often-narrowly missed hitting them in the<BR> +eyes. Once particularly they were so bad that Henri<BR> +in his wrath opened his lips to pronounce a malediction<BR> +on the whole race, when a cockchafer flew straight into<BR> +his mouth, and, to use his own forcible expression,<BR> +"nearly knocked him off de hoss." But these were<BR> +minor evils, and scarcely cost the hunters a thought.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER XII.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Wanderings on the prairie</i>--<i>A war party</i>--<i>Chased by<BR> +Indians</i>--<i>A bold leap for life</i>.<BR> +<BR> +For many days the three hunters wandered over<BR> +the trackless prairie in search of a village of the<BR> +Sioux Indians, but failed to find one, for the Indians<BR> +were in the habit of shifting their ground and following<BR> +the buffalo. Several times they saw small isolated bands<BR> +of Indians; but these they carefully avoided, fearing<BR> +they might turn out to be war parties, and if they fell<BR> +into their hands the white men could not expect civil<BR> +treatment, whatever nation the Indians might belong to.<BR> +<BR> +During the greater portion of this time they met with<BR> +numerous herds of buffalo and deer, and were well supplied<BR> +with food; but they had to cook it during the day,<BR> +being afraid to light a fire at night while Indians were<BR> +prowling about.<BR> +<BR> +One night they halted near the bed of a stream which<BR> +was almost dry. They had travelled a day and a night<BR> +without water, and both men and horses were almost<BR> +choking, so that when they saw the trees on the horizon<BR> +which indicated the presence of a stream, they pushed<BR> +forward with almost frantic haste.<BR> +<BR> +"Hope it's not dry," said Joe anxiously as they galloped up to it.<BR> +"No,<BR> +there's water, lads," and they<BR> +dashed forward to a pool that had not yet been dried<BR> +up. They drank long and eagerly before they noticed<BR> +that the pool was strongly impregnated with salt. Many<BR> +streams in those parts of the prairies are quite salt, but<BR> +fortunately this one was not utterly undrinkable, though<BR> +it was very unpalatable.<BR> +<BR> +"We'll make it better, lads," said Joe, digging a deep<BR> +hole in the sand with his hands, a little below the pool.<BR> +In a short time the water filtered through, and though<BR> +not rendered fresh, it was, nevertheless, much improved.<BR> +<BR> +"We may light a fire to-night, d'ye think?" inquired<BR> +Dick; "we've not seed Injuns for some days."<BR> +<BR> +"P'r'aps 'twould be better not," said Joe; "but I daresay<BR> +we're safe enough."<BR> +<BR> +A fire was therefore lighted in as sheltered a spot as<BR> +could be found, and the three friends bivouacked as<BR> +usual. Towards dawn they were aroused by an angry<BR> +growl from Crusoe.<BR> +<BR> +"It's a wolf likely," said Dick, but all three seized and<BR> +cocked their rifles nevertheless.<BR> +<BR> +Again Crusoe growled more angrily than before, and<BR> +springing out of the camp snuffed the breeze anxiously.<BR> +<BR> +"Up, lads! catch the nags! There's something in the<BR> +wind, for the dog niver did that afore."<BR> +<BR> +In a few seconds the horses were saddled and the<BR> +packs secured.<BR> +<BR> +"Call in the dog," whispered Joe Blunt; "if he barks<BR> +they'll find out our whereabouts."<BR> +<BR> +"Here, Crusoe, come--"<BR> +<BR> +It was too late; the dog barked loudly and savagely<BR> +at the moment, and a troop of Indians came coursing<BR> +over the plain. On hearing the unwonted sound they<BR> +wheeled directly and made for the camp.<BR> +<BR> +"It's a war party; fly, lads! nothin' 'll save our<BR> +scalps now but our horses' heels," cried Joe.<BR> +<BR> +In a moment they vaulted into the saddle and urged<BR> +their steeds forward at the utmost speed. The savages<BR> +observed them, and with an exulting yell dashed after<BR> +them. Feeling that there was now no need of concealment,<BR> +the three horsemen struck off into the open prairie,<BR> +intending to depend entirely on the speed and stamina<BR> +of their horses. As we have before remarked, they<BR> +were good ones; but the Indians soon proved that they<BR> +were equally well if not better mounted.<BR> +<BR> +"It'll be a hard run," said Joe in a low, muttering<BR> +tone, and looking furtively over his shoulder. "The<BR> +varmints are mounted on wild horses--leastways they<BR> +were wild not long agone. Them chaps can throw the<BR> +lasso and trip a mustang as well as a Mexican. Mind<BR> +the badger-holes, Dick.--Hold in a bit, Henri; yer nag<BR> +don't need drivin'; a foot in a hole just now would<BR> +cost us our scalps. Keep down by the creek, lads."<BR> +<BR> +"Ha! how dey yell," said Henri in a savage tone,<BR> +looking back, and shaking his rifle at them, an act that<BR> +caused them to yell more fiercely than ever. "Dis old<BR> +pack-hoss give me moche trobel."<BR> +<BR> +The pace was now tremendous. Pursuers and pursued<BR> +rose and sank on the prairie billows as they swept<BR> +along, till they came to what is termed a "dividing<BR> +ridge," which is a cross wave, as it were, that cuts the<BR> +others in two, thus forming a continuous level. Here<BR> +they advanced more easily; but the advantage was<BR> +equally shared with their pursuers, who continued the<BR> +headlong pursuit with occasional yells, which served to<BR> +show the fugitives that they at least did not gain<BR> +ground.<BR> +<BR> +A little to the right of the direction in which they<BR> +were flying a blue line was seen on the horizon. This<BR> +indicated the existence of trees to Joe's practised eyes,<BR> +and feeling that if the horses broke down they could<BR> +better make a last manful stand in the wood than on<BR> +the plain he urged his steed towards it. The savages<BR> +noticed the movement at once, and uttered a yell of<BR> +exultation, for they regarded it as an evidence that the<BR> +fugitives doubted the strength of their horses.<BR> +<BR> +"Ye haven't got us yet," muttered Joe, with a sardonic<BR> +grin. "If they get near us, Dick, keep yer eyes<BR> +open an' look out for yer neck, else they'll drop a noose<BR> +over it, they will, afore ye know they're near, an' haul<BR> +ye off like a sack."<BR> +<BR> +Dick nodded in reply, but did not speak, for at that<BR> +moment his eye was fixed on a small creek ahead which<BR> +they must necessarily leap or dash across. It was<BR> +lined with clumps of scattered shrubbery, and he<BR> +glanced rapidly for the most suitable place to pass.<BR> +Joe and Henri did the same, and having diverged a<BR> +little to the different points chosen, they dashed through<BR> +the shrubbery and were hid from each other's view.<BR> +On approaching the edge of the stream, Dick found to<BR> +his consternation that the bank was twenty feet high<BR> +opposite him, and too wide for any horse to clear.<BR> +Wheeling aside without checking speed, at the risk of<BR> +throwing his steed, he rode along the margin of the<BR> +stream for a few hundred yards until he found a ford--at<BR> +least such a spot as might be cleared by a bold<BR> +leap. The temporary check, however, had enabled an<BR> +Indian to gain so close upon his heels that his exulting<BR> +yell sounded close in his ear.<BR> +<BR> +With a vigorous bound his gallant little horse went<BR> +over. Crusoe could not take it, but he rushed down<BR> +the one bank and up the other, so that he only lost a<BR> +few yards. These few yards, however, were sufficient<BR> +to bring the Indian close upon him as he cleared the<BR> +stream at full gallop. The savage whirled his lasso<BR> +swiftly round for a second, and in another moment<BR> +Crusoe uttered a tremendous roar as he was tripped up<BR> +violently on the plain.<BR> +<BR> +Dick heard the cry of his faithful dog, and turned<BR> +quickly round, just in time to see him spring at the<BR> +horse's throat, and bring both steed and rider down<BR> +upon him. Dick's heart leaped to his throat. Had a<BR> +thousand savages been rushing on him he would have<BR> +flown to the rescue of his favourite; but an unexpected<BR> +obstacle came in the way. His fiery little steed, excited<BR> +by the headlong race and the howls of the Indians,<BR> +had taken the bit in his teeth and was now unmanageable.<BR> +Dick tore at the reins like a maniac, and in the<BR> +height of his frenzy even raised the butt of his rifle with<BR> +the intent to strike the poor horse to the earth, but his<BR> +better nature prevailed. He checked the uplifted hand,<BR> +and with, a groan dropped the reins, and sank almost<BR> +helplessly forward on the saddle; for several of the Indians<BR> +had left the main body and were pursuing him<BR> +alone, so that there would have been now no chance of<BR> +his reaching the place where Crusoe fell, even if he could<BR> +have turned his horse.<BR> +<BR> +Spiritless, and utterly indifferent to what his fate<BR> +might be, Dick Varley rode along with his head drooping,<BR> +and keeping his seat almost mechanically, while the<BR> +mettlesome little steed flew on over wave and hollow.<BR> +Gradually he awakened from this state of despair to a<BR> +sense of danger. Glancing round he observed that the<BR> +Indians were now far behind him, though still pursuing.<BR> +He also observed that his companions were galloping<BR> +miles away on the horizon to the left, and that he had<BR> +foolishly allowed the savages to get between him and<BR> +them. The only chance that remained for him was to<BR> +outride his pursuers, and circle round towards his comrades,<BR> +and this he hoped to accomplish, for his little<BR> +horse had now proved itself to be superior to those of the<BR> +Indians, and there was good running in him still.<BR> +<BR> +Urging him forward, therefore, he soon left the savages<BR> +still farther behind, and feeling confident that they could<BR> +not now overtake him he reined up and dismounted.<BR> +The pursuers quickly drew near, but short though it<BR> +was the rest did his horse good. Vaulting into the<BR> +saddle, he again stretched out, and now skirted along<BR> +the margin of a wood which seemed to mark the position<BR> +of a river of considerable size.<BR> +<BR> +At this moment his horse put his foot into a badger-hole,<BR> +and both of them came heavily to the ground.<BR> +In an instant Dick rose, picked up his gun, and leaped<BR> +unhurt into the saddle. But on urging his poor horse<BR> +forward he found that its shoulder was badly sprained.<BR> +<BR> +There was no room for mercy, however--life and death<BR> +were in the balance--so he plied the lash vigorously,<BR> +and the noble steed warmed into something like a run,<BR> +when again it stumbled, and fell with a crash on the<BR> +ground, while the blood burst from its mouth and nostrils.<BR> +Dick could hear the shout of triumph uttered by<BR> +his pursuers.<BR> +<BR> +"My poor, poor horse!" he exclaimed in a tone of the<BR> +deepest commiseration, while he stooped and stroked its<BR> +foam-studded neck.<BR> +<BR> +The dying steed raised its head for a moment, it almost<BR> +seemed as if to acknowledge the tones of affection,<BR> +then it sank down with a gurgling groan.<BR> +<BR> +Dick sprang up, for the Indians were now upon him,<BR> +and bounded like an antelope into the thickest of the<BR> +shrubbery; which was nowhere thick enough, however,<BR> +to prevent the Indians following. Still, it sufficiently<BR> +retarded them to render the chase a more equal one than<BR> +could have been expected. In a few minutes Dick<BR> +gained a strip of open ground beyond, and found<BR> +himself on the bank of a broad river, whose evidently<BR> +deep waters rushed impetuously along their unobstructed<BR> +channel. The bank at the spot where he<BR> +reached it was a sheer precipice of between thirty and<BR> +forty feet high. Glancing up and down the river he<BR> +retreated a few paces, turned round and shook his<BR> +clenched fist at the savages, accompanying the action<BR> +with a shout of defiance, and then running to the edge<BR> +of the bank, sprang far out into the boiling flood and<BR> +sank.<BR> +<BR> +The Indians pulled up on reaching the spot. There<BR> +was no possibility of galloping down the wood-encumbered<BR> +banks after the fugitive; but quick as thought<BR> +each Red-man leaped to the ground, and fitting an arrow<BR> +to his bow, awaited Dick's re-appearance with eager<BR> +gaze.<BR> +<BR> +Young though he was, and unskilled in such wild<BR> +warfare, Dick knew well enough what sort of reception<BR> +he would meet with on coming to the surface, so he kept<BR> +under water as long as he could, and struck out as vigorously<BR> +as the care of his rifle would permit. At last he<BR> +rose for a few seconds, and immediately half-a-dozen<BR> +arrows whizzed through the air; but most of them fell<BR> +short--only one passed close to his cheek, and went with<BR> +a "whip" into the river. He immediately sank again,<BR> +and the next time he rose to breathe he was far beyond<BR> +the reach of his Indian enemies.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER XIII.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Escape from Indians--A discovery--Alone in the desert</i>.<BR> +<BR> +Dick Varley had spent so much of his boyhood<BR> +in sporting about among the waters of the rivers<BR> +and lakes near which he had been reared, and especially<BR> +during the last two years had spent so much of his<BR> +leisure time in rolling and diving with his dog Crusoe<BR> +in the lake of the Mustang Valley, that he had become<BR> +almost as expert in the water as a South Sea islander;<BR> +so that when he found himself whirling down the rapid<BR> +river, as already described, he was more impressed with<BR> +a feeling of gratitude to God for his escape from the<BR> +Indians than anxiety about getting ashore.<BR> +<BR> +He was not altogether blind or indifferent to the<BR> +danger into which he might be hurled if the channel of<BR> +the river should be found lower down to be broken with<BR> +rocks, or should a waterfall unexpectedly appear. After<BR> +floating down a sufficient distance to render pursuit<BR> +out of the question, he struck into the bank opposite to<BR> +that from which he had plunged, and clambering up<BR> +to the greensward above, stripped off the greater part<BR> +of his clothing and hung it on the branches of a bush to<BR> +dry. Then he sat down on the trunk of a fallen tree<BR> +to consider what course he had best pursue in his present<BR> +circumstances.<BR> +<BR> +These circumstances were by no means calculated to<BR> +inspire him with hope or comfort. He was in the<BR> +midst of an unknown wilderness, hundreds of miles<BR> +from any white man's settlement; surrounded by<BR> +savages; without food or blanket; his companions<BR> +gone, he knew not whither--perhaps taken and killed<BR> +by the Indians; his horse dead; and his dog, the most<BR> +trusty and loving of all his friends, lost to him, probably,<BR> +for ever! A more veteran heart might have<BR> +quailed in the midst of such accumulated evils; but<BR> +Dick Varley possessed a strong, young, and buoyant<BR> +constitution, which, united with a hopefulness of disposition<BR> +that almost nothing could overcome, enabled him<BR> +very quickly to cast aside the gloomy view of his case<BR> +and turn to its brighter aspects.<BR> +<BR> +He still grasped his good rifle, that was some comfort;<BR> +and as his eye fell upon it, he turned with anxiety to<BR> +examine into the condition of his powder-horn and the<BR> +few things that he had been fortunate enough to carry<BR> +away with him about his person.<BR> +<BR> +The horn in which western hunters carry their powder<BR> +is usually that of an ox. It is closed up at the large<BR> +end with a piece of hard wood fitted tightly into it, and<BR> +the small end is closed with a wooden peg or stopper.<BR> +It is therefore completely water-tight, and may be for<BR> +hours immersed without the powder getting wet, unless<BR> +the stopper should chance to be knocked out. Dick<BR> +found, to his great satisfaction, that the stopper was<BR> +fast and the powder perfectly dry. Moreover, he had by good fortune<BR> +filled<BR> +it full two days before from the<BR> +package that contained the general stock of ammunition,<BR> +so that there were only two or three charges out of it.<BR> +His percussion caps, however, were completely destroyed;<BR> +and even though they had not been, it would have mattered<BR> +little, for he did not possess more than half-a-dozen.<BR> +But this was not so great a misfortune as at first it<BR> +might seem, for he had the spare flint locks and the little<BR> +screw-driver necessary for fixing and unfixing them<BR> +stowed away in his shot pouch.<BR> +<BR> +To examine his supply of bullets was his next care,<BR> +and slowly he counted them out, one by one, to the<BR> +number of thirty. This was a pretty fair supply, and<BR> +with careful economy would last him many days. Having<BR> +relieved his mind on these all-important points,<BR> +he carefully examined every pouch and corner of his<BR> +dress to ascertain the exact amount and value of his<BR> +wealth.<BR> +<BR> +Besides the leather leggings, moccasins, deerskin hunting-shirt,<BR> +cap, and belt which composed his costume, he<BR> +had a short heavy hunting-knife, a piece of tinder, a<BR> +little tin pannikin, which he had been in the habit of<BR> +carrying at his belt, and a large cake of maple sugar.<BR> +This last is a species of sugar which is procured by the<BR> +Indians from the maple-tree. Several cakes of it had<BR> +been carried off from the Pawnee village, and Dick<BR> +usually carried one in the breast of his coat. Besides<BR> +these things, he found that the little Bible, for which<BR> +his mother had made a small inside breast-pocket, was<BR> +safe. Dick's heart smote him when he took it out and<BR> +undid the clasp, for he had not looked at it until that<BR> +day. It was firmly bound with a brass clasp, so that,<BR> +although the binding and the edges of the leaves were<BR> +soaked, the inside was quite dry. On opening the book<BR> +to see if it had been damaged, a small paper fell out.<BR> +Picking it up quickly, he unfolded it, and read, in his<BR> +mother's handwriting: "<i>Call upon me in the time of<BR> +trouble; and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify<BR> +me. My son, give me thine heart</i>."<BR> +<BR> +Dick's eyes filled with tears while the sound, as it<BR> +were, of his mother's voice thus reached him unexpectedly<BR> +in that lonely wilderness. Like too many whose<BR> +hearts are young and gay, Dick had regarded religion, if<BR> +not as a gloomy, at least as not a cheerful thing. But<BR> +he felt the comfort of these words at that moment, and<BR> +he resolved seriously to peruse his mother's parting gift<BR> +in time to come.<BR> +<BR> +The sun was hot, and a warm breeze gently shook<BR> +the leaves, so that Dick's garments were soon dry. A<BR> +few minutes served to change the locks of his rifle, draw<BR> +the wet charges, dry out the barrels, and re-load. Then<BR> +throwing it across his shoulder, he entered the wood and<BR> +walked lightly away. And well he might, poor fellow,<BR> +for at that moment he felt light enough in person if not<BR> +in heart. His worldly goods were not such as to oppress<BR> +him; but the little note had turned his thoughts towards<BR> +home, and he felt comforted.<BR> +<BR> +Traversing the belt of woodland that marked the<BR> +course of the river, Dick soon emerged on the wide<BR> +prairie beyond, and here he paused in some uncertainty<BR> +as to how he should proceed.<BR> +<BR> +He was too good a backwoodsman, albeit so young, to<BR> +feel perplexed as to the points of the compass. He<BR> +knew pretty well what hour it was, so that the sun<BR> +showed him the general bearings of the country, and he<BR> +knew that when night came he could correct his course<BR> +by the pole star. Dick's knowledge of astronomy was<BR> +limited; he knew only one star by name, but that one<BR> +was an inestimable treasure of knowledge. His perplexity<BR> +was owing to his uncertainty as to the direction<BR> +in which his companions and their pursuers had gone;<BR> +for he had made up his mind to follow their trail if<BR> +possible, and render all the succour his single arm<BR> +might afford. To desert them, and make for the settlement,<BR> +he held, would be a faithless and cowardly<BR> +act.<BR> +<BR> +While they were together Joe Blunt had often talked<BR> +to him about the route he meant to pursue to the Rocky<BR> +Mountains, so that, if they had escaped the Indians, he<BR> +thought there might be some chance of finding them at<BR> +last. But, to set against this, there was the probability<BR> +that they had been taken and carried away in a totally<BR> +different direction; or they might have taken to the<BR> +river, as he had done, and gone farther down without<BR> +his observing them. Then, again, if they had escaped,<BR> +they would be sure to return and search the country<BR> +round for him, so that if he left the spot he might miss<BR> +them.<BR> +<BR> +"Oh for my dear pup Crusoe!" he exclaimed aloud<BR> +in this dilemma; but the faithful ear was shut now,<BR> +and the deep silence that followed his cry was so oppressive<BR> +that the young hunter sprang forward at a run<BR> +over the plain, as if to fly from solitude. He soon became<BR> +so absorbed, however, in his efforts to find the<BR> +trail of his companions, that he forgot all other considerations,<BR> +and ran straight forward for hours together<BR> +with his eyes eagerly fixed on the ground. At last he<BR> +felt so hungry, having tasted no food since supper-time<BR> +the previous evening, that he halted for the purpose of<BR> +eating a morsel of maple sugar. A line of bushes in<BR> +the distance indicated water, so he sped on again, and<BR> +was soon seated beneath a willow, drinking water from<BR> +the cool stream. No game was to be found here, but<BR> +there were several kinds of berries, among which wild<BR> +grapes and plums grew in abundance. With these and<BR> +some sugar he made a meal, though not a good one, for<BR> +the berries were quite green and intensely sour.<BR> +<BR> +All that day Dick Varley followed up the trail of his<BR> +companions, which he discovered at a ford in the river.<BR> +They had crossed, therefore, in safety, though still pursued;<BR> +so he ran on at a regular trot, and with a little<BR> +more hope than he had felt during the day. Towards<BR> +night, however, Dick's heart sank again, for he came<BR> +upon innumerable buffalo tracks, among which those of<BR> +the horses soon became mingled up, so that he lost them<BR> +altogether. Hoping to find them again more easily by<BR> +broad daylight, he went to the nearest clump of willows<BR> +he could find, and encamped for the night.<BR> +<BR> +Remembering the use formerly made of the tall willows,<BR> +he set to work to construct a covering to protect<BR> +him from the dew. As he had no blanket or buffalo<BR> +skin, he used leaves and grass instead, and found it a<BR> +better shelter than he had expected, especially when the<BR> +fire was lighted, and a pannikin of hot sugar and water<BR> +smoked at his feet; but as no game was to be found, he<BR> +was again compelled to sup off unripe berries. Before<BR> +lying down to rest he remembered his resolution, and<BR> +pulling out the little Bible, read a portion of it by the<BR> +fitful blaze of the fire, and felt great comfort in its blessed<BR> +words. It seemed to him like a friend with whom he<BR> +could converse in the midst of his loneliness.<BR> +<BR> +The plunge into the river having broken Dick's pipe<BR> +and destroyed his tobacco, he now felt the want of that<BR> +luxury very severely, and, never having wanted it before,<BR> +he was greatly surprised to find how much he had<BR> +become enslaved to the habit. It cost him more than<BR> +an hour's rest that night, the craving for his wonted<BR> +pipe.<BR> +<BR> +The sagacious reader will doubtless not fail here to<BR> +ask himself the question, whether it is wise in man to<BR> +create in himself an unnatural and totally unnecessary<BR> +appetite, which may, and often does, entail hours--ay,<BR> +sometimes months--of exceeding discomfort; but we<BR> +would not for a moment presume to suggest such a<BR> +question to him. We have a distinct objection to the<BR> +ordinary method of what is called "drawing a moral."<BR> +It is much better to leave wise men to do this for<BR> +themselves.<BR> +<BR> +Next morning Dick rose with the sun, and started<BR> +without breakfast, preferring to take his chance of finding<BR> +a bird or animal of some kind before long, to feeding<BR> +again on sour berries. He was disappointed, however,<BR> +in finding the tracks of his companions. The ground<BR> +here was hard and sandy, so that little or no impression<BR> +of a distinct kind was made on it; and as buffaloes<BR> +had traversed it in all directions, he was soon utterly<BR> +bewildered. He thought it possible that, by running<BR> +out for several miles in a straight line, and then taking<BR> +a wide circuit round, he might find the tracks emerging<BR> +from the confusion made by the buffaloes. But he was<BR> +again disappointed, for the buffalo tracks still continued,<BR> +and the ground became less capable of showing a footprint.<BR> +<BR> +Soon Dick began to feel so ill and weak from eating<BR> +such poor fare, that he gave up all hope of discovering<BR> +the tracks, and was compelled to push forward at his<BR> +utmost speed in order to reach a less barren district,<BR> +where he might procure fresh meat; but the farther he<BR> +advanced the worse and more sandy did the district<BR> +become. For several days he pushed on over this arid<BR> +waste without seeing bird or beast, and, to add to his<BR> +misery, he failed at last to find water. For a day and<BR> +a night he wandered about in a burning fever, and his<BR> +throat so parched that he was almost suffocated. Towards<BR> +the close of the second day he saw a slight line<BR> +of bushes away down in a hollow on his right. With<BR> +eager steps he staggered towards them, and, on drawing<BR> +near, beheld--blessed sight!--a stream of water glancing<BR> +in the beams of the setting sun.<BR> +<BR> +Dick tried to shout for joy, but his parched throat<BR> +refused to give utterance to the voice. It mattered<BR> +not. Exerting all his remaining strength he rushed<BR> +down the bank, dropped his rifle, and plunged headforemost<BR> +into the stream.<BR> +<BR> +The first mouthful sent a thrill of horror to his heart;<BR> +it was salt as brine!<BR> +<BR> +The poor youth's cup of bitterness was now full to<BR> +overflowing. Crawling out of the stream, he sank down<BR> +on the bank in a species of lethargic torpor, from which,<BR> +he awakened next morning in a raging fever. Delirium<BR> +soon rendered him insensible to his sufferings. The<BR> +sun rose like a ball of fire, and shone down with scorching<BR> +power on the arid plain. What mattered it to<BR> +Dick? He was far away in the shady groves of the<BR> +Mustang Valley, chasing the deer at times, but more<BR> +frequently cooling his limbs and sporting with Crusoe<BR> +in the bright blue lake. Now he was in his mother's<BR> +cottage, telling her how he had thought of her when<BR> +far away on the prairie, and what a bright, sweet word<BR> +it was she had whispered in his ear--so unexpectedly,<BR> +too. Anon he was scouring over the plains on horseback,<BR> +with the savages at his heels; and at such times<BR> +Dick would spring with almost supernatural strength<BR> +from the ground, and run madly over the burning plain;<BR> +but, as if by a species of fascination, he always returned<BR> +to the salt river, and sank exhausted by its side, or<BR> +plunged helplessly into its waters.<BR> +<BR> +These sudden immersions usually restored him for a<BR> +short time to reason, and he would crawl up the bank<BR> +and gnaw a morsel of the maple sugar; but he could not<BR> +eat much, for it was in a tough, compact cake, which<BR> +his jaws had not power to break. All that day and<BR> +the next night he lay on the banks of the salt stream,<BR> +or rushed wildly over the plain. It was about noon of<BR> +the second day after his attack that he crept slowly<BR> +out of the water, into which he had plunged a few<BR> +seconds before. His mind was restored, but he felt an<BR> +indescribable sensation of weakness, that seemed to him<BR> +to be the approach of death. Creeping towards the<BR> +place where his rifle lay, he fell exhausted beside it,<BR> +and laid his cheek on the Bible, which had fallen out<BR> +of his pocket there.<BR> +<BR> +While his eyes were closed in a dreamy sort of half-waking<BR> +slumber, he felt the rough, hairy coat of an animal<BR> +brush against his forehead. The idea of being torn<BR> +to pieces by wolves flashed instantly across his mind,<BR> +and with a shriek of terror he sprang up--to be almost<BR> +overwhelmed by the caresses of his faithful dog.<BR> +<BR> +Yes, there he was, bounding round his master, barking<BR> +and whining, and giving vent to every possible<BR> +expression of canine joy!<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER XIV.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Crusoe's return, and his private adventures among the Indians--Dick<BR> +at a very low ebb--Crusoe saves him</i>.<BR> +<BR> +The means by which Crusoe managed to escape<BR> +from his two-legged captors, and rejoin his master,<BR> +require separate and special notice.<BR> +<BR> +In the struggle with the fallen horse and Indian,<BR> +which Dick had seen begun but not concluded, he was<BR> +almost crushed to death; and the instant the Indian<BR> +gained his feet, he sent an arrow at his head with<BR> +savage violence. Crusoe, however, had been so well<BR> +used to dodging the blunt-headed arrows that were<BR> +wont to be shot at him by the boys of the Mustang<BR> +Valley, that he was quite prepared, and eluded the<BR> +shaft by an active bound. Moreover, he uttered one of<BR> +his own peculiar roars, flew at the Indian's throat, and<BR> +dragged him down. At the same moment the other<BR> +Indians came up, and one of them turned aside to the<BR> +rescue. This man happened to have an old gun, of<BR> +the cheap sort at that time exchanged for peltries by<BR> +the fur-traders. With the butt of this he struck<BR> +Crusoe a blow on the head that sent him sprawling on<BR> +the grass.<BR> +<BR> +The rest of the savages, as we have seen, continued<BR> +in pursuit of Dick until he leaped into the river; then<BR> +they returned, took the saddle and bridle off his dead<BR> +horse, and rejoined their comrades. Here they held a<BR> +court-martial on Crusoe, who was now bound foot and<BR> +muzzle with cords. Some were for killing him; others,<BR> +who admired his noble appearance, immense size, and<BR> +courage, thought it would be well to carry him to their<BR> +village and keep him. There was a pretty violent dispute<BR> +on the subject, but at length it was agreed that<BR> +they should spare his life in the meantime, and perhaps<BR> +have a dog-dance round him when they got to their<BR> +wigwams.<BR> +<BR> +This dance, of which Crusoe was to be the chief<BR> +though passive performer, is peculiar to some of the<BR> +tribes east of the Rocky Mountains, and consists in<BR> +killing a dog and cutting out its liver, which is afterwards<BR> +sliced into shreds or strings and hung on a pole<BR> +about the height of a man's head. A band of warriors<BR> +then come and dance wildly round this pole, and each<BR> +one in succession goes up to the raw liver and bites a<BR> +piece off it, without, however, putting his hands near<BR> +it. Such is the dog-dance, and to such was poor Crusoe<BR> +destined by his fierce captors, especially by the one<BR> +whose throat still bore very evident marks of his teeth.<BR> +<BR> +But Crusoe was much too clever a dog to be disposed<BR> +of in so disgusting a manner. He had privately resolved<BR> +in his own mind that he would escape; but the<BR> +hopelessness of his ever carrying that resolution into<BR> +effect would have been apparent to any one who could<BR> +have seen the way in which his muzzle was secured,<BR> +and his four paws were tied together in a bunch, as<BR> +he hung suspended across the saddle of one of the<BR> +savages!<BR> +<BR> +This particular party of Indians who had followed<BR> +Dick Varley determined not to wait for the return of<BR> +their comrades who were in pursuit of the other two<BR> +hunters, but to go straight home, so for several days<BR> +they galloped away over the prairie. At nights, when<BR> +they encamped, Crusoe was thrown on the ground like<BR> +a piece of old lumber, and left to lie there with a mere<BR> +scrap of food till morning, when he was again thrown<BR> +across the horse of his captor and carried on. When<BR> +the village was reached, he was thrown again on the<BR> +ground, and would certainly have been torn to pieces in<BR> +five minutes by the Indian curs which came howling<BR> +round him, had not an old woman come to the rescue<BR> +and driven them away. With the help of her grand-son--a<BR> +little naked creature, just able to walk, or rather<BR> +to stagger--she dragged him to her tent, and, undoing<BR> +the line that fastened his mouth, offered him a bone.<BR> +<BR> +Although lying in a position that was unfavourable<BR> +for eating purposes, Crusoe opened his jaws and took it.<BR> +An awful crash was followed by two crunches--and it<BR> +was gone! and Crusoe looked up in the old squaw's<BR> +face with a look that said plainly, "Another of the same,<BR> +please, and as quick as possible." The old woman gave<BR> +him another, and then a lump of meat, which latter<BR> +went down with a gulp; but he coughed after it! and<BR> +it was well he didn't choke. After this the squaw left<BR> +him, and Crusoe spent the remainder of that night<BR> +gnawing the cords that bound him. So diligent was<BR> +he that he was free before morning and walked deliberately<BR> +out of the tent. Then he shook himself, and<BR> +with a yell that one might have fancied was intended<BR> +for defiance he bounded joyfully away, and was soon<BR> +out of sight.<BR> +<BR> +To a dog with a good appetite which had been on short<BR> +allowance for several days, the mouthful given to him by<BR> +the old squaw was a mere nothing. All that day he<BR> +kept bounding over the plain from bluff to bluff in<BR> +search of something to eat, but found nothing until<BR> +dusk, when he pounced suddenly and most unexpectedly<BR> +on a prairie-hen fast asleep. In one moment its life<BR> +was gone. In less than a minute its body was gone<BR> +too--feathers and bones and all--down Crusoe's ravenous<BR> +throat.<BR> +<BR> +On the identical spot Crusoe lay down and slept like<BR> +a top for four hours. At the end of that time he<BR> +jumped up, bolted a scrap of skin that somehow had<BR> +been overlooked at supper, and flew straight over the<BR> +prairie to the spot where he had had the scuffle with<BR> +the Indian. He came to the edge of the river, took<BR> +precisely the same leap that his master had done before<BR> +him, and came out on the other side a good deal higher<BR> +up than Dick had done, for the dog had no savages to<BR> +dodge, and was, as we have said before, a powerful<BR> +swimmer.<BR> +<BR> +It cost him a good deal of running about to find the<BR> +trail, and it was nearly dark before he resumed his<BR> +journey; then, putting his keen nose to the ground, he<BR> +ran step by step over Dick's track, and at last found<BR> +him, as we have shown, on the banks of the salt creek.<BR> +<BR> +It is quite impossible to describe the intense joy<BR> +which filled Dick's heart on again beholding his favourite.<BR> +Only those who have lost and found such an one<BR> +can know it. Dick seized him round the neck and<BR> +hugged him as well as he could, poor fellow! in his<BR> +feeble arms; then he wept, then he laughed, and then<BR> +he fainted.<BR> +<BR> +This was a consummation that took Crusoe quite<BR> +aback. Never having seen his master in such a state<BR> +before he seemed to think at first that he was playing<BR> +some trick, for he bounded round him, and barked, and<BR> +wagged his tail. But as Dick lay quite still and<BR> +motionless, he went forward with a look of alarm;<BR> +snuffed him once or twice, and whined piteously; then<BR> +he raised his nose in the air and uttered a long melancholy<BR> +wail.<BR> +<BR> +The cry seemed to revive Dick, for he moved, and<BR> +with some difficulty sat up, to the dog's evident relief.<BR> +There is no doubt whatever that Crusoe learned an<BR> +erroneous lesson that day, and was firmly convinced<BR> +thenceforth that the best cure for a fainting fit is a<BR> +melancholy yell. So easy is it for the wisest of dogs<BR> +as well as men to fall into gross error!<BR> +<BR> +"Crusoe," said Dick, in a feeble voice, "dear good<BR> +pup, come here." He crawled, as he spoke, down to<BR> +the water's edge, where there was a level patch of dry<BR> +sand.<BR> +<BR> +"Dig," said Dick, pointing to the sand.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe looked at him in surprise, as well he might,<BR> +for he had never heard the word "dig" in all his life<BR> +before.<BR> +<BR> +Dick pondered a minute then a thought struck him.<BR> +<BR> +He turned up a little of the sand with his fingers, and,<BR> +pointing to the hole, cried, "<i>Seek him out, pup</i>!"<BR> +<BR> +Ha! Crusoe understood <i>that</i>. Many and many a<BR> +time had he unhoused rabbits, and squirrels, and other<BR> +creatures at that word of command; so, without a moment's<BR> +delay, he commenced to dig down into the sand,<BR> +every now and then stopping for a moment and shoving<BR> +in his nose, and snuffing interrogatively, as if he fully<BR> +expected to find a buffalo at the bottom of it. Then he<BR> +would resume again, one paw after another so fast that<BR> +you could scarce see them going--"hand over hand," as<BR> +sailors would have called it--while the sand flew out<BR> +between his hind legs in a continuous shower. When<BR> +the sand accumulated so much behind him as to impede<BR> +his motions he scraped it out of his way, and set to<BR> +work again with tenfold earnestness. After a good<BR> +while he paused and looked up at Dick with an<BR> +"it-won't-do,-I-fear,-there's-nothing-here" expression on his<BR> +face.<BR> +<BR> +"Seek him out, pup!" repeated Dick.<BR> +<BR> +"Oh! very good," mutely answered the dog, and went<BR> +at it again, tooth and nail, harder than ever.<BR> +<BR> +In the course of a quarter of an hour there was a<BR> +deep yawning hole in the sand, into which Dick peered<BR> +with intense anxiety. The bottom appeared slightly<BR> +<i>damp</i>. Hope now reanimated Dick Varley, and by<BR> +various devices he succeeded in getting the dog to scrape<BR> +away a sort of tunnel from the hole, into which he<BR> +might roll himself and put down his lips to drink when<BR> +the water should rise high enough. Impatiently and<BR> +anxiously he lay watching the moisture slowly accumulate<BR> +in the bottom of the hole, drop by drop, and while<BR> +he gazed he fell into a troubled, restless slumber, and<BR> +dreamed that Crusoe's return was a dream, and that he<BR> +was alone again, perishing for want of water.<BR> +<BR> +When he awakened the hole was half full of clear<BR> +water, and Crusoe was lapping it greedily.<BR> +<BR> +"Back, pup!" he shouted, as he crept down to the<BR> +hole and put his trembling lips to the water. It was<BR> +brackish, but drinkable, and as Dick drank deeply of<BR> +it he esteemed it at that moment better than nectar.<BR> +Here he lay for half-an-hour, alternately drinking and<BR> +gazing in surprise at his own emaciated visage as reflected<BR> +in the pool.<BR> +<BR> +The same afternoon Crusoe, in a private hunting excursion<BR> +of his own, discovered and caught a prairie-hen,<BR> +which he quietly proceeded to devour on the spot, when<BR> +Dick, who saw what had occurred, whistled to him.<BR> +<BR> +Obedience was engrained in every fibre of Crusoe's<BR> +mental and corporeal being. He did not merely answer<BR> +at once to the call--he <i>sprang</i> to it, leaving the prairie-hen<BR> +untasted.<BR> +<BR> +"Fetch it, pup," cried Dick eagerly as the dog came<BR> +up.<BR> +<BR> +In a few moments the hen was at his feet. Dick's<BR> +circumstances could not brook the delay of cookery; he<BR> +gashed the bird with his knife and drank the blood, and<BR> +then gave the flesh to the dog, while he crept to the<BR> +pool again for another draught. Ah! think not, reader,<BR> +that although we have treated this subject in a slight<BR> +vein of pleasantry, because it ended well, that therefore<BR> +our tale is pure fiction. Not only are Indians glad to<BR> +satisfy the urgent cravings of hunger with raw flesh,<BR> +but many civilized men and delicately nurtured have<BR> +done the same--ay, and doubtless will do the same<BR> +again, as long as enterprising and fearless men shall go<BR> +forth to dare the dangers of flood and field in the wild<BR> +places of our wonderful world!<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe had finished his share of the feast before Dick<BR> +returned from the pool. Then master and dog lay down<BR> +together side by side and fell into a long, deep, peaceful<BR> +slumber.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER XV.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Health and happiness return</i>--<i>Incidents of the journey</i>--<i>A<BR> +buffalo shot</i>--<i>A wild horse "creased"</i>--<i>Dick's battle with<BR> +a mustang</i>.<BR> +<BR> +Dick Varley's fears and troubles, in the meantime,<BR> +were ended. On the day following he<BR> +awoke refreshed and happy--so happy and light at<BR> +heart, as he felt the glow of returning health coursing<BR> +through his veins, that he fancied he must have dreamed<BR> +it all. In fact, he was so certain that his muscles were<BR> +strong that he endeavoured to leap up, but was powerfully<BR> +convinced of his true condition by the miserable<BR> +stagger that resulted from the effort.<BR> +<BR> +However, he knew he was recovering, so he rose, and<BR> +thanking God for his recovery, and for the new hope<BR> +that was raised in his heart, he went down to the pool<BR> +and drank deeply of its water. Then he returned, and,<BR> +sitting down beside his dog, opened the Bible and read<BR> +long--and, for the first time, <i>earnestly</i>--the story of<BR> +Christ's love for sinful man. He at last fell asleep over<BR> +the book, and when he awakened felt so much refreshed<BR> +in body and mind that he determined to attempt to<BR> +pursue his journey.<BR> +<BR> +He had not proceeded far when he came upon a<BR> +colony of prairie-dogs. Upon this occasion he was little<BR> +inclined to take a humorous view of the vagaries of<BR> +these curious little creatures, but he shot one, and, as<BR> +before, ate part of it raw. These creatures are so active<BR> +that they are difficult to shoot, and even when killed<BR> +generally fall into their holes and disappear. Crusoe,<BR> +however, soon unearthed the dead animal on this occasion.<BR> +That night the travellers came to a stream of<BR> +fresh water, and Dick killed a turkey, so that he determined<BR> +to spend a couple of days there to recruit. At<BR> +the end of that time he again set out, but was able only<BR> +to advance five miles when he broke down. In fact, it<BR> +became evident to him that he must have a longer period<BR> +of absolute repose ere he could hope to continue his<BR> +journey; but to do so without food was impossible.<BR> +Fortunately there was plenty of water, as his course lay<BR> +along the margin of a small stream, and, as the arid<BR> +piece of prairie was now behind him, he hoped to fall in<BR> +with birds, or perhaps deer, soon.<BR> +<BR> +While he was plodding heavily and wearily along,<BR> +pondering these things, he came to the brow of a wave<BR> +from which he beheld a most magnificent view of green<BR> +grassy plains decked with flowers, and rolling out to<BR> +the horizon, with a stream meandering through it, and<BR> +clumps of trees scattered everywhere far and wide. It<BR> +was a glorious sight; but the most glorious object in it<BR> +to Dick, at that time, was a fat buffalo which stood<BR> +grazing not a hundred yards off. The wind was blowing<BR> +towards him, so that the animal did not scent him,<BR> +and, as he came up very slowly, and it was turned away,<BR> +it did not see him.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe would have sprung forward in an instant, but<BR> +his master's finger imposed silence and caution. Trembling<BR> +with eagerness, Dick sank flat down in the grass,<BR> +cocked both barrels of his piece, and, resting it on his<BR> +left hand with his left elbow on the ground, he waited<BR> +until the animal should present its side. In a few<BR> +seconds it moved; Dick's eye glanced along the barrel,<BR> +but it trembled--his wonted steadiness of aim was<BR> +gone. He fired, and the buffalo sprang off in terror.<BR> +With a groan of despair he fired again---almost recklessly--and<BR> +the buffalo fell! It rose once or twice and<BR> +stumbled forward a few paces, then it fell again. Meanwhile<BR> +Dick reloaded with trembling hand, and advanced<BR> +to give it another shot; but it was not needful--the<BR> +buffalo was already dead.<BR> +<BR> +"Now, Crusoe," said Dick, sitting down on the buffalo's<BR> +shoulder and patting his favourite on the head, "we're<BR> +all right at last. You and I shall have a jolly time o't,<BR> +pup, from this time for'ard."<BR> +<BR> +Dick paused for breath, and Crusoe wagged his tail<BR> +and looked as if to say--pshaw! "<i>as if!</i>"<BR> +<BR> +We tell you what it is, reader, it's of no use at all to<BR> +go on writing "as if," when we tell you what Crusoe<BR> +said. If there is any language in eyes whatever--if<BR> +there is language in a tail, in a cocked ear, in a mobile<BR> +eyebrow, in the point of a canine nose,--if there is<BR> +language in any terrestrial thing at all, apart from that<BR> +which flows from the tongue, then Crusoe <i>spoke!</i> Do<BR> +we not speak at this moment to <i>you?</i> and if so, then<BR> +tell me wherein lies the difference between a written<BR> +<i>letter</i> and a given <i>sign?</i><BR> +<BR> +Yes, Crusoe spoke. He said to Dick as plain as dog<BR> +could say it, slowly and emphatically, "That's my opinion<BR> +precisely, Dick. You're the dearest, most beloved, jolliest<BR> +fellow that ever walked on two legs, you are; and<BR> +whatever's your opinion is mine, no matter <i>how</i> absurd<BR> +it may be."<BR> +<BR> +Dick evidently understood him perfectly, for he<BR> +laughed as he looked at him and patted him on the<BR> +head, and called him a "funny dog." Then he continued<BR> +his discourse:--<BR> +<BR> +"Yes, pup, we'll make our camp here for a long bit,<BR> +old dog, in this beautiful plain. We'll make a willow<BR> +wigwam to sleep in, you and I, jist in yon clump o'<BR> +trees, not a stone's-throw to our right, where we'll have<BR> +a run o' pure water beside us, and be near our buffalo<BR> +at the same time. For, ye see, we'll need to watch him<BR> +lest the wolves take a notion to eat him--that'll be<BR> +<i>your</i> duty, pup. Then I'll skin him when I get strong<BR> +enough, which'll be in a day or two, I hope, and we'll<BR> +put one-half of the skin below us and t'other half above<BR> +us i' the camp, an' sleep, an' eat, an' take it easy for a<BR> +week or two--won't we, pup?"<BR> +<BR> +"Hoora-a-a-y!" shouted Crusoe, with a jovial wag of<BR> +his tail, that no human arm with hat, or cap, or kerchief<BR> +ever equalled.<BR> +<BR> +Poor Dick Varley! He smiled to think how earnestly<BR> +he had been talking to the dog; but he did not cease to<BR> +do it, for although he entered into discourses the drift<BR> +of which Crusoe's limited education did not permit him<BR> +to follow, he found comfort in hearing the sound of his<BR> +own voice, and in knowing that it fell pleasantly on<BR> +another ear in that lonely wilderness.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +Our hero now set about his preparations as vigorously<BR> +as he could. He cut out the buffalo's tongue--a matter<BR> +of great difficulty to one in his weak state--and carried<BR> +it to a pleasant spot near to the stream where the turf<BR> +was level and green, and decked with wild flowers.<BR> +Here he resolved to make his camp.<BR> +<BR> +His first care was to select a bush whose branches<BR> +were long enough to form a canopy over his head when<BR> +bent, and the ends thrust into the ground. The completing<BR> +of this exhausted him greatly, but after a rest<BR> +he resumed his labours. The next thing was to light a<BR> +fire--a comfort which he had not enjoyed for many<BR> +weary days. Not that he required it for warmth, for<BR> +the weather was extremely warm, but he required it to<BR> +cook with, and the mere <i>sight</i> of a blaze in a dark place<BR> +is a most heart-cheering thing, as every one knows.<BR> +<BR> +When the fire was lighted he filled his pannikin at<BR> +the brook and put it on to boil, and cutting several<BR> +slices of buffalo tongue, he thrust short stakes through<BR> +them and set them up before the fire to roast. By this<BR> +time the water was boiling, so he took it off with difficulty,<BR> +nearly burning his fingers and singeing the tail of<BR> +his coat in so doing. Into the pannikin he put a lump<BR> +of maple sugar, and stirred it about with a stick, and<BR> +tasted it. It seemed to him even better than tea or<BR> +coffee. It was absolutely delicious!<BR> +<BR> +Really one has no notion what he can do if he makes<BR> +believe <i>very hard</i>. The human mind is a nicely balanced<BR> +and extremely complex machine, and when thrown a<BR> +little off the balance can be made to believe almost anything,<BR> +as we see in the case of some poor monomaniacs,<BR> +who have fancied that they were made of all sorts of<BR> +things--glass and porcelain, and such like. No wonder<BR> +then that poor Dick Varley, after so much suffering and<BR> +hardship, came to regard that pannikin of hot sirup as<BR> +the most delicious beverage he ever drank.<BR> +<BR> +During all these operations Crusoe sat on his haunches<BR> +beside him and looked. And you haven't, no, you<BR> +haven't got the most distant notion of the way in which<BR> +that dog manoeuvred with his head and face. He opened<BR> +his eyes wide, and cocked his ears, and turned his head<BR> +first a little to one side, then a little to the other. After<BR> +that he turned it a <i>good deal</i> to one side, and then a<BR> +good deal more to the other. Then he brought it straight,<BR> +and raised one eyebrow a little, and then the other a<BR> +little, and then both together very much. Then, when<BR> +Dick paused to rest and did nothing, Crusoe looked mild<BR> +for a moment, and yawned vociferously. Presently Dick<BR> +moved--up went the ears again, and Crusoe came, in<BR> +military parlance, "to the position of attention!" At<BR> +last supper was ready and they began.<BR> +<BR> +Dick had purposely kept the dog's supper back from<BR> +him, in order that they might eat it in company. And<BR> +between every bite and sup that Dick took, he gave a<BR> +bite--but not a sup--to Crusoe. Thus lovingly they<BR> +ate together; and when Dick lay that night under the<BR> +willow branches, looking up through them at the stars,<BR> +with his feet to the fire and Crusoe close along his side,<BR> +he thought it the best and sweetest supper he ever ate,<BR> +and the happiest evening he ever spent--so wonderfully<BR> +do circumstances modify our notions of felicity.<BR> +<BR> +Two weeks after this "Richard was himself again."<BR> +<BR> +The muscles were springy, and the blood coursed fast<BR> +and free, as was its wont. Only a slight, and, perhaps,<BR> +salutary feeling of weakness remained, to remind him<BR> +that young muscles might again become more helpless<BR> +than those of an aged man or a child.<BR> +<BR> +Dick had left his encampment a week ago, and was<BR> +now advancing by rapid stages towards the Rocky<BR> +Mountains, closely following the trail of his lost comrades,<BR> +which he had no difficulty in finding and keeping<BR> +now that Crusoe was with him. The skin of the buffalo<BR> +that he had killed was now strapped to his shoulders,<BR> +and the skin of another animal that he had shot a few<BR> +days after was cut up into a long line and slung in a<BR> +coil round his neck. Crusoe was also laden. He had a<BR> +little bundle of meat slung on each side of him.<BR> +<BR> +For some time past numerous herds of mustangs, or<BR> +wild horses, had crossed their path, and Dick was now<BR> +on the look-out for a chance to <i>crease</i> one of those magnificent<BR> +creatures.<BR> +<BR> +On one occasion a band of mustangs galloped close<BR> +up to him before they were aware of his presence, and<BR> +stopped short with a wild snort of surprise on beholding<BR> +him; then, wheeling round, they dashed away at full<BR> +gallop, their long tails and manes flying wildly in the<BR> +air, and their hoofs thundering on the plain. Dick<BR> +did not attempt to crease one upon this occasion, fearing<BR> +that his recent illness might have rendered his hand too<BR> +unsteady for so extremely delicate an operation.<BR> +<BR> +In order to crease a wild horse the hunter requires<BR> +to be a perfect shot, and it is not every man of the west<BR> +who carries a rifle that can do it successfully. Creasing<BR> +consists in sending a bullet through the gristle of the<BR> +mustang's neck, just above the bone, so as to stun the<BR> +animal. If the ball enters a hair's-breadth too low,<BR> +the horse falls dead instantly. If it hits the exact<BR> +spot, the horse falls as instantaneously, and dead to all<BR> +appearance; but, in reality, he is only stunned, and if<BR> +left for a few minutes will rise and gallop away nearly<BR> +as well as ever. When hunters crease a horse successfully<BR> +they put a rope, or halter, round his under jaw<BR> +and hobbles round his feet, so that when he rises he<BR> +is secured, and, after considerable trouble, reduced to<BR> +obedience.<BR> +<BR> +The mustangs which roam in wild freedom on the<BR> +prairies of the far west are descended from the noble<BR> +Spanish steeds that were brought over by the wealthy<BR> +cavaliers who accompanied Fernando Cortez, the conqueror<BR> +of Mexico, in his expedition to the New World in<BR> +1518. These bold, and, we may add, lawless cavaliers<BR> +were mounted on the finest horses that could be procured<BR> +from Barbary and the deserts of the Old World. The<BR> +poor Indians of the New World were struck with amazement<BR> +and terror at these awful beings, for, never having<BR> +seen horses before, they believed that horse and rider<BR> +were one animal. During the wars that followed many<BR> +of the Spaniards were killed, and their steeds bounded<BR> +into the wilds of the new country, to enjoy a life of<BR> +unrestrained freedom. These were the forefathers of<BR> +the present race of magnificent creatures which are<BR> +found in immense droves all over the western wilderness,<BR> +from the Gulf of Mexico to the confines of the<BR> +snowy regions of the far north.<BR> +<BR> +At first the Indians beheld these horses with awe and<BR> +terror, but gradually they became accustomed to them,<BR> +and finally succeeded in capturing great numbers and<BR> +reducing them to a state of servitude. Not, however,<BR> +to the service of the cultivated field, but to the service<BR> +of the chase and war. The savages soon acquired the<BR> +method of capturing wild horses by means of the lasso--as<BR> +the noose at that end of a long line of raw hide is<BR> +termed--which they adroitly threw over the heads of<BR> +the animals and secured them, having previously run<BR> +them down. At the present day many of the savage<BR> +tribes of the west almost live upon horseback, and<BR> +without these useful creatures they could scarcely subsist,<BR> +as they are almost indispensable in the chase of<BR> +the buffalo.<BR> +<BR> +Mustangs are regularly taken by the Indians to the<BR> +settlements of the white men for trade, but very poor<BR> +specimens are these of the breed of wild horses. This<BR> +arises from two causes. First, the Indian cannot overtake<BR> +the finest of a drove of wild mustangs, because his own<BR> +steed is inferior to the best among the wild ones, besides<BR> +being weighted with a rider, so that only the weak and<BR> +inferior animals are captured. And, secondly, when the<BR> +Indian does succeed in lassoing a first-rate horse he<BR> +keeps it for his own use. Thus, those who have not<BR> +visited the far-off prairies and seen the mustang in all<BR> +the glory of untrammelled freedom, can form no adequate<BR> +idea of its beauty, fleetness, and strength.<BR> +<BR> +The horse, however, was not the only creature imported<BR> +by Cortez. There were priests in his army who<BR> +rode upon asses, and although we cannot imagine that<BR> +the "fathers" charged with the cavaliers and were unhorsed,<BR> +or, rather, un-assed in battle, yet, somehow, the<BR> +asses got rid of their riders and joined the Spanish<BR> +chargers in their joyous bound into a new life of freedom.<BR> +Hence wild asses also are found in the western<BR> +prairies. But think not, reader, of those poor miserable<BR> +wretches we see at home, which seem little better than<BR> +rough door-mats sewed up and stuffed, with head, tail,<BR> +and legs attached, and just enough of life infused to<BR> +make them move! No, the wild ass of the prairie is a<BR> +large powerful, swift creature. He has the same long<BR> +ears, it is true, and the same hideous, exasperating bray,<BR> +and the same tendency to flourish his heels; but for all<BR> +that he is a very fine animal, and often wages <i>successful</i><BR> +warfare with the wild horse.<BR> +<BR> +But to return. The next drove of mustangs that<BR> +Dick and Crusoe saw were feeding quietly and unsuspectingly<BR> +in a rich green hollow in the plain. Dick's<BR> +heart leaped up as his eyes suddenly fell on them, for<BR> +he had almost discovered himself before he was aware<BR> +of their presence.<BR> +<BR> +"Down, pup!" he whispered, as he sank and disappeared<BR> +among the grass, which was just long enough<BR> +to cover him when lying quite flat.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe crouched immediately, and his master made<BR> +his observations of the drove, and the dispositions of<BR> +the ground that might favour his approach, for they<BR> +were not within rifle range. Having done so he crept<BR> +slowly back until the undulation of the prairie hid him<BR> +from view; then he sprang to his feet, and ran a considerable<BR> +distance along the bottom until he gained the<BR> +extreme end of a belt of low bushes, which would effectually<BR> +conceal him while he approached to within a<BR> +hundred yards or less of the troop.<BR> +<BR> +Here he made his arrangements. Throwing down<BR> +his buffalo robe, he took the coil of line and cut off a<BR> +piece of about three yards in length. On this he made<BR> +a running noose. The longer line he also prepared<BR> +with a running noose. These he threw in a coil over<BR> +his arm.<BR> +<BR> +He also made a pair of hobbles, and placed them in<BR> +the breast of his coat, and then, taking up his rifle,<BR> +advanced cautiously through the bushes--Crusoe following<BR> +close behind him. In a few minutes he was gazing<BR> +in admiration at the mustangs, which were now within<BR> +easy shot, and utterly ignorant of the presence of man,<BR> +for Dick had taken care to approach in such a way<BR> +that the wind did not carry the scent of him in their<BR> +direction.<BR> +<BR> +And well might he admire them. The wild horse of<BR> +these regions is not very large, but it is exceedingly<BR> +powerful, with prominent eye, sharp nose, distended<BR> +nostril, small feet, and a delicate leg. Their beautiful<BR> +manes hung at great length down their arched necks,<BR> +and their thick tails swept the ground. One magnificent<BR> +fellow in particular attracted Dick's attention.<BR> +He was of a rich dark-brown colour, with black mane<BR> +and tail, and seemed to be the leader of the drove.<BR> +<BR> +Although not the nearest to him, he resolved to crease<BR> +this horse. It is said that creasing generally destroys<BR> +or damages the spirit of the horse, so Dick determined<BR> +to try whether his powers of close shooting would not serve him on<BR> +this<BR> +occasion. Going down on one knee he aimed at the creature's neck, just<BR> +a<BR> +hair's-breadth<BR> +above the spot where he had been told that hunters<BR> +usually hit them, and fired. The effect upon the group<BR> +was absolutely tremendous. With wild cries and snorting<BR> +terror they tossed their proud heads in the air,<BR> +uncertain for one moment in which direction to fly;<BR> +then there was a rush as if a hurricane swept over the<BR> +place, and they were gone.<BR> +<BR> +But the brown horse was down. Dick did not wait<BR> +until the others had fled. He dropped his rifle, and<BR> +with the speed of a deer sprang towards the fallen<BR> +horse, and affixed the hobbles to his legs. His aim had<BR> +been true. Although scarcely half a minute elapsed<BR> +between the shot and the fixing of the hobbles, the<BR> +animal recovered, and with a frantic exertion rose on<BR> +his haunches, just as Dick had fastened the noose of<BR> +the short line in his under jaw. But this was not<BR> +enough. If the horse had gained his feet before the<BR> +longer line was placed round his neck, he would have<BR> +escaped. As the mustang made the second violent<BR> +plunge that placed it on its legs, Dick flung the noose<BR> +hastily; it caught on one ear, and would have fallen<BR> +off, had not the horse suddenly shaken its head, and<BR> +unwittingly sealed its own fate by bringing the noose<BR> +round its neck.<BR> +<BR> +And now the struggle began. Dick knew well<BR> +enough, from hearsay, the method of "breaking down"<BR> +a wild horse. He knew that the Indians choke them<BR> +with the noose round the neck until they fall down<BR> +exhausted and covered with foam, when they creep up,<BR> +fix the hobbles, and the line in the lower jaw, and then<BR> +loosen the lasso to let the horse breathe, and resume its<BR> +plungings till it is almost subdued, when they gradually<BR> +draw near and breathe into its nostrils. But the violence<BR> +and strength of this animal rendered this an<BR> +apparently hopeless task. We have already seen that<BR> +the hobbles and noose in the lower jaw had been fixed,<BR> +so that Dick had nothing now to do but to choke his<BR> +captive, and tire him out, while Crusoe remained a quiet<BR> +though excited spectator of the scene.<BR> +<BR> +But there seemed to be no possibility of choking this<BR> +horse. Either the muscles of his neck were too strong,<BR> +or there was something wrong with the noose which<BR> +prevented it from acting, for the furious creature dashed<BR> +and bounded backwards and sideways in its terror for<BR> +nearly an hour, dragging Dick after it, till he was<BR> +almost exhausted; and yet, at the end of that time,<BR> +although flecked with foam and panting with terror,<BR> +it seemed as strong as ever. Dick held both lines, for<BR> +the short one attached to its lower jaw gave him great<BR> +power over it. At last he thought of seeking assistance<BR> +from his dog.<BR> +<BR> +"Crusoe," he cried, "lay hold, pup!"<BR> +<BR> +The dog seized the long line in his teeth and pulled<BR> +with all his might. At the same moment Dick let go<BR> +the short line and threw all his weight upon the long<BR> +one. The noose tightened suddenly under this strain,<BR> +and the mustang, with a gasp, fell choking to the<BR> +ground.<BR> +<BR> +Dick had often heard of the manner in which the<BR> +Mexicans "break" their horses, so he determined to<BR> +abandon the method which had already almost worn<BR> +him out, and adopt the other, as far as the means in<BR> +his power rendered it possible. Instead, therefore, of<BR> +loosening the lasso and re-commencing the struggle, he<BR> +tore a branch from a neighbouring bush, cut the hobbles,<BR> +strode with his legs across the fallen steed, seized the<BR> +end of the short line or bridle, and then, ordering Crusoe<BR> +to quit his hold, he loosened the noose which compressed<BR> +the horse's neck and had already well-nigh terminated<BR> +its existence.<BR> +<BR> +One or two deep sobs restored it, and in a moment<BR> +it leaped to its feet with Dick firmly on its back. To<BR> +say that the animal leaped and kicked in its frantic<BR> +efforts to throw this intolerable burden would be a tame<BR> +manner of expressing what took place. Words cannot<BR> +adequately describe the scene. It reared, plunged,<BR> +shrieked, vaulted into the air, stood straight up<BR> +on its hind legs, and then almost as straight upon its fore<BR> +ones; but its rider held on like a burr. Then the<BR> +mustang raced wildly forwards a few paces, then as<BR> +wildly back, and then stood still and trembled violently.<BR> +But this was only a brief lull in the storm, so Dick saw<BR> +that the time was now come to assert the superiority of<BR> +his race.<BR> +<BR> +"Stay back, Crusoe, and watch my rifle, pup," he<BR> +cried, and raising his heavy switch he brought it down<BR> +with a sharp cut across the horse's flank, at the same<BR> +time loosening the rein which hitherto he had held<BR> +tight.<BR> +<BR> +The wild horse uttered a passionate cry, and sprang<BR> +forward like the bolt from a cross-bow.<BR> +<BR> +And now commenced a race which, if not so prolonged,<BR> +was at least as furious as that of the far-famed<BR> +Mazeppa. Dick was a splendid rider, however--at<BR> +least as far as "sticking on" goes. He might not<BR> +have come up to the precise pitch desiderated by a<BR> +riding-master in regard to carriage, etc., but he rode<BR> +that wild horse of the prairie with as much ease as he<BR> +had formerly ridden his own good steed, whose bones<BR> +had been picked by the wolves not long ago.<BR> +<BR> +The pace was tremendous, for the youth's weight<BR> +was nothing to that muscular frame, which bounded<BR> +with cat-like agility from wave to wave of the undulating<BR> +plain in ungovernable terror. In a few minutes<BR> +the clump of willows where Crusoe and his rifle lay<BR> +were out of sight behind; but it mattered not, for Dick<BR> +had looked up at the sky and noted the position of the<BR> +sun at the moment of starting. Away they went on<BR> +the wings of the wind, mile after mile over the ocean-like<BR> +waste--curving slightly aside now and then to<BR> +avoid the bluffs that occasionally appeared on the<BR> +scene for a few minutes and then swept out of sight<BR> +behind them. Then they came to a little rivulet. It<BR> +was a mere brook of a few feet wide, and two or three<BR> +yards, perhaps, from bank to bank. Over this they<BR> +flew so easily that the spring was scarcely felt, and<BR> +continued the headlong course. And now a more<BR> +barren country was around them. Sandy ridges and<BR> +scrubby grass appeared everywhere, reminding Dick of<BR> +the place where he had been so ill. Rocks, too, were<BR> +scattered about, and at one place the horse dashed<BR> +with clattering hoofs between a couple of rocky sand-hills which, for<BR> +a few<BR> +seconds, hid the prairie from<BR> +view. Here the mustang suddenly shied with such<BR> +violence that his rider was nearly thrown, while a<BR> +rattlesnake darted from the path. Soon they emerged<BR> +from this pass, and again the plains became green and<BR> +verdant. Presently a distant line of trees showed that<BR> +they were approaching water, and in a few minutes<BR> +they were close on it. For the first time Dick felt<BR> +alarm. He sought to check his steed, but no force he<BR> +could exert had the smallest influence on it.<BR> +<BR> +Trees and bushes flew past in bewildering confusion.<BR> +The river was before him; what width, he could not<BR> +tell, but he was reckless now, like his charger, which he<BR> +struck with the willow rod with all his force as they<BR> +came up. One tremendous bound, and they were<BR> +across, but Dick had to lie flat on the mustang's back<BR> +as it crashed through the bushes to avoid being scraped<BR> +off by the trees. Again they were on the open plain,<BR> +and the wild horse began to show signs of exhaustion.<BR> +<BR> +Now was its rider's opportunity to assert his dominion.<BR> +He plied the willow rod and urged the panting<BR> +horse on, until it was white with foam and laboured<BR> +a little in its gait. Then Dick gently drew the halter,<BR> +and it broke into a trot; still tighter, and it walked,<BR> +and in another minute stood still, trembling in every<BR> +limb. Dick now quietly rubbed its neck, and spoke<BR> +to it in soothing tones; then he wheeled it gently<BR> +round, and urged it forward. It was quite subdued<BR> +and docile. In a little time they came to the river<BR> +and forded it, after which they went through the belt<BR> +of woodland at a walk. By the time they reached the<BR> +open prairie the mustang was recovered sufficiently to<BR> +feel its spirit returning, so Dick gave it a gentle touch<BR> +with the switch, and away they went on their return<BR> +journey.<BR> +<BR> +But it amazed Dick not a little to find how long<BR> +that journey was. Very different was the pace, too,<BR> +from the previous mad gallop, and often would the poor<BR> +horse have stopped had Dick allowed him. But this<BR> +might not be. The shades of night were approaching,<BR> +and the camp lay a long way ahead.<BR> +<BR> +At last it was reached, and Crusoe came out with<BR> +great demonstrations of joy, but was sent back lest he<BR> +should alarm the horse. Then Dick jumped off his<BR> +back, stroked his head, put his cheek close to his<BR> +mouth and whispered softly to him, after which he<BR> +fastened him to a tree and rubbed him down slightly<BR> +with a bunch of grass. Having done this, he left him<BR> +to graze as far as his tether would permit; and, after<BR> +supping with Crusoe, lay down to-rest, not a little<BR> +elated with his success in this first attempt at "creasing"<BR> +and "breaking" a mustang.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER XVI.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Dick becomes a horse tamer--Resumes his journey--Charlie's<BR> +doings--Misfortunes which lead to, but do not terminate in, the Rocky <BR> +Mountains--A grizzly bear</i>.<BR> +<BR> +There is a proverb--or a saying--or at least<BR> +somebody or book has told us, that some Irishman<BR> +once said, "Be aisy; or, if ye can't be aisy, be as<BR> +aisy as ye can."<BR> +<BR> +Now, we count that good advice, and strongly recommend<BR> +it to all and sundry. Had we been at the<BR> +side of Dick Varley on the night after his taming of<BR> +the wild horse, we would have strongly urged that<BR> +advice upon him. Whether he would have listened<BR> +to it or not is quite another question; we rather think<BR> +not. Reader, if you wish to know why, go and do<BR> +what he did, and if you feel no curious sensations<BR> +about the region of the loins after it, we will tell you<BR> +why Dick Varley wouldn't have listened to that advice.<BR> +Can a man feel as if his joints were wrenched<BR> +out of their sockets, and listen to advice--be that<BR> +advice good or bad? Can he feel as though these<BR> +joints were trying to re-set and re-dislocate themselves<BR> +perpetually, and listen to advice? Can he feel as if<BR> +he were sitting down on red-hot iron, when he's not<BR> +sitting down at all, and listen to advice? Can he--but<BR> +no! why pursue the subject. Poor Dick spent<BR> +that night in misery, and the greater part of the following<BR> +day in sleep, to make up for it.<BR> +<BR> +When he got up to breakfast in the afternoon he felt<BR> +much better, but shaky.<BR> +<BR> +"Now, pup," he said, stretching himself, "we'll go<BR> +and see our horse. <i>Ours</i>, pup; yours and mine: didn't<BR> +you help to catch him, eh, pup?"<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe acknowledged the fact with a wag and a playful<BR> +"bow-wow--wow-oo-ow!" and followed his master<BR> +to the place where the horse had been picketed. It<BR> +was standing there quite quiet, but looking a little<BR> +timid.<BR> +<BR> +Dick went boldly up to it, and patted its head and<BR> +stroked its nose, for nothing is so likely to alarm either<BR> +a tame or a wild horse as any appearance of timidity or<BR> +hesitation on the part of those who approach them.<BR> +<BR> +After treating it thus for a short time, he stroked<BR> +down its neck, and then its shoulders--the horse eying<BR> +him all the time nervously. Gradually he stroked<BR> +its back and limbs gently, and walked quietly round<BR> +and round it once or twice, sometimes approaching<BR> +and sometimes going away, but never either hesitating<BR> +or doing anything abruptly. This done, he went down<BR> +to the stream and filled his cap with water and carried<BR> +it to the horse, which snuffed suspiciously and backed<BR> +a little; so he laid the cap down, and went up and<BR> +patted him again. Presently he took up the cap and<BR> +carried it to his nose. The poor creature was almost<BR> +choking with thirst, so that, the moment he understood<BR> +what was in the cap, he buried his lips in it and sucked<BR> +it up.<BR> +<BR> +This was a great point gained: he had accepted a<BR> +benefit at the hands of his new master; he had become<BR> +a debtor to man, and no doubt he felt the obligation.<BR> +Dick filled the cap and the horse emptied it<BR> +again, and again, and again, until its burning thirst<BR> +was slaked. Then Dick went up to his shoulder, patted<BR> +him, undid the line that fastened him, and vaulted<BR> +lightly on his back!<BR> +<BR> +We say <i>lightly</i>, for it was so, but it wasn't <i>easily</i>, as<BR> +Dick could have told you! However, he was determined<BR> +not to forego the training of his steed on account<BR> +of what <i>he</i> would have called a "little bit pain."<BR> +<BR> +At this unexpected act the horse plunged and reared<BR> +a good deal, and seemed inclined to go through the performance<BR> +of the day before over again; but Dick patted<BR> +and stroked him into quiescence, and having done so,<BR> +urged him into a gallop over the plains, causing the dog<BR> +to gambol round in order that he might get accustomed<BR> +to him. This tried his nerves a good deal, and no wonder,<BR> +for if he took Crusoe for a wolf, which no doubt he did,<BR> +he must have thought him a very giant of the pack.<BR> +<BR> +By degrees they broke into a furious gallop, and<BR> +after breathing him well, Dick returned and tied him<BR> +to the tree. Then he rubbed him down again, and<BR> +gave him another drink. This time the horse smelt<BR> +his new master all over, and Dick felt that he had<BR> +conquered him by kindness. No doubt the tremendous<BR> +run of the day before could scarcely be called<BR> +kindness, but without this subduing run he never could<BR> +have brought the offices of kindness to bear on so wild<BR> +a steed.<BR> +<BR> +During all these operations Crusoe sat looking on<BR> +with demure sagacity--drinking in wisdom and taking<BR> +notes. We know not whether any notes made by the<BR> +canine race have ever been given to the world, but<BR> +certain are we that, if the notes and observations made<BR> +by Crusoe on that journey were published, they would,<BR> +to say the least, surprise us!<BR> +<BR> +Next day Dick gave the wild horse his second lesson,<BR> +and his name. He called him "Charlie," after a much-loved<BR> +companion in the Mustang Valley. And long and<BR> +heartily did Dick Varley laugh as he told the horse his<BR> +future designation in the presence of Crusoe, for it struck<BR> +him as somewhat ludicrous that a mustang which, two<BR> +days ago, pawed the earth in all the pride of independent<BR> +freedom, should suddenly come down so low as to carry<BR> +a hunter on his back and be named Charlie.<BR> +<BR> +The next piece of instruction began by Crusoe being<BR> +led up under Charlie's nose, and while Dick patted the<BR> +dog with his right hand he patted the horse with his<BR> +left. It backed a good deal at first and snorted, but<BR> +Crusoe walked slowly and quietly in front of him<BR> +several times, each time coming nearer, until he again<BR> +stood under his nose; then the horse smelt him nervously,<BR> +and gave a sigh of relief when he found that<BR> +Crusoe paid no attention to him whatever. Dick then<BR> +ordered the dog to lie down at Charlie's feet, and went<BR> +to the camp to fetch his rifle, and buffalo robe, and<BR> +pack of meat. These and all the other things belonging<BR> +to him were presented for inspection, one by one,<BR> +to the horse, who arched his neck, and put forward his<BR> +ears, and eyed them at first, but smelt them all over,<BR> +and seemed to feel more easy in his mind.<BR> +<BR> +Next, the buffalo robe was rubbed over his nose, then<BR> +over his eyes and head, then down his neck and shoulder,<BR> +and lastly was placed on his back. Then it was taken<BR> +off and <i>flung</i> on; after that it was strapped on, and the<BR> +various little items of the camp were attached to it.<BR> +This done, Dick took up his rifle and let him smell it;<BR> +then he put his hand on Charlie's shoulder, vaulted on<BR> +to his back, and rode away.<BR> +<BR> +Charlie's education was completed. And now our<BR> +hero's journey began again in earnest, and with some<BR> +prospect of its speedy termination.<BR> +<BR> +In this course of training through which Dick put<BR> +his wild horse, he had been at much greater pains and<BR> +had taken far longer time than is usually the case among<BR> +the Indians, who will catch, and "break," and ride a<BR> +wild horse into camp in less than <i>three hours</i>. But<BR> +Dick wanted to do the thing well, which the Indians<BR> +are not careful to do; besides, it must be borne in remembrance<BR> +that this was his first attempt, and that his<BR> +horse was one of the best and most high-spirited, while<BR> +those caught by the Indians, as we have said, are generally<BR> +the poorest of a drove.<BR> +<BR> +Dick now followed the trail of his lost companions at<BR> +a rapid pace, yet not so rapidly as he might have done,<BR> +being averse to exhausting his good dog and his new<BR> +companion. Each night he encamped under the shade<BR> +of a tree or a bush when he could find one, or in the<BR> +open prairie when there were none, and, picketing his<BR> +horse to a short stake or pin which he carried with him<BR> +for the purpose, lit his fire, had supper, and lay down<BR> +to rest. In a few days Charlie became so tame and so<BR> +accustomed to his master's voice that he seemed quite<BR> +reconciled to his new life. There can be no doubt whatever<BR> +that he had a great dislike to solitude; for on one<BR> +occasion, when Dick and Crusoe went off a mile or so<BR> +from the camp, where Charlie was tied, and disappeared<BR> +from his view, he was heard to neigh so loudly that<BR> +Dick ran back, thinking the wolves must have attacked<BR> +him. He was all right, however, and exhibited evident<BR> +tokens of satisfaction when they returned.<BR> +<BR> +On another occasion his fear of being left alone was<BR> +more clearly demonstrated.<BR> +<BR> +Dick had been unable to find wood or water that day,<BR> +so he was obliged to encamp upon the open plain. The<BR> +want of water was not seriously felt, however, for he<BR> +had prepared a bladder in which he always carried<BR> +enough to give him one pannikin of hot sirup, and<BR> +leave a mouthful for Crusoe and Charlie. Dried buffalo<BR> +dung formed a substitute for fuel. Spreading his buffalo<BR> +robe, he lit his fire, put on his pannikin to boil, and<BR> +stuck up a piece of meat to roast, to the great delight<BR> +of Crusoe, who sat looking on with much interest.<BR> +<BR> +Suddenly Charlie, who was picketed a few hundred<BR> +yards off in a grassy spot, broke his halter close by the<BR> +headpiece, and with a snort of delight bounded away,<BR> +prancing and kicking up his heels!<BR> +<BR> +Dick heaved a deep sigh, for he felt sure that his<BR> +horse was gone. However, in a little Charlie stopped,<BR> +and raised his nose high in the air, as if to look for<BR> +his old equine companions. But they were gone; no<BR> +answering neigh replied to his; and he felt, probably<BR> +for the first time, that he was really alone in the world.<BR> +Having no power of smell, whereby he might have<BR> +traced them out as the dog would have done, he looked<BR> +in a bewildered and excited state all round the horizon.<BR> +Then his eye fell on Dick and Crusoe sitting by their<BR> +little fire. Charlie looked hard at them, and then again<BR> +at the horizon; and then, coming to the conclusion, no<BR> +doubt, that the matter was quite beyond his comprehension,<BR> +he quietly took to feeding.<BR> +<BR> +Dick availed himself of the chance, and tried to catch<BR> +him; but he spent an hour with Crusoe in the vain<BR> +attempt, and at last they gave it up in disgust and returned<BR> +to the fire, where they finished their supper and<BR> +went to bed.<BR> +<BR> +Next morning they saw Charlie feeding close at hand,<BR> +so they took breakfast, and tried to catch him again.<BR> +But it was of no use; he was evidently coquetting with<BR> +them, and dodged about and defied their utmost efforts,<BR> +for there were only a few inches of line hanging to his<BR> +head. At last it occurred to Dick that he would try<BR> +the experiment of forsaking him. So he packed up his<BR> +things, rolled up the buffalo robe, threw it and the rifle<BR> +on his shoulder, and walked deliberately away.<BR> +<BR> +"Come along, Crusoe!" he cried, after walking a few<BR> +paces.<BR> +<BR> +But Crusoe stood by the fire with his head up, and<BR> +an expression on his face that said, "Hallo, man! what's<BR> +wrong? You've forgot Charlie! Hold on! Are you<BR> +mad?"<BR> +<BR> +"Come here, Crusoe!" cried his master in a decided<BR> +tone.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe obeyed at once. Whatever mistake there<BR> +might be, there was evidently none in that command;<BR> +so he lowered his head and tail humbly, and trotted on<BR> +with his master, but he perpetually turned his head as<BR> +he went, first on this side and then on that, to look and<BR> +wonder at Charlie.<BR> +<BR> +When they were far away on the plain, Charlie suddenly<BR> +became aware that something was wrong. He<BR> +trotted to the brow of a slope, with his head and tail<BR> +very high up indeed, and looked after them; then he<BR> +looked at the fire, and neighed; then he trotted quickly<BR> +up to it, and seeing that everything was gone he began<BR> +to neigh violently, and at last started off at full speed,<BR> +and overtook his friends, passing within a few feet of<BR> +them, and, wheeling round a few yards off, stood trembling<BR> +like an aspen leaf.<BR> +<BR> +Dick called him by his name and advanced, while<BR> +Charlie met him half-way, and allowed himself to be<BR> +saddled, bridled, and mounted forthwith.<BR> +<BR> +After this Dick had no further trouble with his wild<BR> +horse.<BR> +<BR> +At his next camping-place, which was in the midst of<BR> +a cluster of bushes close beside a creek, Dick came unexpectedly<BR> +upon a little wooden cross which marked the<BR> +head of a grave. There was no inscription on it, but the<BR> +Christian symbol told that it was the grave of a white<BR> +man. It is impossible to describe the rush of mingled<BR> +feelings that filled the soul of the young hunter as he<BR> +leaned on the muzzle of his rifle and looked at this<BR> +solitary resting-place of one who, doubtless like himself,<BR> +had been a roving hunter. Had he been young or old<BR> +when he fell? had he a mother in the distant settlement<BR> +who watched and longed and waited for the son<BR> +that was never more to gladden her eyes? had he been<BR> +murdered, or had he died there and been buried by his<BR> +sorrowing comrades? These and a thousand questions<BR> +passed rapidly through his mind as he gazed at the little<BR> +cross.<BR> +<BR> +Suddenly he started. "Could it be the grave of Joe<BR> +or Henri?" For an instant the idea sent a chill to his<BR> +heart; but it passed quickly, for a second glance showed<BR> +that the grave was old, and that the wooden cross had<BR> +stood over it for years.<BR> +<BR> +Dick turned away with a saddened heart; and that<BR> +night, as he pored over the pages of his Bible, his mind<BR> +was filled with many thoughts about eternity and the<BR> +world to come. He, too, must come to the grave one<BR> +day, and quit the beautiful prairies and his loved<BR> +rifle. It was a sad thought; but while he meditated<BR> +he thought upon his mother. "After all," he murmured,<BR> +"there must be happiness <i>without</i> the rifle, and youth,<BR> +and health, and the prairie! My mother's happy, yet<BR> +she don't shoot, or ride like wild-fire over the plains."<BR> +Then that word which had been sent so sweetly to him<BR> +through her hand came again to his mind, "My son,<BR> +give me thine heart;" and as he read God's Book, he<BR> +met with the word, "Delight thyself in the Lord, and he<BR> +shall give thee the desire of thine heart." "<i>The desire<BR> +of thine heart</i>" Dick repeated this, and pondered it<BR> +till he fell asleep.<BR> +<BR> +A misfortune soon after this befell Dick Varley which<BR> +well-nigh caused him to give way to despair. For some<BR> +time past he had been approaching the eastern slopes<BR> +of the Rocky Mountains--those ragged, jagged, mighty<BR> +hills which run through the whole continent from north<BR> +to south in a continuous chain, and form, as it were, the<BR> +backbone of America. One morning, as he threw the<BR> +buffalo robe off his shoulders and sat up, he was horrified<BR> +to find the whole earth covered with a mantle of snow.<BR> +We say he was horrified, for this rendered it absolutely<BR> +impossible any further to trace his companions either by<BR> +scent or sight.<BR> +<BR> +For some time he sat musing bitterly on his sad fate,<BR> +while his dog came and laid his head sympathizingly on<BR> +his arm.<BR> +<BR> +"Ah, pup!" he said, "I know ye'd help me if ye<BR> +could! But it's all up now; there's no chance of findin'<BR> +them--none!"<BR> +<BR> +To this Crusoe replied by a low whine. He knew<BR> +full well that something distressed his master, but he<BR> +hadn't yet ascertained what it was. As something had<BR> +to be done, Dick put the buffalo robe on his steed, and<BR> +mounting said, as he was in the habit of doing each<BR> +morning, "Lead on, pup."<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe put his nose to the ground and ran forward a<BR> +few paces, then he returned and ran about snuffing and<BR> +scraping up the snow. At last he looked up and uttered<BR> +a long melancholy howl.<BR> +<BR> +"Ah! I knowed it," said Dick, pushing forward.<BR> +"Come on, pup; you'll have to <i>follow</i> now. Any way<BR> +we must go on."<BR> +<BR> +The snow that had fallen was not deep enough to<BR> +offer the slightest obstruction to their advance. It was,<BR> +indeed, only one of those occasional showers common to<BR> +that part of the country in the late autumn, which<BR> +season had now crept upon Dick almost before he was<BR> +aware of it, and he fully expected that it would melt<BR> +away in a few days. In this hope he kept steadily<BR> +advancing, until he found himself in the midst of those<BR> +rocky fastnesses which divide the waters that flow into<BR> +the Atlantic from those that flow into the Pacific Ocean.<BR> +Still the slight crust of snow lay on the ground, and he<BR> +had no means of knowing whether he was going in the<BR> +right direction or not.<BR> +<BR> +Game was abundant, and there was no lack of wood<BR> +now, so that his night bivouac was not so cold or dreary<BR> +as might have been expected.<BR> +<BR> +Travelling, however, had become difficult, and even<BR> +dangerous, owing to the rugged nature of the ground<BR> +over which he proceeded. The scenery had completely<BR> +changed in its character. Dick no longer coursed over<BR> +the free, open plains, but he passed through beautiful<BR> +valleys filled with luxuriant trees, and hemmed in by<BR> +stupendous mountains, whose rugged sides rose upward<BR> +until the snow-clad peaks pierced the clouds.<BR> +<BR> +There was something awful in these dark solitudes,<BR> +quite overwhelming to a youth of Dick's temperament.<BR> +His heart began to sink lower and lower every day, and<BR> +the utter impossibility of making up his mind what to<BR> +do became at length agonizing. To have turned and<BR> +gone back the hundreds of miles over which he had<BR> +travelled would have caused him some anxiety under<BR> +any circumstances, but to do so while Joe and Henri<BR> +were either wandering about there or in the power of<BR> +the savages was, he felt, out of the question. Yet in<BR> +which way should he go? Whatever course he took<BR> +might lead him farther and farther away from them.<BR> +<BR> +In this dilemma he came to the determination of<BR> +remaining where he was, at least until the snow should<BR> +leave the ground.<BR> +<BR> +He felt great relief even when this hopeless course<BR> +was decided upon, and set about making himself an encampment<BR> +with some degree of cheerfulness. When he<BR> +had completed this task, he took his rifle, and leaving<BR> +Charlie picketed in the centre of a dell, where the long,<BR> +rich grass rose high above the snow, went off to hunt.<BR> +<BR> +On turning a rocky point his heart suddenly bounded<BR> +into his throat, for there, not thirty yards distant, stood<BR> +a huge grizzly bear!<BR> +<BR> +Yes, there he was at last, the monster to meet which<BR> +the young hunter had so often longed--the terrible size<BR> +and fierceness of which he had heard so often spoken<BR> +about by the old hunters. There it stood at last; but<BR> +little did Dick Varley think that the first time he should<BR> +meet with his foe should be when alone in the dark recesses<BR> +of the Rocky Mountains, and with none to succour<BR> +him in the event of the battle going against him. Yes,<BR> +there was one. The faithful Crusoe stood by his side,<BR> +with his hair bristling, all his formidable teeth exposed,<BR> +and his eyes glaring in their sockets. Alas for poor<BR> +Crusoe had he gone into that combat alone! One stroke<BR> +of that monster's paw would have hurled him dead upon<BR> +the ground.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER XVII.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Dick's first fight with a grizzly</i>--<i>Adventure with a<BR> +deer</i>--<i>A surprise</i>.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +There is no animal in all the land so terrible and<BR> +dangerous as the grizzly bear. Not only is he the<BR> +largest of the species in America, but he is the fiercest,<BR> +the strongest, and the most tenacious of life--facts which<BR> +are so well understood that few of the western hunters<BR> +like to meet him single-handed, unless they happen<BR> +to be first-rate shots; and the Indians deem the encounter<BR> +so dangerous that to wear a collar composed<BR> +of the claws of a grizzly bear of his own killing is<BR> +counted one of the highest honours to which a young<BR> +warrior can attain.<BR> +<BR> +The grizzly bear resembles the brown bear of Europe,<BR> +but it is larger, and the hair is long, the points being<BR> +of a paler shade. About the head there is a considerable<BR> +mixture of gray hair, giving it the "grizzly" appearance<BR> +from which it derives its name. The claws are<BR> +dirty white, arched, and very long, and so strong that<BR> +when the animal strikes with its paw they cut like a<BR> +chisel. These claws are not embedded in the paw, as<BR> +is the case with the cat, but always project far beyond<BR> +the hair, thus giving to the foot a very ungainly appearance.<BR> +They are not sufficiently curved to enable the<BR> +grizzly bear to climb trees, like the black and brown<BR> +bears; and this inability on their part is often the only<BR> +hope of the pursued hunter, who, if he succeeds in<BR> +ascending a tree, is safe, for the time at least, from the<BR> +bear's assaults. But "Caleb" is a patient creature, and<BR> +will often wait at the foot of the tree for many hours<BR> +for his victim.<BR> +<BR> +The average length of his body is about nine feet,<BR> +but he sometimes attains to a still larger growth.<BR> +Caleb is more carnivorous in his habits than other<BR> +bears; but, like them, he does not object to indulge<BR> +occasionally in vegetable diet, being partial to the bird-cherry,<BR> +the choke-berry, and various shrubs. He has<BR> +a sweet tooth, too, and revels in honey--when he can<BR> +get it.<BR> +<BR> +The instant the grizzly bear beheld Dick Varley<BR> +standing in his path, he rose on his hind legs and made<BR> +a loud hissing noise, like a man breathing quick, but<BR> +much harsher. To this Crusoe replied by a deep growl,<BR> +and showing the utmost extent of his teeth, gums and<BR> +all; and Dick cocked both barrels of his rifle.<BR> +<BR> +To say that Dick Varley felt no fear would be simply<BR> +to make him out that sort of hero which does not exist<BR> +in nature--namely, a <i>perfect</i> hero. He <i>did</i> feel a<BR> +sensation<BR> +as if his bowels had suddenly melted into water!<BR> +Let not our reader think the worse of Dick for this.<BR> +There is not a man living who, having met with a huge<BR> +grizzly bear for the first time in his life in a wild, solitary<BR> +place, all alone, has not experienced some such<BR> +sensation. There was no cowardice in this feeling.<BR> +<BR> +Fear is not cowardice. Acting in a wrong and contemptible<BR> +manner because of our fear is cowardice.<BR> +<BR> +It is said that Wellington or Napoleon, we forget<BR> +which, once stood watching the muster of the men who<BR> +were to form the forlorn-hope in storming a citadel.<BR> +There were many brave, strong, stalwart men there, in<BR> +the prime of life, and flushed with the blood of high<BR> +health and courage. There were also there a few stern-browed<BR> +men of riper years, who stood perfectly silent,<BR> +with lips compressed, and as pale as death. "Yonder<BR> +veterans," said the general, pointing to these soldiers,<BR> +"are men whose courage I can depend on; they <i>know</i><BR> +what they are going to, the others <i>don't!</i>" Yes, these<BR> +young soldiers <i>very probably</i> were brave; the others<BR> +<i>certainly</i> were.<BR> +<BR> +Dick Varley stood for a few seconds as if thunderstruck,<BR> +while the bear stood hissing at him. Then the<BR> +liquefaction of his interior ceased, and he felt a glow<BR> +of fire gush through his veins. Now Dick knew well<BR> +enough that to fly from a grizzly bear was the sure and<BR> +certain way of being torn to pieces, as when taken thus<BR> +by surprise they almost invariably follow a retreating<BR> +enemy. He also knew that if he stood where he was,<BR> +perfectly still, the bear would get uncomfortable under<BR> +his stare, and would retreat from him. But he neither<BR> +intended to run away himself nor to allow the bear to<BR> +do so; he intended to kill it, so he raised his rifle quickly,<BR> +"drew a bead," as the hunters express it, on the bear's<BR> +heart, and fired.<BR> +<BR> +It immediately dropped on its fore legs and rushed<BR> +at him.<BR> +"Back, Crusoe! out of the way, pup!" shouted Dick, as<BR> +his favourite was about to spring forward.<BR> +<BR> +The dog retired, and Dick leaped behind a tree. As<BR> +the bear passed he gave it the contents of the second<BR> +barrel behind the shoulder, which brought it down; but<BR> +in another moment it rose and again rushed at him.<BR> +Dick had no time to load, neither had he time to spring<BR> +up the thick tree beside which he stood, and the rocky<BR> +nature of the ground out of which it grew rendered it<BR> +impossible to dodge round it. His only resource was<BR> +flight; but where was he to fly to? If he ran along<BR> +the open track, the bear would overtake him in a few<BR> +seconds. On the right was a sheer precipice one hundred<BR> +feet high; on the left was an impenetrable thicket. In<BR> +despair he thought for an instant of clubbing his rifle<BR> +and meeting the monster in close conflict; but the utter<BR> +hopelessness of such an effort was too apparent to be<BR> +entertained for a moment. He glanced up at the overhanging<BR> +cliffs. There were one or two rents and projections<BR> +close above him. In the twinkling of an eye<BR> +he sprang up and grasped a ledge of about an inch<BR> +broad, ten or twelve feet up, to which he clung while<BR> +he glanced upward. Another projection was within<BR> +reach; he gained it, and in a few seconds he stood upon<BR> +a ledge about twenty feet up the cliff, where he had just<BR> +room to plant his feet firmly.<BR> +<BR> +Without waiting to look behind, he seized his powder-horn<BR> +and loaded one barrel of his rifle; and well was it<BR> +for him that his early training had fitted him to do this<BR> +with rapidity, for the bear dashed up the precipice after<BR> +him at once. The first time it missed its hold, and fell<BR> +back with a savage growl; but on the second attempt<BR> +it sunk its long claws into the fissures between the rocks,<BR> +and ascended steadily till within a foot of the place<BR> +where Dick stood.<BR> +<BR> +At this moment Crusoe's obedience gave way before<BR> +a sense of Dick's danger. Uttering one of his lion-like<BR> +roars, he rushed up the precipice with such violence<BR> +that, although naturally unable to climb, he reached and<BR> +seized the bear's flank, despite his master's stern order<BR> +to "keep back," and in a moment the two rolled down<BR> +the face of the rock together, just as Dick completed<BR> +loading.<BR> +<BR> +Knowing that one stroke of the bear's paw would be<BR> +certain death to his poor dog, Dick leaped from his<BR> +perch, and with one bound reached the ground at the<BR> +same moment with the struggling animals, and close<BR> +beside them, and, before they had ceased rolling, he<BR> +placed the muzzle of his rifle into the bear's ear, and<BR> +blew out its brains.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe, strange to say, escaped with only one scratch<BR> +on the side. It was a deep one, but not dangerous, and<BR> +gave him but little pain at the time, although it caused<BR> +him many a smart for some weeks after.<BR> +<BR> +Thus happily ended Dick's first encounter with a<BR> +grizzly bear; and although, in the course of his wild<BR> +life, he shot many specimens of "Caleb," he used to say<BR> +that "he an' pup were never so near goin' under as on<BR> +the day he dropped <i>that</i> bar!"<BR> +<BR> +Having refreshed himself with a long draught from<BR> +a neighbouring rivulet, and washed Crusoe's wound,<BR> +Dick skinned the bear on the spot.<BR> +"We chawed him up that time, didn't we, pup?"<BR> +said Dick, with a smile of satisfaction, as he surveyed<BR> +his prize.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe looked up and assented to this.<BR> +<BR> +"Gave us a hard tussle, though; very nigh sent us<BR> +both under, didn't he, pup?"<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe agreed entirely, and, as if the remark reminded<BR> +him of honourable scars, he licked his wound.<BR> +<BR> +"Ah, pup!" cried Dick, sympathetically, "does't hurt<BR> +ye, eh, poor dog?"<BR> +<BR> +Hurt him? such a question! No, he should think<BR> +not; better ask if that leap from the precipice hurt<BR> +yourself.<BR> +<BR> +So Crusoe might have said, but he didn't; he took<BR> +no notice of the remark whatever.<BR> +<BR> +"We'll cut him up now, pup," continued Dick.<BR> +"The skin'll make a splendid bed for you an' me o'<BR> +nights, and a saddle for Charlie."<BR> +<BR> +Dick cut out all the claws of the bear by the roots,<BR> +and spent the remainder of that night in cleaning them<BR> +and stringing them on a strip of leather to form a<BR> +necklace. Independently of the value of these enormous<BR> +claws (the largest as long as a man's middle finger) as<BR> +an evidence of prowess, they formed a remarkably graceful<BR> +collar, which Dick wore round his neck ever after<BR> +with as much pride as if he had been a Pawnee warrior.<BR> +<BR> +When it was finished he held it out at arm's-length,<BR> +and said, "Crusoe, my pup, ain't ye proud of it? I'll<BR> +tell ye what it is, pup, the next time you an' I floor<BR> +Caleb, I'll put the claws round <i>your</i> neck, an' make ye<BR> +wear em ever arter, so I will."<BR> +<BR> +The dog did not seem quite to appreciate this piece<BR> +of prospective good fortune. Vanity had no place in<BR> +his honest breast, and, sooth to say, it had not a large<BR> +place in that of his master either, as we may well grant<BR> +when we consider that this first display of it was on the<BR> +occasion of his hunter's soul having at last realized its<BR> +brightest day-dream.<BR> +<BR> +Dick's dangers and triumphs seemed to accumulate<BR> +on him rather thickly at this place, for on the very<BR> +next day he had a narrow escape of being killed by a<BR> +deer. The way of it was this.<BR> +<BR> +Having run short of meat, and not being particularly<BR> +fond of grizzly bear steak, he shouldered his rifle and<BR> +sallied forth in quest of game, accompanied by Crusoe,<BR> +whose frequent glances towards his wounded side<BR> +showed that, whatever may have been the case the day<BR> +before, it "hurt" him now.<BR> +<BR> +They had not gone far when they came on the track<BR> +of a deer in the snow, and followed it up till they spied<BR> +a magnificent buck about three hundred yards off,<BR> +standing in a level patch of ground which was everywhere<BR> +surrounded either by rocks or thicket. It was a<BR> +long shot, but as the nature of the ground rendered it<BR> +impossible for Dick to get nearer without being seen,<BR> +he fired, and wounded the buck so badly that he came<BR> +up with it in a few minutes. The snow had drifted in<BR> +the place where it stood bolt upright, ready for a spring,<BR> +so Dick went round a little way, Crusoe following, till<BR> +he was in a proper position to fire again. Just as he<BR> +pulled the trigger, Crusoe gave a howl behind him and<BR> +disturbed his aim, so that he feared he had missed; but<BR> +the deer fell, and he hurried towards it. On coming<BR> +up, however, the buck sprang to its legs, rushed at him<BR> +with its hair bristling, knocked him down in the snow,<BR> +and deliberately commenced stamping him to death.<BR> +<BR> +Dick was stunned for a moment, and lay quite still,<BR> +so the deer left off pommelling him, and stood looking<BR> +at him. But the instant he moved it plunged at him<BR> +again and gave him another pounding, until he was<BR> +content to lie still. This was done several times, and<BR> +Dick felt his strength going fast. He was surprised<BR> +that Crusoe did not come to his rescue, and once he<BR> +cleared his mouth and whistled to him; but as the<BR> +deer gave him another pounding for this, he didn't<BR> +attempt it again. He now for the first time bethought<BR> +him of his knife, and quietly drew it from his belt;<BR> +but the deer observed the motion, and was on him<BR> +again in a moment. Dick, however, sprang up on his<BR> +left elbow, and making several desperate thrusts upward,<BR> +succeeded in stabbing the animal to the heart.<BR> +<BR> +Rising and shaking the snow from his garments, he<BR> +whistled loudly to Crusoe, and, on listening, heard him<BR> +whining piteously. He hurried to the place whence<BR> +the sound came, and found that the poor dog had fallen<BR> +into a deep pit or crevice in the rocks, which had been<BR> +concealed from view by a crust of snow, and he was<BR> +now making frantic but unavailing efforts to leap out.<BR> +<BR> +Dick soon freed him from his prison by means of<BR> +his belt, which he let down for the dog to grasp, and<BR> +then returned to camp with as much deer-meat as he<BR> +could carry. Dear meat it certainly was to him, for it<BR> +had nearly cost him his life, and left him all black and<BR> +blue for weeks after. Happily no bones were broken,<BR> +so the incident only confined him a day to his encampment.<BR> +<BR> +Soon after this the snow fell thicker than ever, and<BR> +it became evident that an unusually early winter was<BR> +about to set in among the mountains. This was a<BR> +terrible calamity, for if the regular snow of winter set<BR> +in, it would be impossible for him either to advance or<BR> +retreat.<BR> +<BR> +While he was sitting on his bearskin by the camp-fire<BR> +one day, thinking anxiously what he should do, and<BR> +feeling that he must either make the attempt to escape<BR> +or perish miserably in that secluded spot, a strange, unwonted<BR> +sound struck upon his ear, and caused both him<BR> +and Crusoe to spring violently to their feet and listen.<BR> +Could he be dreaming?--it seemed like the sound of<BR> +human voices. For a moment he stood with his eyes<BR> +rivetted on the ground, his lips apart, and his nostrils<BR> +distended, as he listened with the utmost intensity.<BR> +Then he darted out and bounded round the edge of a<BR> +rock which concealed an extensive but narrow valley<BR> +from his view, and there, to his amazement, he beheld a<BR> +band of about a hundred human beings advancing on<BR> +horseback slowly through the snow.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER XVIII.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>A surprise, and a piece of good news--The fur-traders--Crusoe<BR> +proved, and the Peigans pursued</i>.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +Dick's first and most natural impulse, on beholding<BR> +this band, was to mount his horse and fly, for<BR> +his mind naturally enough recurred to the former rough<BR> +treatment he had experienced at the hands of Indians.<BR> +On second thoughts, however, he considered it wiser to<BR> +throw himself upon the hospitality of the strangers;<BR> +"for," thought he, "they can but kill me, an' if I remain<BR> +here I'm like to die at any rate."<BR> +<BR> +So Dick mounted his wild horse, grasped his rifle in<BR> +his right hand, and, followed by Crusoe, galloped full<BR> +tilt down the valley to meet them.<BR> +<BR> +He had heard enough of the customs of savage tribes,<BR> +and had also of late experienced enough, to convince<BR> +him that when a man found himself in the midst of an<BR> +overwhelming force, his best policy was to assume an<BR> +air of confident courage. He therefore approached them<BR> +at his utmost speed.<BR> +<BR> +The effect upon the advancing band was electrical;<BR> +and little wonder, for the young hunter's appearance<BR> +was very striking. His horse, from having rested a<BR> +good deal of late, was full of spirit. Its neck was<BR> +arched, its nostrils expanded, and its mane and tail<BR> +never having been checked in their growth flew wildly<BR> +around him in voluminous curls. Dick's own hair, not<BR> +having been clipped for many months, appeared scarcely<BR> +less wild, as they thundered down the rocky pass at<BR> +what appeared a break-neck gallop. Add to this the<BR> +grandeur of the scene out of which they sprang, and<BR> +the gigantic dog that bounded by his side, and you will<BR> +not be surprised to hear that the Indian warriors clustered<BR> +together, and prepared to receive this bold horseman<BR> +as if he, in his own proper person, were a complete<BR> +squadron of cavalry. It is probable, also, that they<BR> +fully expected the tribe of which Dick was the chief to<BR> +be at his heels.<BR> +<BR> +As he drew near the excitement among the strangers<BR> +seemed very great, and, from the peculiarity of the<BR> +various cries that reached him, he knew that there were<BR> +women and children in the band--a fact which, in such<BR> +a place and at such a season, was so unnatural that it<BR> +surprised him very much. He noted also that, though<BR> +the men in front were Indians, their dresses were those<BR> +of trappers and hunters, and he almost leaped out of his<BR> +saddle when he observed that "<i>Pale-faces</i>" were among<BR> +them. But he had barely time to note these facts when<BR> +he was up with the band. According to Indian custom,<BR> +he did not check his speed till he was within four or<BR> +five yards of the advance-guard, who stood in a line<BR> +before him, quite still, and with their rifles lying loosely<BR> +in their left palms; then he reined his steed almost on<BR> +its haunches.<BR> +<BR> +One of the Indians advanced and spoke a few words<BR> +in a language which was quite unintelligible to Dick,<BR> +who replied, in the little Pawnee he could muster, that<BR> +he didn't understand him.<BR> +<BR> +"Why, you must be a trapper!" exclaimed a thick-set,<BR> +middle-aged man, riding out from the group. "Can<BR> +you speak English?"<BR> +<BR> +"Ay, that can I," cried Dick joyfully, riding up and<BR> +shaking the stranger heartily by the hand; "an' right<BR> +glad am I to fall in wi' a white-skin an' a civil tongue<BR> +in his head."<BR> +<BR> +"Good sooth, sir," replied the stranger, with a quiet<BR> +smile on his kind, weather-beaten face, "I can return<BR> +you the compliment; for when I saw you come thundering<BR> +down the corrie with that wonderful horse and<BR> +no less wonderful dog of yours, I thought you were the<BR> +wild man o' the mountain himself, and had an ambush<BR> +ready to back you. But, young man, do you mean to<BR> +say that you live here in the mountain all alone after<BR> +this fashion?"<BR> +<BR> +"No, that I don't. I've comed here in my travels,<BR> +but truly this bean't my home. But, sir (for I see<BR> +you are what the fur-traders call a bourgeois), how<BR> +comes it that such a band as this rides i' the mountains?<BR> +D'ye mean to say that <i>they</i> live here?" Dick looked<BR> +round in surprise, as he spoke, upon the crowd of<BR> +mounted men and women, with children and pack-horses,<BR> +that now surrounded him.<BR> +<BR> +"'Tis a fair question, lad. I am a principal among<BR> +the fur-traders whose chief trading-post lies near the<BR> +Pacific Ocean, on the west side of these mountains; and<BR> +I have come with these trappers and their families, as you see, to<BR> +hunt the<BR> +beaver and other animals for a<BR> +season in the mountains. We've never been here before; but that's a<BR> +matter<BR> +of little moment, for it's not<BR> +the first time I've been on what may be called a discovery-trading<BR> +expedition. We are somewhat entangled,<BR> +however, just now among these wild passes, and if you<BR> +can guide us out of our difficulties to the east side of<BR> +the mountains, I'll thank you heartily and pay you well.<BR> +But first tell me who and what you are, if it's a fair<BR> +question."<BR> +<BR> +"My name is Dick Varley, and my home's in the<BR> +Mustang Valley, near the Missouri River. As to <i>what</i><BR> +I am--I'm nothin' yet, but I hope to desarve the name<BR> +o' a hunter some day. I can guide you to the east side<BR> +o' the mountains, for I've comed from there; but more<BR> +than that I can't do, for I'm a stranger to the country<BR> +here, like yourself. But you're on the east side o' the<BR> +mountains already, if I mistake not; only these mountains<BR> +are so rugged and jumbled up, that it's not easy<BR> +tellin' where ye are. And what," continued Dick,<BR> +"may be the name o' the bourgeois who speaks to<BR> +me?"<BR> +<BR> +"My name is Cameron--Walter Cameron--a well-known<BR> +name among the Scottish hills, although it<BR> +sounds a little strange here. And now, young man,<BR> +will you join my party as guide, and afterwards remain<BR> +as trapper? It will pay you better, I think, than<BR> +roving about alone."<BR> +<BR> +Dick shook his head and looked grave. "I'll guide<BR> +you," said he, "as far as my knowledge 'll help me;<BR> +but after that I must return to look for two comrades<BR> +whom I have lost. They have been driven into the<BR> +mountains by a band of Injuns. God grant they may<BR> +not have bin scalped!"<BR> +<BR> +The trader's face looked troubled, and he spoke with<BR> +one of his Indians for a few minutes in earnest, hurried<BR> +tones.<BR> +<BR> +"What were they like, young man?"<BR> +<BR> +Dick described them.<BR> +<BR> +"The same," continued the trader. "They've been<BR> +seen, lad, not more than two days ago, by this Indian<BR> +here, when he was out hunting alone some miles away<BR> +from our camp. He came suddenly on a band of<BR> +Indians who had two prisoners with them, such as you<BR> +describe. They were stout, said you?"<BR> +<BR> +"Yes, both of them," cried Dick, listening with intense<BR> +eagerness.<BR> +<BR> +"Ay. They were tied to their horses, an' from what<BR> +I know of these fellows I'm sure they're doomed. But<BR> +I'll help you, my friend, as well as I can. They can't<BR> +be far from this. I treated my Indian's story about<BR> +them as a mere fabrication, for he's the most notorious<BR> +liar in my company; but he seems to have spoken truth<BR> +for once."<BR> +<BR> +"Thanks, thanks, good sir," cried Dick. "Had we<BR> +not best turn back and follow them at once?"<BR> +<BR> +"Nay, friend, not quite so fast," replied Cameron,<BR> +pointing to his people. "These must be provided for<BR> +first, but I shall be ready before the sun goes down.<BR> +And now, as I presume you don't bivouac in the snow,<BR> +will you kindly conduct us to your encampment, if it be<BR> +not far hence?"<BR> +<BR> +Although burning with impatience to fly to the rescue<BR> +of his friends, Dick felt constrained to comply with so<BR> +reasonable a request, so he led the way to his camping-place,<BR> +where the band of fur-traders immediately began<BR> +to pitch their tents, cut down wood, kindle fires, fill<BR> +their kettles with water, cook their food, and, in fact,<BR> +make themselves comfortable. The wild spot which, an<BR> +hour before, had been so still, and grand, and gloomy,<BR> +was now, as if by magic, transformed into a bustling<BR> +village, with bright fires blazing among the rocks and<BR> +bushes, and merry voices of men, women, and children<BR> +ringing in the air. It seemed almost incredible, and<BR> +no wonder Dick, in his bewilderment, had difficulty in<BR> +believing it was not all a dream.<BR> +<BR> +In days long gone by the fur-trade in that country<BR> +was carried on in a very different way from the manner<BR> +in which it is now conducted. These wild regions, indeed,<BR> +are still as lonesome and untenanted (save by<BR> +wild beasts and wandering tribes of Indians) as they<BR> +were then; but the Indians of the present day have<BR> +become accustomed to the "Pale-face" trader, whose<BR> +little wooden forts or trading-posts are dotted here and<BR> +there, at wide intervals, all over the land. But in the<BR> +days of which we write it was not so. The fur-traders<BR> +at that time went forth in armed bands into the heart<BR> +of the Indians' country, and he who went forth did so<BR> +"with his life in his hand." As in the case of the<BR> +soldier who went out to battle, there was great probability<BR> +that he might never return.<BR> +<BR> +The band of which Walter Cameron was the chief<BR> +had, many months before, started from one of the distant<BR> +posts of Oregon on a hunting expedition into the<BR> +then totally unknown lands of the Snake Indians. It<BR> +consisted of about sixty men, thirty women, and as<BR> +many children of various ages--about a hundred and<BR> +twenty souls in all. Many of the boys were capable of<BR> +using the gun and setting a beaver-trap. The men were<BR> +a most motley set. There were Canadians, half-breeds,<BR> +Iroquois, and Scotchmen. Most of the women had<BR> +Indian blood in their veins, and a few were pure<BR> +Indians.<BR> +<BR> +The equipment of this strange band consisted of upwards<BR> +of two hundred beaver-traps--which are similar to<BR> +our rat-traps, with this difference, that they have two<BR> +springs and no teeth--seventy guns, a few articles for<BR> +trade with the Indians, and a large supply of powder<BR> +and ball; the whole--men, women, children, goods, and<BR> +chattels--being carried on the backs of nearly four<BR> +hundred horses. Many of these horses, at starting, were<BR> +not laden, being designed for the transport of furs that<BR> +were to be taken in the course of the season.<BR> +<BR> +For food this adventurous party depended entirely on<BR> +their guns, and during the march hunters were kept<BR> +constantly out ahead. As a matter of course, their<BR> +living was precarious. Sometimes their kettles were<BR> +overflowing; at others they scarce refrained from eating<BR> +their horses. But during the months they had already<BR> +spent in the wilderness good living had been the rule,<BR> +starvation the exception. They had already collected a<BR> +large quantity of beaver skins, which at that time were<BR> +among the most valuable in the market, although they<BR> +are now scarcely saleable!<BR> +Having shot two wild horses, seven elks, six small<BR> +deer, and four big-horned sheep the day before they<BR> +met Dick Varley, the camp kettles were full, and the<BR> +people consequently happy.<BR> +<BR> +"Now, Master Dick Varley," said Cameron, touching<BR> +the young hunter on the shoulder as he stood ready<BR> +equipped by one of the camp-fires, "I'm at your service.<BR> +The people won't need any more looking after to-night.<BR> +I'll divide my men--thirty shall go after this rascally<BR> +band of Peigans, for such I believe they are, and thirty<BR> +shall remain to guard the camp. Are you ready?"<BR> +<BR> +"Ready! ay, this hour past."<BR> +<BR> +"Mount then, lad; the men have already been told<BR> +off, and are mustering down yonder where the deer gave<BR> +you such a licking."<BR> +<BR> +Dick needed no second bidding. He vaulted on<BR> +Charlie's back, and along with their commander joined<BR> +the men, who were thirty as fine, hardy, reckless looking<BR> +fellows as one could desire for a forlorn-hope. They<BR> +were chatting and laughing while they examined their<BR> +guns and saddle-girths. Their horses were sorry looking<BR> +animals compared with the magnificent creature<BR> +that Dick bestrode, but they were hardy, nevertheless,<BR> +and well fitted for their peculiar work.<BR> +<BR> +"My! wot a blazer!" exclaimed a trapper as Dick<BR> +rode up.<BR> +<BR> +"Where you git him?" inquired a half-breed.<BR> +<BR> +"I caught him," answered Dick.<BR> +<BR> +"Baw!" cried the first speaker.<BR> +<BR> +Dick took no notice of this last remark.<BR> +<BR> +"No, did ye though?" he asked again.<BR> +<BR> +"I did," answered Dick quietly. "I creased him in<BR> +the prairie; you can see the mark on his neck if you<BR> +look."<BR> +<BR> +The men began to feel that the young hunter was<BR> +perhaps a little beyond them at their own trade, and regarded<BR> +him with increased respect.<BR> +<BR> +"Look sharp now, lads," said Cameron, impatiently,<BR> +to several dilatory members of the band. "Night will<BR> +be on us ere long."<BR> +<BR> +"Who sold ye the bear-claw collar?" inquired another<BR> +man of Dick.<BR> +<BR> +"I didn't buy it. I killed the bear and made it."<BR> +<BR> +"Did ye, though, all be yer lone?"<BR> +<BR> +"Ay; that wasn't much, was it?"<BR> +<BR> +"You've begun well, yonker," said a tall, middle-aged<BR> +hunter, whose general appearance was not unlike that of<BR> +Joe Blunt. "Jest keep clear o' the Injuns an' the grog<BR> +bottle, an' ye've a glor'ous life before ye."<BR> +<BR> +At this point the conversation was interrupted by the<BR> +order being given to move on, which was obeyed in<BR> +silence, and the cavalcade, descending the valley, entered<BR> +one of the gorges in the mountains.<BR> +<BR> +For the first half-mile Cameron rode a little ahead of<BR> +his men, then he turned to speak to one of them, and<BR> +for the first time observed Crusoe trotting close beside<BR> +his master's horse.<BR> +<BR> +"Ah! Master Dick," he exclaimed with a troubled<BR> +expression, "that won't do. It would never do to take a dog on an<BR> +expedition like this."<BR> +<BR> +"Why not?" asked Dick; "the pup's quiet and peaceable."<BR> +<BR> +"I doubt it not; but he will betray our presence to<BR> +the Indians, which might be inconvenient."<BR> +<BR> +"I have travelled more than a thousand miles through<BR> +prairie and forest, among game an' among Injuns, an'<BR> +the pup never betrayed me yet," said Dick, with suppressed<BR> +vehemence. "He has saved my life more than<BR> +once though."<BR> +<BR> +"You seem to have perfect confidence in your dog,<BR> +but as this is a serious matter you must not expect me<BR> +to share in it without proof of his trustworthiness."<BR> +<BR> +"The pup may be useful to us; how would you have<BR> +it proved?" inquired Dick.<BR> +<BR> +"Any way you like."<BR> +<BR> +"You forgot your belt at starting, I think I heerd<BR> +ye say."<BR> +<BR> +"Yes, I did," replied the trader, smiling.<BR> +<BR> +Dick immediately took hold of Cameron's coat, and<BR> +bade Crusoe smell it, which the dog did very carefully.<BR> +Then he showed him his own belt and said, "Go back<BR> +to the camp and fetch it, pup."<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe was off in a moment, and in less than twenty<BR> +minutes returned with Cameron's belt in his mouth.<BR> +<BR> +"Well, I'll trust him," said Cameron, patting Crusoe's<BR> +head. "Forward, lads!" and away they went at a brisk<BR> +trot along the bottom of a beautiful valley on each side<BR> +of which the mountains towered in dark masses. Soon<BR> +the moon rose and afforded light sufficient to enable<BR> +them to travel all night in the track of the Indian<BR> +hunter who said he had seen the Peigans, and who was<BR> +constituted guide to the party. Hour after hour the<BR> +horsemen pressed on without check, now galloping over<BR> +a level plain, now bounding by the banks of a rivulet,<BR> +or bending their heads to escape the boughs of overhanging<BR> +trees, and anon toiling slowly up among the<BR> +rocks of some narrow defile. At last the moon set, and<BR> +the order was given to halt in a little plain where there<BR> +were wood and water.<BR> +<BR> +The horses were picketed, a fire kindled, a mouthful<BR> +of dried meat hastily eaten, the watch was set, and then<BR> +each man scraped away the snow, spread some branches<BR> +on the ground, and wrapping himself in his blanket,<BR> +went to sleep with his feet presented towards the fire.<BR> +<BR> +Two hours were allowed for rest; then they were<BR> +awakened, and in a few minutes were off again by the<BR> +gray light of dawn. In this way they travelled two<BR> +nights and a day. At the end of that time they came<BR> +suddenly on a small party of nine Indians, who were<BR> +seated on the ground with their snow-shoes and blankets<BR> +by their sides. They had evidently been taken by surprise,<BR> +but they made no attempt to escape, knowing<BR> +that it was useless. Each sat still with his bow and<BR> +arrows between his legs on the ground ready for instant<BR> +use.<BR> +<BR> +As soon as Cameron spoke, however, in their own<BR> +language they felt relieved, and began to talk.<BR> +<BR> +"Where do you come from, and what are you doing<BR> +here?" asked the trader.<BR> +<BR> +"We have come to trade with the white men," one<BR> +of them replied, "and to hunt. We have come from<BR> +the Missouri. Our country is far away."<BR> +<BR> +"Do Peigans hunt with <i>war-arrows?</i>" asked Cameron,<BR> +pointing to their weapons.<BR> +<BR> +This question seemed to perplex them, for they saw<BR> +that their interrogator knew the difference between a<BR> +war and a hunting arrow--the former being barbed in<BR> +order to render its extraction from the wound difficult,<BR> +while the head of the latter is round, and can be drawn<BR> +out of game that has been killed, and used again.<BR> +<BR> +"And do Peigans," continued Cameron, "come from a<BR> +far country to trade with the white men <i>with nothing?</i>"<BR> +<BR> +Again the Indians were silent, for they had not an<BR> +article to trade about them.<BR> +<BR> +Cameron now felt convinced that this party of<BR> +Peigans, into whose hands Joe Blunt and Henri had<BR> +fallen, were nothing else than a war party, and that<BR> +the men now before him were a scouting party sent out<BR> +from them, probably to spy out his own camp, on the<BR> +trail of which they had fallen, so he said to them:--<BR> +<BR> +"The Peigans are not wise men; they tell lies to the<BR> +traders. I will tell you that you are a war party, and<BR> +that you are only a few warriors sent out to spy the<BR> +traders' camp. You have also two <i>Pale-face</i> prisoners<BR> +in your camp. You cannot deceive me. It is useless<BR> +to try. Now, conduct me to your camp. My object<BR> +is not war; it is peace. I will speak with your chiefs<BR> +about trading with the white men, and we will smoke<BR> +the pipe of peace. Are my words good?"<BR> +<BR> +Despite their proverbial control of muscle, these Indians<BR> +could not conceal their astonishment at hearing<BR> +so much of their affairs thus laid bare; so they said<BR> +that the Pale-face chief was wise, that he must be a<BR> +great medicine man, and that what he said was all true<BR> +except about the white men. They had never seen any<BR> +Pale-faces, and knew nothing whatever about those he<BR> +spoke of.<BR> +<BR> +This was a terrible piece of news to poor Dick, and<BR> +at first his heart fairly sank within him, but by degrees<BR> +he came to be more hopeful. He concluded that if<BR> +these men told lies in regard to one thing, they would<BR> +do it in regard to another, and perhaps they might<BR> +have some strong reason for denying any knowledge of<BR> +Joe and Henri.<BR> +<BR> +The Indians now packed up the buffalo robes on<BR> +which they had slept, and the mouthful of provisions<BR> +they had taken with them.<BR> +<BR> +"I don't believe a word of what they say about your<BR> +friends," said Cameron to Dick in a low tone while the<BR> +Indians were thus engaged. "Depend upon it they<BR> +hope to hide them till they can send to the settlements<BR> +and get a ransom, or till they get an opportunity of<BR> +torturing them to death before their women and children<BR> +when they get back to their own village. But<BR> +we'll balk them, my friend, do not fear."<BR> +<BR> +The Indians were soon ready to start, for they were<BR> +cumbered with marvellously little camp equipage. In<BR> +less than half-an-hour after their discovery they were<BR> +running like deer ahead of the cavalcade in the direction<BR> +of the Peigan camp.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER XIX.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Adventures with the Peigans</i>--<i>Crusoe does good service as a<BR> +discoverer</i>--<i>The savages outwitted</i>--<i>The rescue</i>.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +A run of twenty miles brought the travellers to a<BR> +rugged defile in the mountains, from which they<BR> +had a view of a beautiful valley of considerable extent.<BR> +During the last two days a steady thaw had been rapidly<BR> +melting away the snow, so that it appeared only here<BR> +and there in the landscape in dazzling patches. At the<BR> +distance of about half-a-mile from where they halted to<BR> +breathe the horses before commencing the descent into<BR> +this vale, several thin wreaths of smoke were seen<BR> +rising above the trees.<BR> +<BR> +"Is that your camp?" inquired Cameron, riding up<BR> +to the Indian runners, who stood in a group in front,<BR> +looking as fresh after their twenty miles' run as though<BR> +they had only had a short walk.<BR> +<BR> +To this they answered in the affirmative, adding that<BR> +there were about two hundred Peigans there.<BR> +<BR> +It might have been thought that thirty men would<BR> +have hesitated to venture to attack so large a number<BR> +as two hundred; but it had always been found in the<BR> +experience of Indian life that a few resolute white men<BR> +well armed were more than a match for ten times their<BR> +number of Indians. And this arose not so much from<BR> +the superior strength or agility of the Whites over their<BR> +red foes, as from that bull-dog courage and utter recklessness<BR> +of their lives in combat--qualities which the<BR> +crafty savage can neither imitate nor understand. The<BR> +information was received with perfect indifference by<BR> +most of the trappers, and with contemptuous laughter<BR> +by some; for a large number of Cameron's men were<BR> +wild, evil-disposed fellows, who would have as gladly<BR> +taken the life of an Indian as that of a buffalo.<BR> +<BR> +Just as the word was given to resume the march,<BR> +Dick Varley rode up to Cameron and said in a somewhat<BR> +anxious tone,--<BR> +<BR> +"D'ye obsarve, sir, that one o' the Redskins has gone<BR> +off ahead o' his comrades?"<BR> +<BR> +"I see that, Master Dick; and it was a mistake of<BR> +mine not to have stopped him, but he was gone too far<BR> +before I observed it, and I thought it better to appear<BR> +unconcerned. We must push on, though, and give him<BR> +as short time as possible to talk with his comrades in<BR> +the camp."<BR> +<BR> +The trappers pressed forward accordingly at a gallop,<BR> +and were soon in front of the clump of trees amongst<BR> +which the Peigans were encamped. Their approach<BR> +had evidently spread great alarm among them, for there<BR> +was a good deal of bustle and running to and fro; but<BR> +by the time the trappers had dismounted and advanced<BR> +in a body on foot, the savages had resumed their usual<BR> +quiet dignity of appearance, and were seated calmly<BR> +round their fires with their bows and arrows beside<BR> +them. There were no tents, no women or children, and<BR> +the general aspect of the men showed Cameron conclusively<BR> +that his surmise about their being a war party<BR> +was correct.<BR> +<BR> +A council was immediately called. The trappers ranged<BR> +themselves on one side of the council fire and the Indians<BR> +on the other. Meanwhile, our friend Crusoe had been<BR> +displaying considerable irritability against the Indians,<BR> +and he would certainly have attacked the whole two<BR> +hundred single-handed if he had not been ordered by<BR> +his master to lie still; but never in his life before had<BR> +Crusoe obeyed with such a bad grace. He bristled and<BR> +whined in a low tremulous tone, and looked imploringly<BR> +at Dick as if for permission to fly at them.<BR> +<BR> +"The Pale-face traders are glad to meet with the<BR> +Peigans," began Cameron, who determined to make no<BR> +allusion to his knowledge that they were a war party,<BR> +"for they wish to be friends with all the children of the<BR> +woods and prairies. They wish to trade with them--to<BR> +exchange blankets, and guns, and beads, and other goods<BR> +which the Peigans require, for furs of animals which the<BR> +Pale-faces require."<BR> +<BR> +"Ho! ho!" exclaimed the Indians, which expression<BR> +might be translated, "Hear! hear!"<BR> +<BR> +"But," continued Cameron, "we wish to have no war.<BR> +We wish to see the hatchet buried, and to see all the<BR> +red men and the white men smoking the pipe of peace,<BR> +and hunting like brothers."<BR> +<BR> +The "Ho--ho--ing" at this was very emphatic.<BR> +<BR> +"Now," resumed the trader, "the Peigans have got two prisoners--two<BR> +Pale-faces--in their camp, and as we cannot be on good terms while our<BR> +brothers are detained, we have come to ask for them, and to <i>present<BR> +some<BR> +gifts</i> to the Peigans."<BR> +<BR> +To this there was no "Ho" at all, but a prolonged<BR> +silence, which was at length interrupted by a tall chief<BR> +stepping forward to address the trappers.<BR> +<BR> +"What the Pale-face chief has said is good," began<BR> +the Indian. "His words are wise, and his heart is not<BR> +double. The Red-men are willing to smoke the pipe of<BR> +peace, and to hunt with all men as brothers, but they<BR> +cannot do it while many of their scalps are hanging in<BR> +the lodges of their enemies and fringing the robes of the<BR> +warriors. The Peigans must have vengeance; then they<BR> +will make peace."<BR> +<BR> +After a short pause he continued,--<BR> +<BR> +"The chief is wrong when he says there are Pale-faces<BR> +in the Peigan camp. The Peigans are not<BR> +at war with the Pale-faces; neither have they seen<BR> +any on their march. The camp is open. Let the<BR> +Pale-faces look round and see that what we say is<BR> +true."<BR> +<BR> +The chief waved his hand towards his warriors as he<BR> +concluded, as if to say, "Search amongst them. There<BR> +are no Pale-faces there."<BR> +<BR> +Cameron now spoke to Dick in a low tone. "They<BR> +speak confidently," he said, "and I fear greatly that<BR> +your poor comrades have either been killed or conveyed<BR> +away from the camp and hidden among the mountains,<BR> +in which case, even though they should not be far off,<BR> +it would be next to impossible to find them, especially<BR> +when such a band of rascals is near, compelling us to<BR> +keep together. But I'll try what a little tempting them<BR> +with goods will do. At any rate, we shan't give in<BR> +without a scuffle."<BR> +<BR> +It now, for the first time, flashed across Dick Varley<BR> +that there was something more than he imagined in<BR> +Crusoe's restless anxiety, which had not in the least<BR> +abated, and the idea of making use of him now occurred<BR> +to his mind.<BR> +<BR> +"I've a notion that I'll settle this matter in a shorter<BR> +time than you think," he said hurriedly, "if you'll agree<BR> +to try what <i>threatening</i> will do."<BR> +<BR> +The trader looked grave and undecided. "I never<BR> +resort to that except as a last hope," he answered; "but<BR> +I've a good deal of confidence in your prudence. What<BR> +would you advise?"<BR> +<BR> +Dick and the trader whispered a few minutes together,<BR> +while some of the men, in order to show the Indians how<BR> +perfectly unconcerned they were, and how ready for<BR> +<i>anything</i>, took out their pipes and began to smoke.<BR> +Both parties were seated on the ground, and during this<BR> +interval the Indians also held eager discussion.<BR> +<BR> +At length Cameron stood up, and said to his men in<BR> +a quiet tone, "Be ready, lads, for instant action. When<BR> +I give the word 'Up,' spring to your feet and cock your<BR> +guns; but <i>don't fire a shot till you get the word</i>." He<BR> +then stepped forward and said,--<BR> +<BR> +"The Peigan warriors are double-tongued; they know<BR> +that they have hid the Pale-face prisoners. We do not<BR> +wish to quarrel, but if they are not delivered up at once<BR> +the Pale-faces and the Peigans will not be friends."<BR> +<BR> +Upon this the Indian chief again stood forward and<BR> +said, "The Peigans are <i>not</i> double-tongued. They have<BR> +not seen Pale-faces till to-day. They can say no<BR> +more."<BR> +<BR> +Without moving hand or foot, Cameron then said in<BR> +a firm tone, "The first Peigan that moves shall die!<BR> +Up, lads, and ready!"<BR> +<BR> +In the twinkling of an eye the trappers sprang to<BR> +their feet, and cocking their rifles stood perfectly motionless,<BR> +scowling at the savages, who were completely taken<BR> +by surprise at the unusual suddenness and informality<BR> +of such a declaration of war. Not a man moved, for,<BR> +unlike white men, they seldom risk their lives in open<BR> +fight; and as they looked at the formidable row of<BR> +muzzles that waited but a word to send instant death<BR> +into their midst, they felt that discretion was at that<BR> +time the better part of valour.<BR> +<BR> +"Now," said Cameron, while Dick Varley and Crusoe<BR> +stepped up beside him, "my young warrior will search<BR> +for the Pale-face prisoners. If they are found, we will<BR> +take them and go away. If they are not found, we<BR> +will ask the Peigans to forgive us, and will give them<BR> +gifts. But in the meantime, if a Peigan moves from<BR> +the spot where he sits, or lifts a bow, my young men<BR> +shall fire, and the Peigans know that the rifle of the<BR> +Pale-face always kills."<BR> +<BR> +Without waiting for an answer, Dick immediately<BR> +said, "Seek 'em out, pup," and Crusoe bounded away.<BR> +<BR> +For a few minutes he sprang hither and thither<BR> +through the camp, quite regardless of the Indians, and<BR> +snuffed the air several times, whining in an excited<BR> +tone, as if to relieve his feelings. Then he put his nose<BR> +to the ground and ran straight forward into the woods.<BR> +<BR> +Dick immediately bounded after him like a deer, while<BR> +the trappers kept silent guard over the savages.<BR> +<BR> +For some time Crusoe ran straight forward. Then he<BR> +came to a spot where there was a good deal of drifted<BR> +snow on the ground. Here he seemed to lose the trail<BR> +for a little, and ran about in all directions, whining in a<BR> +most piteous tone.<BR> +<BR> +"Seek 'em out, pup," repeated Dick encouragingly,<BR> +while his own breast heaved with excitement and expectation.<BR> +<BR> +In a few seconds the dog resumed its onward course,<BR> +and led the way into a wild, dark spot, which was so<BR> +overshadowed by trees and precipitous cliffs that the<BR> +light of the sun scarce found entrance. There were<BR> +many huge masses of rock scattered over the ground,<BR> +which had fallen from the cliffs. Behind one of these<BR> +lay a mound of dried leaves, towards which Crusoe<BR> +darted and commenced scraping violently.<BR> +<BR> +Trembling with dread that he should find this to be<BR> +the grave of his murdered companions, Dick rushed<BR> +forward and hastily cleared away the leaves. The first<BR> +handful thrown off revealed part of the figure of a man.<BR> +Dick's heart beat audibly as he cleared the leaves from<BR> +the face, and he uttered a suppressed cry on beholding<BR> +the well-known features of Joe Blunt. But they were<BR> +not those of a dead man. Joe's eyes met his with a<BR> +scowl of anger, which instantly gave place to one of<BR> +intense surprise.<BR> +<BR> +"Joe Blunt!" exclaimed Dick in a voice of intense<BR> +amazement, while Crusoe snuffed round the heap of<BR> +leaves and whined with excitement. But Joe did not<BR> +move, neither did he speak a word in reply--for the<BR> +very good reason that his mouth was tightly bound<BR> +with a band of leather, his hands and feet were tied,<BR> +and his whole body was secured in a rigid, immovable<BR> +position by being bound to a pole of about his own<BR> +length.<BR> +<BR> +In a moment Dick's knife was out, bands and cords<BR> +were severed, and Joe Blunt was free.<BR> +<BR> +"Thank God!" exclaimed Joe with a deep, earnest sigh,<BR> +the instant his lips were loosened, "and thanks to <i>you</i>,<BR> +lad!" he added, endeavouring to rise; but his limbs had<BR> +become so benumbed in consequence of the cords by<BR> +which they had been compressed that for some time he<BR> +could not move.<BR> +<BR> +"I'll rub ye, Joe; I'll soon rub ye into a right state,"<BR> +said Dick, going down on his knees.<BR> +<BR> +"No, no, lad, look sharp and dig up Henri. He's<BR> +just beside me here."<BR> +<BR> +Dick immediately rose, and pushing aside the heap<BR> +of leaves, found Henri securely bound in the same<BR> +fashion. But he could scarce refrain from laughing at<BR> +the expression of that worthy's face. Hearing the voices<BR> +of Joe and Dick Varley in conversation, though unable<BR> +to see their persons, he was filled with such unbounded<BR> +amazement that his eyes, when uncovered, were found<BR> +to be at their largest possible stretch, and as for the<BR> +eyebrows they were gone, utterly lost among the roots<BR> +of his voluminous hair.<BR> +<BR> +"Henri, friend, I knew I should find ye," said Dick,<BR> +cutting the thongs that bound him. "Get up if ye<BR> +can; we haven't much time to lose, an' mayhap we'll<BR> +have to fight afore we're done wi' the Redskins. Can<BR> +ye rise?"<BR> +<BR> +Henri could do nothing but lie on his back and gasp,<BR> +"Eh! possible! mon frere! Oh, non, non, <i>not</i> possible.<BR> +Oui! my broder Deek!"<BR> +<BR> +Here he attempted to rise, but being unable fell back<BR> +again, and the whole thing came so suddenly, and made<BR> +so deep an impression on his impulsive mind, that he<BR> +incontinently burst into tears; then he burst into a long<BR> +laugh. Suddenly he paused, and scrambling up to a<BR> +sitting posture, looked earnestly into Dick's face through<BR> +his tearful eyes.<BR> +<BR> +"Oh, non, non!" he exclaimed, stretching himself<BR> +out at full length again, and closing his eyes; "it are<BR> +too goot to be true. I am dream. I vill wait till I am<BR> +wake."<BR> +<BR> +Dick roused him out of this, resolute sleep, however,<BR> +somewhat roughly. Meanwhile Joe had rubbed and<BR> +kicked himself into a state of animation, exclaiming that<BR> +he felt as if he wos walkin' on a thousand needles and<BR> +pins, and in a few minutes they were ready to accompany<BR> +their overjoyed deliverer back to the Peigan camp.<BR> +Crusoe testified his delight in various elephantine gambols<BR> +round the persons of his old friends, who were not<BR> +slow to acknowledge his services.<BR> +<BR> +"They haven't treated us overly well," remarked Joe<BR> +Blunt, as they strode through the underwood.<BR> +<BR> +"Non, de rascale, vraiment, de am villains. Oui!<BR> +How de have talk, too, 'bout--oh-o-oo-ooo-wah!--roastin'<BR> +us alive, an' puttin' our scalp in de vigvam for de poo-poose<BR> +to play wid!"<BR> +<BR> +"Well, niver mind, Henri, we'll be quits wi' them<BR> +now," said Joe, as they came in sight of the two bands,<BR> +who remained in precisely the same position in which<BR> +they had been left, except that one or two of the more<BR> +reckless of the trappers had lit their pipes and taken to<BR> +smoking, without, however, laying down their rifles or<BR> +taking their eyes off the savages.<BR> +<BR> +A loud cheer greeted the arrival of the prisoners, and<BR> +looks of considerable discomfort began to be evinced by<BR> +the Indians.<BR> +<BR> +"Glad to see you, friends," said Cameron, as they<BR> +came up.<BR> +<BR> +"Ve is 'appy ov de same," replied Henri, swaggering<BR> +up in the joviality of his heart, and seizing the trader's<BR> +hand in his own enormous fist. "Shall ve go to vork<BR> +an' slay dem all at vonce, or von at a time?"<BR> +<BR> +"We'll consider that afterwards, my lad. Meantime<BR> +go you to the rear and get a weapon of some sort."<BR> +<BR> +"Oui. Ah! c'est charmant," he cried, going with an<BR> +immense flounder into the midst of the amused trappers,<BR> +and slapping those next to him on the back. "Give me<BR> +veapon, do, mes amis--gun, pistol, anyting--cannon, if<BR> +you have von."<BR> +<BR> +Meanwhile Cameron and Joe spoke together for a few<BR> +moments.<BR> +<BR> +"You had goods with you, and horses, I believe, when<BR> +you were captured," said the former.<BR> +<BR> +"Ay, that we had. Yonder stand the horses, under<BR> +the pine-tree, along wi' the rest o' the Redskin troop; an'<BR> +a hard time they've had o't, as their bones may tell without<BR> +speakin'. As for the goods," he continued, glancing<BR> +round the camp, "I don't know where--ah! yes, there<BR> +they be in the old pack. I see all safe."<BR> +<BR> +Cameron now addressed the Indians.<BR> +<BR> +"The Peigans," he said, "have not done well. Their<BR> +hearts have not been true to the Pale-faces. Even now<BR> +I could take your scalps where you sit, but white men<BR> +do not like war, they do not like revenge. The Peigans<BR> +may go free."<BR> +<BR> +Considering the fewness of their numbers, this was<BR> +bold language to use towards the Indians; but the boldest<BR> +is generally the best policy on such occasions. Moreover,<BR> +Cameron felt that, being armed with rifles, while<BR> +the Indians had only bows and arrows, the trappers had<BR> +a great advantage over them.<BR> +<BR> +The Indian who had spoken before now rose and said<BR> +he was sorry there should be any cause of difference<BR> +between them, and added he was sorry for a great many<BR> +more things besides, but he did not say he was sorry for<BR> +having told a lie.<BR> +<BR> +"But, before you go, you must deliver up the horses<BR> +and goods belonging to these men," said Cameron, pointing<BR> +to Joe and Henri.<BR> +<BR> +This was agreed to. The horses were led out, the two<BR> +little packs containing Joe's goods were strapped upon<BR> +them, and then the trappers turned to depart. The Indians<BR> +did not move until they had mounted; then they<BR> +rose and advanced in a body to the edge of the wood, to<BR> +see the Pale-faces go away. Meanwhile Joe spoke a few<BR> +words to Cameron, and the men were ordered to halt,<BR> +while the former dismounted and led his horse towards<BR> +the band of savages.<BR> +<BR> +"Peigans," he said, "you know the object for which<BR> +I came into this country was to make peace between<BR> +you and the Pale-faces. I have often told you so when<BR> +you would not listen, and when you told me that I had<BR> +a double heart and told lies. You were wrong when<BR> +you said this; but I do not wonder, for you live among<BR> +nations who do not fear God, and who think it right to<BR> +lie. I now repeat to you what I said before. It would<BR> +be good for the Red-men if they would make peace with<BR> +the Pale-faces, and if they would make peace with each<BR> +other. I will now convince you that I am in earnest,<BR> +and have all along been speaking the truth."<BR> +<BR> +Hereupon Joe Blunt opened his bundle of goods, and<BR> +presented fully one-half of the gaudy and brilliant contents<BR> +to the astonished Indians, who seemed quite taken<BR> +aback by such generous treatment. The result of this<BR> +was that the two parties separated with mutual expressions<BR> +of esteem and good-will. The Indians then returned<BR> +to the forest, and the white men galloped back to their<BR> +camp among the hills.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER XX.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>New plans</i>--<i>Our travellers join the fur-traders, and see many<BR> +strange things</i>--<i>A curious fight</i>--<i>A narrow escape, and <BR> +a prisoner taken</i>.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +Not long after the events related in the last chapter,<BR> +our four friends--Dick, and Joe, and Henri,<BR> +and Crusoe--agreed to become for a time members of<BR> +Walter Cameron's band of trappers. Joe joined because<BR> +one of the objects which the traders had in view was<BR> +similar to his own mission--namely, the promoting of<BR> +peace among the various Indian tribes of the mountains<BR> +and plains to the west. Joe, therefore, thought it a<BR> +good opportunity of travelling with a band of men who<BR> +could secure him a favourable hearing from the Indian<BR> +tribes they might chance to meet with in the course of<BR> +their wanderings. Besides, as the traders carried about<BR> +a large supply of goods with them, he could easily replenish<BR> +his own nearly exhausted pack by hunting wild<BR> +animals and exchanging their skins for such articles as<BR> +he might require.<BR> +<BR> +Dick joined because it afforded him an opportunity of<BR> +seeing the wild, majestic scenery of the Rocky Mountains,<BR> +and shooting the big-horned sheep which abounded<BR> +there, and the grizzly "bars," as Joe named them, or<BR> +"Caleb," as they were more frequently styled by Henri<BR> +and the other men.<BR> +<BR> +Henri joined because it was agreeable to the inclination<BR> +of his own rollicking, blundering, floundering, crashing<BR> +disposition, and because he would have joined anything<BR> +that had been joined by the other two.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe's reason for joining was single, simple, easy to<BR> +be expressed, easy to be understood, and commendable.<BR> +<i>He</i> joined--because Dick did.<BR> +<BR> +The very day after the party left the encampment<BR> +where Dick had shot the grizzly bear and the deer, he<BR> +had the satisfaction of bringing down a splendid specimen<BR> +of the big-horned sheep. It came suddenly out<BR> +from a gorge of the mountain, and stood upon the giddy<BR> +edge of a tremendous precipice, at a distance of about<BR> +two hundred and fifty yards.<BR> +<BR> +"<i>You</i> could not hit that," said a trapper to Henri,<BR> +who was rather fond of jeering him about his shortsightedness.<BR> +<BR> +"Non!" cried Henri, who didn't see the animal in the<BR> +least; "say you dat? ve shall see;" and he let fly with a<BR> +promptitude that amazed his comrades, and with a result<BR> +that drew from them peals of laughter.<BR> +<BR> +"Why, you have missed the mountain!"<BR> +<BR> +"Oh, non! dat am eempossoble."<BR> +<BR> +It was true, nevertheless, for his ball had been arrested<BR> +in its flight by the stem of a tree not twenty yards before<BR> +him.<BR> +<BR> +While the shot was yet ringing, and before the laugh<BR> +above referred to had pealed forth, Dick Varley fired,<BR> +and the animal, springing wildly into the air, fell down<BR> +the precipice, and was almost dashed to pieces at their<BR> +feet.<BR> +This Rocky Mountain or big-horned sheep was a particularly<BR> +large and fine one, but being a patriarch of the<BR> +flock was not well suited for food. It was considerably<BR> +larger in size than the domestic sheep, and might be<BR> +described as somewhat resembling a deer in the body<BR> +and a ram in the head. Its horns were the chief point<BR> +of interest to Dick; and, truly, they were astounding!<BR> +Their enormous size was out of all proportion to the<BR> +animal's body, and they curved backwards and downwards,<BR> +and then curled up again in a sharp point. These<BR> +creatures frequent the inaccessible heights of the Rocky<BR> +Mountains, and are difficult to approach. They have a<BR> +great fondness for salt, and pay regular visits to the<BR> +numerous caverns of these mountains, which are encrusted<BR> +with a saline substance.<BR> +<BR> +Walter Cameron now changed his intention of proceeding<BR> +to the eastward, as he found the country not so<BR> +full of beaver at that particular spot as he had anticipated.<BR> +He therefore turned towards the west, penetrated<BR> +into the interior of the mountains, and took a<BR> +considerable sweep through the lovely valleys on their<BR> +western slopes.<BR> +<BR> +The expedition which this enterprising fur-trader was<BR> +conducting was one of the first that ever penetrated<BR> +these wild regions in search of furs. The ground over<BR> +which they travelled was quite new to them, and having<BR> +no guide they just moved about at haphazard, encamping<BR> +on the margin of every stream or river on which<BR> +signs of the presence of beaver were discovered, and<BR> +setting their traps.<BR> +<BR> +Beaver skins at this time were worth 25s. a-piece in<BR> +the markets of civilized lands, and in the Snake country,<BR> +through which our friends were travelling, thousands of<BR> +them were to be had from the Indians for trinkets and<BR> +baubles that were scarce worth a farthing. A beaver<BR> +skin could be procured from the Indians for a brass<BR> +finger-ring or a penny looking-glass. Horses were also<BR> +so numerous that one could be procured for an axe or a<BR> +knife.<BR> +<BR> +Let not the reader, however, hastily conclude that the<BR> +traders cheated the Indians in this traffic, though the<BR> +profits were so enormous. The ring or the axe was indeed<BR> +a trifle to the trader, but the beaver skin and the<BR> +horse were equally trifles to the savage, who could procure<BR> +as many of them as he chose with very little<BR> +trouble, while the ring and the axe were in his estimation<BR> +of priceless value. Besides, be it remembered, to<BR> +carry that ring and that axe to the far-distant haunts of<BR> +the Red-man cost the trader weeks and months of constant<BR> +toil, trouble, anxiety, and, alas! too frequently cost<BR> +him his life! The state of trade is considerably modified<BR> +in these regions at the present day. It is not more<BR> +<i>justly</i> conducted, for, in respect of the value of goods<BR> +given for furs, it was justly conducted <i>then</i>, but time<BR> +and circumstances have tended more to equalize the relative<BR> +values of articles of trade.<BR> +<BR> +The snow which had prematurely fallen had passed<BR> +away, and the trappers now found themselves wandering<BR> +about in a country so beautiful and a season so delightful,<BR> +that it would have seemed to them a perfect paradise,<BR> +but for the savage tribes who hovered about them,<BR> +and kept them ever on the <i>qui vive</i>.<BR> +<BR> +They soon passed from the immediate embrace of stupendous<BR> +heights and dark gorges to a land of sloping<BR> +ridges, which divided the country into a hundred luxuriant<BR> +vales, composed part of woodland and part of prairie.<BR> +Through these, numerous rivers and streams flowed deviously,<BR> +beautifying the landscape and enriching the<BR> +land. There were also many lakes of all sizes, and<BR> +these swarmed with fish, while in some of them were<BR> +found the much-sought-after and highly-esteemed beaver.<BR> +Salt springs and hot springs of various temperatures<BR> +abounded here, and many of the latter were so hot that<BR> +meat could be boiled in them. Salt existed in all directions<BR> +in abundance and of good quality. A sulphurous<BR> +spring was also discovered, bubbling out from the base<BR> +of a perpendicular rock three hundred feet high, the<BR> +waters of which were dark-blue and tasted like gunpowder.<BR> +In short, the land presented every variety of<BR> +feature calculated to charm the imagination and delight<BR> +the eye.<BR> +<BR> +It was a mysterious land, too; for broad rivers burst in<BR> +many places from the earth, flowed on for a short space,<BR> +and then disappeared as if by magic into the earth from<BR> +which they rose. Natural bridges spanned the torrents<BR> +in many places, and some of these were so correctly<BR> +formed that it was difficult to believe they had not been<BR> +built by the hand of man. They often appeared opportunely<BR> +to our trappers, and saved them the trouble and<BR> +danger of fording rivers. Frequently the whole band<BR> +would stop in silent wonder and awe as they listened to<BR> +the rushing of waters under their feet, as if another<BR> +world of streams, and rapids, and cataracts were flowing<BR> +below the crust of earth on which they stood. Some<BR> +considerable streams were likewise observed to gush<BR> +from the faces of precipices, some twenty or thirty feet<BR> +from their summits, while on the top no water was to<BR> +be seen.<BR> +<BR> +Wild berries of all kinds were found in abundance,<BR> +and wild vegetables, besides many nutritious roots.<BR> +Among other fish, splendid salmon were found in the<BR> +lakes and rivers, and animal life swarmed on hill and<BR> +in dale. Woods and valleys, plains and ravines, teemed<BR> +with it. On every plain the red-deer grazed in herds<BR> +by the banks of lake and stream. Wherever there were<BR> +clusters of poplar and elder trees and saplings, the beaver<BR> +was seen nibbling industriously with his sharp teeth,<BR> +and committing as much havoc in the forest as if he<BR> +had been armed with the woodman's axe; others sported<BR> +in the eddies. Racoons sat in the tree-tops; the marten,<BR> +the black fox, and the wolf prowled in the woods in<BR> +quest of prey; mountain sheep and goats browsed on<BR> +the rocky ridges; and badgers peeped from their holes.<BR> +<BR> +Here, too, the wild horse sprang snorting and dishevelled<BR> +from his mountain retreats--with flourishing<BR> +mane and tail, spanking step, and questioning<BR> +gaze--and thundered away over the plains and valleys, while<BR> +the rocks echoed back his shrill neigh. The huge,<BR> +heavy, ungainly elk, or moose-deer, <i>trotted</i> away from<BR> +the travellers with speed equal to that of the mustang:<BR> +elks seldom gallop; their best speed is attained at the<BR> +trot. Bears, too, black, and brown, and grizzly, roamed<BR> +about everywhere.<BR> +<BR> +So numerous were all these creatures that on one<BR> +occasion the hunters of the party brought in six wild<BR> +horses, three bears, four elks, and thirty red-deer; having<BR> +shot them all a short distance ahead of the main body,<BR> +and almost without diverging from the line of march.<BR> +And this was a matter of everyday occurrence--as it<BR> +had need to be, considering the number of mouths that<BR> +had to be filled.<BR> +<BR> +The feathered tribes were not less numerous. Chief<BR> +among these were eagles and vultures of uncommon size,<BR> +the wild goose, wild duck, and the majestic swan.<BR> +<BR> +In the midst of such profusion the trappers spent a<BR> +happy time of it, when not molested by the savages, but<BR> +they frequently lost a horse or two in consequence of<BR> +the expertness of these thievish fellows. They often<BR> +wandered, however, for days at a time without seeing<BR> +an Indian, and at such times they enjoyed to the full<BR> +the luxuries with which a bountiful God had blessed<BR> +these romantic regions.<BR> +<BR> +Dick Varley was almost wild with delight. It was<BR> +his first excursion into the remote wilderness; he was<BR> +young, healthy, strong, and romantic; and it is a question<BR> +whether his or his dog's heart, or that of the noble<BR> +wild horse he bestrode, bounded most with joy at the<BR> +glorious sights and sounds and influences by which they<BR> +were surrounded. It would have been perfection, had it<BR> +not been for the frequent annoyance and alarms caused<BR> +by the Indians.<BR> +<BR> +Alas! alas! that we who write and read about those<BR> +wondrous scenes should have to condemn our own species<BR> +as the most degraded of all the works of the Creator<BR> +there! Yet so it is. Man, exercising his reason and<BR> +conscience in the path of love and duty which his Creator<BR> +points out, is God's noblest work; but man, left to the<BR> +freedom of his own fallen will, sinks morally lower than<BR> +the beasts that perish. Well may every Christian wish<BR> +and pray that the name and the gospel of the blessed<BR> +Jesus may be sent speedily to the dark places of the<BR> +earth; for you may read of, and talk about, but you<BR> +<i>cannot conceive</i> the fiendish wickedness and cruelty which<BR> +causes tearless eyes to glare, and maddened hearts to<BR> +burst, in the lands of the heathen.<BR> +<BR> +While we are on this subject, let us add (and our young<BR> +readers will come to know it if they are spared to see<BR> +many years) that <i>civilization</i> alone will never improve<BR> +the heart. Let history speak, and it will tell you that<BR> +deeds of darkest hue have been perpetrated in so-called<BR> +civilized though pagan lands. Civilization is like the<BR> +polish that beautifies inferior furniture, which water will<BR> +wash off if it be but <i>hot enough</i>. Christianity resembles<BR> +dye, which permeates every fibre of the fabric, and which<BR> +nothing can eradicate.<BR> +<BR> +The success of the trappers in procuring beaver here<BR> +was great. In all sorts of creeks and rivers they were<BR> +found. One day they came to one of the curious rivers<BR> +before mentioned, which burst suddenly out of a plain,<BR> +flowed on for several miles, and then disappeared into the<BR> +earth as suddenly as it had risen. Even in this strange<BR> +place beaver were seen, so the traps were set, and a<BR> +hundred and fifty were caught at the first lift.<BR> +<BR> +The manner in which the party proceeded was as<BR> +follows:--They marched in a mass in groups or in a long<BR> +line, according to the nature of the ground over which<BR> +they travelled. The hunters of the party went forward<BR> +a mile or two in advance, and scattered through the<BR> +woods. After them came the advance-guard, being the<BR> +bravest and most stalwart of the men mounted on their<BR> +best steeds, and with rifle in hand; immediately behind<BR> +followed the women and children, also mounted, and<BR> +the pack-horses with the goods and camp equipage.<BR> +Another band of trappers formed the rear-guard to this<BR> +imposing cavalcade. There was no strict regimental<BR> +order kept, but the people soon came to adopt the<BR> +arrangements that were most convenient for all parties,<BR> +and at length fell naturally into their places in the line<BR> +of march.<BR> +<BR> +Joe Blunt usually was the foremost and always the<BR> +most successful of the hunters. He was therefore seldom<BR> +seen on the march except at the hour of starting, and at<BR> +night when he came back leading his horse, which always<BR> +groaned under its heavy load of meat. Henri, being a<BR> +hearty, jovial soul and fond of society, usually kept with<BR> +the main body. As for Dick, he was everywhere at<BR> +once, at least as much so as it is possible for human<BR> +nature to be! His horse never wearied; it seemed to<BR> +delight in going at full speed; no other horse in the<BR> +troop could come near Charlie, and Dick indulged him<BR> +by appearing now at the front, now at the rear, anon in<BR> +the centre, and frequently <i>nowhere</i>!--having gone off<BR> +with Crusoe like a flash of lightning after a buffalo or a<BR> +deer. Dick soon proved himself to be the best hunter<BR> +of the party, and it was not long before he fulfilled his<BR> +promise to Crusoe and decorated his neck with a collar<BR> +of grizzly bear claws.<BR> +Well, when the trappers came to a river where there<BR> +were signs of beaver they called a halt, and proceeded<BR> +to select a safe and convenient spot, near wood and<BR> +water, for the camp. Here the property of the band<BR> +was securely piled in such a manner as to form a breastwork<BR> +or slight fortification, and here Walter Cameron<BR> +established headquarters. This was always the post<BR> +of danger, being exposed to sudden attack by prowling<BR> +savages, who often dogged the footsteps of the party in<BR> +their journeyings to see what they could steal. But<BR> +Cameron was an old hand, and they found it difficult to<BR> +escape his vigilant eye.<BR> +<BR> +From this point all the trappers were sent forth in<BR> +small parties every morning in various directions, some<BR> +on foot and some on horseback, according to the distances<BR> +they had to go; but they never went farther<BR> +than twenty miles, as they had to return to camp every<BR> +evening.<BR> +<BR> +Each trapper had ten steel traps allowed him. These<BR> +he set every night, and visited every morning, sometimes<BR> +oftener when practicable, selecting a spot in the stream<BR> +where many trees had been cut down by beavers for the<BR> +purpose of damming up the water. In some places as<BR> +many as fifty tree stumps were seen in one spot, within<BR> +the compass of half an acre, all cut through at about<BR> +eighteen inches from the root. We may remark, in<BR> +passing, that the beaver is very much like a gigantic<BR> +water-rat, with this marked difference, that its tail is<BR> +very broad and flat like a paddle. The said tail is a<BR> +greatly-esteemed article of food, as, indeed, is the whole<BR> +body at certain seasons of the year. The beaver's fore<BR> +legs are very small and short, and it uses its paws as<BR> +hands to convey food to its mouth, sitting the while in<BR> +an erect position on its hind legs and tail. Its fur is<BR> +a dense coat of a grayish-coloured down, concealed by<BR> +long coarse hair, which lies smooth, and is of a bright<BR> +chestnut colour. Its teeth and jaws are of enormous<BR> +power; with them it can cut through the branch of a<BR> +tree as thick as a walking-stick at one snap, and, as we<BR> +have said, it gnaws through thick trees themselves.<BR> +<BR> +As soon as a tree falls, the beavers set to work industriously<BR> +to lop off the branches, which, as well as the<BR> +smaller trunks, they cut into lengths, according to their<BR> +weight and thickness. These are then dragged by<BR> +main force to the water-side, launched, and floated to<BR> +their destination. Beavers build their houses, or<BR> +"lodges," under the banks of rivers and lakes, and always<BR> +select those of such depth of water that there is<BR> +no danger of their being frozen to the bottom. When<BR> +such cannot be found, and they are compelled to build<BR> +in small rivulets of insufficient depth, these clever little<BR> +creatures dam up the waters until they are deep enough.<BR> +The banks thrown up by them across rivulets for this<BR> +purpose are of great strength, and would do credit to<BR> +human engineers. Their lodges are built of sticks,<BR> +mud, and stones, which form a compact mass; this<BR> +freezes solid in winter, and defies the assaults of that<BR> +housebreaker, the wolverine, an animal which is the<BR> +beaver's implacable foe. From this lodge, which is<BR> +capable often of holding four old and six or eight young<BR> +ones, a communication is maintained with the water<BR> +below the ice, so that, should the wolverine succeed in breaking up<BR> +the<BR> +lodge, he finds the family "not at<BR> +home," they having made good their retreat by the<BR> +back-door. When man acts the part of housebreaker,<BR> +however, he cunningly shuts the back-door <i>first</i>, by<BR> +driving stakes through the ice, and thus stopping the<BR> +passage. Then he enters, and, we almost regret to say,<BR> +finds the family at home. We regret it, because the<BR> +beaver is a gentle, peaceable, affectionate, hairy little<BR> +creature, towards which one feels an irresistible tenderness.<BR> +But to return from this long digression.<BR> +<BR> +Our trappers, having selected their several localities,<BR> +set their traps in the water, so that when the beavers<BR> +roamed about at night they put their feet into them,<BR> +and were caught and drowned; for although they can<BR> +swim and dive admirably, they cannot live altogether<BR> +under water.<BR> +<BR> +Thus the different parties proceeded; and in the<BR> +mornings the camp was a busy scene indeed, for then<BR> +the whole were engaged in skinning the animals. The<BR> +skins were always stretched, dried, folded up with the<BR> +hair in the inside, and laid by; and the flesh was used<BR> +for food.<BR> +<BR> +But oftentimes the trappers had to go forth with the<BR> +gun in one hand and their traps in the other, while<BR> +they kept a sharp look-out on the bushes to guard<BR> +against surprise. Despite their utmost efforts, a horse<BR> +was occasionally stolen before their very eyes, and<BR> +sometimes even an unfortunate trapper was murdered,<BR> +and all his traps carried off.<BR> +<BR> +An event of this kind occurred soon after the party<BR> +had gained the western slopes of the mountains. Three<BR> +Iroquois Indians, who belonged to the band of trappers,<BR> +were sent to a stream about ten miles off. Having<BR> +reached their destination, they all entered the water to<BR> +set their traps, foolishly neglecting the usual precaution<BR> +of one remaining on the bank to protect the others.<BR> +They had scarcely commenced operations when three<BR> +arrows were discharged into their backs, and a party of<BR> +Snake Indians rushed upon and slew them, carrying<BR> +away their traps and horses and scalps. This was not<BR> +known for several days, when, becoming anxious about<BR> +their prolonged absence, Cameron sent out a party,<BR> +which found their mangled bodies affording a loathsome<BR> +banquet to the wolves and vultures.<BR> +<BR> +After this sad event, the trappers were more careful<BR> +to go in larger parties, and keep watch.<BR> +<BR> +As long as beaver were taken in abundance, the<BR> +camp remained stationary; but whenever the beaver<BR> +began to grow scarce, the camp was raised, and the<BR> +party moved on to another valley.<BR> +<BR> +One day Dick Varley came galloping into camp with<BR> +the news that there were several bears in a valley not<BR> +far distant, which he was anxious not to disturb until a<BR> +number of the trappers were collected together to go<BR> +out and surround them.<BR> +<BR> +On receiving the information, Walter Cameron shook<BR> +his head.<BR> +<BR> +"We have other things to do, young man," said he,<BR> +"than go a-hunting after bears. I'm just about making<BR> +up my mind to send off a party to search out the valley<BR> +on the other side of the Blue Mountains yonder, and<BR> +bring back word if there are beaver there; for if not, I<BR> +mean to strike away direct south. Now, if you've a<BR> +mind to go with them, you're welcome. I'll warrant you'll<BR> +find enough in the way of bear-hunting to satisfy you;<BR> +perhaps a little Indian hunting to boot, for if the Banattees<BR> +get hold of your horses, you'll have a long hunt<BR> +before you find them again. Will you go?"<BR> +<BR> +"Ay, right gladly," replied Dick. "When do we<BR> +start?"<BR> +<BR> +"This afternoon."<BR> +<BR> +Dick went off at once to his own part of the camp to<BR> +replenish his powder-horn and bullet-pouch, and wipe<BR> +out his rifle.<BR> +<BR> +That evening the party, under command of a Canadian<BR> +named Pierre, set out for the Blue Hills. They<BR> +numbered twenty men, and expected to be absent three<BR> +days, for they merely went to reconnoitre, not to trap.<BR> +Neither Joe nor Henri was of this party, both having<BR> +been out hunting when it was organized; but Crusoe<BR> +and Charlie were, of course.<BR> +<BR> +Pierre, although a brave and trusty man, was of a<BR> +sour, angry disposition, and not a favourite with Dick;<BR> +but the latter resolved to enjoy himself, and disregard<BR> +his sulky comrade. Being so well mounted, he not unfrequently<BR> +shot far ahead of his companions, despite<BR> +their warnings that he ran great risk by so doing. On<BR> +one of these occasions he and Crusoe witnessed a very<BR> +singular fight, which is worthy of record.<BR> +<BR> +Dick had felt a little wilder in spirit that morning<BR> +than usual, and on coming to a pretty open plain he<BR> +gave the rein to Charlie, and with an "<i>Adieu, mes camarade</i>,"<BR> +he was out of sight in a few minutes. He rode<BR> +on several miles in advance without checking speed, and<BR> +then came to a wood where rapid motion was inconvenient;<BR> +so he pulled up, and, dismounting, tied Charlie<BR> +to a tree, while he sauntered on a short way on foot.<BR> +<BR> +On coming to the edge of a small plain he observed<BR> +two large birds engaged in mortal conflict. Crusoe observed<BR> +them too, and would soon have put an end to the<BR> +fight had Dick not checked him. Creeping as close to<BR> +the belligerents as possible, he found that one was a<BR> +wild turkey-cock, the other a white-headed eagle. These<BR> +two stood with their heads down and all their feathers<BR> +bristling for a moment; then they dashed at each other,<BR> +and struck fiercely with their spurs, as our domestic<BR> +cocks do, but neither fell, and the fight was continued<BR> +for about five minutes without apparent advantage on<BR> +either side.<BR> +<BR> +Dick now observed that, from the uncertainty of its<BR> +motions, the turkey-cock was blind, a discovery which<BR> +caused a throb of compunction to enter his breast for<BR> +standing and looking on, so he ran forward. The eagle<BR> +saw him instantly, and tried to fly away, but was unable<BR> +from exhaustion.<BR> +<BR> +"At him, Crusoe," cried Dick, whose sympathies all<BR> +lay with the other bird.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe went forward at a bound, and was met by a<BR> +peck between the eyes that would have turned most<BR> +dogs; but Crusoe only winked, and the next moment<BR> +the eagle's career was ended.<BR> +<BR> +Dick found that the turkey-cock was quite blind, the<BR> +eagle having thrust out both its eyes, so, in mercy, he<BR> +put an end to its sufferings.<BR> +<BR> +The fight had evidently been a long and severe one,<BR> +for the grass all round the spot, for about twenty yards,<BR> +was beaten to the ground, and covered with the blood<BR> +and feathers of the fierce combatants.<BR> +<BR> +Meditating on the fight which he had just witnessed,<BR> +Dick returned towards the spot where he had left<BR> +Charlie, when he suddenly missed Crusoe from his side.<BR> +<BR> +"Hallo, Crusoe! here, pup! where are you?" he<BR> +cried.<BR> +<BR> +The only answer to this was a sharp whizzing sound,<BR> +and an arrow, passing close to his ear, quivered in a<BR> +tree beyond. Almost at the same moment Crusoe's<BR> +angry roar was followed by a shriek from some one in<BR> +fear or agony. Cocking his rifle, the young hunter<BR> +sprang through the bushes towards his horse, and was<BR> +just in time to save a Banattee Indian from being<BR> +strangled by the dog. It had evidently scented out<BR> +this fellow, and pinned him just as he was in the act of<BR> +springing on the back of Charlie, for the halter was cut,<BR> +and the savage lay on the ground close beside him.<BR> +<BR> +Dick called off the dog, and motioned to the Indian<BR> +to rise, which he did so nimbly that it was quite evident<BR> +he had sustained no injury beyond the laceration<BR> +of his neck by Crusoe's teeth, and the surprise.<BR> +<BR> +He was a tall strong Indian for the tribe to which<BR> +he belonged, so Dick proceeded to secure him at once.<BR> +Pointing to his rifle and to the Indian's breast, to show<BR> +what he might expect if he attempted to escape, Dick<BR> +ordered Crusoe to keep him steady in that position.<BR> +<BR> +The dog planted himself in front of the savage, who<BR> +began to tremble for his scalp, and gazed up in his face<BR> +with a look which, to say the least of it, was the reverse<BR> +of amiable, while Dick went towards his horse for the<BR> +purpose of procuring a piece of cord to tie him with.<BR> +The Indian naturally turned his head to see what was<BR> +going to be done, but a peculiar <i>gurgle</i> in Crusoe's throat<BR> +made him turn it round again very smartly, and he did<BR> +not venture thereafter to move a muscle.<BR> +<BR> +In a few seconds Dick returned with a piece of<BR> +leather and tied his hands behind his back. While this<BR> +was being done the Indian glanced several times at his<BR> +bow, which lay a few feet away, where it had fallen<BR> +when the dog caught him; but Crusoe seemed to understand<BR> +him, for he favoured him with such an additional<BR> +display of teeth, and such a low--apparently distant,<BR> +almost, we might say, subterranean--<i>rumble</i>, that he<BR> +resigned himself to his fate.<BR> +<BR> +His hands secured, a long line was attached to his<BR> +neck with a running noose, so that if he ventured to<BR> +run away the attempt would effect its own cure by producing<BR> +strangulation. The other end of this line was<BR> +given to Crusoe, who at the word of command marched<BR> +him off, while Dick mounted Charlie and brought up<BR> +the rear.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +Great was the laughter and merriment when this<BR> +apparition met the eyes of the trappers; but when they<BR> +heard that he had attempted to shoot Dick their ire was<BR> +raised, and a court-martial was held on the spot.<BR> +<BR> +"Hang the reptile!" cried one.<BR> +<BR> +"Burn him!" shouted another.<BR> +<BR> +"No, no," said a third; "don't imitate them villains:<BR> +don't be cruel. Let's shoot him."<BR> +"Shoot 'im," cried Pierre. "Oui, dat is de ting; it<BR> +too goot pour lui, mais it shall be dooed."<BR> +<BR> +"Don't ye think, lads, it would be better to let the<BR> +poor wretch off?" said Dick Varley; "he'd p'r'aps give<BR> +a good account o' us to his people."<BR> +<BR> +There was a universal shout of contempt at this mild<BR> +proposal. Unfortunately, few of the men sent on this<BR> +exploring expedition were imbued with the peace-making<BR> +spirit of their chief, and most of them seemed glad to<BR> +have a chance of venting their hatred of the poor Indians<BR> +on this unhappy wretch, who, although calm, looked<BR> +sharply from one speaker to another, to gather hope, if<BR> +possible, from the tones of their voices.<BR> +<BR> +Dick was resolved, at the risk of a quarrel with Pierre,<BR> +to save the poor man's life, and had made up his mind<BR> +to insist on having him conducted to the camp to be<BR> +tried by Cameron, when one of the men suggested that<BR> +they should take the savage to the top of a hill about<BR> +three miles farther on, and there hang him up on a tree<BR> +as a warning to all his tribe.<BR> +<BR> +"Agreed, agreed!" cried the men; "come on."<BR> +<BR> +Dick, too, seemed to agree to this proposal, and hastily<BR> +ordered Crusoe to run on ahead with the savage; an<BR> +order which the dog obeyed so vigorously that, before<BR> +the men had done laughing at him, he was a couple of<BR> +hundred yards ahead of them.<BR> +<BR> +"Take care that he don't get off!" cried Dick, springing<BR> +on Charlie and stretching out at a gallop.<BR> +<BR> +In a moment he was beside the Indian. Scraping together<BR> +the little of the Indian language he knew, he stooped<BR> +down, and, cutting the thongs that bound him, said,--<BR> +<BR> +"Go! white men love the Indians."<BR> +<BR> +The man cast on his deliverer one glance of surprise,<BR> +and the next moment bounded aside into the bushes and<BR> +was gone.<BR> +<BR> +A loud shout from the party behind showed that this<BR> +act had been observed; and Crusoe stood with the end<BR> +of the line in his mouth, and an expression on his face<BR> +that said, "You're absolutely incomprehensible, Dick!<BR> +It's all right, I <i>know</i>, but to my feeble capacity it<BR> +<i>seems</i><BR> +wrong."<BR> +<BR> +"Fat for you do dat?" shouted Pierre in a rage, as<BR> +he came up with a menacing look.<BR> +<BR> +Dick confronted him. "The prisoner was mine. I<BR> +had a right to do with him as it liked me."<BR> +<BR> +"True, true," cried several of the men who had begun<BR> +to repent of their resolution, and were glad the savage<BR> +was off. "The lad's right. Get along, Pierre."<BR> +<BR> +"You had no right, you vas wrong. Oui, et I have<BR> +goot vill to give you one knock on de nose."<BR> +<BR> +Dick looked Pierre in the face, as he said this, in a<BR> +manner that cowed him.<BR> +<BR> +"It is time," he said quietly, pointing to the sun, "to<BR> +go on. Your bourgeois expects that time won't be<BR> +wasted."<BR> +<BR> +Pierre muttered something in an angry tone, and<BR> +wheeling round his horse, dashed forward at full gallop,<BR> +followed by the rest of the men.<BR> +<BR> +The trappers encamped that night on the edge of a<BR> +wide grassy plain, which offered such tempting food for<BR> +the horses that Pierre resolved to forego his usual<BR> +cautious plan of picketing them close to the camp, and<BR> +set them loose on the plain, merely hobbling them to<BR> +prevent their straying far.<BR> +<BR> +Dick remonstrated, but in vain. An insolent answer<BR> +was all he got for his pains. He determined, however,<BR> +to keep Charlie close beside him all night, and also made<BR> +up his mind to keep a sharp look-out on the other<BR> +horses.<BR> +<BR> +At supper he again remonstrated.<BR> +<BR> +"No 'fraid," said Pierre, whose pipe was beginning to<BR> +improve his temper. "The red reptiles no dare to come<BR> +in open plain when de moon so clear."<BR> +<BR> +"Dun know that," said a taciturn trapper, who seldom<BR> +ventured a remark of any kind; "them varmints 'ud<BR> +steal the two eyes out o' you' head when they set their<BR> +hearts on't."<BR> +<BR> +"Dat ar' umposs'ble, for dey have no hearts," said a<BR> +half-breed; "dey have von hole vere de heart vas<BR> +be."<BR> +<BR> +This was received with a shout of laughter, in the<BR> +midst of which an appalling yell was heard, and, as if<BR> +by magic, four Indians were seen on the backs of four<BR> +of the best horses, yelling like fiends, and driving all the<BR> +other horses furiously before them over the plain!<BR> +<BR> +How they got there was a complete mystery, but the<BR> +men did not wait to consider that point. Catching up<BR> +their guns they sprang after them with the fury of madmen,<BR> +and were quickly scattered far and wide. Dick<BR> +ordered Crusoe to follow and help the men, and turned<BR> +to spring on the back of Charlie; but at that moment<BR> +he observed an Indian's head and shoulders rise above<BR> +the grass, not fifty yards in advance from him, so without<BR> +hesitation he darted forward, intending to pounce<BR> +upon him.<BR> +<BR> +Well would it have been for Dick Varley had he at<BR> +that time possessed a little more experience of the wiles<BR> +and stratagems of the Banattees. The Snake nation is<BR> +subdivided into several tribes, of which those inhabiting<BR> +the Rocky Mountains, called the Banattees, are the most<BR> +perfidious. Indeed, they are confessedly the banditti of<BR> +the hills, and respect neither friend nor foe, but rob all<BR> +who come in their way.<BR> +<BR> +Dick reached the spot where the Indian had disappeared<BR> +in less than a minute, but no savage was to be<BR> +seen. Thinking he had crept ahead, he ran on a few<BR> +yards farther, and darted about hither and thither,<BR> +while his eye glanced from side to side. Suddenly a<BR> +shout in the camp attracted his attention, and looking<BR> +back he beheld the savage on Charlie's back turning to<BR> +fly. Next moment he was off and away far beyond the<BR> +hope of recovery. Dick had left his rifle in the camp,<BR> +otherwise the savage would have gone but a short way.<BR> +As it was, Dick returned, and sitting down on a mound<BR> +of grass, stared straight before him with a feeling akin<BR> +to despair. Even Crusoe could not have helped him<BR> +had he been there, for nothing on four legs, or on two,<BR> +could keep pace with Charlie.<BR> +<BR> +The Banattee achieved this feat by adopting a stratagem<BR> +which invariably deceives those who are ignorant<BR> +of their habits and tactics. When suddenly pursued the<BR> +Banattee sinks into the grass, and, serpent-like, creeps<BR> +along with wonderful rapidity, not <i>from</i> but <i>towards</i><BR> +his enemy, taking care, however, to avoid him, so that<BR> +when the pursuer reaches the spot where the pursued is<BR> +supposed to be hiding, he hears him shout a yell of<BR> +defiance far away in the rear.<BR> +<BR> +It was thus that the Banattee eluded Dick and gained<BR> +the camp almost as soon as the other reached the spot<BR> +where he had disappeared.<BR> +<BR> +One by one the trappers came back weary, raging,<BR> +and despairing. In a short time they all assembled,<BR> +and soon began to reproach each other. Ere long one<BR> +or two had a fight, which resulted in several bloody<BR> +noses and black eyes, thus adding to the misery which,<BR> +one would think, had been bad enough without such<BR> +additions. At last they finished their suppers and their<BR> +pipes, and then lay down to sleep under the trees till<BR> +morning, when they arose in a particularly silent and<BR> +sulky mood, rolled up their blankets, strapped their<BR> +things on their shoulders, and began to trudge slowly<BR> +back to the camp on foot.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER XXI.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Wolves attack the horses, and Cameron circumvents the<BR> +wolves</i>--<i>A bear-hunt, in which Henri shines <BR> +conspicuous</i>--<i>Joe and the "Natter-list</i>"--<i>An<BR> +alarm</i>--<i>A surprise and a capture</i>.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +We must now return to the camp where Walter<BR> +Cameron still guarded the goods, and the men<BR> +pursued their trapping avocations.<BR> +<BR> +Here seven of the horses had been killed in one night<BR> +by wolves while grazing in a plain close to the camp,<BR> +and on the night following a horse that had strayed<BR> +was also torn to pieces and devoured. The prompt and<BR> +daring manner in which this had been done convinced<BR> +the trader that white wolves had unfortunately scented<BR> +them out, and he set several traps in the hope of capturing<BR> +them.<BR> +<BR> +White wolves are quite distinct from the ordinary<BR> +wolves that prowl through woods and plains in large<BR> +packs. They are much larger, weighing sometimes as<BR> +much as a hundred and thirty pounds; but they are<BR> +comparatively scarce, and move about alone, or in small<BR> +bands of three or four. Their strength is enormous,<BR> +and they are so fierce that they do not hesitate, upon<BR> +occasions, to attack man himself. Their method of<BR> +killing horses is very deliberate. Two wolves generally<BR> +undertake the cold-blooded murder. They approach<BR> +their victim with the most innocent-looking and frolicsome<BR> +gambols, lying down and rolling about, and<BR> +frisking presently, until the horse becomes a little<BR> +accustomed to them. Then one approaches right in<BR> +front, the other in rear, still frisking playfully, until<BR> +they think themselves near enough, when they make<BR> +a simultaneous rush. The wolf which approaches in<BR> +rear is the true assailant; the rush of the other is a<BR> +mere feint. Then both fasten on the poor horse's<BR> +haunches, and never let go till the sinews are cut and<BR> +he is rolling on his side.<BR> +<BR> +The horse makes comparatively little struggle in<BR> +this deadly assault; he seems paralyzed, and soon falls<BR> +to rise no more.<BR> +<BR> +Cameron set his traps towards evening in a circle<BR> +with a bait in the centre, and then retired to rest.<BR> +Next morning he called Joe Blunt, and the two went<BR> +off together.<BR> +<BR> +"It is strange that these rascally white wolves should<BR> +be so bold when the smaller kinds are so cowardly,"<BR> +remarked Cameron, as they walked along.<BR> +<BR> +"So 'tis," replied Joe; "but I've seed them other<BR> +chaps bold enough too in the prairie when they were<BR> +in large packs and starvin'."<BR> +<BR> +"I believe the small wolves follow the big fellows,<BR> +and help them to eat what they kill, though they<BR> +generally sit round and look on at the killing."<BR> +<BR> +"Hist!" exclaimed Joe, cocking his gun; "there he<BR> +is, an' no mistake."<BR> +<BR> +There he was, undoubtedly. A wolf of the largest<BR> +size with one of his feet in the trap. He was a terrible-looking<BR> +object, for, besides his immense size and naturally<BR> +ferocious aspect, his white hair bristled on end and<BR> +was all covered with streaks and spots of blood from<BR> +his bloody jaws. In his efforts to escape he had bitten<BR> +the trap until he had broken his teeth and lacerated his<BR> +gums, so that his appearance was hideous in the extreme.<BR> +And when the two men came up he struggled with all<BR> +his might to fly at them.<BR> +<BR> +Cameron and Joe stood looking at him in a sort of<BR> +wondering admiration.<BR> +<BR> +"We'd better put a ball in him," suggested Joe after<BR> +a time. "Mayhap the chain won't stand sich tugs long."<BR> +<BR> +"True, Joe; if it break, we might get an ugly nip<BR> +before we killed him."<BR> +<BR> +So saying Cameron fired into the wolf's head and<BR> +killed it. It was found, on examination, that four<BR> +wolves had been in the traps, but the rest had escaped.<BR> +Two of them, however, had gnawed off their paws and<BR> +left them lying in the traps.<BR> +<BR> +After this the big wolves did not trouble them again.<BR> +The same afternoon a bear-hunt was undertaken, which<BR> +well-nigh cost one of the Iroquois his life. It happened<BR> +thus:--<BR> +<BR> +While Cameron and Joe were away after the white<BR> +wolves, Henri came floundering into camp tossing his<BR> +arms like a maniac, and shouting that "seven bars wos<BR> +be down in de bush close by!" It chanced that this<BR> +was an idle day with most of the men, so they all leaped<BR> +on their horses, and taking guns and knives sallied forth<BR> +to give battle to the bears.<BR> +<BR> +Arrived at the scene of action, they found the seven<BR> +bears busily engaged in digging up roots, so the men<BR> +separated in order to surround them, and then closed in.<BR> +The place was partly open and partly covered with<BR> +thick bushes into which a horseman could not penetrate.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +The moment the bears got wind of what was going<BR> +forward they made off as fast as possible, and then commenced<BR> +a scene of firing, galloping, and yelling that<BR> +defies description! Four out of the seven were shot<BR> +before they gained the bushes; the other three were<BR> +wounded, but made good their retreat. As their places<BR> +of shelter, however, were like islands in the plain, they<BR> +had no chance of escaping.<BR> +<BR> +The horsemen now dismounted and dashed recklessly<BR> +into the bushes, where they soon discovered and killed<BR> +two of the bears; the third was not found for some<BR> +time. At last an Iroquois came upon it so suddenly<BR> +that he had not time to point his gun before the bear<BR> +sprang upon him and struck him to the earth, where it<BR> +held him down.<BR> +<BR> +Instantly the place was surrounded by eager men; but<BR> +the bushes were so thick, and the fallen trees among<BR> +which the bear stood were so numerous, that they could<BR> +not use their guns without running the risk of shooting<BR> +their companion. Most of them drew their knives and<BR> +seemed about to rush on the bear with these; but the<BR> +monster's aspect, as it glared around, was so terrible that<BR> +they held back for a moment in hesitation.<BR> +<BR> +At this moment Henri, who had been at some distance<BR> +engaged in the killing of one of the other bears, came<BR> +rushing forward after his own peculiar manner.<BR> +"Ah! fat is eet--hay? de bar no go under yit?"<BR> +<BR> +Just then his eye fell on the wounded Iroquois with<BR> +the bear above him, and he uttered a yell so intense in<BR> +tone that the bear himself seemed to feel that something<BR> +decisive was about to be done at last. Henri<BR> +did not pause, but with a flying dash he sprang like a<BR> +spread eagle, arms and legs extended, right into the<BR> +bear's bosom. At the same moment he sent his long<BR> +hunting-knife down into its heart. But Bruin is proverbially<BR> +hard to kill, and although mortally wounded,<BR> +he had strength enough to open his jaws and close them<BR> +on Henri's neck.<BR> +<BR> +There was a cry of horror, and at the same moment<BR> +a volley was fired at the bear's head; for the trappers<BR> +felt that it was better to risk shooting their comrades<BR> +than see them killed before their eyes. Fortunately<BR> +the bullets took effect, and tumbled him over at once<BR> +without doing damage to either of the men, although<BR> +several of the balls just grazed Henri's temple and<BR> +carried off his cap.<BR> +<BR> +Although uninjured by the shot, the poor Iroquois<BR> +had not escaped scathless from the paw of the bear.<BR> +His scalp was torn almost off, and hung down over his<BR> +eyes, while blood streamed down his face. He was<BR> +conveyed by his comrades to the camp, where he lay<BR> +two days in a state of insensibility, at the end of which<BR> +time he revived and recovered daily. Afterwards when<BR> +the camp moved he had to be carried; but in the course<BR> +of two months he was as well as ever, and quite as fond<BR> +of bear-hunting!<BR> +<BR> +Among other trophies of this hunt there were two<BR> +deer and a buffalo, which last had probably strayed from<BR> +the herd. Four or five Iroquois were round this animal<BR> +whetting their knives for the purpose of cutting it up<BR> +when Henri passed, so he turned aside to watch them<BR> +perform the operation, quite regardless of the fact that<BR> +his neck and face were covered with blood which flowed<BR> +from one or two small punctures made by the bear.<BR> +<BR> +The Indians began by taking off the skin, which<BR> +certainly did not occupy them more than five minutes.<BR> +Then they cut up the meat and made a pack of it, and<BR> +cut out the tongue, which is somewhat troublesome, as<BR> +that member requires to be cut out from under the jaw<BR> +of the animal, and not through the natural opening of<BR> +the mouth. One of the fore legs was cut off at the<BR> +knee joint, and this was used as a hammer with which<BR> +to break the skull for the purpose of taking out the<BR> +brains, these being used in the process of dressing and<BR> +softening the animal's skin. An axe would have been<BR> +of advantage to break the skull, but in the hurry of<BR> +rushing to the attack the Indians had forgotten their<BR> +axes; so they adopted the common fashion of using the<BR> +buffalo's hoof as a hammer, the shank being the handle.<BR> +The whole operation of flaying, cutting up, and packing<BR> +the meat did not occupy more than twenty minutes.<BR> +Before leaving the ground these expert butchers treated<BR> +themselves to a little of the marrow and warm liver in<BR> +a raw state!<BR> +<BR> +Cameron and Joe walked up to the group while they<BR> +were indulging in this little feast.<BR> +<BR> +"Well, I've often seen that eaten, but I never could<BR> +do it myself," remarked the former.<BR> +"No!" cried Joe in surprise; "now that's oncommon<BR> +cur'us. I've <i>lived</i> on raw liver an' marrow-bones for<BR> +two or three days at a time, when we wos chased by the<BR> +Camanchee Injuns an' didn't dare to make a fire; an' it's<BR> +ra'al good, it is. Won't ye try it <i>now</i>?"<BR> +<BR> +Cameron shook his head.<BR> +<BR> +"No, thankee; I'll not refuse when I can't help it,<BR> +but until then I'll remain in happy ignorance of how<BR> +good it is."<BR> +<BR> +"Well, it <i>is</i> strange how some folk can't abide anything<BR> +in the meat way they ha'n't bin used to. D'ye<BR> +know I've actually knowed men from the cities as<BR> +wouldn't eat a bit o' horseflesh for love or money.<BR> +Would ye believe it?"<BR> +<BR> +"I can well believe that, Joe, for I have met with<BR> +such persons myself; in fact, they are rather numerous.<BR> +What are you chuckling at, Joe?"<BR> +<BR> +"Chucklin'? If ye mean be that 'larfin in to myself,'<BR> +it's because I'm thinkin' o' a chap as once comed out to<BR> +the prairies."<BR> +<BR> +"Let us walk back to the camp, Joe, and you can<BR> +tell me about him as we go along."<BR> +<BR> +"I think," continued Joe, "he comed from Washington,<BR> +but I never could make out right whether he wos<BR> +a Government man or not. Anyhow, he wos a pheelosopher--a<BR> +natter-list I think he call his-self--"<BR> +<BR> +"A naturalist," suggested Cameron.<BR> +<BR> +"Ay, that wos more like it. Well, he wos about six<BR> +feet two in his moccasins, an' as thin as a ramrod, an' as<BR> +blind as a bat--leastways he had weak eyes an' wore<BR> +green spectacles. He had on a gray shootin' coat an'<BR> +trousers an' vest an' cap, with rid whiskers an' a long<BR> +nose as rid at the point as the whiskers wos."<BR> +<BR> +"Well, this gentleman engaged me an' another hunter<BR> +to go a trip with him into the prairies, so off we sot one<BR> +fine day on three hosses, with our blankets at our backs--we<BR> +wos to depend on the rifle for victuals. At first I<BR> +thought the natter-list one o' the cruellest beggars as<BR> +iver went on two long legs, for he used to go about<BR> +everywhere pokin' pins through all the beetles an' flies<BR> +an' creepin' things he could sot eyes on, an' stuck them<BR> +in a box. But he told me he comed here a-purpose to<BR> +git as many o' them as he could; so says I, 'If that's it,<BR> +I'll fill yer box in no time.'<BR> +<BR> +"'Will ye?' says he, quite pleased like.<BR> +<BR> +"'I will,' says I, an' galloped off to a place as was<BR> +filled wi' all sorts o' crawlin' things. So I sets to work,<BR> +an' whenever I seed a thing crawlin' I sot my fut on it<BR> +an' crushed it, an' soon filled my breast pocket. I<BR> +cotched a lot o' butterflies too, an' stuffed them into my<BR> +shot-pouch, an' went back in an hour or two an' showed<BR> +him the lot. He put on his green spectacles an' looked<BR> +at them as if he'd seen a rattlesnake.<BR> +<BR> +"'My good man,' says he, 'you've crushed them all<BR> +to pieces!'<BR> +<BR> +"'They'll taste as good for all that,' says I; for<BR> +somehow I'd taken't in me head that he'd heard o' the<BR> +way the Injuns make soup o' the grasshoppers, an' wos<BR> +wantin' to try his hand at a new dish!<BR> +<BR> +"He laughed when I said this, an' told me he wos<BR> +collectin' them to take home to be <i>looked</i> at. But that's<BR> +not wot I was goin' to tell ye about him," continued<BR> +Joe; "I wos goin' to tell ye how we made him eat<BR> +horseflesh. He carried a revolver, too, this natter-list<BR> +did, to load wi' shot as small as dust a'most, an' shoot<BR> +little birds with. I've seed him miss birds only three<BR> +feet away with it. An' one day he drew it all of a suddent an' let fly<BR> +at a<BR> +big bum-bee that wos passin',<BR> +yellin' out that it wos the finest wot he had iver seed.<BR> +He missed the bee, of coorse, 'cause it wos a flyin' shot,<BR> +he said, but he sent the whole charge right into Martin's<BR> +back--Martin was my comrade's name. By good luck<BR> +Martin had on a thick leather coat, so the shot niver<BR> +got the length o' his skin."<BR> +<BR> +"One day I noticed that the natter-list had stuffed<BR> +small corks into the muzzles of all the six barrels of his<BR> +revolver. I wondered what they wos for, but he wos<BR> +al'ays doin' sich queer things that I soon forgot it.<BR> +'Maybe,' thought I, jist before it went out o' my mind--'maybe<BR> +he thinks that'll stop the pistol from goin'<BR> +off by accident;' for ye must know he'd let it off three<BR> +times the first day by accident, an' well-nigh blowed<BR> +off his leg the last time, only the shot lodged in the<BR> +back o' a big toad he'd jist stuffed into his breeches<BR> +pocket. Well, soon after we shot a buffalo bull, so<BR> +when it fell, off he jumps from his horse an' runs up to<BR> +it. So did I, for I wasn't sure the beast was dead,<BR> +an' I had jist got up when it rose an' rushed at the<BR> +natter-list.<BR> +<BR> +"'Out o' the way,' I yelled, for my rifle was empty;<BR> +but he didn't move, so I rushed for'ard an' drew the<BR> +pistol out o' his belt and let fly in the bull's ribs jist<BR> +as it ran the poor man down. Martin came up that<BR> +moment an' put a ball through its heart, an' then we<BR> +went to pick up the natter-list. He came to in a<BR> +little, an' the first thing he said was, 'Where's my revolver?'<BR> +When I gave it to him he looked at it, an' said<BR> +with a solemcholy shake o' the head, 'There's a whole<BR> +barrel-full lost!' It turned out that he had taken to<BR> +usin' the barrels for bottles to hold things in, but he<BR> +forgot to draw the charges, so sure enough I had fired<BR> +a charge o' bum-bees an' beetles an' small shot into<BR> +the buffalo!<BR> +<BR> +"But that's not what I wos goin' to tell ye yit. We<BR> +corned to a part o' the plains where we wos well-nigh<BR> +starved for want o' game, an' the natter-list got so<BR> +thin that ye could a'most see through him, so I offered<BR> +to kill my horse, an' cut it up for meat; but you niver<BR> +saw sich a face he made. 'I'd rather die first,' says he,<BR> +'than eat it;' so we didn't kill it. But that very day<BR> +Martin got a shot at a wild horse an' killed it. The<BR> +natter-list was down in the bed o' a creek at the time<BR> +gropin' for creepers, an' he didn't see it.<BR> +<BR> +"'He'll niver eat it,' says Martin.<BR> +<BR> +"'That's true,' says I.<BR> +<BR> +"'Let's tell him it's a buffalo,' says he.<BR> +<BR> +"'That would be tellin' a lie,' says I.<BR> +<BR> +"So we stood lookin' at each other, not knowin' what<BR> +to do.<BR> +<BR> +"'I'll tell ye what,' cries Martin; 'we'll cut it up,<BR> +and take the meat into camp an' cook it without <i>sayin'<BR> +a word</i>.'<BR> +<BR> +"'Done,' says I, 'that's it;' for ye must know the<BR> +poor critter wos no judge o' meat. He couldn't tell one kind from<BR> +another,<BR> +an' he niver axed questions.<BR> +In fact he niver a'most spoke to us all the trip. Well,<BR> +we cut up the horse, an' carried the flesh an' marrowbones<BR> +into camp, takin' care to leave the hoofs an' skin<BR> +behind, an' sot to work an' roasted steaks an' marrowbones."<BR> +<BR> +"When the natter-list came back ye should ha' seen<BR> +the joyful face he put on when he smelt the grub, for<BR> +he was all but starved out, poor critter."<BR> +<BR> +"'What have we got here?' cried he, rubbin' his<BR> +hands an' sittin' down."<BR> +<BR> +"'Steaks an' marrow-bones,' says Martin."<BR> +<BR> +"'Capital!' says he. 'I'm <i>so</i> hungry.'"<BR> +<BR> +"So he fell to work like a wolf. I niver seed a man<BR> +pitch into anything like as that natter-list did into that<BR> +horseflesh."<BR> +<BR> +"'These are first-rate marrow-bones,' says he, squintin'<BR> +with one eye down the shin-bone o' the hind leg to see if<BR> +it was quite empty."<BR> +<BR> +"'Yes, sir, they is,' answered Martin, as grave as a judge."<BR> +<BR> +"'Take another, sir,' says I."<BR> +<BR> +"'No, thankee,' says he with a sigh, for he didn't<BR> +like to leave off."<BR> +<BR> +"Well, we lived for a week on horseflesh, an' first-rate<BR> +livin' it wos; then we fell in with buffalo, an' niver<BR> +ran short again till we got to the settlements, when<BR> +he paid us our money an' shook hands, sayin' we'd had<BR> +a nice trip, an' he wished us well. Jist as we wos<BR> +partin' I said, says I, 'D'ye know what it wos we lived<BR> +on for a week arter we wos well-nigh starved in the<BR> +prairies?'"<BR> +<BR> +"'What,' says he, 'when we got yon capital marrowbones?'"<BR> +<BR> +"'The same,' says I. 'Yon wos <i>horse</i> flesh,' says I;<BR> +'an' I think ye'll surely niver say again that it isn't<BR> +first-rate livin'.'"<BR> +<BR> +"'Ye're jokin',' says he, turnin' pale."<BR> +<BR> +"'It's true, sir; as true as ye're standin' there.'"<BR> +<BR> +"Well, would ye believe it, he turned--that natter-list<BR> +did--as sick as a dog on the spot wot he wos<BR> +standin' on, an' didn't taste meat again for three days!"<BR> +<BR> +Shortly after the conclusion of Joe's story they<BR> +reached the camp, and here they found the women and<BR> +children flying about in a state of terror, and the few<BR> +men who had been left in charge arming themselves in<BR> +the greatest haste.<BR> +<BR> +"Hallo! something wrong here," cried Cameron,<BR> +hastening forward, followed by Joe. "What has happened,<BR> +eh?"<BR> +<BR> +"Injuns comin', monsieur; look dere," answered a<BR> +trapper, pointing down the valley.<BR> +<BR> +"Arm and mount at once, and come to the front of<BR> +the camp," cried Cameron in a tone of voice that silenced<BR> +every other, and turned confusion into order.<BR> +<BR> +The cause of all this outcry was a cloud of dust seen<BR> +far down the valley, which was raised by a band of<BR> +mounted Indians who approached the camp at full<BR> +speed. Their numbers could not be made out, but they<BR> +were a sufficiently formidable band to cause much<BR> +anxiety to Cameron, whose men, at the time, were<BR> +scattered to the various trapping-grounds, and only ten<BR> +chanced to be within call of the camp. However, with<BR> +these ten he determined to show a bold front to the<BR> +savages, whether they came as friends or foes. He<BR> +therefore ordered the women and children within the<BR> +citadel formed of the goods and packs of furs piled<BR> +upon each other, which point of retreat was to be defended<BR> +to the last extremity. Then galloping to the<BR> +front he collected his men and swept down the valley at<BR> +full speed. In a few minutes they were near enough to<BR> +observe that the enemy only numbered four Indians,<BR> +who were driving a band of about a hundred horses<BR> +before them, and so busy were they in keeping the<BR> +troop together that Cameron and his men were close<BR> +upon them before they were observed.<BR> +<BR> +It was too late to escape. Joe Blunt and Henri had<BR> +already swept round and cut off their retreat. In this<BR> +extremity the Indians slipped from the backs of their<BR> +steeds and darted into the bushes, where they were<BR> +safe from pursuit, at least on horseback, while the<BR> +trappers got behind the horses and drove them towards<BR> +the camp.<BR> +<BR> +At this moment one of the horses sprang ahead of<BR> +the others and made for the mountain, with its mane<BR> +and tail flying wildly in the breeze.<BR> +<BR> +"Marrow-bones and buttons!" shouted one of the<BR> +men, "there goes Dick Varley's horse."<BR> +<BR> +"So it am!" cried Henri, and dashed off in pursuit,<BR> +followed by Joe and two others.<BR> +<BR> +"Why, these are our own horses," said Cameron in<BR> +surprise, as they drove them into a corner of the hills<BR> +from which they could not escape.<BR> +<BR> +This was true, but it was only half the truth, for,<BR> +besides their own horses, they had secured upwards of<BR> +seventy Indian steeds; a most acceptable addition to<BR> +their stud, which, owing to casualties and wolves, had<BR> +been diminishing too much of late. The fact was that<BR> +the Indians who had captured the horses belonging to<BR> +Pierre and his party were a small band of robbers who<BR> +had travelled, as was afterwards learned, a considerable<BR> +distance from the south, stealing horses from various<BR> +tribes as they went along. As we have seen, in an evil<BR> +hour they fell in with Pierre's party and carried off<BR> +their steeds, which they drove to a pass leading from<BR> +one valley to the other. Here they united them with<BR> +the main band of their ill-gotten gains, and while the<BR> +greater number of the robbers descended farther into<BR> +the plains in search of more booty, four of them were<BR> +sent into the mountains with the horses already procured.<BR> +These four, utterly ignorant of the presence of<BR> +white men in the valley, drove their charge, as we have<BR> +seen, almost into the camp.<BR> +<BR> +Cameron immediately organized a party to go out in<BR> +search of Pierre and his companions, about whose fate<BR> +he became intensely anxious, and in the course of half-an-hour<BR> +as many men as he could spare with safety were<BR> +despatched in the direction of the Blue Mountains.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER XXII.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Charlie's adventures with savages and bears</i>--<i>Trapping<BR> +life</i>.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +It is one thing to chase a horse; it is another thing<BR> +to catch it. Little consideration and less sagacity<BR> +are required to convince us of the truth of that fact.<BR> +<BR> +The reader may perhaps venture to think this rather<BR> +a trifling fact. We are not so sure of that. In this<BR> +world of fancies, to have <i>any</i> fact incontestably proved<BR> +and established is a comfort, and whatever is a source<BR> +of comfort to mankind is worthy of notice. Surely our<BR> +reader won't deny that! Perhaps he will, so we can<BR> +only console ourself with the remark that there are<BR> +people in this world who would deny <i>anything</i>--who<BR> +would deny that there was a nose on their face if you<BR> +said there was!<BR> +<BR> +Well, to return to the point, which was the chase of<BR> +a horse in the abstract; from which we will rapidly<BR> +diverge to the chase of Dick Varley's horse in particular.<BR> +This noble charger, having been ridden by savages until<BR> +all his old fire and blood and mettle were worked up<BR> +to a red heat, no sooner discovered that he was pursued<BR> +than he gave a snort of defiance, which he accompanied<BR> +with a frantic shake of his mane and a fling<BR> +of contempt in addition to a magnificent wave of<BR> +his tail. Then he thundered up the valley at a pace<BR> +which would speedily have left Joe Blunt and Henri<BR> +out of sight behind if--ay! that's the word, <i>if</i>! What<BR> +a word that <i>if</i> is! what a world of <i>if's</i> we live in!<BR> +There never was anything that wouldn't have been<BR> +something else <i>if</i> something hadn't intervened to prevent<BR> +it! Yes, we repeat Charlie would have left his<BR> +two friends miles and miles behind in what is called<BR> +"no time," <i>if</i> he had not run straight into a gorge<BR> +which was surrounded by inaccessible precipices, and<BR> +out of which there was no exit except by the entrance,<BR> +which was immediately barred by Henri, while Joe<BR> +advanced to catch the run-away.<BR> +<BR> +For two hours at least did Joe Blunt essay to catch<BR> +Charlie, and during that space of time he utterly failed<BR> +The horse seemed to have made up his mind for what<BR> +is vulgarly termed "a lark."<BR> +<BR> +"It won't do, Henri," said Joe, advancing towards<BR> +his companion, and wiping his forehead with the cuff<BR> +of his leathern coat; "I can't catch him. The wind's<BR> +a'most blowed out o' me body."<BR> +<BR> +"Dat am vexatiable," replied Henri, in a tone of<BR> +commiseration. "S'pose I wos make try?"<BR> +<BR> +"In that case I s'pose ye would fail. But go ahead,<BR> +an' do what ye can. I'll hold yer horse."<BR> +<BR> +So Henri began by a rush and a flourish of legs and<BR> +arms that nearly frightened the horse out of his wits.<BR> +For half-an-hour he went through all the complications<BR> +of running and twisting of which he was capable, without<BR> +success, when Joe Blunt suddenly uttered a stentorian<BR> +yell that rooted him to the spot on which he<BR> +stood.<BR> +<BR> +To account for this, we must explain that in the<BR> +heights of the Rocky Mountains vast accumulations of<BR> +snow take place among the crevices and gorges during<BR> +winter. Such of these masses as form on steep slopes<BR> +are loosened by occasional thaws, and are precipitated<BR> +in the form of avalanches into the valleys below, carrying<BR> +trees and stones along with them in their thundering<BR> +descent. In the gloomy gorge where Dick's<BR> +horse had taken refuge the precipices were so steep that<BR> +many avalanches had occurred, as was evident from the<BR> +mounds of heaped snow that lay at the foot of most of<BR> +them. Neither stones nor trees were carried down here,<BR> +however, for the cliffs were nearly perpendicular, and<BR> +the snow slipping over their edges had fallen on the<BR> +grass below. Such an avalanche was now about to take<BR> +place, and it was this that caused Joe to utter his cry<BR> +of alarm and warning.<BR> +<BR> +Henri and the horse were directly under the cliff over<BR> +which it was about to be hurled, the latter close to the<BR> +wall of rock, the other at some distance away from it.<BR> +<BR> +Joe cried again, "Back, Henri! back <i>vite</i>!" when<BR> +the mass <i>flowed over</i> and fell with a roar like prolonged<BR> +thunder. Henri sprang back in time to save his life,<BR> +though he was knocked down and almost stunned; but<BR> +poor Charlie was completely buried under the avalanche,<BR> +which now presented the appearance of a <i>hill</i> of snow.<BR> +<BR> +The instant Henri recovered sufficiently, Joe and he<BR> +mounted their horses and galloped back to the camp as<BR> +fast as possible.<BR> +<BR> +Meanwhile, another spectator stepped forward upon<BR> +the scene they had left, and surveyed the snow hill<BR> +with a critical eye. This was no less than a grizzly<BR> +bear, which had, unobserved, been a spectator, and which<BR> +immediately proceeded to dig into the mound, with the<BR> +purpose, no doubt, of disentombing the carcass of the<BR> +horse for purposes of his own.<BR> +<BR> +While he was thus actively engaged the two hunters<BR> +reached the camp, where they found that Pierre and his<BR> +party had just arrived. The men sent out in search of<BR> +them had scarcely advanced a mile when they found<BR> +them trudging back to the camp in a very disconsolate<BR> +manner. But all their sorrows were put to flight on<BR> +hearing of the curious way in which the horses had<BR> +been returned to them with interest.<BR> +<BR> +Scarcely had Dick Varley, however, congratulated<BR> +himself on the recovery of his gallant steed, when he<BR> +was thrown into despair by the sudden arrival of Joe<BR> +with the tidings of the catastrophe we have just related.<BR> +<BR> +Of course there was a general rush to the rescue.<BR> +Only a few men were ordered to remain to guard the<BR> +camp, while the remainder mounted their horses and<BR> +galloped towards the gorge where Charlie had been entombed.<BR> +On arriving, they found that Bruin had<BR> +worked with such laudable zeal that nothing but the<BR> +tip of his tail was seen sticking out of the hole which<BR> +he had dug. The hunters could not refrain from<BR> +laughing as they sprang to the ground, and standing in<BR> +a semicircle in front of the hole, prepared to fire. But<BR> +Crusoe resolved to have the honour of leading the<BR> +assault. He seized fast hold of Bruin's flank, and<BR> +caused his teeth to meet therein. Caleb backed out<BR> +at once and turned round, but before he could recover<BR> +from his surprise a dozen bullets pierced his heart and<BR> +brain.<BR> +<BR> +"Now, lads," cried Cameron, setting to work with a<BR> +large wooden shovel, "work like niggers. If there's<BR> +any life left in the horse, it'll soon be smothered out<BR> +unless we set him free."<BR> +<BR> +The men needed no urging, however. They worked<BR> +as if their lives depended on their exertions. Dick<BR> +Varley, in particular, laboured like a young Hercules,<BR> +and Henri hurled masses of snow about in a most surprising<BR> +manner. Crusoe, too, entered heartily into the<BR> +spirit of the work, and, scraping with his forepaws,<BR> +sent such a continuous shower of snow behind him that<BR> +he was speedily lost to view in a hole of his own excavating.<BR> +In the course of half-an-hour a cavern was<BR> +dug in the mound almost close up to the cliff, and the<BR> +men were beginning to look about for the crushed body<BR> +of Dick's steed, when an exclamation from Henri attracted<BR> +their attention.<BR> +<BR> +"Ha! mes ami, here am be one hole."<BR> +<BR> +The truth of this could not be doubted, for the<BR> +eccentric trapper had thrust his shovel through the<BR> +wall of snow into what appeared to be a cavern beyond,<BR> +and immediately followed up his remark by thrusting<BR> +in his head and shoulders. He drew them out in a few<BR> +seconds, with a look of intense amazement.<BR> +<BR> +"Voilà! Joe Blunt. Look in dere, and you shall see<BR> +fat you vill behold."<BR> +<BR> +"Why, it's the horse, I do b'lieve!" cried Joe. "Go<BR> +ahead, lads!"<BR> +<BR> +So saying, he resumed his shovelling vigorously, and<BR> +in a few minutes the hole was opened up sufficiently to<BR> +enable a man to enter. Dick sprang in, and there stood<BR> +Charlie close beside the cliff, looking as sedate and,<BR> +unconcerned as if all that had been going on had no<BR> +reference to him whatever.<BR> +<BR> +The cause of his safety was simple enough. The<BR> +precipice beside which he stood when the avalanche<BR> +occurred overhung its base at that point considerably,<BR> +so that when the snow descended a clear space of<BR> +several feet wide was left all along its base. Here<BR> +Charlie had remained in perfect comfort until his<BR> +friends dug him out.<BR> +<BR> +Congratulating themselves not a little on having saved<BR> +the charger and bagged a grizzly bear, the trappers remounted,<BR> +and returned to the camp.<BR> +<BR> +For some time after this nothing worthy of particular<BR> +note occurred. The trapping operations went on<BR> +prosperously and without interruption from the Indians,<BR> +who seemed to have left the locality altogether. During<BR> +this period, Dick, and Crusoe, and Charlie had many<BR> +excursions together, and the silver rifle full many a time<BR> +sent death to the heart of bear, and elk, and buffalo;<BR> +while, indirectly, it sent joy to the heart of man,<BR> +woman, and child in camp, in the shape of juicy steaks<BR> +and marrow-bones. Joe and Henri devoted themselves<BR> +almost exclusively to trapping beaver, in which pursuit<BR> +they were so successful that they speedily became<BR> +wealthy men, according to backwood notions of wealth.<BR> +<BR> +With the beaver that they caught they purchased from<BR> +Cameron's store powder and shot enough for a long<BR> +hunting expedition, and a couple of spare horses to<BR> +carry their packs. They also purchased a large assortment<BR> +of such goods and trinkets as would prove acceptable<BR> +to Indians, and supplied themselves with new<BR> +blankets, and a few pairs of strong moccasins, of which<BR> +they stood much in need.<BR> +<BR> +Thus they went on from day to day, until symptoms<BR> +of the approach of winter warned them that it was time<BR> +to return to the Mustang Valley. About this time an<BR> +event occurred which totally changed the aspect of<BR> +affairs in these remote valleys of the Rocky Mountains,<BR> +and precipitated the departure of our four friends, Dick,<BR> +Joe, Henri, and Crusoe. This was the sudden arrival of<BR> +a whole tribe of Indians. As their advent was somewhat<BR> +remarkable, we shall devote to it the commencement<BR> +of a new chapter.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER XXIII.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their<BR> +doings--The stampede--Charlie again</i>.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting<BR> +expedition near the rocky gorge where his horse<BR> +had received temporary burial a week or two before.<BR> +Crusoe was with him, of course. Dick had tied Charlie<BR> +to a tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff,<BR> +from the top of which he had a fine view of the valley<BR> +and the rugged precipices that hemmed it in.<BR> +<BR> +Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices<BR> +on the opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable<BR> +height above him, so that their ragged outlines were<BR> +drawn sharply across the clear sky. Dick was gazing<BR> +in dreamy silence at the jutting rocks and dark caverns,<BR> +and speculating on the probable number of bears that<BR> +dwelt there, when a slight degree of restlessness on the<BR> +part of Crusoe attracted him.<BR> +<BR> +"What is't, pup?" said he, laying his hand on the<BR> +dog's broad back.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe looked the answer, "I don't know, Dick, but<BR> +it's <i>something</i>, you may depend upon it, else I would<BR> +not have disturbed you."<BR> +<BR> +Dick lifted his rifle from the ground, and laid it in<BR> +the hollow of his left arm.<BR> +<BR> +"There must be something in the wind," remarked Dick.<BR> +<BR> +As wind is known to be composed of two distinct<BR> +gases, Crusoe felt perfectly safe in replying "Yes" with<BR> +his tail. Immediately after he added, "Hallo! did you<BR> +hear that?" with his ears.<BR> +<BR> +Dick did hear it, and sprang hastily to his feet, as<BR> +a sound like, yet unlike, distant thunder came faintly<BR> +down upon the breeze. In a few seconds the sound<BR> +increased to a roar in which was mingled the wild cries<BR> +of men. Neither Dick nor Crusoe moved, for the<BR> +sounds came from behind the heights in front of them,<BR> +and they felt that the only way to solve the question,<BR> +"What can the sounds be?" was to wait till the sounds<BR> +should solve it themselves.<BR> +<BR> +Suddenly the muffled sounds gave place to the distinct<BR> +bellowing of cattle, the clatter of innumerable<BR> +hoofs, and the yells of savage men, while at the same<BR> +moment the edges of the opposite cliffs became alive<BR> +with Indians and buffaloes rushing about in frantic<BR> +haste--the former almost mad with savage excitement,<BR> +the latter with blind rage and terror.<BR> +<BR> +On reaching the edge of the dizzy precipice, the<BR> +buffaloes turned abruptly and tossed their ponderous<BR> +heads as they coursed along the edge. Yet a few of<BR> +them, unable to check their headlong course, fell over,<BR> +and were dashed to pieces on the rocks below. Such<BR> +falls, Dick observed, were hailed with shouts of delight<BR> +by the Indians, whose sole object evidently was to<BR> +enjoy the sport of driving the terrified animals over the<BR> +precipice. The wily savages had chosen their ground<BR> +well for this purpose.<BR> +<BR> +The cliff immediately opposite to Dick Varley was a<BR> +huge projection from the precipice that hemmed in the<BR> +gorge, a species of cape or promontory several hundred<BR> +yards wide at the base, and narrowing abruptly to a<BR> +point. The sides of this wedge-shaped projection were<BR> +quite perpendicular--indeed, in some places the top overhung<BR> +the base--and they were at least three hundred feet<BR> +high. Broken and jagged rocks, of that peculiarly<BR> +chaotic character which probably suggested the name to<BR> +this part of the great American chain, projected from<BR> +and were scattered all round the cliffs. Over these the<BR> +Indians, whose numbers increased every moment, strove<BR> +to drive the luckless herd of buffaloes that had chanced<BR> +to fall in their way. The task was easy. The unsuspecting<BR> +animals, of which there were hundreds, rushed<BR> +in a dense mass upon the cape referred to. On they<BR> +came with irresistible impetuosity, bellowing furiously,<BR> +while their hoofs thundered on the turf with the muffled<BR> +continuous roar of a distant but mighty cataract; the<BR> +Indians, meanwhile, urging them on by hideous yells and<BR> +frantic gestures.<BR> +<BR> +The advance-guard came bounding madly to the edge<BR> +of the precipice. Here they stopped short, and gazed<BR> +affrighted at the gulf below. It was but for a moment.<BR> +The irresistible momentum of the flying mass behind<BR> +pushed them over. Down they came, absolutely a living<BR> +cataract, upon the rocks below. Some struck on the<BR> +projecting rocks in the descent, and their bodies were<BR> +dashed almost in pieces, while their blood spurted out<BR> +in showers. Others leaped from rock to rock with<BR> +awful bounds, until, losing their foothold, they fell<BR> +headlong; while others descended sheer down into the<BR> +sweltering mass that lay shattered at the base of the<BR> +cliffs.<BR> +<BR> +Dick Varley and his dog remained rooted to the<BR> +rock, as they gazed at the sickening sight, as if petrified.<BR> +Scarce fifty of that noble herd of buffaloes escaped the<BR> +awful leap, but they escaped only to fall before the<BR> +arrows of their ruthless pursuers. Dick had often<BR> +heard of this tendency of the Indians, where buffaloes<BR> +were very numerous, to drive them over precipices in<BR> +mere wanton sport and cruelty, but he had never seen<BR> +it until now, and the sight filled his soul with horror.<BR> +It was not until the din and tumult of the perishing<BR> +herd and the shrill yells of the Indians had almost died<BR> +away that he turned to quit the spot. But the instant<BR> +he did so another shout was raised. The savages had<BR> +observed him, and were seen galloping along the cliffs<BR> +towards the head of the gorge, with the obvious intention<BR> +of gaining the other side and capturing him. Dick<BR> +sprang on Charlie's back, and the next instant was flying<BR> +down the valley towards the camp.<BR> +<BR> +He did not, however, fear being overtaken, for the<BR> +gorge could not be crossed, and the way round the head<BR> +of it was long and rugged; but he was anxious to alarm<BR> +the camp as quickly as possible, so that they might<BR> +have time to call in the more distant trappers and make<BR> +preparations for defence.<BR> +<BR> +"Where away now, youngster?" inquired Cameron,<BR> +emerging from his tent as Dick, taking the brook that<BR> +flowed in front at a flying leap, came crashing through<BR> +the bushes into the midst of the fur-packs at full speed.<BR> +<BR> +"Injuns!" ejaculated Dick, reining up, and vaulting<BR> +out of the saddle. "Hundreds of 'em. Fiends incarnate<BR> +every one!"<BR> +<BR> +"Are they near?"<BR> +<BR> +"Yes; an hour'll bring them down on us. Are Joe<BR> +and Henri far from camp to-day?"<BR> +<BR> +"At Ten-mile Creek," replied Cameron with an expression<BR> +of bitterness, as he caught up his gun and<BR> +shouted to several men, who hurried up on seeing our<BR> +hero burst into camp.<BR> +<BR> +"Ten-mile Creek!" muttered Dick. "I'll bring 'em<BR> +in, though," he continued, glancing at several of the<BR> +camp horses that grazed close at hand.<BR> +<BR> +In another moment he was on Charlie's back, the<BR> +line of one of the best horses was in his hand, and almost<BR> +before Cameron knew what he was about he was<BR> +flying down the valley like the wind. Charlie often<BR> +stretched out at full speed to please his young master,<BR> +but seldom had he been urged forward as he was upon<BR> +this occasion. The led horse being light and wild, kept<BR> +well up, and in a marvellously short space of time they<BR> +were at Ten-mile Creek.<BR> +<BR> +"Hallo, Dick, wot's to do?" inquired Joe Blunt, who<BR> +was up to his knees in the water setting a trap at the<BR> +moment his friend galloped up.<BR> +<BR> +"Injuns! Where's Henri?" demanded Dick.<BR> +<BR> +"At the head o' the dam there."<BR> +<BR> +Dick was off in a moment, and almost instantly returned<BR> +with Henri galloping beside him.<BR> +<BR> +No word was spoken. In time of action these men<BR> +did not waste words. During Dick's momentary<BR> +absence, Joe Blunt had caught up his rifle and examined<BR> +the priming, so that when Dick pulled up beside<BR> +him he merely laid his hand on the saddle, saying, "All<BR> +right!" as he vaulted on Charlie's back behind his<BR> +young companion. In another moment they were away<BR> +at full speed. The mustang seemed to feel that unwonted<BR> +exertions were required of him. Double<BR> +weighted though he was, he kept well up with the other<BR> +horse, and in less than two hours after Dick's leaving<BR> +the camp the three hunters came in sight of it.<BR> +<BR> +Meanwhile Cameron had collected nearly all his<BR> +forces and put his camp in a state of defence before the<BR> +Indians arrived, which they did suddenly, and, as usual,<BR> +at full gallop, to the amount of at least two hundred.<BR> +They did not at first seem disposed to hold friendly<BR> +intercourse with the trappers, but assembled in a semicircle<BR> +round the camp in a menacing attitude, while one<BR> +of their chiefs stepped forward to hold a palaver. For<BR> +some time the conversation on both sides was polite<BR> +enough, but by degrees the Indian chief assumed an<BR> +imperious tone, and demanded gifts from the trappers,<BR> +taking care to enforce his request by hinting that thousands<BR> +of his countrymen were not far distant. Cameron<BR> +stoutly refused, and the palaver threatened to come to<BR> +an abrupt and unpleasant termination just at the time<BR> +that Dick and his friends appeared on the scene of<BR> +action.<BR> +<BR> +The brook was cleared at a bound; the three hunters<BR> +leaped from their steeds and sprang to the front with<BR> +a degree of energy that had a visible effect on the<BR> +savages; and Cameron, seizing the moment, proposed<BR> +that the two parties should smoke a pipe and hold a<BR> +council. The Indians agreed, and in a few minutes<BR> +they were engaged in animated and friendly intercourse.<BR> +The speeches were long, and the compliments paid on<BR> +either side were inflated, and, we fear, undeserved; but<BR> +the result of the interview was, that Cameron made the<BR> +Indians a present of tobacco and a few trinkets, and<BR> +sent them back to their friends to tell them that he<BR> +was willing to trade with them.<BR> +<BR> +Next day the whole tribe arrived in the valley, and<BR> +pitched their deerskin tents on the plain opposite to<BR> +the camp of the white men. Their numbers far exceeded<BR> +Cameron's expectation, and it was with some<BR> +anxiety that he proceeded to strengthen his fortifications<BR> +as much as circumstances and the nature of the<BR> +ground would admit.<BR> +<BR> +The Indian camp, which numbered upwards of a<BR> +thousand souls, was arranged with great regularity, and<BR> +was divided into three distinct sections, each section<BR> +being composed of a separate tribe. The Great Snake<BR> +nation at that time embraced three tribes or divisions--namely,<BR> +the Shirry-dikas, or dog-eaters; the War-are-ree-kas,<BR> +or fish-eaters; and the Banattees, or robbers.<BR> +These were the most numerous and powerful<BR> +Indians on the west side of the Rocky Mountains. The<BR> +Shirry-dikas dwelt in the plains, and hunted the buffaloes;<BR> +dressed well; were cleanly; rich in horses; bold,<BR> +independent, and good warriors. The War-are-ree-kas<BR> +lived chiefly by fishing, and were found on the banks<BR> +of the rivers and lakes throughout the country. They<BR> +were more corpulent, slovenly, and indolent than the<BR> +Shirry-dikas, and more peaceful. The Banattees, as<BR> +we have before mentioned, were the robbers of the<BR> +mountains. They were a wild and contemptible race,<BR> +and at enmity with every one. In summer they went<BR> +about nearly naked. In winter they clothed themselves<BR> +in the skins of rabbits and wolves. Being excellent<BR> +mimics, they could imitate the howling of<BR> +wolves, the neighing of horses, and the cries of birds, by<BR> +which means they could approach travellers, rob them,<BR> +and then fly to their rocky fastnesses in the mountains,<BR> +where pursuit was vain.<BR> +<BR> +Such were the men who now assembled in front of<BR> +the camp of the fur-traders, and Cameron soon found<BR> +that the news of his presence in the country had spread<BR> +far and wide among the natives, bringing them to the<BR> +neighbourhood of his camp in immense crowds, so that<BR> +during the next few days their numbers increased to<BR> +thousands.<BR> +<BR> +Several long palavers quickly ensued between the<BR> +red men and the white, and the two great chiefs who<BR> +seemed to hold despotic rule over the assembled tribes<BR> +were extremely favourable to the idea of universal peace<BR> +which was propounded to them. In several set speeches<BR> +of great length and very considerable power, these<BR> +natural orators explained their willingness to enter into<BR> +amicable relations with all the surrounding nations, as<BR> +well as with the white men.<BR> +<BR> +"But," said Pee-eye-em, the chief of the Shirry-dikas,<BR> +a man above six feet high, and of immense muscular<BR> +strength--"but my tribe cannot answer for the Banattees,<BR> +who are robbers, and cannot be punished, because they dwell in<BR> +scattered<BR> +families among the mountains. The Banattees are bad; they cannot be<BR> +trusted."<BR> +<BR> +None of the Banattees were present at the council<BR> +when this was said; and if they had been it would have<BR> +mattered little, for they were neither fierce nor courageous,<BR> +although bold enough in their own haunts to<BR> +murder and rob the unwary.<BR> +<BR> +The second chief did not quite agree with Pee-eye-em.<BR> +He said that it was impossible for them to make<BR> +peace with their natural enemies, the Peigans and the<BR> +Blackfeet on the east side of the mountains. It was<BR> +very desirable, he admitted; but neither of these tribes<BR> +would consent to it, he felt sure.<BR> +<BR> +Upon this Joe Blunt rose and said, "The great chief<BR> +of the War-are-ree-kas is wise, and knows that enemies<BR> +cannot be reconciled unless deputies are sent to make<BR> +proposals of peace."<BR> +<BR> +"The Pale-face does not know the Blackfeet," answered<BR> +the chief. "Who will go into the lands of the<BR> +Blackfeet? My young men have been sent once and<BR> +again, and their scalps are now fringes to the leggings<BR> +of their enemies. The War-are-ree-kas do not cross the<BR> +mountains but for the purpose of making war."<BR> +<BR> +"The chief speaks truth," returned Joe; "yet there<BR> +are three men round the council fire who will go to the<BR> +Blackfeet and the Peigans with messages of peace from<BR> +the Snakes if they wish it."<BR> +<BR> +Joe pointed to himself, Henri, and Dick as he spoke, and added, "We<BR> +three<BR> +do not belong to the camp of the fur-traders; we only, lodge with them<BR> +for<BR> +a time. The Great Chief of the white men has sent us to make peace<BR> +with the<BR> +Red-men, and to tell them that he desires to trade with them--to<BR> +exchange<BR> +hatchets, and guns, and blankets for furs."<BR> +<BR> +This declaration interested the two chiefs greatly, and<BR> +after a good deal of discussion they agreed to take advantage<BR> +of Joe Blunt's offer; and appoint him as a<BR> +deputy to the court of their enemies. Having arranged<BR> +these matters to their satisfaction, Cameron bestowed a<BR> +red flag and a blue surtout with brass buttons on each<BR> +of the chiefs, and a variety of smaller articles on the<BR> +other members of the council, and sent them away in a<BR> +particularly amiable frame of mind.<BR> +<BR> +Pee-eye-em burst the blue surtout at the shoulders<BR> +and elbows in putting it on, as it was much too small<BR> +for his gigantic frame; but never having seen such an<BR> +article of apparel before, he either regarded this as the<BR> +natural and proper consequence of putting it on, or was<BR> +totally indifferent to it, for he merely looked at the<BR> +rents with a smile of satisfaction, while his squaw surreptitiously<BR> +cut off the two back buttons and thrust<BR> +them into her bosom.<BR> +<BR> +By the time the council closed the night was far advanced,<BR> +and a bright moon was shedding a flood of soft<BR> +light over the picturesque and busy scene.<BR> +<BR> +"I'll go to the Injun camp," said Joe to Walter Cameron,<BR> +as the chiefs rose to depart. "The season's far<BR> +enough advanced already; it's time to be off; and if<BR> +I'm to speak for the Redskins in the Blackfeet Council,<BR> +I'd need to know what to say."<BR> +<BR> +"Please yourself, Master Blunt," answered Cameron.<BR> +"I like your company and that of your friends, and if it suited you I<BR> +would<BR> +be glad to take you along with us to the coast of the Pacific; but<BR> +your<BR> +mission among the<BR> +Indians is a good one, and I'll help it on all I can.--I suppose you<BR> +will<BR> +go also?" he added, turning to Dick Varley, who was still seated<BR> +beside the<BR> +council fire caressing Crusoe.<BR> +<BR> +"Wherever Joe goes, I go," answered Dick.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe's tail, ears, and eyes demonstrated high approval<BR> +of the sentiment involved in this speech.<BR> +<BR> +"And your friend Henri?"<BR> +<BR> +"He goes too," answered Joe. "It's as well that the<BR> +Redskins should see the three o' us before we start for<BR> +the east side o' the mountains.--Ho, Henri! come here,<BR> +lad."<BR> +<BR> +Henri obeyed, and in a few seconds the three friends<BR> +crossed the brook to the Indian camp, and were guided<BR> +to the principal lodge by Pee-eye-em. Here a great<BR> +council was held, and the proposed attempt at negotiations<BR> +for peace with their ancient enemies fully discussed.<BR> +While they were thus engaged, and just as<BR> +Pee-eye-em had, in the energy of an enthusiastic peroration,<BR> +burst the blue surtout <i>almost</i> up to the collar, a<BR> +distant rushing sound was heard, which caused every<BR> +man to spring to his feet, run out of the tent, and seize<BR> +his weapons.<BR> +<BR> +"What can it be, Joe?" whispered Dick as they stood<BR> +at the tent door leaning on their rifles, and listening<BR> +intently.<BR> +<BR> +"Dun'no'," answered Joe shortly.<BR> +<BR> +Most of the numerous fires of the camp had gone out,<BR> +but the bright moon revealed the dusky forms of thousands of Indians,<BR> +whom<BR> +the unwonted sound had startled,<BR> +moving rapidly about.<BR> +<BR> +The mystery was soon explained. The Indian camp<BR> +was pitched on an open plain of several miles in extent,<BR> +which took a sudden bend half-a-mile distant, where a<BR> +spur of the mountains shut out the farther end of the<BR> +valley from view. From beyond this point the dull<BR> +rumbling sound proceeded. Suddenly there was a roar<BR> +as if a mighty cataract had been let loose upon the<BR> +scene. At the same moment a countless herd of wild<BR> +horses came thundering round the base of the mountain<BR> +and swept over the plain straight towards the Indian<BR> +camp.<BR> +<BR> +"A stampede!" cried Joe, springing to the assistance<BR> +of Pee-eye-em, whose favourite horses were picketed<BR> +near the tent.<BR> +<BR> +On they came like a living torrent, and the thunder<BR> +of a thousand hoofs was soon mingled with the howling<BR> +of hundreds of dogs in the camp, and the yelling of<BR> +Indians, as they vainly endeavoured to restrain the<BR> +rising excitement of their steeds. Henri and Dick<BR> +stood rooted to the ground, gazing in silent wonder at<BR> +the fierce and uncontrollable gallop of the thousands of<BR> +panic-stricken horses that bore down upon the camp<BR> +with the tumultuous violence of a mighty cataract.<BR> +<BR> +As the maddened troop drew nigh, the camp horses<BR> +began to snort and tremble violently, and when the<BR> +rush of the wild steeds was almost upon them, they<BR> +became ungovernable with terror, broke their halters<BR> +and hobbles, and dashed wildly about. To add to the<BR> +confusion at that moment, a cloud passed over the moon<BR> +and threw the whole scene into deep obscurity. Blind<BR> +with terror, which was probably increased by the din<BR> +of their own mad flight, the galloping troop came on,<BR> +and with a sound like the continuous roar of thunder<BR> +that for an instant drowned the yell of dog and man<BR> +they burst upon the camp, trampling over packs and<BR> +skins, and dried meat, etc., in their headlong speed, and<BR> +overturning several of the smaller tents. In another<BR> +moment they swept out upon the plain beyond, and<BR> +were soon lost in the darkness of the night, while the<BR> +yelping of dogs, as they vainly pursued them, mingled<BR> +and gradually died away with the distant thunder of<BR> +their retreat.<BR> +<BR> +This was a <i>stampede</i>, one of the most extraordinary<BR> +scenes that can be witnessed in the western wilderness.<BR> +<BR> +"Lend a hand, Henri," shouted Joe, who was struggling<BR> +with a powerful horse. "Wot's comed over yer<BR> +brains, man? This brute'll git off if you don't look<BR> +sharp."<BR> +<BR> +Dick and Henri both answered to the summons, and<BR> +they succeeded in throwing the struggling animal on its<BR> +side and holding it down until its excitement was somewhat<BR> +abated. Pee-eye-em had also been successful in<BR> +securing his favourite hunter: but nearly every other<BR> +horse belonging to the camp had broken loose and joined<BR> +the whirlwind gallop. But they gradually dropped out,<BR> +and before morning the most of them were secured by<BR> +their owners. As there were at least two thousand<BR> +horses and an equal number of dogs in the part of the<BR> +Indian camp which had been thus overrun by the wild<BR> +mustangs, the turmoil, as may be imagined, was prodigious!<BR> +Yet, strange to say, no accident of a serious<BR> +nature occurred beyond the loss of several chargers.<BR> +<BR> +In the midst of this exciting scene there was one<BR> +heart which beat with a nervous vehemence that well-nigh<BR> +burst it. This was the heart of Dick Varley's<BR> +horse, Charlie. Well known to him was that distant<BR> +rumbling sound that floated on the night air into the<BR> +fur-traders' camp, where he was picketed close to<BR> +Cameron's tent. Many a time had he heard the approach<BR> +of such a wild troop, and often, in days not long<BR> +gone by, had his shrill neigh rung out as he joined and<BR> +led the panic-stricken band. He was first to hear the<BR> +sound, and by his restive actions to draw the attention<BR> +of the fur-traders to it. As a precautionary measure<BR> +they all sprang up and stood by their horses to soothe<BR> +them, but as a brook with a belt of bushes and quarter<BR> +of a mile of plain intervened between their camp and<BR> +the mustangs as they flew past, they had little or no<BR> +trouble in restraining them. Not so, however, with<BR> +Charlie. At the very moment that his master was congratulating<BR> +himself on the supposed security of his position,<BR> +he wrenched the halter from the hand of him who<BR> +held it, burst through the barrier of felled trees that<BR> +had been thrown round the camp, cleared the brook at<BR> +a bound, and with a wild hilarious neigh resumed his<BR> +old place in the ranks of the free-born mustangs of the<BR> +prairie.<BR> +<BR> +Little did Dick think, when the flood of horses swept<BR> +past him, that his own good steed was there, rejoicing<BR> +in his recovered liberty. But Crusoe knew it. Ay,<BR> +the wind had borne down the information to his acute<BR> +nose before the living storm burst upon the camp; and<BR> +when Charlie rushed past, with the long tough halter<BR> +trailing at his heels, Crusoe sprang to his side, seized<BR> +the end of the halter with his teeth, and galloped off<BR> +along with him.<BR> +<BR> +It was a long gallop and a tough one, but Crusoe held<BR> +on, for it was a settled principle in his mind <i>never</i> to<BR> +give in. At first the check upon Charlie's speed was<BR> +imperceptible, but by degrees the weight of the gigantic<BR> +dog began to tell, and after a time they fell a little to<BR> +the rear; then by good fortune the troop passed through<BR> +a mass of underwood, and the line getting entangled<BR> +brought their mad career forcibly to a close; the mustangs<BR> +passed on, and the two friends were left to keep<BR> +each other company in the dark.<BR> +<BR> +How long they would have remained thus is uncertain,<BR> +for neither of them had sagacity enough to undo a<BR> +complicated entanglement. Fortunately, however, in his<BR> +energetic tugs at the line, Crusoe's sharp teeth partially<BR> +severed it, and a sudden start on the part of Charlie<BR> +caused it to part. Before he could escape, Crusoe again<BR> +seized the end of it, and led him slowly but steadily<BR> +back to the Indian camp, never halting or turning aside<BR> +until he had placed the line in Dick Varley's hand.<BR> +<BR> +"Hallo, pup! where have ye bin? How did ye bring<BR> +him here?" exclaimed Dick, as he gazed in amazement<BR> +at his foam-covered horse.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe wagged his tail, as if to say, "Be thankful<BR> +that you've got him, Dick, my boy, and don't ask questions<BR> +that you know I can't answer."<BR> +<BR> +"He must ha' broke loose and jined the stampede,"<BR> +remarked Joe, coming out of the chief's tent at the<BR> +moment; "but tie him up, Dick, and come in, for we<BR> +want to settle about startin' to-morrow or nixt day."<BR> +<BR> +Having fastened Charlie to a stake, and ordered<BR> +Crusoe to watch him, Dick re-entered the tent where<BR> +the council had reassembled, and where Pee-eye-em--having,<BR> +in the recent struggle, split the blue surtout<BR> +completely up to the collar, so that his backbone was<BR> +visible throughout the greater part of its length--was<BR> +holding forth in eloquent strains on the subject of peace<BR> +in general and peace with the Blackfeet, the ancient<BR> +enemies of the Shirry-dikas, in particular.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER XXIV.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Plans and prospects--Dick becomes home-sick, and Henri<BR> +metaphysical--Indians attack the camp--A blow-up.</i><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +On the following day the Indians gave themselves<BR> +up to unlimited feasting, in consequence of the<BR> +arrival of a large body of hunters with an immense<BR> +supply of buffalo meat. It was a regular day of rejoicing.<BR> +Upwards of six hundred buffaloes had been killed<BR> +and as the supply of meat before their arrival had been<BR> +ample, the camp was now overflowing with plenty.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +Feasts were given by the chiefs, and the medicine men<BR> +went about the camp uttering loud cries, which were<BR> +meant to express gratitude to the Great Spirit for the<BR> +bountiful supply of food. They also carried a portion<BR> +of meat to the aged and infirm who were unable to hunt<BR> +for themselves, and had no young men in their family<BR> +circle to hunt for them.<BR> +<BR> +This arrival of the hunters was a fortunate circumstance,<BR> +as it put the Indians in great good-humour, and<BR> +inclined them to hold friendly intercourse with the<BR> +trappers, who for some time continued to drive a brisk<BR> +trade in furs. Having no market for the disposal of<BR> +their furs, the Indians of course had more than they<BR> +knew what to do with, and were therefore glad to exchange<BR> +those of the most beautiful and valuable kind<BR> +for a mere trifle, so that the trappers laid aside their<BR> +traps for a time and devoted themselves to traffic.<BR> +<BR> +Meanwhile Joe Blunt and his friends made preparations<BR> +for their return journey.<BR> +<BR> +"Ye see," remarked Joe to Henri and Dick, as they<BR> +sat beside the fire in Pee-eye-em's lodge, and feasted on<BR> +a potful of grasshopper soup, which the great chief's<BR> +squaw had just placed before them--"ye see, my calc'lations<BR> +is as follows. Wot with trappin' beavers and<BR> +huntin', we three ha' made enough to set us up, an it<BR> +likes us, in the Mustang Valley--"<BR> +<BR> +"Ha!" interrupted Dick, remitting for a few seconds<BR> +the use of his teeth in order to exercise his<BR> +tongue--ha! Joe, but it don't like <i>me</i>! What, give up a<BR> +hunter's life and become a farmer? I should think not!"<BR> +<BR> +"Bon!" ejaculated Henri, but whether the remark<BR> +had reference to the grasshopper soup or the sentiment<BR> +we cannot tell.<BR> +<BR> +"Well," continued Joe, commencing to devour a large<BR> +buffalo steak with a hunter's appetite, "ye'll please yourselves,<BR> +lads, as to that; but as I wos sayin', we've got a<BR> +powerful lot o' furs, an' a big pack o' odds and ends for<BR> +the Injuns we chance to meet with by the way, an'<BR> +powder and lead to last us a twelvemonth, besides five<BR> +good horses to carry us an' our packs over the plains;<BR> +so if it's agreeable to you, I mean to make a bee-line for<BR> +the Mustang Valley. We're pretty sure to meet with<BR> +Blackfeet on the way, and if we do we'll try to make<BR> +peace between them an' the Snakes. I 'xpect it'll be<BR> +pretty well on for six weeks afore we git to home, so<BR> +we'll start to-morrow."<BR> +<BR> +"Dat is fat vill do ver' vell," said Henri; "vill you<BR> +please donnez me one petit morsel of steak."<BR> +<BR> +"I'm ready for anything, Joe," cried Dick; "you are<BR> +leader. Just point the way, and I'll answer for two o'<BR> +us followin' ye--eh! won't we, Crusoe?"<BR> +<BR> +"We will," remarked the dog quietly.<BR> +<BR> +"How comes it," inquired Dick, "that these Indians<BR> +don't care for our tobacco?"<BR> +<BR> +"They like their own better, I s'pose," answered Joe;<BR> +"most all the western Injuns do. They make it o' the<BR> +dried leaves o' the shumack and the inner bark o' the<BR> +red-willow, chopped very small an' mixed together.<BR> +They call this stuff <i>kinnekinnik</i>; but they like to mix<BR> +about a fourth o' our tobacco with it, so Pee-eye-em tells<BR> +me, an' he's a good judge. The amount that red-skinned<BR> +mortal smokes <i>is</i> oncommon."<BR> +<BR> +"What are they doin' yonder?" inquired Dick, pointing<BR> +to a group of men who had been feasting for some<BR> +time past in front of a tent within sight of our trio.<BR> +<BR> +"Goin' to sing, I think," replied Joe.<BR> +<BR> +As he spoke six young warriors were seen to work<BR> +their bodies about in a very remarkable way, and give<BR> +utterance to still more remarkable sounds, which gradually<BR> +increased until the singers burst out into that<BR> +terrific yell, or war-whoop, for which American savages<BR> +have long been famous. Its effect would have been appalling<BR> +to unaccustomed ears. Then they allowed their<BR> +voices to die away in soft, plaintive tones, while their<BR> +action corresponded thereto. Suddenly the furious style<BR> +was revived, and the men wrought themselves into a<BR> +condition little short of madness, while their yells rang<BR> +wildly through the camp. This was too much for ordinary<BR> +canine nature to withstand, so all the dogs in the<BR> +neighbourhood joined in the horrible chorus.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe had long since learned to treat the eccentricities<BR> +of Indians and their curs with dignified contempt.<BR> +He paid no attention to this serenade, but lay sleeping<BR> +by the fire until Dick and his companions rose to take<BR> +leave of their host and return to the camp of the fur-traders.<BR> +The remainder of that night was spent in<BR> +making preparations for setting forth on the morrow;<BR> +and when, at gray dawn, Dick and Crusoe lay down<BR> +to snatch a few hours' repose, the yells and howling<BR> +in the Snake camp were going on as vigorously as<BR> +ever.<BR> +<BR> +The sun had arisen, and his beams were just tipping<BR> +the summits of the Rocky Mountains, causing the snowy<BR> +peaks to glitter like flame, and the deep ravines and<BR> +gorges to look sombre and mysterious by contrast, when<BR> +Dick and Joe and Henri mounted their gallant steeds,<BR> +and, with Crusoe gambolling before, and the two pack-horses<BR> +trotting by their side, turned their faces eastward,<BR> +and bade adieu to the Indian camp.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe was in great spirits. He was perfectly well<BR> +aware that he and his companions were on their way<BR> +home, and testified his satisfaction by bursts of scampering<BR> +over the hills and valleys. Doubtless he thought of<BR> +Dick Varley's cottage, and of Dick's mild, kind-hearted<BR> +mother. Undoubtedly, too, he thought of his own<BR> +mother, Fan, and felt a glow of filial affection as he did<BR> +so. Of this we feel quite certain. He would have been<BR> +unworthy the title of hero if he hadn't. Perchance he<BR> +thought of Grumps, but of this we are not quite so sure.<BR> +We rather think, upon the whole, that he did.<BR> +<BR> +Dick, too, let his thoughts run away in the direction<BR> +of <i>home</i>. Sweet word! Those who have never left it<BR> +cannot, by any effort of imagination, realize the full import<BR> +of the word "home." Dick was a bold hunter; but<BR> +he was young, and this was his first long expedition.<BR> +Oftentimes, when sleeping under the trees and gazing<BR> +dreamily up through the branches at the stars, had he<BR> +thought of home, until his longing heart began to yearn<BR> +to return. He repelled such tender feelings, however,<BR> +when they became too strong, deeming them unmanly,<BR> +and sought to turn his mind to the excitements of the<BR> +chase; but latterly his efforts were in vain. He became<BR> +thoroughly home-sick, and while admitting the fact to<BR> +himself, he endeavoured to conceal it from his comrades.<BR> +He thought that he was successful in this attempt. Poor<BR> +Dick Varley! as yet he was sadly ignorant of human<BR> +nature. Henri knew it, and Joe Blunt knew it. Even<BR> +Crusoe knew that something was wrong with his master,<BR> +although he could not exactly make out what it was.<BR> +But Crusoe made memoranda in the note-book of his<BR> +memory. He jotted down the peculiar phases of his<BR> +master's new disease with the care and minute exactness<BR> +of a physician, and, we doubt not, ultimately added the<BR> +knowledge of the symptoms of home-sickness to his<BR> +already well-filled stores of erudition.<BR> +<BR> +It was not till they had set out on their homeward<BR> +journey that Dick Varley's spirits revived, and it was<BR> +not till they reached the beautiful prairies on the eastern<BR> +slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and galloped over the<BR> +greensward towards the Mustang Valley, that Dick<BR> +ventured to tell Joe Blunt what his feelings had been.<BR> +<BR> +"D'ye know, Joe," he said confidentially, reining up<BR> +his gallant steed after a sharp gallop--"d'ye know I've<BR> +bin feelin' awful low for some time past."<BR> +<BR> +"I know it, lad," answered Joe, with a quiet smile, in<BR> +which there was a dash of something that implied he<BR> +knew more than he chose to express.<BR> +<BR> +Dick felt surprised, but he continued, "I wonder what<BR> +it could have bin. I never felt so before."<BR> +<BR> +"'Twas home-sickness, boy," returned Joe.<BR> +<BR> +"How d'ye know that?"<BR> +<BR> +"The same way as how I know most things--by<BR> +experience an' obsarvation. I've bin home-sick myself<BR> +once, but it was long, long agone."<BR> +<BR> +Dick felt much relieved at this candid confession by<BR> +such a bronzed veteran, and, the chords of sympathy<BR> +having been struck, he opened up his heart at once, to<BR> +the evident delight of Henri, who, among other curious<BR> +partialities, was extremely fond of listening to and taking<BR> +part in conversations that bordered on the metaphysical,<BR> +and were hard to be understood. Most conversations<BR> +that were not connected with eating and hunting were<BR> +of this nature to Henri.<BR> +<BR> +"Hom'-sik," he cried, "veech mean bein' sik of hom'!<BR> +Hah! dat is fat I am always be, ven I goes hout on de<BR> +expedition. Oui, vraiment."<BR> +<BR> +"I always packs up," continued Joe, paying no attention<BR> +to Henri's remark--"I always packs up an' sets<BR> +off for home when I gits home-sick. It's the best cure;<BR> +an' when hunters are young like you, Dick, it's the only cure. I've<BR> +knowed<BR> +fellers a'most die o' home-sickness,<BR> +an' I'm told they <i>do</i> go under altogether<BR> +sometimes."<BR> +<BR> +"Go onder!" exclaimed Henri; "oui, I vas all but<BR> +die myself ven I fust try to git away from hom'. If I<BR> +have not git away, I not be here to-day."<BR> +<BR> +Henri's idea of home-sickness was so totally opposed<BR> +to theirs that his comrades only laughed, and refrained<BR> +from attempting to set him right.<BR> +<BR> +"The fust time I wos took bad with it wos in a<BR> +country somethin' like that," said Joe, pointing to the<BR> +wide stretch of undulating prairie, dotted with clusters<BR> +of trees and meandering streamlets, that lay before them.<BR> +"I had bin out about two months, an' was makin' a<BR> +good thing of it, for game wos plenty, when I began to<BR> +think somehow more than usual o' home. My mother<BR> +wos alive then."<BR> +<BR> +Joe's voice sank to a deep, solemn tone as he said<BR> +this, and for a few minutes he rode on in silence.<BR> +<BR> +"Well, it grew worse and worse. I dreamed o' home<BR> +all night an' thought of it all day, till I began to shoot<BR> +bad, an' my comrades wos gittin' tired o' me; so says I<BR> +to them one night, says I, 'I give out, lads; I'll make<BR> +tracks for the settlement to-morrow.' They tried to<BR> +laugh me out of it at first, but it was no go, so I packed<BR> +up, bid them good-day, an' sot off alone on a trip o' five<BR> +hundred miles. The very first mile o' the way back I<BR> +began to mend, and before two days I wos all right<BR> +again."<BR> +<BR> +Joe was interrupted at this point by the sudden<BR> +appearance of a solitary horseman on the brow of an<BR> +eminence not half-a-mile distant. The three friends<BR> +instantly drove their pack-horses behind a clump of<BR> +trees; but not in time to escape the vigilant eye of the<BR> +Red-man, who uttered a loud shout, which brought up<BR> +a band of his comrades at full gallop.<BR> +<BR> +"Remember, Henri," cried Joe Blunt, "our errand is<BR> +one of <i>peace</i>."<BR> +<BR> +The caution was needed, for in the confusion of the<BR> +moment Henri was making preparation to sell his life<BR> +as dearly as possible. Before another word could be<BR> +uttered, they were surrounded by a troop of about<BR> +twenty yelling Blackfeet Indians. They were, fortunately,<BR> +not a war party, and, still more fortunately, they<BR> +were peaceably disposed, and listened to the preliminary<BR> +address of Joe Blunt with exemplary patience; after<BR> +which the two parties encamped on the spot, the council fire was<BR> +lighted,<BR> +and every preparation made for a long palaver.<BR> +<BR> +We will not trouble the reader with the details of<BR> +what was said on this occasion. The party of Indians<BR> +was a small one, and no chief of any importance was<BR> +attached to it. Suffice it to say that the pacific overtures<BR> +made by Joe were well received, the trifling gifts<BR> +made thereafter were still better received, and they<BR> +separated with mutual expressions of good-will.<BR> +<BR> +Several other bands which were afterwards met with<BR> +were equally friendly, and only one war party was seen.<BR> +Joe's quick eye observed it in time to enable them to<BR> +retire unseen behind the shelter of some trees, where<BR> +they remained until the Indian warriors were out of<BR> +sight.<BR> +<BR> +The next party they met with, however, were more<BR> +difficult to manage, and, unfortunately, blood was shed<BR> +on both sides before our travellers escaped.<BR> +<BR> +It was at the close of a beautiful day that a war<BR> +party of Blackfeet were seen riding along a ridge on the<BR> +horizon. It chanced that the prairie at this place was<BR> +almost destitute of trees or shrubs large enough to conceal<BR> +the horses. By dashing down the grassy wave<BR> +into the hollow between the two undulations, and dismounting,<BR> +Joe hoped to elude the savages, so he gave<BR> +the word; but at the same moment a shout from the<BR> +Indians told that they were discovered.<BR> +<BR> +"Look sharp, lads! throw down the packs on the<BR> +highest point of the ridge," cried Joe, undoing the lashings,<BR> +seizing one of the bales of goods, and hurrying to<BR> +the top of the undulation with it; "we must keep them<BR> +at arm's-length, boys--be alive! War parties are not to<BR> +be trusted."<BR> +<BR> +Dick and Henri seconded Joe's efforts so ably that<BR> +in the course of two minutes the horses were unloaded,<BR> +the packs piled in the form of a wall in front of a<BR> +broken piece of ground, the horses picketed close beside<BR> +them, and our three travellers peeping over the<BR> +edge, with their rifles cocked, while the savages--about<BR> +thirty in number--came sweeping down towards them.<BR> +<BR> +"I'll try to git them to palaver," said Joe Blunt;<BR> +"but keep yer eye on 'em, Dick, an' if they behave ill,<BR> +shoot the <i>horse</i> o' the leadin' chief. I'll throw up my<BR> +left hand, as a signal. Mind, lad, don't hit human flesh<BR> +till my second signal is given, and see that Henri don't<BR> +draw till I git back to ye."<BR> +<BR> +So saying, Joe sprang lightly over the slight parapet<BR> +of their little fortress, and ran swiftly out, unarmed,<BR> +towards the Indians. In a few seconds he was close<BR> +up with them, and in another moment was surrounded.<BR> +At first the savages brandished their spears and rode<BR> +round the solitary man, yelling like fiends, as if they<BR> +wished to intimidate him; but as Joe stood like a<BR> +statue, with his arms crossed, and a grave expression of<BR> +contempt on his countenance, they quickly desisted, and,<BR> +drawing near, asked him where he came from, and what<BR> +he was doing there.<BR> +<BR> +Joe's story was soon told; but instead of replying,<BR> +they began to shout vociferously, and evidently meant<BR> +mischief.<BR> +<BR> +"If the Blackfeet are afraid to speak to the Pale-face,<BR> +he will go back to his braves," said Joe, passing suddenly<BR> +between two of the warriors and taking a few<BR> +steps towards the camp.<BR> +<BR> +Instantly every bow was bent, and it seemed as if<BR> +our bold hunter were about to be pierced by a score of<BR> +arrows, when he turned round and<BR> +cried,--"The Blackfeet must not advance a single step. The<BR> +first that moves his <i>horse</i> shall die. The second that<BR> +moves <i>himself</i> shall die."<BR> +<BR> +To this the Blackfeet chief replied scornfully, "The<BR> +Pale-face talks with a big mouth. We do not believe<BR> +his words. The Snakes are liars; we will make no<BR> +peace with them."<BR> +<BR> +While he was yet speaking, Joe threw up his hand;<BR> +there was a loud report, and the noble horse of the<BR> +savage chief lay struggling in death agony on the ground.<BR> +<BR> +The use of the rifle, as we have before hinted, was<BR> +little known at this period among the Indians of the<BR> +far west, and many had never heard the dreaded report<BR> +before, although all were aware, from hearsay, of its<BR> +fatal power. The fall of the chief's horse, therefore,<BR> +quite paralyzed them for a few moments, and they had<BR> +not recovered from their surprise when a second report<BR> +was heard, a bullet whistled past, and a second horse<BR> +fell. At the same moment there was a loud explosion<BR> +in the camp of the Pale-faces, a white cloud enveloped<BR> +it, and from the midst of this a loud shriek was heard,<BR> +as Dick, Henri, and Crusoe bounded over the packs<BR> +with frantic gestures.<BR> +<BR> +At this the gaping savages wheeled their steeds<BR> +round, the dismounted horsemen sprang on behind two<BR> +of their comrades, and the whole band dashed away<BR> +over the plains as if they were chased by evil spirits.<BR> +<BR> +Meanwhile Joe hastened towards his comrades in a<BR> +state of great anxiety, for he knew at once that one of<BR> +the powder-horns must have been accidentally blown up.<BR> +<BR> +"No damage done, boys, I hope?" he cried on coming<BR> +up.<BR> +<BR> +"Damage!" cried Henri, holding his hands tight<BR> +over his face. "Oh! oui, great damage--moche damage;<BR> +me two eyes be blowed out of dere holes."<BR> +<BR> +"Not quite so bad as that, I hope," said Dick, who<BR> +was very slightly singed, and forgot his own hurts in<BR> +anxiety about his comrade. "Let me see."<BR> +<BR> +"My eye!" exclaimed Joe Blunt, while a broad grin<BR> +overspread his countenance, "ye've not improved yer<BR> +looks, Henri."<BR> +<BR> +This was true. The worthy hunter's hair was singed<BR> +to such an extent that his entire countenance presented<BR> +the appearance of a universal frizzle. Fortunately the<BR> +skin, although much blackened, was quite uninjured--a<BR> +fact which, when he ascertained it beyond a doubt,<BR> +afforded so much satisfaction to Henri that he capered<BR> +about shouting with delight, as if some piece of good<BR> +fortune had befallen him.<BR> +<BR> +The accident had happened in consequence of Henri<BR> +having omitted to replace the stopper of his powder-horn,<BR> +and when, in his anxiety for Joe, he fired at random<BR> +amongst the Indians, despite Dick's entreaties to<BR> +wait, a spark communicated with the powder-horn and<BR> +blew him up. Dick and Crusoe were only a little<BR> +singed, but the former was not disposed to quarrel with<BR> +an accident which had sent their enemies so promptly<BR> +to the right-about.<BR> +<BR> +This band followed them for some nights, in the hope<BR> +of being able to steal their horses while they slept; but<BR> +they were not brave enough to venture a second time<BR> +within range of the death-dealing rifle.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER XXV.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Dangers of the prairie</i>--<i>Our travellers attacked by Indians,<BR> +and delivered in a remarkable manner</i>.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +There are periods in the life of almost all men<BR> +A when misfortunes seem to crowd upon them in<BR> +rapid succession, when they escape from one danger<BR> +only to encounter another, and when, to use a well-known<BR> +expression, they succeed in leaping out of the<BR> +frying-pan at the expense of plunging into the fire.<BR> +<BR> +So was it with our three friends upon this occasion.<BR> +They were scarcely rid of the Blackfeet, who found them<BR> +too watchful to be caught napping, when, about daybreak<BR> +one morning, they encountered a roving band of<BR> +Camanchee Indians, who wore such a warlike aspect<BR> +that Joe deemed it prudent to avoid them if possible.<BR> +<BR> +"They don't see us yit, I guess," said Joe, as he and<BR> +his companions drove the horses into a hollow between<BR> +the grassy waves of the prairie, "an' if we only can escape their<BR> +sharp<BR> +eyes till we're in yonder clump o' willows, we're safe enough."<BR> +<BR> +"But why don't you ride up to them, Joe," inquired<BR> +Dick, "and make peace between them and the Pale-faces,<BR> +as you ha' done with other bands?"<BR> +<BR> +"Because it's o' no use to risk our scalps for the<BR> +chance o' makin' peace wi' a rovin' war party. Keep<BR> +yer head down, Henri! If they git only a sight o' the<BR> +top o' yer cap, they'll be down on us like a breeze o'<BR> +wind."<BR> +<BR> +"Ha! let dem come!" said Henri.<BR> +<BR> +"They'll come without askin' yer leave," remarked<BR> +Joe, dryly.<BR> +<BR> +Notwithstanding his defiant expression, Henri had<BR> +sufficient prudence to induce him to bend his head and<BR> +shoulders, and in a few minutes they reached the<BR> +shelter of the willows unseen by the savages. At least<BR> +so thought Henri, Joe was not quite sure about it, and<BR> +Dick hoped for the best.<BR> +<BR> +In the course of half-an-hour the last of the Camanchees<BR> +was seen to hover for a second on the horizon,<BR> +like a speck of black against the sky, and then to disappear.<BR> +<BR> +Immediately the three hunters vaulted on their steeds<BR> +and resumed their journey; but before that evening<BR> +closed they had sad evidence of the savage nature of<BR> +the band from which they had escaped. On passing<BR> +the brow of a slight eminence, Dick, who rode first,<BR> +observed that Crusoe stopped and snuffed the breeze in<BR> +an anxious, inquiring manner.<BR> +<BR> +"What is't, pup?" said Dick, drawing up, for he<BR> +knew that his faithful dog never gave a false alarm.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe replied by a short, uncertain bark, and then<BR> +bounding forward, disappeared behind a little wooded<BR> +knoll. In another moment a long, dismal howl floated<BR> +over the plains. There was a mystery about the dog's<BR> +conduct which, coupled with his melancholy cry, struck<BR> +the travellers with a superstitious feeling of dread, as<BR> +they sat looking at each other in surprise.<BR> +<BR> +"Come, let's clear it up," cried Joe Blunt, shaking<BR> +the reins of his steed, and galloping forward. A few<BR> +strides brought them to the other side of the knoll,<BR> +where, scattered upon the torn and bloody turf, they<BR> +discovered the scalped and mangled remains of about<BR> +twenty or thirty human beings. Their skulls had been<BR> +cleft by the tomahawk and their breasts pierced by the<BR> +scalping-knife, and from the position in which many of<BR> +them lay it was evident that they had been slain while<BR> +asleep.<BR> +<BR> +Joe's brow flushed and his lips became tightly compressed<BR> +as he muttered between his set teeth, "Their<BR> +skins are white."<BR> +<BR> +A short examination sufficed to show that the men<BR> +who had thus been barbarously murdered while they<BR> +slept had been a band of trappers or hunters, but what<BR> +their errand had been, or whence they came, they could<BR> +not discover.<BR> +<BR> +Everything of value had been carried off, and all the<BR> +scalps had been taken. Most of the bodies, although<BR> +much mutilated, lay in a posture that led our hunters<BR> +to believe they had been killed while asleep; but one or<BR> +two were cut almost to pieces, and from the blood-bespattered<BR> +and trampled sward around, it seemed as if<BR> +they had struggled long and fiercely for life. Whether<BR> +or not any of the savages had been slain, it was impossible<BR> +to tell, for if such had been the case, their<BR> +comrades, doubtless, had carried away their bodies.<BR> +<BR> +That they had been slaughtered by the party of Camanchees<BR> +who had been seen at daybreak was quite clear to<BR> +Joe; but his burning desire to revenge the death of the<BR> +white men had to be stifled, as his party was so small.<BR> +<BR> +Long afterwards it was discovered that this was a<BR> +band of trappers who, like those mentioned at the beginning<BR> +of this volume, had set out to avenge the death<BR> +of a comrade; but God, who has retained the right of<BR> +vengeance in his own hand, saw fit to frustrate their<BR> +purpose, by giving them into the hands of the savages<BR> +whom they had set forth to slay.<BR> +<BR> +As it was impossible to bury so many bodies, the<BR> +travellers resumed their journey, and left them to bleach<BR> +there in the wilderness; but they rode the whole of<BR> +that day almost without uttering a word.<BR> +<BR> +Meanwhile the Camanchees, who had observed the<BR> +trio, and had ridden away at first for the purpose of<BR> +deceiving them into the belief that they had passed<BR> +unobserved, doubled on their track, and took a long<BR> +sweep in order to keep out of sight until they could<BR> +approach under the shelter of a belt of woodland<BR> +towards which the travellers now approached.<BR> +<BR> +The Indians adopted this course instead of the easier<BR> +method of simply pursuing so weak a party, because<BR> +the plains at this part were bordered by a long stretch<BR> +of forest into which the hunters could have plunged,<BR> +and rendered pursuit more difficult, if not almost useless.<BR> +The detour thus taken was so extensive that the shades<BR> +of evening were beginning to descend before they could<BR> +put their plan into execution. The forest lay about a<BR> +mile to the right of our hunters, like some dark mainland, of which<BR> +the<BR> +prairie was the sea and the scattered<BR> +clumps of wood the islands.<BR> +<BR> +"There's no lack o' game here," said Dick Varley,<BR> +pointing to a herd of buffaloes which rose at their<BR> +approach and fled away towards the wood.<BR> +<BR> +"I think we'll ha' thunder soon," remarked Joe. "I<BR> +never feel it onnatteral hot like this without lookin' out<BR> +for a plump."<BR> +<BR> +"Ha! den ve better look hout for one goot tree to<BR> +get b'low," suggested Henri. "Voilà!" he added, pointing<BR> +with his finger towards the plain; "dere am a lot<BR> +of wild hosses."<BR> +<BR> +A troop of about thirty wild horses appeared, as he<BR> +spoke, on the brow of a ridge, and advanced slowly<BR> +towards them.<BR> +<BR> +"Hist!" exclaimed Joe, reining up; "hold on, lads.<BR> +Wild horses! my rifle to a pop-gun there's wilder men<BR> +on t'other side o' them."<BR> +<BR> +"What mean you, Joe?" inquired Dick, riding close<BR> +up.<BR> +<BR> +"D'ye see the little lumps on the shoulder o' each<BR> +horse?" said Joe. "Them's Injun's <i>feet</i>; an' if we don't<BR> +want to lose our scalps we'd better make for the forest."<BR> +<BR> +Joe proved himself to be in earnest by wheeling<BR> +round and making straight for the thick wood as fast as<BR> +his horse could run. The others followed, driving the<BR> +pack-horses before them.<BR> +<BR> +The effect of this sudden movement on the so-called<BR> +"wild horses" was very remarkable, and to one unacquainted<BR> +with the habits of the Camanchee Indians<BR> +must have appeared almost supernatural. In the twinkling<BR> +of an eye every steed had a rider on its back, and<BR> +before the hunters had taken five strides in the direction<BR> +of the forest, the whole band were in hot pursuit,<BR> +yelling like furies.<BR> +<BR> +The manner in which these Indians accomplish this<BR> +feat is very singular, and implies great activity and<BR> +strength of muscle on the part of the savages.<BR> +<BR> +The Camanchees are low in stature, and usually are<BR> +rather corpulent. In their movements on foot they are<BR> +heavy and ungraceful, and they are, on the whole, a<BR> +slovenly and unattractive race of men. But the instant<BR> +they mount their horses they seem to be entirely<BR> +changed, and surprise the spectator with the ease and<BR> +elegance of their movements. Their great and distinctive<BR> +peculiarity as horsemen is the power they have<BR> +acquired of throwing themselves suddenly on either side<BR> +of their horse's body, and clinging on in such a way<BR> +that no part of them is visible from the other side<BR> +save the foot by which they cling. In this manner<BR> +they approach their enemies at full gallop, and, without<BR> +rising again to the saddle, discharge their arrows at<BR> +them over the horses' backs, or even under their<BR> +necks.<BR> +<BR> +This apparently magical feat is accomplished by<BR> +means of a halter of horse-hair, which is passed round<BR> +under the neck of the horse and both ends braided into<BR> +the mane, on the withers, thus forming a loop which<BR> +hangs under the neck and against the breast. This<BR> +being caught by the hand, makes a sling, into which the<BR> +elbow falls, taking the weight of the body on the middle<BR> +of the upper arm. Into this loop the rider drops suddenly<BR> +and fearlessly, leaving his heel to hang over the<BR> +horse's back to steady him, and also to restore him to his<BR> +seat when desired.<BR> +<BR> +By this stratagem the Indians had approached on the<BR> +present occasion almost within rifle range before they<BR> +were discovered, and it required the utmost speed of the<BR> +hunters' horses to enable them to avoid being overtaken.<BR> +One of the Indians, who was better mounted<BR> +than his fellows, gained on the fugitives so much that<BR> +he came within arrow range, but reserved his shaft until<BR> +they were close on the margin of the wood, when, being<BR> +almost alongside of Henri, he fitted an arrow to his<BR> +bow. Henri's eye was upon him, however. Letting go<BR> +the line of the pack-horse which he was leading, he<BR> +threw forward his rifle; but at the same moment the<BR> +savage disappeared behind his horse, and an arrow<BR> +whizzed past the hunter's ear.<BR> +<BR> +Henri fired at the horse, which dropped instantly,<BR> +hurling the astonished Camanchee upon the ground, where<BR> +he lay for some time insensible. In a few seconds<BR> +pursued and pursuers entered the wood, where both had<BR> +to advance with caution, in order to avoid being swept<BR> +off by the overhanging branches of the trees.<BR> +<BR> +Meanwhile the sultry heat of which Joe had formerly<BR> +spoken increased considerably, and a rumbling noise,<BR> +as if of distant thunder, was heard; but the flying<BR> +hunters paid no attention to it, for the led horses gave<BR> +them so much trouble, and retarded their flight so much,<BR> +that the Indians were gradually and visibly gaining on<BR> +them.<BR> +<BR> +"We'll ha' to let the packs go," said Joe, somewhat<BR> +bitterly, as he looked over his shoulder. "Our scalps'll<BR> +pay for't, if we don't."<BR> +<BR> +Henri uttered a peculiar and significant <i>hiss</i> between<BR> +his teeth, as he said, "P'r'aps ve better stop<BR> +and fight!"<BR> +<BR> +Dick said nothing, being resolved to do exactly what<BR> +Joe Blunt bid him; and Crusoe, for reasons best known<BR> +to himself, also said nothing, but bounded along beside<BR> +his master's horse, casting an occasional glance upwards<BR> +to catch any signal that might be given.<BR> +<BR> +They had passed over a considerable space of ground,<BR> +and were forcing their way at the imminent hazard of<BR> +their necks through a densely-clothed part of the wood,<BR> +when the sound above referred to increased, attracting<BR> +the attention of both parties. In a few seconds the<BR> +air was filled with a steady and continuous rumbling<BR> +sound, like the noise of a distant cataract. Pursuers<BR> +and fugitives drew rein instinctively, and came to a<BR> +dead stand; while the rumbling increased to a roar, and<BR> +evidently approached them rapidly, though as yet nothing<BR> +to cause it could be seen, except that there was a dense,<BR> +dark cloud overspreading the sky to the southward.<BR> +The air was oppressively still and hot.<BR> +<BR> +"What can it be?" inquired Dick, looking at Joe, who<BR> +was gazing with an expression of wonder, not unmixed<BR> +with concern, at the southern sky.<BR> +<BR> +"Dun'no', boy. I've bin more in the woods than in<BR> +the clearin' in my day, but I niver heerd the likes o'<BR> +that."<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +"It am like t'ondre," said Henri; "mais it nevair do<BR> +stop."<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +This was true. The sound was similar to continuous,<BR> +uninterrupted thunder. On it came with a magnificent<BR> +roar that shook the very earth, and revealed<BR> +itself at last in the shape of a mighty whirlwind. In<BR> +a moment the distant woods bent before it, and fell like<BR> +grass before the scythe. It was a whirling hurricane,<BR> +accompanied by a deluge of rain such as none of the<BR> +party had ever before witnessed. Steadily, fiercely,<BR> +irresistibly it bore down upon them, while the crash of<BR> +falling, snapping, and uprooting trees mingled with the<BR> +dire artillery of that sweeping storm like the musketry<BR> +on a battle-field.<BR> +<BR> +"Follow me, lads!" shouted Joe, turning his horse<BR> +and dashing at full speed towards a rocky eminence<BR> +that offered shelter. But shelter was not needed. The<BR> +storm was clearly defined. Its limits were as distinctly<BR> +marked by its Creator as if it had been a living intelligence<BR> +sent forth to put a belt of desolation round<BR> +the world; and, although the edge of devastation was<BR> +not five hundred yards from the rock behind which the<BR> +hunters were stationed, only a few drops of ice-cold<BR> +rain fell upon them.<BR> +<BR> +It passed directly between the Camanchee Indians<BR> +and their intended victims, placing between them a<BR> +barrier which it would have taken days to cut through.<BR> +The storm blew for an hour, then it travelled onward in<BR> +its might, and was lost in the distance. Whence it<BR> +came and whither it went none could tell, but far as<BR> +the eye could see on either hand an avenue a quarter<BR> +of a mile wide was cut through the forest. It had<BR> +levelled everything with the dust; the very grass was<BR> +beaten flat; the trees were torn, shivered, snapped<BR> +across, and crushed; and the earth itself in many<BR> +places was ploughed up and furrowed with deep scars.<BR> +The chaos was indescribable, and it is probable that<BR> +centuries will not quite obliterate the work of that<BR> +single hour.<BR> +<BR> +While it lasted, Joe and his comrades remained<BR> +speechless and awe-stricken. When it passed, no Indians<BR> +were to be seen. So our hunters remounted their<BR> +steeds, and, with feelings of gratitude to God for having<BR> +delivered them alike from savage foes and from the destructive<BR> +power of the whirlwind, resumed their journey<BR> +towards the Mustang Valley.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER XXVI.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Anxious fears followed by a joyful surprise--Safe home at last, and<BR> +happy hearts</i>.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +One fine afternoon, a few weeks after the storm of<BR> +which we have given an account in the last<BR> +chapter, old Mrs. Varley was seated beside her own<BR> +chimney corner in the little cottage by the lake, gazing<BR> +at the glowing logs with the earnest expression of one<BR> +whose thoughts were far away. Her kind face was<BR> +paler than usual, and her hands rested idly on her knee,<BR> +grasping the knitting-wires to which was attached a half-finished<BR> +stocking.<BR> +<BR> +On a stool near to her sat young Marston, the lad to<BR> +whom, on the day of the shooting-match, Dick Varley<BR> +had given his old rifle. The boy had an anxious look<BR> +about him, as he lifted his eyes from time to time to the<BR> +widow's face.<BR> +<BR> +"Did ye say, my boy, that they were <i>all</i> killed?"<BR> +inquired Mrs. Varley, awaking from her reverie with<BR> +a deep sigh.<BR> +<BR> +"Every one," replied Marston. "Jim Scraggs, who<BR> +brought the news, said they wos all lying dead with<BR> +their scalps off. They wos a party o' white men."<BR> +<BR> +Mrs. Varley sighed again, and her face assumed an<BR> +expression of anxious pain as she thought of her son<BR> +Dick being exposed to a similar fate. Mrs. Varley was<BR> +not given to nervous fears, but as she listened to the<BR> +boy's recital of the slaughter of a party of white men,<BR> +news of which had just reached the valley, her heart<BR> +sank, and she prayed inwardly to Him who is the husband<BR> +of the widow that her dear one might be protected<BR> +from the ruthless hand of the savage.<BR> +<BR> +After a short pause, during which young Marston<BR> +fidgeted about and looked concerned, as if he had something<BR> +to say which he would fain leave unsaid, Mrs.<BR> +Varley continued,--<BR> +<BR> +"Was it far off where the bloody deed was done?"<BR> +<BR> +"Yes; three weeks off, I believe. And Jim Scraggs<BR> +said that he found a knife that looked like the one wot<BR> +belonged to--to--" the lad hesitated.<BR> +<BR> +"To whom, my boy? Why don't ye go on?"<BR> +<BR> +"To your son Dick."<BR> +<BR> +The widow's hands dropped by her side, and she<BR> +would have fallen had not Marston caught her.<BR> +<BR> +"O mother dear, don't take on like that!" he cried,<BR> +smoothing down the widow's hair as her head rested on<BR> +his breast.<BR> +<BR> +For some time Mrs. Varley suffered the boy to fondle<BR> +her in silence, while her breast laboured with anxious<BR> +dread.<BR> +<BR> +"Tell me all," she said at last, recovering a little.<BR> +"Did Jim see--Dick?"<BR> +<BR> +"No," answered the boy. "He looked at all the<BR> +bodies, but did not find his; so he sent me over here to<BR> +tell ye that p'r'aps he's escaped."<BR> +<BR> +Mrs. Varley breathed more freely, and earnestly<BR> +thanked God; but her fears soon returned when she<BR> +thought of his being a prisoner, and recalled the tales<BR> +of terrible cruelty often related of the savages.<BR> +<BR> +While she was still engaged in closely questioning<BR> +the lad, Jim Scraggs himself entered the cottage, and<BR> +endeavoured in a gruff sort of way to reassure the widow.<BR> +<BR> +"Ye see, mistress," he said, "Dick is an oncommon<BR> +tough customer, an' if he could only git fifty yards' start,<BR> +there's not an Injun in the West as could git hold o' him<BR> +agin; so don't be takin' on."<BR> +<BR> +"But what if he's been taken prisoner?" said the<BR> +widow.<BR> +<BR> +"Ay, that's jest wot I've comed about. Ye see it's<BR> +not onlikely he's bin took; so about thirty o' the lads<BR> +o' the valley are ready jest now to start away and give<BR> +the red riptiles chase, an' I come to tell ye; so keep up<BR> +heart, mistress."<BR> +<BR> +With this parting word of comfort, Jim withdrew,<BR> +and Marston soon followed, leaving the widow to weep<BR> +and pray in solitude.<BR> +<BR> +Meanwhile an animated scene was going on near the<BR> +block-house. Here thirty of the young hunters of the<BR> +Mustang Valley were assembled, actively engaged in<BR> +supplying themselves with powder and lead, and tightening<BR> +their girths, preparatory to setting out in pursuit<BR> +of the Indians who had murdered the white men; while<BR> +hundreds of boys and girls, and not a few matrons,<BR> +crowded round and listened to the conversation, and to<BR> +the deep threats of vengeance that were uttered ever<BR> +and anon by the younger men.<BR> +<BR> +Major Hope, too, was among them. The worthy<BR> +major, unable to restrain his roving propensities, determined<BR> +to revisit the Mustang Valley, and had arrived<BR> +only two days before.<BR> +<BR> +Backwoodsmen's preparations are usually of the shortest<BR> +and simplest. In a few minutes the cavalcade was<BR> +ready, and away they went towards the prairies, with<BR> +the bold major at their head. But their journey was<BR> +destined to come to an abrupt and unexpected close.<BR> +A couple of hours' gallop brought them to the edge of<BR> +one of those open plains which sometimes break up the<BR> +woodland near the verge of the great prairies. It<BR> +stretched out like a green lake towards the horizon, on<BR> +which, just as the band of horsemen reached it, the sun<BR> +was descending in a blaze of glory.<BR> +<BR> +With a shout of enthusiasm, several of the younger<BR> +members of the party sprang forward into the plain<BR> +at a gallop; but the shout was mingled with one of a<BR> +different tone from the older men.<BR> +<BR> +"Hist!--hallo!--hold on, ye catamounts! There's<BR> +Injuns ahead!"<BR> +<BR> +The whole band came to a sudden halt at this cry,<BR> +and watched eagerly, and for some time in silence, the<BR> +motions of a small party of horsemen who were seen in<BR> +the far distance, like black specks on the golden sky.<BR> +<BR> +"They come this way, I think," said Major Hope,<BR> +after gazing steadfastly at them for some minutes.<BR> +<BR> +Several of the old hands signified their assent to this<BR> +suggestion by a grunt, although to unaccustomed eyes<BR> +the objects in question looked more like crows than<BR> +horsemen, and their motion was for some time scarcely<BR> +perceptible.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +"I sees pack-horses among them," cried young Marston<BR> +in an excited tone; "an' there's three riders; but<BR> +there's som'thin' else, only wot it be I can't tell."<BR> +<BR> +"Ye've sharp eyes, younker," remarked one of the<BR> +men, "an' I do b'lieve ye're right."<BR> +<BR> +Presently the horsemen approached, and soon there<BR> +was a brisk fire of guessing as to who they could be.<BR> +It was evident that the strangers observed the cavalcade<BR> +of white men, and regarded them as friends, for they<BR> +did not check the headlong speed at which they approached.<BR> +In a few minutes they were clearly made out<BR> +to be a party of three horsemen driving pack-horses<BR> +before them, and <i>somethin</i>' which some of the hunters<BR> +guessed was a buffalo calf.<BR> +<BR> +Young Marston guessed too, but his guess was different.<BR> +Moreover, it was uttered with a yell that would<BR> +have done credit to the fiercest of all the savages.<BR> +"Crusoe!" he shouted, while at the same moment he<BR> +brought his whip heavily down on the flank of his little<BR> +horse, and sprang over the prairie like an arrow.<BR> +<BR> +One of the approaching horsemen was far ahead of<BR> +his comrades, and seemed as if encircled with the flying<BR> +and voluminous mane of his magnificent horse.<BR> +<BR> +"Ha! ho!" gasped Marston in a low tone to himself,<BR> +as he flew along. "Crusoe! I'd know ye, dog,<BR> +among a thousand! A buffalo calf! Ha! git on with<BR> +ye!"<BR> +<BR> +This last part of the remark was addressed to his<BR> +horse, and was followed by a whack that increased the<BR> +pace considerably.<BR> +<BR> +The space between two such riders was soon devoured.<BR> +<BR> +"Hallo! Dick--Dick Varley!"<BR> +<BR> +"Eh! why, Marston, my boy!"<BR> +<BR> +The friends reined up so suddenly that one might<BR> +have fancied they had met like the knights of old in the<BR> +shock of mortal conflict.<BR> +<BR> +"Is't yerself, Dick Varley?"<BR> +<BR> +Dick held out his hand, and his eyes glistened, but he<BR> +could not find words.<BR> +<BR> +Marston seized it, and pushing his horse close up,<BR> +vaulted nimbly off and alighted on Charlie's back behind<BR> +his friend.<BR> +<BR> +"Off ye go, Dick! I'll take ye to yer mother."<BR> +<BR> +Without reply, Dick shook the reins, and in another<BR> +minute was in the midst of the hunters.<BR> +<BR> +To the numberless questions that were put to him he<BR> +only waited to shout aloud, "We're all safe! They'll<BR> +tell ye all about it," he added, pointing to his comrades,<BR> +who were now close at hand; and then, dashing onward,<BR> +made straight for home, with little Marston clinging to<BR> +his waist like a monkey.<BR> +<BR> +Charlie was fresh, and so was Crusoe, so you may be<BR> +sure it was not long before they all drew up opposite<BR> +the door of the widow's cottage. Before Dick could<BR> +dismount, Marston had slipped off, and was already in<BR> +the kitchen.<BR> +<BR> +"Here's Dick, mother!"<BR> +<BR> +The boy was an orphan, and loved the widow so much<BR> +that he had come at last to call her mother.<BR> +<BR> +Before another word could be uttered, Dick Varley<BR> +was in the room. Marston immediately stepped out and<BR> +softly shut the door. Reader, we shall not open it!<BR> +<BR> +Having shut the door, as we have said, Marston ran<BR> +down to the edge of the lake and yelled with delight--usually<BR> +terminating each paroxysm with the Indian war-whoop,<BR> +with which he was well acquainted. Then he<BR> +danced, and then he sat down on a rock, and became<BR> +suddenly aware that there were other hearts there, close<BR> +beside him, as glad as his own. Another mother of the<BR> +Mustang Valley was rejoicing over a long-lost son.<BR> +<BR> +Crusoe and his mother Fan were scampering round<BR> +each other in a manner that evinced powerfully the<BR> +strength of their mutual affection.<BR> +<BR> +Talk of holding converse! Every hair on Crusoe's<BR> +body, every motion of his limbs, was eloquent with<BR> +silent language. He gazed into his mother's mild eyes<BR> +as if he would read her inmost soul (supposing that she<BR> +had one). He turned his head to every possible angle,<BR> +and cocked his ears to every conceivable elevation, and<BR> +rubbed his nose against Fan's, and barked softly, in<BR> +every imaginable degree of modulation, and varied these<BR> +proceedings by bounding away at full speed over the<BR> +rocks of the beach, and in among the bushes and out<BR> +again, but always circling round and round Fan, and<BR> +keeping her in view!<BR> +<BR> +It was a sight worth seeing, and young Marston sat<BR> +down on a rock, deliberately and enthusiastically, to<BR> +gloat over it. But perhaps the most remarkable part<BR> +of it has not yet been referred to. There was yet<BR> +another heart there that was glad--exceeding glad that<BR> +day. It was a little one too, but it was big for the<BR> +body that held it. Grumps was there, and all that<BR> +Grumps did was to sit on his haunches and stare at Fan<BR> +and Crusoe, and wag his tail as well as he could in so<BR> +awkward a position! Grumps was evidently bewildered<BR> +with delight, and had lost nearly all power to express<BR> +it. Crusoe's conduct towards him, too, was not calculated<BR> +to clear his faculties. Every time he chanced to pass<BR> +near Grumps in his elephantine gambols, he gave him<BR> +a passing touch with his nose, which always knocked<BR> +him head over heels; whereat Grumps invariably got<BR> +up quickly and wagged his tail with additional energy.<BR> +Before the feelings of those canine friends were calmed,<BR> +they were all three ruffled into a state of comparative<BR> +exhaustion.<BR> +<BR> +Then young Marston called Crusoe to him, and<BR> +Crusoe, obedient to the voice of friendship, went.<BR> +<BR> +"Are you happy, my dog?"<BR> +<BR> +"You're a stupid fellow to ask such a question; however<BR> +it's an amiable one. Yes, I am."<BR> +<BR> +"What do <i>you</i> want, ye small bundle o' hair?"<BR> +<BR> +This was addressed to Grumps, who came forward<BR> +innocently, and sat down to listen to the conversation.<BR> +<BR> +On being thus sternly questioned the little dog put<BR> +down its ears flat, and hung its head, looking up at the<BR> +same time with a deprecatory look, as if to say, "Oh<BR> +dear, I beg pardon. I--I only want to sit near Crusoe,<BR> +please; but if you wish it, I'll go away, sad and lonely,<BR> +with my tail <i>very</i> much between my legs; indeed I will,<BR> +only say the word, but--but I'd <i>rather</i> stay if I might."<BR> +<BR> +"Poor bundle!" said Marston, patting its head, "you<BR> +can stay then. Hooray! Crusoe, are you happy, I<BR> +say? Does your heart bound in you like a cannon ball<BR> +that wants to find its way out, and can't, eh?"<BR> +Crusoe put his snout against Marston's cheek, and in<BR> +the excess of his joy the lad threw his arms round the<BR> +dog's neck and hugged it vigorously--a piece of impulsive<BR> +affection which that noble animal bore with characteristic<BR> +meekness, and which Grumps regarded with idiotic<BR> +satisfaction.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<h3>CHAPTER XXVII.</h3><BR> +<BR> +<BR> +<i>Rejoicings</i>--<i>The feast at the block-house</i>--<i>Grumps and<BR> +Crusoe come out strong</i>--<i>The closing scene</i>.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +The day of Dick's arrival with his companions was<BR> +a great day in the annals of the Mustang Valley,<BR> +and Major Hope resolved to celebrate it by an impromptu<BR> +festival at the old block-house; for many hearts in the<BR> +valley had been made glad that day, and he knew full<BR> +well that, under such circumstances, some safety-valve<BR> +must be devised for the escape of overflowing excitement.<BR> +<BR> +A messenger was sent round to invite the population<BR> +to assemble without delay in front of the block-house.<BR> +With backwoods-like celerity the summons was obeyed;<BR> +men, women, and children hurried towards the central<BR> +point, wondering, yet more than half suspecting, what<BR> +was the major's object in calling them together.<BR> +<BR> +They were not long in doubt. The first sight that<BR> +presented itself, as they came trooping up the slope in<BR> +front of the log-hut, was an ox roasting whole before<BR> +a gigantic bonfire. Tables were being extemporized on<BR> +the broad level plot in front of the gate. Other fires<BR> +there were, of smaller dimensions, on which sundry<BR> +steaming pots were placed, and various joints of wild<BR> +horse, bear, and venison roasted, and sent forth a savoury<BR> +odour as well as a pleasant hissing noise. The<BR> +inhabitants of the block-house were self-taught brewers,<BR> +and the result of their recent labours now stood displayed<BR> +in a row of goodly casks of beer--the only<BR> +beverage with which the dwellers in these far-off regions<BR> +were wont to regale themselves.<BR> +<BR> +The whole scene, as the cooks moved actively about<BR> +upon the lawn, and children romped round the fires,<BR> +and settlers came flocking through the forests, might<BR> +have recalled the revelry of merry England in the olden<BR> +time, though the costumes of the far west were perhaps<BR> +somewhat different from those of old England.<BR> +<BR> +No one of all the band assembled there on that day<BR> +of rejoicing required to ask what it was all about. Had<BR> +any one been in doubt for a moment, a glance at the<BR> +centre of the crowd assembled round the gate of the<BR> +western fortress would have quickly enlightened him.<BR> +For there stood Dick Varley, and his mild-looking mother,<BR> +and his loving dog Crusoe. There, too, stood Joe Blunt,<BR> +like a bronzed warrior returned from the fight, turning<BR> +from one to another as question poured in upon question<BR> +almost too rapidly to permit of a reply. There, too,<BR> +stood Henri, making enthusiastic speeches to whoever<BR> +chose to listen to him--now glaring at the crowd with<BR> +clenched fists and growling voice, as he told of how Joe<BR> +and he had been tied hand and foot, and lashed to poles,<BR> +and buried in leaves, and threatened with a slow death<BR> +by torture; at other times bursting into a hilarious laugh<BR> +as he held forth on the predicament of Mahtawa, when<BR> +that wily chief was treed by Crusoe in the prairie.<BR> +Young Marston was there, too, hanging about Dick,<BR> +whom he loved as a brother and regarded as a perfect<BR> +hero. Grumps, too, was there, and Fan. Do you<BR> +think, reader, that Grumps looked at any one but<BR> +Crusoe? If you do, you are mistaken. Grumps on<BR> +that day became a regular, an incorrigible, utter, and<BR> +perfect nuisance to everybody--not excepting himself,<BR> +poor beast! Grumps was a dog of one idea, and that<BR> +idea was Crusoe. Out of that great idea there grew one<BR> +little secondary idea, and that idea was that the only<BR> +joy on earth worth mentioning was to sit on his haunches,<BR> +exactly six inches from Crusoe's nose, and gaze steadfastly<BR> +into his face. Wherever Crusoe went Grumps went.<BR> +If Crusoe stopped, Grumps was down before him in an<BR> +instant. If Crusoe bounded away, which in the exuberance<BR> +of his spirits he often did, Grumps was after him<BR> +like a bundle of mad hair. He was in everybody's<BR> +way, in Crusoe's way, and being, so to speak, "beside<BR> +himself," was also in his own way. If people trod upon<BR> +him accidentally, which they often did, Grumps uttered<BR> +a solitary heart-rending yell proportioned in intensity<BR> +to the excruciating nature of the torture he endured,<BR> +then instantly resumed his position and his fascinated<BR> +stare. Crusoe generally held his head up, and gazed<BR> +over his little friend at what was going on around him;<BR> +but if for a moment he permitted his eye to rest on the<BR> +countenance of Grumps, that creature's tail became<BR> +suddenly imbued with an amount of wriggling vitality<BR> +that seemed to threaten its separation from the body.<BR> +<BR> +It was really quite interesting to watch this unblushing,<BR> +and disinterested, and utterly reckless display of<BR> +affection on the part of Grumps, and the amiable way<BR> +in which Crusoe put up with it. We say put up with<BR> +it advisedly, because it must have been a very great<BR> +inconvenience to him, seeing that if he attempted to<BR> +move, his satellite moved in front of him, so that his<BR> +only way of escaping temporarily was by jumping over<BR> +Grumps's head.<BR> +<BR> +Grumps was everywhere all day. Nobody, almost,<BR> +escaped trampling on part of him. He tumbled over<BR> +everything, into everything, and against everything.<BR> +He knocked himself, singed himself, and scalded himself,<BR> +and in fact forgot himself altogether; and when,<BR> +late that night, Crusoe went with Dick into his mother's<BR> +cottage, and the door was shut, Grumps stretched his<BR> +ruffled, battered, ill-used, and dishevelled little body<BR> +down on the door-step, thrust his nose against the<BR> +opening below the door, and lay in humble contentment<BR> +all night, for he knew that Crusoe was there.<BR> +<BR> +Of course such an occasion could not pass without<BR> +a shooting-match. Rifles were brought out after the<BR> +feast was over, just before the sun went down into its<BR> +bed on the western prairies, and "the nail" was soon<BR> +surrounded by bullets, tipped by Joe Blunt and Jim<BR> +Scraggs, and of course driven home by Dick Varley,<BR> +whose "silver rifle" had now become in its owner's hand<BR> +a never-failing weapon. Races, too, were started, and<BR> +here again Dick stood pre-eminent; and when night<BR> +spread her dark mantle over the scene, the two best<BR> +fiddlers in the settlement were placed on empty beer-casks,<BR> +and some danced by the light of the monster fires,<BR> +while others listened to Joe Blunt as he recounted their<BR> +adventures on the prairies and among the Rocky Mountains.<BR> +<BR> +There were sweethearts, and wives, and lovers at the<BR> +feast, but we question if any heart there was so full of<BR> +love, and admiration, and gratitude, as that of the<BR> +Widow Varley as she watched her son Dick throughout<BR> +that merry evening.<BR> +<BR> + * * * * *<BR> +<BR> +Years rolled by, and the Mustang Valley prospered.<BR> +Missionaries went there, and a little church was built,<BR> +and to the blessings of a fertile land were added the<BR> +far greater blessings of Christian light and knowledge.<BR> +One sad blow fell on the Widow Varley's heart. Her<BR> +only brother, Daniel Hood, was murdered by the Indians.<BR> +Deeply and long she mourned, and it required all Dick's<BR> +efforts and those of the pastor of the settlement to<BR> +comfort her. But from the first the widow's heart was<BR> +sustained by the loving Hand that dealt the blow, and<BR> +when time blunted the keen edge of her feelings her<BR> +face became as sweet and mild, though not so lightsome,<BR> +as before.<BR> +<BR> +Joe Blunt and Henri became leading men in the<BR> +councils of the Mustang Valley; but Dick Varley preferred<BR> +the woods, although, as long as his mother lived,<BR> +he hovered round her cottage--going off sometimes for<BR> +a day, sometimes for a week, but never longer. After<BR> +her head was laid in the dust, Dick took altogether to<BR> +the woods, with Crusoe and Charlie, the wild horse, as<BR> +his only companions, and his mother's Bible in the<BR> +breast of his hunting-shirt. And soon Dick, the bold<BR> +hunter, and his dog Crusoe became renowned in the<BR> +frontier settlements from the banks of the Yellowstone<BR> +River to the Gulf of Mexico.<BR> +<BR> +Many a grizzly bear did the famous "silver rifle" lay<BR> +low, and many a wild, exciting chase and adventure did<BR> +Dick go through; but during his occasional visits to the<BR> +Mustang Valley he was wont to say to Joe Blunt and<BR> +Henri--with whom he always sojourned--that "nothin'<BR> +he ever felt or saw came up to his <i>first</i> grand dash over<BR> +the western prairies into the heart of the Rocky Mountains."<BR> +And in saying this, with enthusiasm in his eye<BR> +and voice, Dick invariably appealed to, and received a<BR> +ready affirmative glance from, his early companion and<BR> +his faithful loving friend, the dog Crusoe.<BR> +<BR> +<BR> +THE END. + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dog Crusoe and His Master +by Robert Michael Ballantyne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DOG CRUSOE AND HIS MASTER *** + +***** This file should be named 10929-h.htm or 10929-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/2/10929/ + +Produced by Dave Morgan, Bradley Norton and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +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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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Dog Crusoe and His Master + A Story of Adventure in the Western Prairies + +Author: Robert Michael Ballantyne + +Release Date: February 4, 2004 [EBook #10929] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DOG CRUSOE AND HIS MASTER *** + + + + +Produced by Dave Morgan, Bradley Norton and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + +THE DOG CRUSOE + +AND + +HIS MASTER + +A Story of Adventure in the Western Prairies + +By + +ROBERT MICHAEL BALLANTYNE + +Author of "The Coral Island," "The Young Fur-Traders," "Ungava," + +"The Gorilla-Hunters," "The World of Ice," + +"Martin Rattler." + +&c + +1894 + +_CONTENTS_. + +CHAPTER I. + +_The backwoods settlement--Crusoe's parentage and early history--The +agonizing pains and sorrows of his puppyhood, and other interesting +matters_. + +CHAPTER II. + +_A shooting-match and its consequences--New friends introduced to the +reader--Crusoe and his mother change masters_. + +CHAPTER III. + +_Speculative remarks with which the reader may or may not agree--An +old woman--Hopes and wishes commingled with hard facts--The dog +Crusoe's education begun_. + +CHAPTER IV. + +_Our hero enlarged upon_--_Grumps_. + +CHAPTER V. + +_A mission of peace--Unexpected joys--Dick and Crusoe set off for the +land of the Redskins, and meet with adventures by the way as a matter +of course--in the wild woods_. + +CHAPTER VI. + +_The great prairies of the far west--A remarkable colony discovered, +and a miserable night endured_. + +CHAPTER VII. + +_The "wallering" peculiarities of buffalo bulls--The first buffalo +hunt and its consequences--Crusoe comes to the rescue--Pawnees +discovered--A monster buffalo hunt--Joe acts the part of ambassador_. + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_Dick and his friends visit the Indians and see many wonders--Crusoe, +too, experiences a few surprises, and teaches Indian dogs a lesson--An +Indian dandy--A foot-race_. + +CHAPTER IX. + +_Crusoe acts a conspicuous and humane part--A friend gained--A great +feast_. + +CHAPTER X. + +_Perplexities--Our hunters plan their escape--Unexpected +interruption--The tables turned--Crusoe mounts guard--The escape_. + +CHAPTER XI. + +_Evening meditations and morning reflections--Buffaloes, badgers, +antelopes, and accidents--An old bull and the wolves--"Mad +tails"--Henri floored, etc_. + +CHAPTER XII. + +_Wanderings on the prairie--A war party--Chased by Indians--A bold +leap for life_. + +CHAPTER XIII. + +_Escape from Indians--A discovery--Alone in the desert_. + +CHAPTER XIV. + +_Crusoe's return, and his private adventures among the Indians--Dick +at a very low ebb--Crusoe saves him_. + +CHAPTER XV. + +_Health and happiness return--Incidents of the journey--A buffalo +shot--A wild horse "creased"--Dick's battle with a mustang_. + +CHAPTER XVI. + +_Dick becomes a horse tamer--Resumes his journey--Charlie's +doings--Misfortunes which lead to, but do not terminate in, the Rocky +Mountains--A grizzly bear_. + +CHAPTER XVII. + +_Dick's first fight with a grizzly--Adventure with a deer--A +surprise_. + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +_A surprise, and a piece of good news--The fur-traders--Crusoe proved, +and the Peigans pursued_. + +CHAPTER XIX. + +_Adventures with the Peigans--Crusoe does good service as a +discoverer--The savages outwitted--The rescue_. + +CHAPTER XX. + +_New plans--Our travellers join the fur-traders, and see many strange +things--A curious fight--A narrow escape, and a prisoner taken_. + +CHAPTER XXI. + +_Wolves attack the horses, and Cameron circumvents the wolves--A +bear-hunt, in which Henri shines conspicuous--Joe and the +"Natter-list"--An alarm--A surprise and a capture_. + +CHAPTER XXII. + +_Charlie's adventures with savages and bears--Trapping life_. + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +_Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their +doings--The stampede--Charlie again_. + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +_Plans and prospects--Dick becomes home-sick, and Henri +metaphysical--The Indians attack the camp--A blow-up_. + +CHAPTER XXV. + +_Dangers of the prairie--Our travellers attacked by Indians, and +delivered in a remarkable manner_. + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +_Anxious fears followed by a joyful surprise--Safe home at last, and +happy hearts_. + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +_Rejoicings--The feast at the block-house--Grumps and Crusoe come out +strong--The closing scene_. + + + +THE DOG CRUSOE. + + + +CHAPTER I. + + +_The backwoods settlement--Crusoe's parentage, and early +history--The agonizing pains and sorrows of his puppyhood, and other +interesting matters_. + +The dog Crusoe was once a pup. Now do not, courteous reader, toss your +head contemptuously, and exclaim, "Of course he was; I could have told +_you_ that." You know very well that you have often seen a man above +six feet high, broad and powerful as a lion, with a bronzed shaggy +visage and the stern glance of an eagle, of whom you have said, or +thought, or heard others say, "It is scarcely possible to believe that +such a man was once a squalling baby." If you had seen our hero in +all the strength and majesty of full-grown doghood, you would have +experienced a vague sort of surprise had we told you--as we now +repeat--that the dog Crusoe was once a pup--a soft, round, sprawling, +squeaking pup, as fat as a tallow candle, and as blind as a bat. + +But we draw particular attention to the fact of Crusoe's having once +been a pup, because in connection with the days of his puppyhood there +hangs a tale. + +This peculiar dog may thus be said to have had two tails--one in +connection with his body, the other with his career. This tale, though +short, is very harrowing, and as it is intimately connected with +Crusoe's subsequent history we will relate it here. But before doing +so we must beg our reader to accompany us beyond the civilized +portions of the United States of America--beyond the frontier +settlements of the "far west," into those wild prairies which are +watered by the great Missouri River--the Father of Waters--and his +numerous tributaries. + +Here dwell the Pawnees, the Sioux, the Delawarers, the Crows, the +Blackfeet, and many other tribes of Red Indians, who are gradually +retreating step by step towards the Rocky Mountains as the advancing +white man cuts down their trees and ploughs up their prairies. Here, +too, dwell the wild horse and the wild ass, the deer, the buffalo, and +the badger; all, men and brutes alike, wild as the power of untamed +and ungovernable passion can make them, and free as the wind that +sweeps over their mighty plains. + +There is a romantic and exquisitely beautiful spot on the banks of one +of the tributaries above referred to--long stretch of mingled woodland +and meadow, with a magnificent lake lying like a gem in its green +bosom--which goes by the name of the Mustang Valley. This remote vale, +even at the present day, is but thinly peopled by white men, and is +still a frontier settlement round which the wolf and the bear prowl +curiously, and from which the startled deer bounds terrified away. At +the period of which we write the valley had just been taken possession +of by several families of squatters, who, tired of the turmoil and the +squabbles of the _then_ frontier settlements, had pushed boldly into +the far west to seek a new home for themselves, where they could have +"elbow room," regardless alike of the dangers they might encounter in +unknown lands and of the Redskins who dwelt there. + +The squatters were well armed with axes, rifles, and ammunition. Most +of the women were used to dangers and alarms, and placed implicit +reliance in the power of their fathers, husbands, and brothers to +protect them; and well they might, for a bolder set of stalwart men +than these backwoodsmen never trod the wilderness. Each had been +trained to the use of the rifle and the axe from infancy, and many of +them had spent so much of their lives in the woods that they were more +than a match for the Indian in his own peculiar pursuits of hunting +and war. When the squatters first issued from the woods bordering the +valley, an immense herd of wild horses or mustangs were browsing on +the plain. These no sooner beheld the cavalcade of white men than, +uttering a wild neigh, they tossed their flowing manes in the breeze +and dashed away like a whirlwind. This incident procured the valley +its name. + +The new-comers gave one satisfied glance at their future home, and +then set to work to erect log huts forthwith. Soon the axe was heard +ringing through the forests, and tree after tree fell to the ground, +while the occasional sharp ring of a rifle told that the hunters were +catering successfully for the camp. In course of time the Mustang +Valley began to assume the aspect of a thriving settlement, with +cottages and waving fields clustered together in the midst of it. + +Of course the savages soon found it out and paid it occasional visits. +These dark-skinned tenants of the woods brought furs of wild animals +with them, which they exchanged with the white men for knives, and +beads, and baubles and trinkets of brass and tin. But they hated the +"Pale-faces" with bitter hatred, because their encroachments had at +this time materially curtailed the extent of their hunting-grounds, +and nothing but the numbers and known courage of the squatters +prevented these savages from butchering and scalping them all. + +The leader of this band of pioneers was a Major Hope, a gentleman +whose love for nature in its wildest aspects determined him to +exchange barrack life for a life in the woods. The major was a +first-rate shot, a bold, fearless man, and an enthusiastic naturalist. +He was past the prime of life, and being a bachelor, was unencumbered +with a family. His first act on reaching the site of the new +settlement was to commence the erection of a block-house, to which the +people might retire in case of a general attack by the Indians. + +In this block-house Major Hope took up his abode as the guardian of +the settlement. And here the dog Crusoe was born; here he sprawled in +the early morn of life; here he leaped, and yelped, and wagged his +shaggy tail in the excessive glee of puppyhood; and from the wooden +portals of this block-house he bounded forth to the chase in all the +fire, and strength, and majesty of full-grown doghood. + +Crusoe's father and mother were magnificent Newfoundlanders. There was +no doubt as to their being of the genuine breed, for Major Hope had +received them as a parting gift from a brother officer, who had +brought them both from Newfoundland itself. The father's name was +Crusoe, the mother's name was Fan. Why the father had been so called +no one could tell. The man from whom Major Hope's friend had obtained +the pair was a poor, illiterate fisherman, who had never heard of the +celebrated "Robinson" in all his life. All he knew was that Fan had +been named after his own wife. As for Crusoe, he had got him from a +friend, who had got him from another friend, whose cousin had received +him as a marriage-gift from a friend of _his_; and that each had said +to the other that the dog's name was "Crusoe," without reasons being +asked or given on either side. On arriving at New York the major's +friend, as we have said, made him a present of the dogs. Not being +much of a dog fancier, he soon tired of old Crusoe, and gave him away +to a gentleman, who took him down to Florida, and that was the end of +him. He was never heard of more. + +When Crusoe, junior, was born, he was born, of course, without a name. +That was given to him afterwards in honour of his father. He was also +born in company with a brother and two sisters, all of whom drowned +themselves accidentally, in the first month of their existence, by +falling into the river which flowed past the block-house--a calamity +which occurred, doubtless, in consequence of their having gone out +without their mother's leave. Little Crusoe was with his brother and +sisters at the time, and fell in along with them, but was saved from +sharing their fate by his mother, who, seeing what had happened, +dashed with an agonized howl into the water, and, seizing him in her +mouth, brought him ashore in a half-drowned condition. She afterwards +brought the others ashore one by one, but the poor little things were +dead. + +And now we come to the harrowing part of our tale, for the proper +understanding of which the foregoing dissertation was needful. + +One beautiful afternoon, in that charming season of the American year +called the Indian summer, there came a family of Sioux Indians to the +Mustang Valley, and pitched their tent close to the block-house. A +young hunter stood leaning against the gate-post of the palisades, +watching the movements of the Indians, who, having just finished +a long "palaver" or talk with Major Hope, were now in the act of +preparing supper. A fire had been kindled on the greensward in front +of the tent, and above it stood a tripod, from which depended a large +tin camp-kettle. Over this hung an ill-favoured Indian woman, or +squaw, who, besides attending to the contents of the pot, bestowed +sundry cuffs and kicks upon her little child, which sat near to her +playing with several Indian curs that gambolled round the fire. The +master of the family and his two sons reclined on buffalo robes, +smoking their stone pipes or calumets in silence. There was nothing +peculiar in their appearance. Their faces were neither dignified nor +coarse in expression, but wore an aspect of stupid apathy, which +formed a striking contrast to the countenance of the young hunter, who +seemed an amused spectator of their proceedings. + +The youth referred to was very unlike, in many respects, to what we +are accustomed to suppose a backwoods hunter should be. He did +not possess that quiet gravity and staid demeanour which often +characterize these men. True, he was tall and strongly made, but no +one would have called him stalwart, and his frame indicated grace and +agility rather than strength. But the point about him which rendered +him different from his companions was his bounding, irrepressible +flow of spirits, strangely coupled with an intense love of solitary +wandering in the woods. None seemed so well fitted for social +enjoyment as he; none laughed so heartily, or expressed such glee in +his mischief-loving eye; yet for days together he went off alone into +the forest, and wandered where his fancy led him, as grave and silent +as an Indian warrior. + +After all, there was nothing mysterious in this. The boy followed +implicitly the dictates of nature within him. He was amiable, +straightforward, sanguine, and intensely _earnest_. When he laughed, +he let it out, as sailors have it, "with a will." When there was good +cause to be grave, no power on earth could make him smile. We have +called him boy, but in truth he was about that uncertain period of +life when a youth is said to be neither a man nor a boy. His face was +good-looking (_every_ earnest, candid face is) and masculine; his hair +was reddish-brown and his eye bright-blue. He was costumed in the +deerskin cap, leggings, moccasins, and leathern shirt common to the +western hunter. "You seem tickled wi' the Injuns, Dick Varley," said a +man who at that moment issued from the blockhouse. + +"That's just what I am, Joe Blunt," replied the youth, turning with a +broad grin to his companion. + +"Have a care, lad; do not laugh at 'em too much. They soon take +offence; an' them Redskins never forgive." + +"But I'm only laughing at the baby," returned the youth, pointing to +the child, which, with a mixture of boldness and timidity, was playing +with a pup, wrinkling up its fat visage into a smile when its playmate +rushed away in sport, and opening wide its jet-black eyes in grave +anxiety as the pup returned at full gallop. + +"It 'ud make an owl laugh," continued young Varley, "to see such a +queer pictur' o' itself." + +He paused suddenly, and a dark frown covered his face as he saw the +Indian woman stoop quickly down, catch the pup by its hind-leg with +one hand, seize a heavy piece of wood with the other, and strike it +several violent blows on the throat. Without taking the trouble to +kill the poor animal outright, the savage then held its still writhing +body over the fire in order to singe off the hair before putting it +into the pot to be cooked. + +The cruel act drew young Varley's attention more closely to the pup, +and it flashed across his mind that this could be no other than young +Crusoe, which neither he nor his companion had before seen, although +they had often heard others speak of and describe it. + +Had the little creature been one of the unfortunate Indian curs, the +two hunters would probably have turned from the sickening sight with +disgust, feeling that, however much they might dislike such cruelty, +it would be of no use attempting to interfere with Indian usages. But +the instant the idea that it was Crusoe occurred to Varley he uttered +a yell of anger, and sprang towards the woman with a bound that caused +the three Indians to leap to their feet and grasp their tomahawks. + +Blunt did not move from the gate, but threw forward his rifle with a +careless motion, but an expressive glance, that caused the Indians to +resume their seats and pipes with an emphatic "Wah!" of disgust at +having been startled out of their propriety by a trifle; while Dick +Varley snatched poor Crusoe from his dangerous and painful position, +scowled angrily in the woman's face, and turning on his heel, walked +up to the house, holding the pup tenderly in his arms. + +Joe Blunt gazed after his friend with a grave, solemn expression of +countenance till he disappeared; then he looked at the ground, and +shook his head. + +Joe was one of the regular out-and-out backwoods hunters, both in +appearance and in fact--broad, tall, massive, lion-like; gifted with +the hunting, stalking, running, and trail-following powers of the +savage, and with a superabundance of the shooting and fighting powers, +the daring, and dash of the Anglo-Saxon. He was grave, too--seldom +smiled, and rarely laughed. His expression almost at all times was a +compound of seriousness and good-humour. With the rifle he was a good, +steady shot, but by no means a "crack" one. His ball never failed to +_hit_, but it often failed to _kill_. + +After meditating a few seconds, Joe Blunt again shook his head, and +muttered to himself, "The boy's bold enough, but he's too reckless for +a hunter. There was no need for that yell, now--none at all." + +Having uttered this sagacious remark, he threw his rifle into the +hollow of his left arm, turned round, and strode off with a long, slow +step towards his own cottage. + +Blunt was an American by birth, but of Irish extraction, and to an +attentive ear there was a faint echo of the _brogue_ in his tone, +which seemed to have been handed down to him as a threadbare and +almost worn-out heirloom. + +Poor Crusoe was singed almost naked. His wretched tail seemed little +better than a piece of wire filed off to a point, and he vented his +misery in piteous squeaks as the sympathetic Varley confided him +tenderly to the care of his mother. How Fan managed to cure him no one +can tell, but cure him she did, for, in the course of a few weeks, +Crusoe was as well and sleek and fat as ever. + + + +CHAPTER II. + + +_A shooting-match and its consequences_--_New friends introduced to +the reader_--_Crusoe and his mother change masters_. + +Shortly after the incident narrated in the last chapter the squatters +of the Mustang Valley lost their leader. Major Hope suddenly announced +his intention of quitting the settlement and returning to the +civilized world. Private matters, he said, required his presence +there--matters which he did not choose to speak of, but which would +prevent his returning again to reside among them. Go he must, +and, being a man of determination, go he did; but before going he +distributed all his goods and chattels among the settlers. He even +gave away his rifle, and Fan and Crusoe. These last, however, he +resolved should go together; and as they were well worth having, he +announced that he would give them to the best shot in the valley. He +stipulated that the winner should escort him to the nearest settlement +eastward, after which he might return with the rifle on his shoulder. + +Accordingly, a long level piece of ground on the river's bank, with +a perpendicular cliff at the end of it, was selected as the +shooting-ground, and, on the appointed day, at the appointed hour, the +competitors began to assemble. + +"Well, lad, first as usual," exclaimed Joe Blunt, as he reached the +ground and found Dick Varley there before him. + +"I've bin here more than an hour lookin' for a new kind o' flower that +Jack Morgan told me he'd seen. And I've found it too. Look here; did +you ever see one like it before?" + +Blunt leaned his rifle against a tree, and carefully examined the +flower. + +"Why, yes, I've seed a-many o' them up about the Rocky Mountains, but +never one here-away. It seems to have gone lost itself. The last +I seed, if I remimber rightly, wos near the head-waters o' the +Yellowstone River, it wos--jest where I shot a grizzly bar." + +"Was that the bar that gave you the wipe on the cheek?" asked Varley, +forgetting the flower in his interest about the bear. + +"It wos. I put six balls in that bar's carcass, and stuck my knife +into its heart ten times, afore it gave out; an' it nearly ripped the +shirt off my back afore I wos done with it." + +"I would give my rifle to get a chance at a grizzly!" exclaimed +Varley, with a sudden burst of enthusiasm. + +"Whoever got it wouldn't have much to brag of," remarked a burly young +backwoodsman, as he joined them. + +His remark was true, for poor Dick's weapon was but a sorry affair. It +missed fire, and it hung fire; and even when it did fire, it remained +a matter of doubt in its owner's mind whether the slight deviations +from the direct line made by his bullets were the result of _his_ or +_its_ bad shooting. + +Further comment upon it was checked by the arrival of a dozen or more +hunters on the scene of action. They were a sturdy set of bronzed, +bold, fearless men, and one felt, on looking at them, that they would +prove more than a match for several hundreds of Indians in open fight. +A few minutes after, the major himself came on the ground with the +prize rifle on his shoulder, and Fan and Crusoe at his heels--the +latter tumbling, scrambling, and yelping after its mother, fat and +clumsy, and happy as possible, having evidently quite forgotten that +it had been nearly roasted alive only a few weeks before. + +Immediately all eyes were on the rifle, and its merits were discussed +with animation. + +And well did it deserve discussion, for such a piece had never before +been seen on the western frontier. It was shorter in the barrel and +larger in the bore than the weapons chiefly in vogue at that time, +and, besides being of beautiful workmanship, was silver-mounted. But +the grand peculiarity about it, and that which afterwards rendered it +the mystery of mysteries to the savages, was that it had two sets of +locks--one percussion, the other flint--so that, when caps failed, +by taking off the one set of locks and affixing the others, it was +converted into a flint rifle. The major, however, took care never +to run short of caps, so that the flint locks were merely held as a +reserve in case of need. + +"Now, lads," cried Major Hope, stepping up to the point whence they +were to shoot, "remember the terms. He who first drives the nail +obtains the rifle, Fan, and her pup, and accompanies me to the nearest +settlement. Each man shoots with his own gun, and draws lots for the +chance." + +"Agreed," cried the men. + +"Well, then, wipe your guns and draw lots. Henri will fix the nail. +Here it is." + +The individual who stepped, or rather plunged forward to receive the +nail was a rare and remarkable specimen of mankind. Like his comrades, +he was half a farmer and half a hunter. Like them, too, he was clad in +deerskin, and was tall and strong--nay, more, he was gigantic. But, +unlike them, he was clumsy, awkward, loose-jointed, and a bad shot. +Nevertheless Henri was an immense favourite in the settlement, for +his good-humour knew no bounds. No one ever saw him frown. Even when +fighting with the savages, as he was sometimes compelled to do in +self-defence, he went at them with a sort of jovial rage that was +almost laughable. Inconsiderate recklessness was one of his chief +characteristics, so that his comrades were rather afraid of him on the +war-trail or in the hunt, where caution and frequently _soundless_ +motion were essential to success or safety. But when Henri had +a comrade at his side to check him he was safe enough, being +humble-minded and obedient. Men used to say he must have been born +under a lucky star, for, notwithstanding his natural inaptitude for +all sorts of backwoods life, he managed to scramble through everything +with safety, often with success, and sometimes with credit. + +To see Henri stalk a deer was worth a long day's journey. Joe Blunt +used to say he was "all jints together, from the top of his head to +the sole of his moccasin." He threw his immense form into the most +inconceivable contortions, and slowly wound his way, sometimes on +hands and knees, sometimes flat, through bush and brake, as if there +was not a bone in his body, and without the slightest noise. This sort +of work was so much against his plunging nature that he took long to +learn it; but when, through hard practice and the loss of many a +fine deer, he came at length to break himself in to it, he gradually +progressed to perfection, and ultimately became the best stalker in +the valley. This, and this alone, enabled him to procure game, for, +being short-sighted, he could hit nothing beyond fifty yards, except a +buffalo or a barn-door. + +Yet that same lithe body, which seemed as though totally unhinged, +could no more be bent, when the muscles were strung, than an iron +post. No one wrestled with Henri unless he wished to have his back +broken. Few could equal and none could beat him at running or leaping +except Dick Varley. When Henri ran a race even Joe Blunt laughed +outright, for arms and legs went like independent flails. When he +leaped, he hurled himself into space with a degree of violence that +seemed to insure a somersault; yet he always came down with a crash on +his feet. Plunging was Henri's forte. He generally lounged about the +settlement when unoccupied, with his hands behind his back, apparently +in a reverie, and when called on to act, he seemed to fancy he must +have lost time, and could only make up for it by _plunging_. This +habit got him into many awkward scrapes, but his herculean power +as often got him out of them. He was a French-Canadian, and a +particularly bad speaker of the English language. + +We offer no apology for this elaborate introduction of Henri, for +he was as good-hearted a fellow as ever lived, and deserves special +notice. + +But to return. The sort of rifle practice called "driving the nail," +by which this match was to be decided, was, and we believe still is, +common among the hunters of the far west. It consisted in this: an +ordinary large-headed nail was driven a short way into a plank or a +tree, and the hunters, standing at a distance of fifty yards or so, +fired at it until they succeeded in driving it home. On the present +occasion the major resolved to test their shooting by making the +distance seventy yards. + +Some of the older men shook their heads. + +"It's too far," said one; "ye might as well try to snuff the nose o' a +mosquito." + +"Jim Scraggs is the only man as'll hit that," said another. + +The man referred to was a long, lank, lantern-jawed fellow, with a +cross-grained expression of countenance. He used the long, heavy +Kentucky rifle, which, from the ball being little larger than a pea, +was called a pea-rifle. Jim was no favourite, and had been named +Scraggs by his companions on account of his appearance. + +In a few minutes the lots were drawn, and the shooting began. Each +hunter wiped out the barrel of his piece with his ramrod as he stepped +forward; then, placing a ball in the palm of his left hand, he drew +the stopper of his powder-horn with his teeth, and poured out as much +powder as sufficed to cover the bullet. This was the regular _measure_ +among them. Little time was lost in firing, for these men did not +"hang" on their aim. The point of the rifle was slowly raised to the +object, and the instant the sight covered it the ball sped to its +mark. In a few minutes the nail was encircled by bullet holes, +scarcely two of which were more than an inch distant from the mark, +and one--fired by Joe Blunt--entered the tree close beside it. + +"Ah, Joe!" said the major, "I thought you would have carried off the +prize." + +"So did not I, sir," returned Blunt, with a shake of his head. "Had +it a-bin a half-dollar at a hundred yards, I'd ha' done better, but I +never _could_ hit the nail. It's too small to _see_." + +"That's cos ye've got no eyes," remarked Jim Scraggs, with a sneer, as +he stepped forward. + +All tongues were now hushed, for the expected champion was about to +fire. The sharp crack of the rifle was followed by a shout, for Jim +had hit the nail-head on the edge, and part of the bullet stuck to it. + +"That wins if there's no better," said the major, scarce able to +conceal his disappointment. "Who comes next?" + +To this question Henri answered by stepping up to the line, straddling +his legs, and executing preliminary movements with his rifle, that +seemed to indicate an intention on his part to throw the weapon bodily +at the mark. He was received with a shout of mingled laughter and +applause. After gazing steadily at the mark for a few seconds, a broad +grin overspread his countenance, and looking round at his companions, +he said,--"Ha! mes boys, I can-not behold de nail at all!" + +"Can ye 'behold' the _tree_?" shouted a voice, when the laugh that +followed this announcement had somewhat abated. + +"Oh! oui," replied Henri quite coolly; "I can see _him_, an' a goot +small bit of de forest beyond." + +"Fire at it, then. If ye hit the tree ye desarve the rifle--leastways +ye ought to get the pup." + +Henri grinned again, and fired instantly, without taking aim. + +The shot was followed by an exclamation of surprise, for the bullet +was found close beside the nail. + +"It's more be good luck than good shootin'," remarked Jim Scraggs. + +"Possiblement," answered Henri modestly, as he retreated to the rear +and wiped out his rifle; "mais I have kill most of my deer by dat same +goot luck." + +"Bravo, Henri!" said Major Hope as he passed; "you _deserve_ to win, +anyhow. Who's next?" + +"Dick Varley," cried several voices; "where's Varley? Come on, +youngster, an' take yer shot." + +The youth came forward with evident reluctance. "It's of no manner o' +use," he whispered to Joe Blunt as he passed, "I can't depend on my +old gun." + +"Never give in," whispered Blunt, encouragingly. + +Poor Varley's want of confidence in his rifle was merited, for, on +pulling the trigger, the faithless lock missed fire. + +"Lend him another gun," cried several voices. + +"'Gainst rules laid down by Major Hope," said Scraggs. + +"Well, so it is; try again." + +Varley did try again, and so successfully, too, that the ball hit the +nail on the head, leaving a portion of the lead sticking to its edge. + +Of course this was greeted with a cheer, and a loud dispute began as +to which was the better shot of the two. + +"There are others to shoot yet," cried the major. "Make way. Look +out." + +The men fell back, and the few hunters who had not yet fired took +their shots, but without coming nearer the mark. + +It was now agreed that Jim Scraggs and Dick Varley, being the two best +shots, should try over again, and it was also agreed that Dick should +have the use of Blunt's rifle. Lots were again drawn for the first +shot, and it fell to Dick, who immediately stepped out, aimed somewhat +hastily, and fired. + +"Hit again!" shouted those who had run forward to examine the mark. +"_Half_ the bullet cut off by the nail head!" + +Some of the more enthusiastic of Dick's friends cheered lustily, but +the most of the hunters were grave and silent, for they knew Jim's +powers, and felt that he would certainly do his best. Jim now stepped +up to the line, and, looking earnestly at the mark, threw forward his +rifle. + +At that moment our friend Crusoe, tired of tormenting his mother, +waddled stupidly and innocently into the midst of the crowd of men, +and in so doing received Henri's heel and the full weight of his +elephantine body on its fore paw. The horrible and electric yell that +instantly issued from his agonized throat could only be compared, as +Joe Blunt expressed it, "to the last dyin' screech o' a bustin' +steam biler!" We cannot say that the effect was startling, for these +backwoodsmen had been born and bred in the midst of alarms, and were +so used to them that a "bustin' steam biler" itself, unless it had +blown them fairly off their legs, would not have startled them. But +the effect, such as it was, was sufficient to disconcert the aim of +Jim Scraggs, who fired at the same instant, and missed the nail by a +hair's-breadth. + +'Turning round in towering wrath, Scraggs aimed a kick at the poor +pup, which, had it taken effect, would certainly have terminated the +innocent existence of that remarkable dog on the spot; but quick as +lightning Henri interposed the butt of his rifle, and Jim's shin met +it with a violence that caused him to howl with rage and pain. + +"Oh! pardon me, broder," cried Henri, shrinking back, with the +drollest expression of mingled pity and glee. + +Jim's discretion, on this occasion, was superior to his valour; he +turned away with a coarse expression of anger and left the ground. + +Meanwhile the major handed the silver rifle to young Varley. "It +couldn't have fallen into better hands," he said. "You'll do it +credit, lad, I know that full well; and let me assure you it will +never play you false. Only keep it clean, don't overcharge it, aim +true, and it will never miss the mark." + +While the hunters crowded round Dick to congratulate him and examine +the piece, he stood with a mingled feeling of bashfulness and delight +at his unexpected good fortune. Recovering himself suddenly, he seized +his old rifle, and dropping quietly to the outskirts of the crowd, +while the men were still busy handling and discussing the merits of +the prize, went up, unobserved, to a boy of about thirteen years of +age, and touched him on the shoulder. + +"Here, Marston, you know I often said ye should have the old rifle +when I was rich enough to get a new one. Take it _now_, lad. It's come +to ye sooner than either o' us expected." + +"Dick," said the boy, grasping his friend's hand warmly, "ye're true +as heart of oak. It's good of 'ee; that's a fact." + +"Not a bit, boy; it costs me nothin' to give away an old gun that I've +no use for, an's worth little, but it makes me right glad to have the +chance to do it." + +Marston had longed for a rifle ever since he could walk; but his +prospects of obtaining one were very poor indeed at that time, and it +is a question whether he did not at that moment experience as much joy +in handling the old piece as his friend felt in shouldering the prize. + +A difficulty now occurred which had not before been thought of. This +was no less than the absolute refusal of Dick Varley's canine property +to follow him. Fan had no idea of changing masters without her consent +being asked or her inclination being consulted. + +"You'll have to tie her up for a while, I fear," said the major. + +"No fear," answered the youth. "Dog natur's like human natur'!" + +Saying this he seized Crusoe by the neck, stuffed him comfortably into +the bosom of his hunting-shirt, and walked rapidly away with the prize +rifle on his shoulder. + +Fan had not bargained for this. She stood irresolute, gazing now to +the right and now to the left, as the major retired in one direction +and Dick with Crusoe in another. Suddenly Crusoe, who, although +comfortable in body, was ill at ease in spirit, gave utterance to a +melancholy howl. The mother's love instantly prevailed. For one moment +she pricked up her ears at the sound, and then, lowering them, trotted +quietly after her new master, and followed him to his cottage on the +margin of the lake. + + + +CHAPTER III. + + +_Speculative remarks with which the reader may or may not agree--An +old woman--Hopes and wishes commingled with hard facts--The dog +Crusoe's education begun_. + +It is pleasant to look upon a serene, quiet, humble face. On such a +face did Richard Varley look every night when he entered his mother's +cottage. Mrs. Varley was a widow, and she had followed the fortunes of +her brother, Daniel Hood, ever since the death of her husband. Love +for her only brother induced her to forsake the peaceful village of +Maryland and enter upon the wild life of a backwoods settlement. +Dick's mother was thin, and old, and wrinkled, but her face was +stamped with a species of beauty which _never_ fades--the beauty of a +loving look. Ah! the brow of snow and the peach-bloom cheek may snare +the heart of man for a time, but the _loving look_ alone can forge +that adamantine chain that time, age, eternity shall never break. + +Mistake us not, reader, and bear with us if we attempt to analyze this +look which characterized Mrs. Varley. A rare diamond is worth stopping +to glance at, even when one is in a hurry. The brightest jewel in the +human heart is worth a thought or two. By _a loving_ _look_ we do not +mean a look of love bestowed on a beloved object. _That_ is common +enough; and thankful should we be that it is so common in a world +that's overfull of hatred. Still less do we mean that smile and look +of intense affection with which some people--good people too--greet +friend and foe alike, and by which effort to work out their _beau +ideal_ of the expression of Christian love they do signally damage +their cause, by saddening the serious and repelling the gay. Much less +do we mean that _perpetual_ smile of good-will which argues more of +personal comfort and self-love than anything else. No; the loving look +we speak of is as often grave as gay. Its character depends very much +on the face through which it beams. And it cannot be counterfeited. +Its _ring_ defies imitation. Like the clouded sun of April, it can +pierce through tears of sorrow; like the noontide sun of summer, it +can blaze in warm smiles; like the northern lights of winter, it +can gleam in depths of woe;--but it is always the same, modified, +doubtless, and rendered more or less patent to others, according to +the natural amiability of him or her who bestows it. No one can put +it on; still less can any one put it off. Its range is universal; it +embraces all mankind, though, _of course_, it is intensified on a few +favoured objects; its seat is in the depths of a renewed heart, and +its foundation lies in love to God. + +Young Varley's mother lived in a cottage which was of the smallest +possible dimensions consistent with comfort. It was made of logs, as, +indeed, were all the other cottages in the valley. The door was in the +centre, and a passage from it to the back of the dwelling divided it +into two rooms. One of these was sub-divided by a thin partition, +the inner room being Mrs. Varley's bedroom, the outer Dick's. Daniel +Hood's dormitory was a corner of the kitchen, which apartment served +also as a parlour. + +The rooms were lighted by two windows, one on each side of the door, +which gave to the house the appearance of having a nose and two eyes. +Houses of this kind have literally got a sort of _expression_ on--if +we may use the word--their countenances. _Square_ windows give the +appearance of easy-going placidity; _longish_ ones, that of surprise. +Mrs. Varley's was a surprise cottage; and this was in keeping with the +scene in which it stood, for the clear lake in front, studded +with islands, and the distant hills beyond, composed a scene so +surprisingly beautiful that it never failed to call forth an +expression of astonished admiration from every new visitor to the +Mustang Valley. + +"My boy," exclaimed Mrs. Varley, as her son entered the cottage with a +bound, "why so hurried to-day? Deary me! where got you the grand gun?" + +"Won it, mother!" + +"Won it, my son?" + +"Ay, won it, mother. Druve the nail _almost_, and would ha' druve it +_altogether_ had I bin more used to Joe Blunt's rifle." + +Mrs. Varley's heart beat high, and her face flushed with pride as she +gazed at her son, who laid the rifle on the table for her inspection, +while he rattled off an animated and somewhat disjointed account of +the match. + +"Deary me! now that was good, that was cliver. But what's that +scraping at the door?" + +"Oh! that's Fan; I forgot her. Here! here! Fan! Come in, good dog," he +cried, rising and opening the door. + +Fan entered and stopped short, evidently uncomfortable. + +"My boy, what do ye with the major's dog?" + +"Won her too, mother!" + +"Won her, my son?" + +"Ay, won her, and the pup too; see, here it is!" and he plucked Crusoe +from his bosom. + +Crusoe having found his position to be one of great comfort had fallen +into a profound slumber, and on being thus unceremoniously awakened he +gave forth a yelp of discontent that brought Fan in a state of frantic +sympathy to his side. + +"There you are, Fan; take it to a corner and make yourself at +home.--Ay, that's right, mother, give her somethin' to eat; she's +hungry, I know by the look o' her eye." + +"Deary me, Dick!" said Mrs. Varley, who now proceeded to spread the +youth's mid-day meal before him, "did ye drive the nail three times?" + +"No, only once, and that not parfetly. Brought 'em all down at one +shot--rifle, Fan, an' pup!" + +"Well, well, now that was cliver; but--." Here the old woman paused +and looked grave. + +"But what, mother?" + +"You'll be wantin' to go off to the mountains now, I fear me, boy." + +"Wantin' _now_!" exclaimed the youth earnestly; "I'm _always_ wantin'. +I've bin wantin' ever since I could walk; but I won't go till you let +me, mother, that I won't!" And he struck the table with his fist so +forcibly that the platters rung again. + +"You're a good boy, Dick; but you're too young yit to ventur' among +the Redskins." + +"An' yit, if I don't ventur' young, I'd better not ventur' at all. You +know, mother dear, I don't want to leave you; but I was born to be a +hunter, and everybody in them parts is a hunter, and I can't hunt in +the kitchen you know, mother!" + +At this point the conversation was interrupted by a sound that caused +young Varley to spring up and seize his rifle, and Fan to show her +teeth and growl. + +"Hist, mother! that's like horses' hoofs," he whispered, opening the +door and gazing intently in the direction whence the sound came. + +Louder and louder it came, until an opening in the forest showed the +advancing cavalcade to be a party of white men. In another moment +they were in full view--a band of about thirty horsemen, clad in the +leathern costume and armed with the long rifle of the far west. +Some wore portions of the gaudy Indian dress, which gave to them a +brilliant, dashing look. They came on straight for the block-house, +and saluted the Varleys with a jovial cheer as they swept past at full +speed. Dick returned the cheer with compound interest, and calling +out, "They're trappers, mother; I'll be back in an hour," bounded off +like a deer through the woods, taking a short cut in order to reach +the block-house before them. He succeeded, for, just as he arrived at +the house, the cavalcade wheeled round the bend in the river, dashed +up the slope, and came to a sudden halt on the green. Vaulting from +their foaming steeds they tied them to the stockades of the little +fortress, which they entered in a body. + +Hot haste was in every motion of these men. They were trappers, they +said, on their way to the Rocky Mountains to hunt and trade furs. But +one of their number had been treacherously murdered and scalped by a +Pawnee chief, and they resolved to revenge his death by an attack on +one of the Pawnee villages. They would teach these "red reptiles" to +respect white men, they would, come of it what might; and they had +turned aside here to procure an additional supply of powder and lead. + +In vain did the major endeavour to dissuade these reckless men from +their purpose. They scoffed at the idea of returning good for evil, +and insisted on being supplied. The log hut was a store as well as +a place of defence, and as they offered to pay for it there was no +refusing their request--at least so the major thought. The ammunition +was therefore given to them, and in half-an-hour they were away +again at full gallop over the plains on their mission of vengeance. +"Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." But these men knew +not what God said, because they never read his Word and did not own +his sway. + +Young Varley's enthusiasm was considerably damped when he learned the +errand on which the trappers were bent. From that time forward he gave +up all desire to visit the mountains in company with such men, but he +still retained an intense longing to roam at large among their rocky +fastnesses and gallop out upon the wide prairies. + +Meanwhile he dutifully tended his mother's cattle and sheep, and +contented himself with an occasional deer-hunt in the neighbouring +forests. He devoted himself also to the training of his dog Crusoe--an +operation which at first cost him many a deep sigh. + +Every one has heard of the sagacity and almost reasoning capabilities +of the Newfoundland dog. Indeed, some have even gone the length of +saying that what is called instinct in these animals is neither more +nor less than reason. And in truth many of the noble, heroic, and +sagacious deeds that have actually been performed by Newfoundland dogs +incline us almost to believe that, like man, they are gifted with +reasoning powers. + +But every one does not know the trouble and patience that is required +in order to get a juvenile dog to understand what its master means +when he is endeavouring to instruct it. + +Crusoe's first lesson was an interesting but not a very successful +one. We may remark here that Dick Varley had presented Fan to his +mother to be her watch-dog, resolving to devote all his powers to the +training of the pup. We may also remark, in reference to Crusoe's +appearance (and we did not remark it sooner, chiefly because up to +this period in his eventful history he was little better than a ball +of fat and hair), that his coat was mingled jet-black and pure white, +and remarkably glossy, curly, and thick. + +A week after the shooting-match Crusoe's education began. Having fed +him for that period with his own hand, in order to gain his affection, +Dick took him out one sunny forenoon to the margin of the lake to give +him his first lesson. + +And here again we must pause to remark that, although a dog's heart is +generally gained in the first instance through his mouth, yet, after +it is thoroughly gained, his affection is noble and disinterested. He +can scarcely be driven from his master's side by blows; and even when +thus harshly repelled, is always ready, on the shortest notice and +with the slightest encouragement, to make it up again. + +Well; Dick Varley began by calling out, "Crusoe! Crusoe! come here, +pup." + +Of course Crusoe knew his name by this time, for it had been so often +used as a prelude to his meals that he naturally expected a feed +whenever he heard it. This portal to his brain had already been open +for some days; but all the other doors were fast locked, and it +required a great deal of careful picking to open them. + +"Now, Crusoe, come here." + +Crusoe bounded clumsily to his master's side, cocked his ears, and +wagged his tail,--so far his education was perfect. We say he bounded +_clumsily_, for it must be remembered that he was still a very young +pup, with soft, flabby muscles. + +"Now, I'm goin' to begin yer edication, pup; think o' that." + +Whether Crusoe thought of that or not we cannot say, but he looked +up in his master's face as he spoke, cocked his ears very high, and +turned his head slowly to one side, until it could not turn any +farther in that direction; then he turned it as much to the other +side; whereat his master burst into an uncontrollable fit of laughter, +and Crusoe immediately began barking vociferously. + +"Come, come," said Dick, suddenly checking his mirth, "we mustn't +play, pup, we must work." + +Drawing a leathern mitten from his belt, the youth held it to Crusoe's +nose, and then threw it a yard away, at the same time exclaiming in a +loud, distinct tone, "Fetch it." + +Crusoe entered at once into the spirit of this part of his training; +he dashed gleefully at the mitten, and proceeded to worry it with +intense gratification. As for "Fetch it," he neither understood the +words nor cared a straw about them. + +Dick Varley rose immediately, and rescuing the mitten, resumed his +seat on a rock. + +"Come here, Crusoe," he repeated. + +"Oh! certainly, by all means," said Crusoe--no! he didn't exactly +_say_ it, but really he _looked_ these words so evidently that we +think it right to let them stand as they are written. If he could have +finished the sentence, he would certainly have said, "Go on with that +game over again, old boy; it's quite to my taste--the jolliest thing +in life, I assure you!" At least, if we may not positively assert that +he would have said that, no one else can absolutely affirm that he +wouldn't. + +Well, Dick Varley did do it over again, and Crusoe worried the mitten +over again, utterly regardless of "Fetch it." + +Then they did it again, and again, and again, but without the +slightest apparent advancement in the path of canine knowledge; and +then they went home. + +During all this trying operation Dick Varley never once betrayed the +slightest feeling of irritability or impatience. He did not expect +success at first; he was not therefore disappointed at failure. + +Next day he had him out again--and the next--and the next--and the +next again, with the like unfavourable result. In short, it seemed at +last as if Crusoe's mind had been deeply imbued with the idea that he +had been born expressly for the purpose of worrying that mitten, and +he meant to fulfil his destiny to the letter. + +Young Varley had taken several small pieces of meat in his pocket each +day, with the intention of rewarding Crusoe when he should at length +be prevailed on to fetch the mitten; but as Crusoe was not aware of +the treat that awaited him, of course the mitten never was "fetched." + +At last Dick Varley saw that this system would never do, so he changed +his tactics, and the next morning gave Crusoe no breakfast, but took +him out at the usual hour to go through his lesson. This new course of +conduct seemed to perplex Crusoe not a little, for on his way down to +the beach he paused frequently and looked back at the cottage, +and then expressively up at his master's face. But the master was +inexorable; he went on, and Crusoe followed, for _true_ love had +now taken possession of the pup's young heart, and he preferred his +master's company to food. + +Varley now began by letting the learner smell a piece of meat, which +he eagerly sought to devour, but was prevented, to his immense +disgust. Then the mitten was thrown as heretofore, and Crusoe made a +few steps towards it, but being in no mood for play he turned back. + +"Fetch it," said the teacher. + +"I won't," replied the learner mutely, by means of that expressive +sign--_not doing it_. + +Hereupon Dick Varley rose, took up the mitten, and put it into the +pup's mouth. Then, retiring a couple of yards, he held out the piece +of meat and said, "Fetch it." + +Crusoe instantly spat out the glove and bounded towards the meat--once +more to be disappointed. + +This was done a second time, and Crusoe came forward _with the mitten +in his mouth_. It seemed as if it had been done accidentally, for he +dropped it before coming quite up. If so, it was a fortunate accident, +for it served as the tiny fulcrum on which to place the point of that +mighty lever which was destined ere long to raise him to the pinnacle +of canine erudition. Dick Varley immediately lavished upon him the +tenderest caresses and gave him a lump of meat. But he quickly tried +it again lest he should lose the lesson. The dog evidently felt that +if he did not fetch that mitten he should have no meat or caresses. In +order, however, to make sure that there was no mistake, Dick laid the +mitten down beside the pup, instead of putting it into his mouth, and, +retiring a few paces, cried, "Fetch it." + + +Crusoe looked uncertain for a moment, then he picked up the mitten and +laid it at his master's feet. The lesson was learned at last! Dick +Varley tumbled all the meat out of his pocket on the ground, and, +while Crusoe made a hearty breakfast, he sat down on a rock and +whistled with glee at having fairly picked the lock, and opened +_another_ door into one of the many chambers of his dog's intellect. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + +_Our hero enlarged upon--Grumps_. + + +Two years passed away. The Mustang Valley settlement advanced +prosperously, despite one or two attacks made upon it by the savages, +who were, however, firmly repelled. Dick Varley had now become a man, +and his pup Crusoe had become a full-grown dog. The "silver rifle," as +Dick's weapon had come to be named, was well known among the hunters +and the Redskins of the border-lands, and in Dick's hands its bullets +were as deadly as its owner's eye was quick and true. + +Crusoe's education, too, had been completed. Faithfully and patiently +had his young master trained his mind, until he fitted him to be +a meet companion in the hunt. To "carry" and "fetch" were now but +trifling portions of the dog's accomplishments. He could dive a fathom +deep in the lake and bring up any article that might have been dropped +or thrown in. His swimming powers were marvellous, and so powerful +were his muscles that he seemed to spurn the water while passing +through it, with his broad chest high out of the curling wave, at a +speed that neither man nor beast could keep up with for a moment. His +intellect now was sharp and quick as a needle; he never required a +second bidding. When Dick went out hunting, he used frequently to drop +a mitten or a powder-horn unknown to the dog, and after walking miles +away from it, would stop short and look down into the mild, gentle +face of his companion. + +"Crusoe," he said, in the same quiet tones with which he would have +addressed a human friend, "I've dropped my mitten; go fetch it, pup." +Dick continued to call it "pup" from habit. + +One glance of intelligence passed from Crusoe's eye, and in a moment +he was away at full gallop, nor did he rest until the lost article was +lying at his master's feet. Dick was loath to try how far back on his +track Crusoe would run if desired. He had often gone back five and six +miles at a stretch; but his powers did not stop here. He could carry +articles back to the spot from which they had been taken and leave +them there. He could head the game that his master was pursuing and +turn it back; and he would guard any object he was desired to "watch" +with unflinching constancy. But it would occupy too much space and +time to enumerate all Crusoe's qualities and powers. His biography +will unfold them. + +In personal appearance he was majestic, having grown to an immense +size even for a Newfoundland. Had his visage been at all wolfish in +character, his aspect would have been terrible. But he possessed in an +eminent degree that mild, humble expression of face peculiar to his +race. When roused or excited, and especially when bounding through the +forest with the chase in view, he was absolutely magnificent. At other +times his gait was slow, and he seemed to prefer a quiet walk with +Dick Varley to anything else under the sun. But when Dick was inclined +to be boisterous, Crusoe's tail and ears rose at a moment's notice, +and he was ready for anything. Moreover, he obeyed commands instantly +and implicitly. In this respect he put to shame most of the boys of +the settlement, who were by no means famed for their habits of prompt +obedience. + +Crusoe's eye was constantly watching the face of his master. When Dick +said "Go" he went, when he said "Come" he came. If he had been in the +midst of an excited bound at the throat of a stag, and Dick had called +out, "Down, Crusoe," he would have sunk to the earth like a stone. No +doubt it took many months of training to bring the dog to this state +of perfection, but Dick accomplished it by patience, perseverance, and +_love_. + +Besides all this, Crusoe could speak! He spoke by means of the dog's +dumb alphabet in a way that defies description. He conversed, so to +speak, with his extremities--his head and his tail. But his eyes, his +soft brown eyes, were the chief medium of communication. If ever the +language of the eyes was carried to perfection, it was exhibited in +the person of Crusoe. But, indeed, it would be difficult to say +which part of his expressive face expressed most--the cocked ears of +expectation, the drooped ears of sorrow; the bright, full eye of +joy, the half-closed eye of contentment, and the frowning eye of +indignation accompanied with a slight, a very slight pucker of the +nose and a gleam of dazzling ivory--ha! no enemy ever saw this last +piece of canine language without a full appreciation of what it meant. +Then as to the tail--the modulations of meaning in the varied wag +of that expressive member--oh! it's useless to attempt description. +Mortal man cannot conceive of the delicate shades of sentiment +expressible by a dog's tail, unless he has studied the subject--the +wag, the waggle, the cock, the droop, the slope, the wriggle! Away +with description--it is impotent and valueless here! + +As we have said, Crusoe was meek and mild. He had been bitten, on the +sly, by half the ill-natured curs in the settlement, and had only +shown his teeth in return. He had no enmities--though several +enemies--and he had a thousand friends, particularly among the ranks +of the weak and the persecuted, whom he always protected and avenged +when opportunity offered. A single instance of this kind will serve to +show his character. + +One day Dick and Crusoe were sitting on a rock beside the lake--the +same identical rock near which, when a pup, the latter had received +his first lesson. They were conversing as usual, for Dick had elicited +such a fund of intelligence from the dog's mind, and had injected such +wealth of wisdom into it, that he felt convinced it understood every +word he said. + +"This is capital weather, Crusoe; ain't it, pup?" + +Crusoe made a motion with his head which was quite as significant as a +nod. + +"Ha! my pup, I wish that you and I might go and have a slap at the +grizzly bars, and a look at the Rocky Mountains. Wouldn't it be nuts, +pup?" + +Crusoe looked dubious. + +"What, you don't agree with me! Now tell me, pup, wouldn't ye like to +grip a bar?" + +Still Crusoe looked dubious, but made a gentle motion with his tail, +as though he would have said, "I've seen neither Rocky Mountains nor +grizzly bars, and know nothin' about 'em, but I'm open to conviction." + +"You're a brave pup," rejoined Dick, stroking the dog's huge head +affectionately. "I wouldn't give you for ten times your weight in +golden dollars--if there be sich things." + +Crusoe made no reply whatever to this. He regarded it as a truism +unworthy of notice; he evidently felt that a comparison between love +and dollars was preposterous. + +At this point in the conversation a little dog with a lame leg hobbled +to the edge of the rocks in front of the spot where Dick was seated, +and looked down into the water, which was deep there. Whether it did +so for the purpose of admiring its very plain visage in the liquid +mirror, or finding out what was going on among the fish, we cannot +say, as it never told us; but at that moment a big, clumsy, +savage-looking dog rushed out from the neighbouring thicket and began +to worry it. + +"Punish him, Crusoe," said Dick quickly. + +Crusoe made one bound that a lion might have been proud of, and +seizing the aggressor by the back, lifted him off his legs and held +him, howling, in the air--at the same time casting a look towards his +master for further instructions. + +"Pitch him in," said Dick, making a sign with his hand. + +Crusoe turned and quietly dropped the dog into the lake. Having +regarded his struggles there for a few moments with grave severity of +countenance, he walked slowly back and sat down beside his master. + +The little dog made good its retreat as fast as three legs would carry +it; and the surly dog, having swum ashore, retired sulkily, with his +tail very much between his legs. + +Little wonder, then, that Crusoe was beloved by great and small among +the well-disposed of the canine tribe of the Mustang Valley. + +But Crusoe was not a mere machine. When not actively engaged in Dick +Varley's service, he busied himself with private little matters of his +own. He undertook modest little excursions into the woods or along the +margin of the lake, sometimes alone, but more frequently with a little +friend whose whole heart and being seemed to be swallowed up in +admiration of his big companion. Whether Crusoe botanized or +geologized on these excursions we will not venture to say. Assuredly +he seemed as though he did both, for he poked his nose into every bush +and tuft of moss, and turned over the stones, and dug holes in the +ground--and, in short, if he did not understand these sciences, he +behaved very much as if he did. Certainly he knew as much about them +as many of the human species do. + +In these walks he never took the slightest notice of Grumps (that +was the little dog's name), but Grumps made up for this by taking +excessive notice of him. When Crusoe stopped, Grumps stopped and sat +down to look at him. When Crusoe trotted on, Grumps trotted on too. +When Crusoe examined a bush, Grumps sat down to watch him; and when he +dug a hole, Grumps looked into it to see what was there. Grumps never +helped him; his sole delight was in looking on. They didn't converse +much, these two dogs. To be in each other's company seemed to be +happiness enough--at least Grumps thought so. + +There was one point at which Grumps stopped short, however, and ceased +to follow his friend, and that was when he rushed headlong into the +lake and disported himself for an hour at a time in its cool waters. +Crusoe was, both by nature and training, a splendid water-dog. Grumps, +on the contrary, held water in abhorrence; so he sat on the shore of +the lake disconsolate when his friend was bathing, and waited till he +came out. The only time when Grumps was thoroughly nonplussed was when +Dick Varley's whistle sounded faintly in the far distance. Then Crusoe +would prick up his ears and stretch out at full gallop, clearing +ditch, and fence, and brake with his strong elastic bound, and leaving +Grumps to patter after him as fast as his four-inch legs would carry +him. Poor Grumps usually arrived at the village to find both dog and +master gone, and would betake himself to his own dwelling, there to +lie down and sleep, and dream, perchance, of rambles and gambols with +his gigantic friend. + + + +CHAPTER V. + + +_A mission of peace--Unexpected joys--Dick and Crusoe set off for the +land of the Redskins, and meet with adventures by the way as a matter +of course--Night in the wild woods_. + + +One day the inhabitants of Mustang Valley were thrown into +considerable excitement by the arrival of an officer of the United +States army and a small escort of cavalry. They went direct to the +blockhouse, which, since Major Hope's departure, had become the +residence of Joe Blunt--that worthy having, by general consent, been +deemed the fittest man in the settlement to fill the major's place. + +Soon it began to be noised abroad that the strangers had been sent by +Government to endeavour to bring about, if possible, a more friendly +state of feeling between the Whites and the Indians by means of +presents, and promises, and fair speeches. + +The party remained all night in the block-house, and ere long it was +reported that Joe Blunt had been requested, and had consented, to be +the leader and chief of a party of three men who should visit the +neighbouring tribes of Indians to the west and north of the valley as +Government agents. Joe's knowledge of two or three different Indian +dialects, and his well-known sagacity, rendered him a most fitting +messenger on such an errand. It was also whispered that Joe was to +have the choosing of his comrades in this mission, and many were the +opinions expressed and guesses made as to who would be chosen. + +That same evening Dick Varley was sitting in his mother's kitchen +cleaning his rifle. His mother was preparing supper, and talking +quietly about the obstinacy of a particular hen that had taken to +laying her eggs in places where they could not be found. Fan was +coiled up in a corner sound asleep, and Crusoe was sitting at one side +of the fire looking on at things in general. + +"I wonder," remarked Mrs. Varley, as she spread the table with a pure +white napkin--"I wonder what the sodgers are doin' wi' Joe Blunt." + +As often happens when an individual is mentioned, the worthy referred +to opened the door at that moment and stepped into the room. + +"Good e'en t'ye, dame," said the stout hunter, doffing his cap, and +resting his rifle in a corner, while Dick rose and placed a chair for +him. + +"The same to you, Master Blunt," answered the widow; "you've jist +comed in good time for a cut o' venison." + +"Thanks, mistress; I s'pose we're beholden to the silver rifle for +that." + +"To the hand that aimed it, rather," suggested the widow. + +"Nay, then, say raither to the dog that turned it," said Dick Varley. +"But for Crusoe, that buck would ha' bin couched in the woods this +night." + +"Oh! if it comes to that," retorted Joe, "I'd lay it to the door o' +Fan, for if she'd niver bin born nother would Crusoe. But it's good +an' tender meat, whativer ways ye got it. Howsiver, I've other things +to talk about jist now. Them sodgers that are eatin' buffalo tongues +up at the block-house as if they'd niver ate meat before, and didn't +hope to eat again for a twelvemonth--" + +"Ay, what o' them?" interrupted Mrs. Varley; "I've bin wonderin' what +was their errand." + +"Of coorse ye wos, Dame Varley, and I've comed here a purpis to tell +ye. They want me to go to the Redskins to make peace between them +and us; and they've brought a lot o' goods to make them presents +withal--beads, an' knives, an' lookin'-glasses, an' vermilion paint, +an' sich like, jist as much as'll be a light load for one horse--for, +ye see, nothin' can be done wi' the Redskins without gifts." + +"'Tis a blessed mission," said the widow; "I wish it may succeed. D'ye +think ye'll go?" + +"Go? ay, that will I." + +"I only wish they'd made the offer to me," said Dick with a sigh. + +"An' so they do make the offer, lad. They've gin me leave to choose +the two men I'm to take with me, and I've corned straight to ask +_you_. Ay or no, for we must up an' away by break o' day to-morrow." + +Mrs. Varley started. "So soon?" she said, with a look of anxiety. + +"Ay; the Pawnees are at the Yellow Creek jist at this time, but I've +heerd they're 'bout to break up camp an' away west; so we'll need to +use haste." + +"May I go, mother?" asked Dick, with a look of anxiety. + +There was evidently a conflict in the widow's breast, but it quickly +ceased. + +"Yes, my boy," she said in her own low, quiet voice; "and God go with +ye. I knew the time must come soon, an' I thank him that your first +visit to the Redskins will be on an errand o' peace. 'Blessed are the +peace-makers: for they shall be called the children of God.'" + +Dick grasped his mother's hand and pressed it to his cheek in silence. +At the same moment Crusoe, seeing that the deeper feelings of his +master were touched, and deeming it his duty to sympathize, rose up +and thrust his nose against him. + +"Ah, pup," cried the young man hastily, "you must go too.--Of course +Crusoe goes, Joe Blunt?" + +"Hum! I don't know that. There's no dependin' on a dog to keep his +tongue quiet in times o' danger." + +"Believe me," exclaimed Dick, flashing with enthusiasm, "Crusoe's more +trustworthy than I am myself. If ye can trust the master, ye're safe +to trust the pup." + +"Well, lad, ye may be right. We'll take him." + +"Thanks, Joe. And who else goes with us?" + +"I've' bin castin' that in my mind for some time, an' I've fixed +to take Henri. He's not the safest man in the valley, but he's the +truest, that's a fact. And now, youngster, get yer horse an' rifle +ready, and come to the block-house at daybreak to-morrow.--Good luck +to ye, mistress, till we meet agin." + +Joe Blunt rose, and taking up his rifle--without which he scarcely +ever moved a foot from his own door--left the cottage with rapid +strides. + +"My son," said Mrs. Varley, kissing Dick's cheek as he resumed +his seat, "put this in the little pocket I made for it in your +hunting-shirt." + + +She handed him a small pocket Bible. + +"Dear mother," he said, as he placed the book carefully within the +breast of his coat, "the Redskin that takes that from me must take my +scalp first. But don't fear for me. You've often said the Lord would +protect me. So he will, mother, for sure it's an errand o' peace." + +"Ay that's it, that's it," murmured the widow in a half-soliloquy. + +Dick Varley spent that night in converse with his mother, and next +morning at daybreak he was at the place of meeting, mounted on his +sturdy little horse, with the "silver rifle" on his shoulder and +Crusoe by his side. + +"That's right, lad, that's right. Nothin' like keepin' yer time," said +Joe, as he led out a pack-horse from the gate of the block-house, +while his own charger was held ready saddled by a man named Daniel +Brand, who had been appointed to the charge of the block-house in his +absence. + +"Where's Henri?--oh, here he comes!" exclaimed Dick, as the hunter +referred to came thundering up the slope at a charge, on a horse +that resembled its rider in size and not a little in clumsiness of +appearance. + +"Ah! mes boy. Him is a goot one to go," cried + +Henri, remarking Dick's smile as he pulled up. "No hoss on de plain +can beat dis one, surement." + +"Now then, Henri, lend a hand to fix this pack; we've no time to +palaver." + +By this time they were joined by several of the soldiers and a few +hunters who had come to see them start. + +"Remember, Joe," said one, "if you don't come back in three months +we'll all come out in a band to seek you." + +"If we don't come back in less than that time, what's left o' us won't +be worth seekin' for," said Joe, tightening the girth of his saddle. + +"Put a bit in yer own mouth, Henri," cried another, as the Canadian +arranged his steed's bridle; "yell need it more than yer horse when ye +git 'mong the red reptiles." + +"Vraiment, if mon mout' needs one bit, yours will need one padlock." + +"Now, lads, mount!" cried Joe Blunt as he vaulted into the saddle. + +Dick Varley sprang lightly on his horse, and Henri made a rush at his +steed and hurled his huge frame across its back with a violence that +ought to have brought it to the ground; but the tall, raw-boned, +broad-chested roan was accustomed to the eccentricities of its master, +and stood the shock bravely. Being appointed to lead the pack-horse, +Henri seized its halter. Then the three cavaliers shook their reins, +and, waving their hands to their comrades, they sprang into the woods +at full gallop, and laid their course for the "far west." + +For some time they galloped side by side in silence, each occupied +with his own thoughts, Crusoe keeping close beside his master's horse. +The two elder hunters evidently ruminated on the object of their +mission and the prospects of success, for their countenances were +grave and their eyes cast on the ground. Dick Varley, too, thought +upon the Red-men, but his musings were deeply tinged with the bright +hues of a _first_ adventure. The mountains, the plains, the Indians, +the bears, the buffaloes, and a thousand other objects, danced wildly +before his mind's eye, and his blood careered through his veins and +flushed his forehead as he thought of what he should see and do, and +felt the elastic vigour of youth respond in sympathy to the light +spring of his active little steed. He was a lover of nature, too, and +his flashing eyes glanced observantly from side to side as they swept +along--sometimes through glades of forest trees, sometimes through +belts of more open ground and shrubbery; anon by the margin of a +stream or along the shores of a little lake, and often over short +stretches of flowering prairie-land--while the firm, elastic turf sent +up a muffled sound from the tramp of their mettlesome chargers. It was +a scene of wild, luxuriant beauty, that might almost (one could fancy) +have drawn involuntary homage to its bountiful Creator from the lips +even of an infidel. + +After a time Joe Blunt reined up, and they proceeded at an easy +ambling pace. Joe and his friend Henri were so used to these beautiful +scenes that they had long ceased to be enthusiastically affected by +them, though they never ceased to delight in them. + +"I hope," said Joe, "that them sodgers'll go their ways soon. I've no +notion o' them chaps when they're left at a place wi' nothin' to do +but whittle sticks." + +"Why, Joe!" exclaimed Dick Varley in a tone of surprise, "I thought +you were admirin' the beautiful face o' nature all this time, and +ye're only thinkin' about the sodgers. Now, that's strange!" + +"Not so strange after all, lad," answered Joe. "When a man's used to a +thing, he gits to admire an' enjoy it without speakin' much about it. +But it _is_ true, boy, that mankind gits in coorse o' time to think +little o' the blissin's he's used to." + +"Oui, c'est _vrai_!" murmured Henri emphatically. + +"Well, Joe Blunt, it may be so, but I'm thankful _I'm_ not used +to this sort o' thing yet," exclaimed Varley. "Let's have another +gallop--so ho! come along, Crusoe!" shouted the youth as he shook his +reins and flew over a long stretch of prairie on which at that moment +they entered. + +Joe smiled as he followed his enthusiastic companion, but after a +short run he pulled up. + +"Hold on, youngster," he cried; "ye must larn to do as ye're bid, lad. +It's trouble enough to be among wild Injuns and wild buffaloes, as I +hope soon to be, without havin' wild comrades to look after." + +Dick laughed, and reined in his panting horse. "I'll be as obedient as +Crusoe," he said, "and no one can beat him." + +"Besides," continued Joe, "the horses won't travel far if we begin by +runnin' all the wind out o' them." + +"Wah!" exclaimed Henri, as the led horse became restive; "I think we +must give to him de pack-hoss for to lead, eh?" + +"Not a bad notion, Henri. We'll make that the penalty of runnin' off +again; so look out, Master Dick." + +"I'm down," replied Dick, with a modest air, "obedient as a baby, and +won't run off again--till--the next time. By the way, Joe, how many +days' provisions did ye bring?" + +"Two. That's 'nough to carry us to the Great Prairie, which is +three weeks distant from this. Our own good rifles must make up the +difference, and keep us when we get there." + +"And s'pose we neither find deer nor buffalo," suggested Dick. + +"I s'pose we'll have to starve." + +"Dat is cumfer'able to tink upon," remarked Henri. + +"More comfortable to think o' than to undergo," said Dick; "but I +s'pose there's little chance o' that." + +"Well, not much," replied Joe Blunt, patting his horse's neck, "but +d'ye see, lad, ye niver can count for sartin on anythin'. The deer and +buffalo ought to be thick in them plains at this time--and when the +buffalo _are_ thick they covers the plains till ye can hardly see the +end o' them; but, ye see, sometimes the rascally Redskins takes it +into their heads to burn the prairies, and sometimes ye find the place +that should ha' bin black wi' buffalo, black as a coal wi' fire for +miles an' miles on end. At other times the Redskins go huntin' in +'ticlur places, and sweeps them clean o' every hoof that don't git +away. Sometimes, too, the animals seems to take a scunner at a place, +and keeps out o' the way. But one way or another men gin' rally manage +to scramble through." + +"Look yonder, Joe," exclaimed Dick, pointing to the summit of a +distant ridge, where a small black object was seen moving against the +sky, "that's a deer, ain't it?" + +Joe shaded his eyes with his hand, and gazed earnestly at the object +in question. "Ye're right, boy; and by good luck we've got the wind +of him. Cut in an' take your chance now. There's a long strip o' wood +as'll let ye git close to him." + +Before the sentence was well finished Dick and Crusoe were off at full +gallop. For a few hundred yards they coursed along the bottom of a +hollow; then turning to the right they entered the strip of wood, and +in a few minutes gained the edge of it. Here Dick dismounted. + +"You can't help me here, Crusoe. Stay where you are, pup, and hold my +horse." + +Crusoe seized the end of the line, which was fastened to the horse's +nose, in his mouth, and lay down on a hillock of moss, submissively +placing his chin on his forepaws, and watching his master as he +stepped noiselessly through the wood. In a few minutes Dick emerged +from among the trees, and creeping from bush to bush, succeeded in +getting to within six hundred yards of the deer, which was a beautiful +little antelope. Beyond the bush behind which he now crouched all was +bare open ground, without a shrub or a hillock large enough to conceal +the hunter. There was a slight undulation in the ground, however, +which enabled him to advance about fifty yards farther, by means of +lying down quite flat and working himself forward like a serpent. +Farther than this he could not move without being seen by the +antelope, which browsed on the ridge before him in fancied security. +The distance was too great even for a long shot; but Dick knew of +a weak point in this little creature's nature which enabled him to +accomplish his purpose--a weak point which it shares in common with +animals of a higher order--namely, curiosity. + +The little antelope of the North American prairies is intensely +curious about everything that it does not quite understand, and will +not rest satisfied until it has endeavoured to clear up the mystery. +Availing himself of this propensity, Dick did what both Indians and +hunters are accustomed to do on these occasions--he put a piece of +rag on the end of his ramrod, and keeping his person concealed and +perfectly still, waved this miniature flag in the air. The antelope +noticed it at once, and, pricking up its ears, began to advance, +timidly and slowly, step by step, to see what remarkable phenomenon +it could be. In a few seconds the flag was lowered, a sharp crack +followed, and the antelope fell dead upon the plain. + +"Ha, boy! that's a good supper, anyhow," cried Joe, as he galloped up +and dismounted. + +"Goot! dat is better nor dried meat," added Henri. "Give him to me; I +will put him on my hoss, vich is strongar dan yourn. But ver is your +hoss?" + +"He'll be here in a minute," replied Dick, putting his fingers to his +mouth and giving forth a shrill whistle. + +The instant Crusoe heard the sound he made a savage and apparently +uncalled-for dash at the horse's heels. This wild act, so contrary to +the dog's gentle nature, was a mere piece of acting. He knew that the +horse would not advance without getting a fright, so he gave him one +in this way, which sent him off at a gallop. Crusoe followed close at +his heels, so as to bring the line alongside of the nag's body, and +thereby prevent its getting entangled; but despite his best efforts +the horse got on one side of a tree and he on the other, so he wisely +let go his hold of the line, and waited till more open ground enabled +him to catch it again. Then he hung heavily back, gradually checked +the horse's speed, and finally trotted him up to his master's side. + +"'Tis a cliver cur, good sooth," exclaimed Joe Blunt in surprise. + +"Ah, Joe! you haven't seen much of Crusoe yet. He's as good as a man +any day. I've done little else but train him for two years gone by, +and he can do most anything but shoot--he can't handle the rifle +nohow." + +"Ha! then, I tink perhaps hims could if he wos try," said Henri, +plunging on to his horse with a laugh, and arranging the carcass of +the antelope across the pommel of his saddle. + +Thus they hunted and galloped, and trotted and ambled on through wood +and plain all day, until the sun began to descend below the tree-tops +of the bluffs on the west. Then Joe Blunt looked about him for a place +on which to camp, and finally fixed on a spot under the shadow of a +noble birch by the margin of a little stream. The carpet of grass on +its banks was soft like green velvet, and the rippling waters of the +brook were clear as crystal--very different from the muddy Missouri +into which it flowed. + +While Dick Varley felled and cut up firewood, Henri unpacked the +horses and turned them loose to graze, and Joe kindled the fire and +prepared venison steaks and hot tea for supper. + +In excursions of this kind it is customary to "hobble" the +horses--that is, to tie their fore-legs together, so that they cannot +run either fast or far, but are free enough to amble about with a +clumsy sort of hop in search of food. This is deemed a sufficient +check on their tendency to roam, although some of the knowing horses +sometimes learn to hop so fast with their hobbles as to give their +owners much trouble to recapture them. But when out in the prairies +where Indians are known or supposed to be in the neighbourhood, the +horses are picketed by means of a pin or stake attached to the ends +of their long lariats, as well as hobbled; for Indians deem it no +disgrace to steal or tell lies, though they think it disgraceful to +be found out in doing either. And so expert are these dark-skinned +natives of the western prairies, that they will creep into the midst +of an enemy's camp, cut the lariats and hobbles of several horses, +spring suddenly on their backs, and gallop away. + +They not only steal from white men, but tribes that are at enmity +steal from each other, and the boldness with which they do this is +most remarkable. When Indians are travelling in a country where +enemies are prowling, they guard their camps at night with jealous +care. The horses in particular are both hobbled and picketed, and +sentries are posted all round the camp. Yet, in spite of these +precautions, hostile Indians manage to elude the sentries and creep +into the camp. When a thief thus succeeds in effecting an entrance, +his chief danger is past. He rises boldly to his feet, and wrapping +his blanket or buffalo robe round him, he walks up and down as if he +were a member of the tribe. At the same time he dexterously cuts the +lariats of such horses as he observes are not hobbled. He dare not +stoop to cut the hobbles, as the action would be observed, and +suspicion would be instantly aroused. He then leaps on the best horse +he can find, and uttering a terrific war-whoop darts away into the +plains, driving the loosened horses before him. + +No such dark thieves were supposed to be near the camp under the +birch-tree, however, so Joe, and Dick, and Henri ate their supper in +comfort, and let their horses browse at will on the rich pasturage. + +A bright ruddy fire was soon kindled, which created, as it were, a +little ball of light in the midst of surrounding darkness for the +special use of our hardy hunters. Within this magic circle all was +warm, comfortable, and cheery; outside all was dark, and cold, and +dreary by contrast. + +When the substantial part of supper was disposed of, tea and pipes +were introduced, and conversation began to flow. Then the three +saddles were placed in a row; each hunter wrapped himself in his +blanket, and pillowing his head on his saddle, stretched his feet +towards the fire and went to sleep, with his loaded rifle by his side +and his hunting-knife handy in his belt. Crusoe mounted guard by +stretching himself out _couchant_ at Dick Varley's side. The faithful +dog slept lightly, and never moved all night; but had any one observed +him closely he would have seen that every fitful flame that burst from +the sinking fire, every unusual puff of wind, and every motion of the +horses that fed or rested hard by, had the effect of revealing a speck +of glittering white in Crusoe's watchful eye. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + +_The great prairies of the far west_--_A remarkable colony discovered, +and a miserable night endured_. + +Of all the hours of the night or day the hour that succeeds the dawn +is the purest, the most joyous, and the best. At least so think we, +and so think hundreds and thousands of the human family. And so +thought Dick Varley, as he sprang suddenly into a sitting posture next +morning, and threw his arms with an exulting feeling of delight round +the neck of Crusoe, who instantly sat up to greet him. + +This was an unusual piece of enthusiasm on the part of Dick; but the +dog received it with marked satisfaction, rubbed his big hairy cheek +against that of his young master, and arose from his sedentary +position in order to afford free scope for the use of his tail. + +"Ho! Joe Blunt! Henri! Up, boys, up! The sun will have the start o' +us. I'll catch the nags." + +So saying Dick bounded away into the woods, with Crusoe gambolling +joyously at his heels. Dick soon caught his own horse, and Crusoe +caught Joe's. Then the former mounted and quickly brought in the other +two. + +Returning to the camp he found everything packed and ready to strap on +the back of the pack-horse. "That's the way to do it, lad," cried Joe. +"Here, Henri, look alive and git yer beast ready. I do believe ye're +goin' to take another snooze!" + +Henri was indeed, at that moment, indulging in a gigantic stretch and +a cavernous yawn; but he finished both hastily, and rushed at his poor +horse as if he intended to slay it on the spot. He only threw the +saddle on its back, however, and then threw himself on the saddle. + +"Now then, all ready?" + +"Ay"--"Oui, yis!" + +And away they went at full stretch again on their journey. + +Thus day after day they travelled, and night after night they laid +them down to sleep under the trees of the forest, until at length they +reached the edge of the Great Prairie. + +It was a great, a memorable day in the life of Dick Varley, that on +which he first beheld the prairie--the vast boundless prairie. He had +heard of it, talked of it, dreamed about it, but he had never--no, he +had never realized it. 'Tis always thus. Our conceptions of things +that we have not seen are almost invariably wrong. Dick's eyes +glittered, and his heart swelled, and his cheeks flushed, and his +breath came thick and quick. + +"There it is," he gasped, as the great rolling plain broke suddenly on +his enraptured gaze; "that's it--oh!--" + +Dick uttered a yell that would have done credit to the fiercest chief +of the Pawnees, and being unable to utter another word, he swung his +cap in the air and sprang like an arrow from a bow over the mighty +ocean of grass. The sun had just risen to send a flood of golden glory +over the scene, the horses were fresh, so the elder hunters, gladdened +by the beauty of all around them, and inspired by the irresistible +enthusiasm of their young companion, gave the reins to the horses and +flew after him. It was a glorious gallop, that first headlong dash +over the boundless prairie of the "far west." + +The prairies have often been compared, most justly, to the ocean. +There is the same wide circle of space bounded on all sides by the +horizon; there is the same swell, or undulation, or succession of long +low unbroken waves that marks the ocean when it is calm; they are +canopied by the same pure sky, and swept by the same untrammelled +breezes. There are islands, too--clumps of trees and +willow-bushes--which rise out of this grassy ocean to break and +relieve its uniformity; and these vary in size and numbers as do the +isles of ocean, being numerous in some places, while in others they +are so scarce that the traveller does not meet one in a long day's +journey. Thousands of beautiful flowers decked the greensward, and +numbers of little birds hopped about among them. + +"Now, lads," said Joe Blunt, reining up, "our troubles begin to-day." + +"Our troubles?--our joys, you mean!" exclaimed Dick Varley. + +"P'r'aps I don't mean nothin' o' the sort," retorted Joe. "Man wos +never intended to swaller his joys without a strong mixtur' o' +troubles. I s'pose he couldn't stand 'em pure. Ye see we've got to the +prairie now--" + +"One blind hoss might see dat!" interrupted Henri. + +"An' we may or may not diskiver buffalo. An' water's scarce, too, so +we'll need to look out for it pretty sharp, I guess, else we'll lose +our horses, in which case we may as well give out at once. Besides, +there's rattlesnakes about in sandy places, we'll ha' to look out for +them; an' there's badger holes, we'll need to look sharp for them lest +the horses put their feet in 'em; an' there's Injuns, who'll look out +pretty sharp for _us_ if they once get wind that we're in them parts." + +"Oui, yis, mes boys; and there's rain, and tunder, and lightin'," +added Henri, pointing to a dark cloud which was seen rising on the +horizon ahead of them. + +"It'll be rain," remarked Joe; "but there's no thunder in the air jist +now. We'll make for yonder clump o' bushes and lay by till it's past." + +Turning a little to the right of the course they had been following, +the hunters galloped along one of the hollows between the prairie +waves before mentioned, in the direction of a clump of willows. Before +reaching it, however, they passed over a bleak and barren plain where +there was neither flower nor bird. Here they were suddenly arrested by +a most extraordinary sight--at least it was so to Dick Varley, who +had never seen the like before. This was a colony of what Joe called +"prairie-dogs." On first beholding them Crusoe uttered a sort of half +growl, half bark of surprise, cocked his tail and ears, and instantly +prepared to charge; but he glanced up at his master first for +permission. Observing that his finger and his look commanded +"silence," he dropped his tail at once and stepped to the rear. He did +not, however, cease to regard the prairie-dogs with intense curiosity. + +These remarkable little creatures have been egregiously misnamed by +the hunters of the west, for they bear not the slightest resemblance +to dogs, either in formation or habits. They are, in fact, the marmot, +and in size are little larger than squirrels, which animals they +resemble in some degree. They burrow under the light soil, and throw +it up in mounds like moles. + +Thousands of them were running about among their dwellings when Dick +first beheld them; but the moment they caught sight of the +horsemen rising over the ridge they set up a tremendous hubbub of +consternation. Each little beast instantly mounted guard on the top of +his house, and prepared, as it were, "to receive cavalry." + +The most ludicrous thing about them was that, although the most timid +and cowardly creatures in the world, they seemed the most impertinent +things that ever lived! Knowing that their holes afforded them a +perfectly safe retreat, they sat close beside them; and as the hunters +slowly approached, they elevated their heads, wagged their little +tails, showed their teeth, and chattered at them like monkeys. The +nearer they came the more angry and furious did the prairie-dogs +become, until Dick Varley almost fell off his horse with suppressed +laughter. They let the hunters come close up, waxing louder and louder +in their wrath; but the instant a hand was raised to throw a stone or +point a gun, a thousand little heads dived into a thousand holes, and +a thousand little tails wriggled for an instant in the air--then a +dead silence reigned over the deserted scene. + +"Bien, them's have dive into de bo'-els of de eart'," said Henri with +a broad grin. + +Presently a thousand noses appeared, and nervously disappeared, like +the wink of an eye. Then they appeared again, and a thousand pair of +eyes followed. Instantly, like Jack in the box, they were all on the +top of their hillocks again, chattering and wagging their little tails +as vigorously as ever. You could not say that you _saw_ them jump out +of their holes. Suddenly, as if by magic, they _were_ out; then Dick +tossed up his arms, and suddenly, as if by magic, they were gone! + +Their number was incredible, and their cities were full of riotous +activity. What their occupations were the hunters could not ascertain, +but it was perfectly evident that they visited a great deal and +gossiped tremendously, for they ran about from house to house, and sat +chatting in groups; but it was also observed that they never went far +from their own houses. Each seemed to have a circle of acquaintance in +the immediate neighbourhood of his own residence, to which in case of +sudden danger he always fled. + +But another thing about these prairie-dogs (perhaps, considering their +size, we should call them prairie-doggies), another thing about them, +we say, was that each doggie lived with an owl, or, more correctly, an +owl lived with each doggie! This is such an extraordinary _fact_ that +we could scarce hope that men would believe us, were our statement not +supported by dozens of trustworthy travellers who have visited and +written about these regions. The whole plain was covered with these +owls. Each hole seemed to be the residence of an owl and a doggie, +and these incongruous couples lived together apparently in perfect +harmony. + +We have not been able to ascertain from travellers _why_ the owls have +gone to live with these doggies, so we beg humbly to offer our own +private opinion to the reader. We assume, then, that owls find it +absolutely needful to have holes. Probably prairie-owls cannot dig +holes for themselves. Having discovered, however, a race of little +creatures that could, they very likely determined to take forcible +possession of the holes made by them. Finding, no doubt, that when +they did so the doggies were too timid to object, and discovering, +moreover, that they were sweet, innocent little creatures, the +owls resolved to take them into partnership, and so the thing was +settled--that's how it came about, no doubt of it! + +There is a report that rattlesnakes live in these holes also; but we +cannot certify our reader of the truth of this. Still it is well to +be acquainted with a report that is current among the men of the +backwoods. If it be true, we are of opinion that the doggie's family +is the most miscellaneous and remarkable on the face of--or, as Henri +said, in the bo'-els of the earth. + +Dick and his friends were so deeply absorbed in watching these curious +little creatures that they did not observe the rapid spread of the +black clouds over the sky. A few heavy drops of rain now warned them +to seek shelter, so wheeling round they dashed off at full speed for +the clump of willows, which they gained just as the rain began to +descend in torrents. + +"Now, lads, do it slick. Off packs and saddles," cried Joe Blunt, +jumping from his horse. "I'll make a hut for ye, right off." + +"A hut, Joe! what sort o' hut can ye make here?" inquired Dick. + +"Ye'll see, boy, in a minute." + +"Ach! lend me a hand here, Dick; de bockle am tight as de hoss's own +skin. Ah! dere all right." + +"Hallo! what's this?" exclaimed Dick, as Crusoe advanced with +something in his mouth. "I declare, it's a bird o' some sort." + +"A prairie-hen," remarked Joe, as Crusoe laid the bird at Dick's feet; +"capital for supper." + +"Ah! dat chien is superb! goot dog. Come here, I vill clap you." + +But Crusoe refused to be caressed. Meanwhile, Joe and Dick formed a +sort of beehive-looking hut by bending down the stems of a tall bush +and thrusting their points into the ground. Over this they threw the +largest buffalo robe, and placed another on the ground below it, on +which they laid their packs of goods. These they further secured +against wet by placing several robes over them and a skin of +parchment. Then they sat down on this pile to rest, and consider what +should be done next. + +"'Tis a bad look-out," said Joe, shaking his head. + +"I fear it is," replied Dick in a melancholy tone. + +Henri said nothing, but he sighed deeply on looking up at the sky, +which was now of a uniform watery gray, while black clouds drove +athwart it. The rain was pouring in torrents, and the wind began to +sweep it in broad sheets over the plains, and under their slight +covering, so that in a short time they were wet to the skin. The +horses stood meekly beside them, with their tails and heads equally +pendulous; and Crusoe sat before his master, looking at him with an +expression that seemed to say, "Couldn't you put a stop to this if you +were to try?" + +"This'll never do. I'll try to git up a fire," said Dick, jumping up +in desperation. + +"Ye may save yerself the trouble," remarked Joe dryly--at least as +dryly as was possible in the circumstances. + +However, Dick did try, but he failed signally. Everything was soaked +and saturated. There were no large trees; most of the bushes were +green, and the dead ones were soaked. The coverings were slobbery, the +skins they sat on were slobbery, the earth itself was slobbery; so +Dick threw his blanket (which was also slobbery) round his shoulders, +and sat down beside his companions to grin and bear it. As for Joe and +Henri, they were old hands and accustomed to such circumstances. From +the first they had resigned themselves to their fate, and wrapping +their wet blankets round them sat down, side by side, wisely to endure +the evils that they could not cure. + +There is an old rhyme, by whom composed we know not, and it matters +little, which runs thus,-- + + "For every evil under the sun + There is a remedy--or there's none. + If there is--try and find it; + If there isn't--never mind it!" + +There is deep wisdom here in small compass. The principle involved +deserves to be heartily recommended. Dick never heard of the lines, +but he knew the principle well, so he began to "never mind it" by +sitting down beside his companions and whistling vociferously. As the +wind rendered this a difficult feat, he took to singing instead. After +that he said, "Let's eat a bite, Joe, and then go to bed." + +"Be all means," said Joe, who produced a mass of dried deer's meat +from a wallet. + +"It's cold grub," said Dick, "and tough." + +But the hunters' teeth were sharp and strong, so they ate a hearty +supper and washed it down with a drink of rain water collected from a +pool on the top of their hut. They now tried to sleep, for the night +was advancing, and it was so dark that they could scarce see their +hands when held up before their faces. They sat back to back, and +thus, in the form of a tripod, began to snooze. Joe's and Henri's +seasoned frames would have remained stiff as posts till morning; but +Dick's body was young and pliant, so he hadn't been asleep a few +seconds when he fell forward into the mud and effectually awakened the +others. Joe gave a grunt, and Henri exclaimed, "Hah!" but Dick was too +sleepy and miserable to say anything. Crusoe, however, rose up to show +his sympathy, and laid his wet head on his master's knee as he resumed +his place. This catastrophe happened three times in the space of an +hour, and by the third time they were all awakened up so thoroughly +that they gave up the attempt to sleep, and amused each other by +recounting their hunting experiences and telling stories. So engrossed +did they become that day broke sooner than they had expected, and just +in proportion as the gray light of dawn rose higher into the eastern +sky did the spirits of these weary men rise within their soaking +bodies. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + +_The "wallering" peculiarities of buffalo bulls--The first buffalo +hunt and its consequences--Crusoe comes to the rescue--Pawnees +discovered--A monster buffalo hunt--Joe acts the part of ambassador_. + +Fortunately the day that succeeded the dreary night described in the +last chapter was warm and magnificent. The sun rose in a blaze of +splendour, and filled the atmosphere with steam from the moist earth. + +The unfortunates in the wet camp were not slow to avail themselves of +his cheering rays. They hung up everything on the bushes to dry, and +by dint of extreme patience and cutting out the comparatively dry +hearts of several pieces of wood, they lighted a fire and boiled some +rain-water, which was soon converted into soup. This, and the exercise +necessary for the performance of these several duties, warmed and +partially dried them; so that when they once more mounted their steeds +and rode away, they were in a state of comparative comfort and in +excellent spirits. The only annoyance was the clouds of mosquitoes and +large flies that assailed men and horses whenever they checked their +speed. + +"I tell ye wot it is," said Joe Blunt, one fine morning about a week +after they had begun to cross the prairie, "it's my 'pinion that we'll +come on buffaloes soon. Them tracks are fresh, an' yonder's one o' +their wallers that's bin used not long agone." + +"I'll go have a look at it," cried Dick, trotting away as he spoke. + +Everything in these vast prairies was new to Dick Varley, and he was +kept in a constant state of excitement during the first week or two +of his journey. It is true he was quite familiar with the names and +habits of all the animals that dwelt there; for many a time and oft +had he listened to the "yarns" of the hunters and trappers of the +Mustang Valley, when they returned laden with rich furs from their +periodical hunting expeditions. But this knowledge of his only served +to whet his curiosity and his desire to _see_ the denizens of the +prairies with his own eyes; and now that his wish was accomplished, it +greatly increased the pleasures of his journey. + +Dick had just reached the "wallow" referred to by Joe Blunt, and had +reined up his steed to observe it leisurely, when a faint hissing +sound reached his ear. Looking quickly back, he observed his two +companions crouching on the necks of their horses, and slowly +descending into a hollow of the prairie in front of them, as if they +wished to bring the rising ground between them and some object in +advance. Dick instantly followed their example, and was soon at their +heels. + +"Ye needn't look at the waller," whispered Joe, "for a' tother side o' +the ridge there's a bull _wallerin_'." + +"Ye don't mean it!" exclaimed Dick, as they all dismounted and +picketed their horses to the plain. "Oui," said Henri, tumbling off +his horse, while a broad grin overspread his good-natured countenance, +"it is one fact! One buffalo bull be wollerin' like a enormerous hog. +Also, dere be t'ousands o' buffaloes farder on." + +"Can ye trust yer dog keepin' back?" inquired Joe, with a dubious +glance at Crusoe. + +"Trust him! Ay, I wish I was as sure o' myself." + +"Look to yer primin', then, an' we'll have tongues and marrow bones +for supper to-night, I'se warrant. Hist! down on yer knees and go +softly. We might ha' run them down on horseback, but it's bad to wind +yer beasts on a trip like this, if ye can help it; an' it's about as +easy to stalk them. Leastways, we'll try. Lift yer head slowly, Dick, +an' don't show more nor the half o't above the ridge." + +Dick elevated his head as directed, and the scene that met his view +was indeed well calculated to send an electric shock to the heart of +an ardent sportsman. The vast plain beyond was absolutely blackened +with countless herds of buffaloes, which were browsing on the rich +grass. They were still so far distant that their bellowing, and the +trampling of their myriad hoofs, only reached the hunters like a faint +murmur on the breeze. In the immediate foreground, however, there was +a group of about half-a-dozen buffalo cows feeding quietly, and in the +midst of them an enormous old bull was enjoying himself in his wallow. +The animals, towards which our hunters now crept with murderous +intent, are the fiercest and the most ponderous of the ruminating +inhabitants of the western wilderness. The name of _buffalo_, however, +is not correct. The animal is the _bison_, and bears no resemblance +whatever to the buffalo proper; but as the hunters of the far west, +and, indeed, travellers generally, have adopted the misnomer, we bow +to the authority of custom and adopt it too. + +Buffaloes roam in countless thousands all over the North American +prairies, from the Hudson Bay Territories, north of Canada, to the +shores of the Gulf of Mexico. + +The advance of white men to the west has driven them to the prairies +between the Missouri and the Rocky Mountains, and has somewhat +diminished their numbers; but even thus diminished, they are still +innumerable in the more distant plains. Their colour is dark brown, +but it varies a good deal with the seasons. The hair or fur, from its +great length in winter and spring and exposure to the weather, turns +quite light; but when the winter coat is shed off, the new growth is +a beautiful dark brown, almost approaching to jet-black. In form the +buffalo somewhat resembles the ox, but its head and shoulders are much +larger, and are covered with a profusion of long shaggy hair which +adds greatly to the fierce aspect of the animal. It has a large hump +on the shoulder, and its fore-quarters are much larger, in proportion, +than the hind-quarters. The horns are short and thick, the hoofs are +cloven, and the tail is short, with a tuft of hair at the extremity. + +It is scarcely possible to conceive a wilder or more ferocious and +terrible monster than a buffalo bull. He often grows to the enormous +weight of two thousand pounds. His lion-like mane falls in shaggy +confusion quite over his head and shoulders, down to the ground. When +he is wounded he becomes imbued with the spirit of a tiger: he stamps, +bellows, roars, and foams forth his rage with glaring eyes and +steaming nostrils, and charges furiously at man and horse with utter +recklessness. Fortunately, however, he is not naturally pugnacious, +and can be easily thrown into a sudden panic. Moreover, the peculiar +position of his eye renders this creature not so terrible as he would +otherwise be to the hunter. Owing to the stiff structure of the neck, +and the sunken, downward-looking eyeball, the buffalo cannot, without +an effort, see beyond the direct line of vision presented to the +habitual carriage of his head. When, therefore, he is wounded, and +charges, he does so in a straight line, so that his pursuer can +leap easily out of his way. The pace of the buffalo is clumsy, and +_apparently_ slow, yet, when chased, he dashes away over the plains in +blind blundering terror, at a rate that leaves all but good horses +far behind. He cannot keep the pace up, however, and is usually soon +overtaken. Were the buffalo capable of the same alert and agile +motions of head and eye peculiar to the deer or wild horse, in +addition to his "bovine rage," he would be the most formidable brute +on earth. There is no object, perhaps, so terrible as the headlong +advance of a herd of these animals when thoroughly aroused by terror. +They care not for their necks. All danger in front is forgotten, or +not seen, in the terror of that from which they fly. No thundering +cataract is more tremendously irresistible than the black bellowing +torrent which sometimes pours through the narrow defiles of the Rocky +Mountains, or sweeps like a roaring flood over the trembling plains. + +The wallowing, to which we have referred, is a luxury usually indulged +in during the hot months of summer, when the buffaloes are tormented +by flies, and heat, and drought. At this season they seek the low +grounds in the prairies where there is a little stagnant water lying +amongst the grass, and the ground underneath, being saturated, is +soft. The leader of the herd, a shaggy old bull, usually takes upon +himself to prepare the wallow. + +It was a rugged monster of the largest size that did so on the present +occasion, to the intense delight of Dick Varley, who begged Joe to +lie still and watch the operation before trying to shoot one of the +buffalo cows. Joe consented with a nod, and the four spectators--for +Crusoe was as much taken up with the proceedings as any of +them--crouched in the grass, and looked on. + +Coming up to the swampy spot, the old bull gave a grunt of +satisfaction, and going down on one knee, plunged his short thick +horns into the mud, tore it up, and cast it aside. Having repeated +this several times, he plunged his head in, and brought it forth +saturated with dirty water and bedaubed with lumps of mud, through +which his fierce eyes gazed, with a ludicrous expression of +astonishment, straight in the direction of the hunters, as if he meant +to say, "I've done it that time, and no mistake!" The other buffaloes +seemed to think so too, for they came up and looked on with an +expression that seemed to say, "Well done, old fellow; try that +again!" + + +The old fellow did try it again, and again, and again, plunging, and +ramming, and tearing up the earth, until he formed an excavation +large enough to contain his huge body. In this bath he laid himself +comfortably down, and began to roll and wallow about until he mixed up +a trough full of thin soft mud, which completely covered him. When he +came out of the hole there was scarcely an atom of his former self +visible! + +The coat of mud thus put on by bulls is usually permitted by them to +dry, and is not finally got rid of until long after, when oft-repeated +rollings on the grass and washings by rain at length clear it away. + +When the old bull vacated this delectable bath, another bull, scarcely +if at all less ferocious-looking, stepped forward to take his turn; +but he was interrupted by a volley from the hunters, which scattered +the animals right and left, and sent the mighty herds in the distance +flying over the prairie in wild terror. The very turmoil of their own +mad flight added to their panic, and the continuous thunder of their +hoofs was heard until the last of them disappeared on the horizon. The +family party which had been fired at, however, did not escape so well, +Joe's rifle wounded a fat young cow, and Dick Varley brought it down. +Henri had done his best, but as the animals were too far distant for +his limited vision, he missed the cow he fired at, and hit the young +bull whose bath had been interrupted. The others scattered and fled. + +"Well done, Dick," exclaimed Joe Blunt, as they all ran up to the cow +that had fallen. "Your first shot at the buffalo was a good un. Come, +now, an' I'll show ye how to cut it up an' carry off the tit-bits." + +"Ah, mon dear ole bull!" exclaimed Henri, gazing after the animal +which he had wounded, and which was now limping slowly away. "You is +not worth goin' after. Farewell--adieu." + +"He'll be tough enough, I warrant," said Joe; "an' we've more meat +here nor we can lift." + +"But wouldn't it be as well to put the poor brute out o' pain?" +suggested Dick. + +"Oh, he'll die soon enough," replied Joe, tucking up his sleeves and +drawing his long hunting-knife. + +Dick, however, was not satisfied with this way of looking at it. +Saying that he would be back in a few minutes, he reloaded his rifle, +and calling Crusoe to his side, walked quickly after the wounded bull, +which was now hid from view in a hollow of the plain. + +In a few minutes he came in sight of it, and ran forward with his +rifle in readiness. + +"Down, Crusoe," he whispered; "wait for me here." + +Crusoe crouched in the grass instantly, and Dick advanced. As he came +on, the bull observed him, and turned round bellowing with rage and +pain to receive him. The aspect of the brute on a near view was so +terrible that Dick involuntarily stopped too, and gazed with a mingled +feeling of wonder and awe, while it bristled with passion, and +blood-streaked foam dropped from its open jaws, and its eyes glared +furiously. Seeing that Dick did not advance, the bull charged him with +a terrific roar; but the youth had firm nerves, and although the rush +of such a savage creature at full speed was calculated to try the +courage of any man, especially one who had never seen a buffalo bull +before, Dick did not lose presence of mind. He remembered the many +stories he had listened to of this very thing that was now happening; +so, crushing down his excitement as well as he could, he cocked his +rifle and awaited the charge. He knew that it was of no use to fire at +the head of the advancing foe, as the thickness of the skull, together +with the matted hair on the forehead, rendered it impervious to a +bullet. + +When the bull was within a yard of him he leaped lightly to one side +and it passed. Just as it did so, Dick aimed at its heart and fired, +but his knowledge of the creature's anatomy was not yet correct. The +ball entered the shoulder too high, and the bull, checking himself as +well as he could in his headlong rush, turned round and made at Dick +again. + +The failure, coupled with the excitement, proved too much for Dick; he +could not resist discharging his second barrel at the brute's head as +it came on. He might as well have fired at a brick wall. It shook its +shaggy front, and with a hideous bellow thundered forward. Again Dick +sprang to one side, but in doing so a tuft of grass or a stone caught +his foot, and he fell heavily to the ground. + +Up to this point Crusoe's admirable training had nailed him to the +spot where he had been left, although the twitching of every fibre in +his body and a low continuous whine showed how gladly he would have +hailed permission to join in the combat; but the instant he saw his +master down, and the buffalo turning to charge again, he sprang +forward with a roar that would have done credit to his bovine enemy, +and seized him by the nose. So vigorous was the rush that he well-nigh +pulled the bull down on its side. One toss of its head, however, sent +Crusoe high into the air; but it accomplished this feat at the expense +of its nose, which was torn and lacerated by the dog's teeth. + +Scarcely had Crusoe touched the ground, which he did with a sounding +thump, than he sprang up and flew at his adversary again. This time, +however, he adopted the plan of barking furiously and biting by rapid +yet terrible snaps as he found opportunity, thus keeping the bull +entirely engrossed, and affording Dick an opportunity of reloading his +rifle, which he was not slow to do. Dick then stepped close up, and +while the two combatants were roaring in each other's faces, he shot +the buffalo through the heart. It fell to the earth with a deep groan. + +Crusoe's rage instantly vanished on beholding this, and he seemed to +be filled with tumultuous joy at his master's escape, for he gambolled +round him, and whined and fawned upon him in a manner that could not +be misunderstood. + +"Good dog; thank'ee, my pup," said Dick, patting Crusoe's head as he +stooped to brush the dust from his leggings. "I don't know what would +ha' become o' me but for your help, Crusoe." + +Crusoe turned his head a little to one side, wagged his tail, and +looked at Dick with an expression that said quite plainly, "I'd die +for you, I would--not once, or twice, but ten times, fifty times if +need be--and that not merely to save your life, but even to please +you." + +There is no doubt whatever that Crusoe felt something of this sort. +The love of a Newfoundland dog to its master is beyond calculation or +expression. He who once gains such love carries the dog's life in his +hand. But let him who reads note well, and remember that there is only +one coin that can purchase such love, and that is _kindness_. The +coin, too, must be genuine. Kindness merely _expressed_ will not do, +it must be _felt_. + +"Hallo, boy, ye've bin i' the wars!" exclaimed Joe, raising himself +from his task as Dick and Crusoe returned. + +"You look more like it than I do," retorted Dick, laughing. + +This was true, for cutting up a buffalo carcass with no other +instrument than a large knife is no easy matter. Yet western hunters +and Indians can do it without cleaver or saw, in a way that would +surprise a civilized butcher not a little. Joe was covered with blood +up to the elbows. His hair, happening to have a knack of getting into +his eyes, had been so often brushed off with bloody hands, that his +whole visage was speckled with gore, and his dress was by no means +immaculate. + +While Dick related his adventure, or _mis_-adventure, with the bull, +Joe and Henri completed the cutting out of the most delicate portions +of the buffalo--namely, the hump on its shoulder--which is a choice +piece, much finer than the best beef--and the tongue, and a few other +parts. The tongues of buffaloes are superior to those of domestic +cattle. When all was ready the meat was slung across the back of the +pack-horse; and the party, remounting their horses, continued their +journey, having first cleansed themselves as well as they could in the +rather dirty waters of an old wallow. + +"See," said Henri, turning to Dick and pointing to a circular spot of +green as they rode along, "that is one old _dry_ waller." + +"Ay," remarked Joe; "after the waller dries, it becomes a ring o' +greener grass than the rest o' the plain, as ye see. Tis said the +first hunters used to wonder greatly at these myster'ous circles, and +they invented all sorts o' stories to account for 'em. Some said they +wos fairy-rings, but at last they comed to know they wos nothin' more +nor less than places where buffaloes wos used to waller in. It's often +seemed to me that if we knowed the _raisons_ o' things, we wouldn't be +so much puzzled wi' them as we are." + +The truth of this last remark was so self-evident and incontrovertible +that it elicited no reply, and the three friends rode on for a +considerable time in silence. + +It was now past noon, and they were thinking of calling a halt for a +short rest to the horses and a pipe to themselves, when Joe was heard +to give vent to one of those peculiar hisses that always accompanied +either a surprise or a caution. In the present case it indicated both. + +"What now, Joe?" + +"Injuns!" ejaculated Joe. + +"Eh! fat you say? Ou is dey?" + +Crusoe at this moment uttered a low growl. Ever since the day he +had been partially roasted he had maintained a rooted antipathy to +Red-men. Joe immediately dismounted, and placing his ear to the ground +listened intently. It is a curious fact that by placing the ear close +to the ground sounds can be heard distinctly which could not be heard +at all if the listener were to maintain an erect position. + +"They're arter the buffalo," said Joe, rising, "an' I think it's +likely they're a band o' Pawnees. Listen an' ye'll hear their shouts +quite plain." + +Dick and Henri immediately lay down and placed their ears to the +ground. + +"Now, me hear noting," said Henri, jumping up, "but me ear is like me +eyes--ver' short-sighted." + +"I do hear something," said Dick as he got up, "but the beating o' my +own heart makes row enough to spoil my hearin'." + +Joe Blunt smiled. "Ah! lad, ye're young, an' yer blood's too hot yet; +but bide a bit--you'll cool down soon. I wos like you once. Now, lads, +what think ye we should do?" + +"You know best, Joe." + +"Oui, nodoubtedly.' + +"Then wot I advise is that we gallop to the broken sand hillocks ye +see yonder, get behind them, an' take a peep at the Redskins. If they +are Pawnees, we'll go up to them at once; if not, we'll hold a council +o' war on the spot." + +Having arranged this, they mounted and hastened towards the hillocks +in question, which they reached after ten minutes' gallop at full +stretch. The sandy mounds afforded them concealment, and enabled them +to watch the proceedings of the savages in the plain below. The scene +was the most curious and exciting that can be conceived. The centre of +the plain before them was crowded with hundreds of buffaloes, which +were dashing about in the most frantic state of alarm. To whatever +point they galloped they were met by yelling savages on horseback, who +could not have been fewer in numbers than a thousand, all being armed +with lance, bow, and quiver, and mounted on active little horses. The +Indians had completely surrounded the herd of buffaloes, and were now +advancing steadily towards them, gradually narrowing the circle, and +whenever the terrified animals endeavoured to break through the line, +they rushed to that particular spot in a body, and scared them back +again into the centre. + +Thus they advanced until they closed in on their prey and formed an +unbroken circle round them, whilst the poor brutes kept eddying and +surging to and fro in a confused mass, hooking and climbing upon each +other, and bellowing furiously. Suddenly the horsemen made a rush, and +the work of destruction began. The tremendous turmoil raised a cloud +of dust that obscured the field in some places, and hid it from our +hunters' view. Some of the Indians galloped round and round the +circle, sending their arrows whizzing up to the feathers in the sides +of the fattest cows. Others dashed fearlessly into the midst of the +black heaving mass, and, with their long lances, pierced dozens of +them to the heart. In many instances the buffaloes, infuriated by +wounds, turned fiercely on their assailants and gored the horses to +death, in which cases the men had to trust to their nimble legs for +safety. Sometimes a horse got jammed in the centre of the swaying +mass, and could neither advance nor retreat. Then the savage rider +leaped upon the buffaloes' backs, and springing from one to another, +like an acrobat, gained the outer edge of the circle; not failing, +however, in his strange flight, to pierce with his lance several of +the fattest of his stepping-stones as he sped along. + +A few of the herd succeeded in escaping from the blood and dust of +this desperate battle, and made off over the plains; but they were +quickly overtaken, and the lance or the arrow brought them down on the +green turf. Many of the dismounted riders were chased by bulls; but +they stepped lightly to one side, and, as the animals passed, drove +their arrows deep into their sides. Thus the tumultuous war went on, +amid thundering tread, and yell, and bellow, till the green plain was +transformed into a sea of blood and mire, and every buffalo of the +herd was laid low. + +It is not to be supposed that such reckless warfare is invariably +waged without damage to the savages. Many were the wounds and bruises +received that day, and not a few bones were broken, but happily no +lives were lost. + +"Now, lads, now's our time. A bold and fearless look's the best at all +times. Don't look as if ye doubted their friendship; and mind, wotever +ye do, don't use yer arms. Follow me." + +Saying this, Joe Blunt leaped on his horse, and, bounding over the +ridge at full speed, galloped headlong across the plain. + +The savages observed the strangers instantly, and a loud yell +announced the fact as they assembled from all parts of the field +brandishing their bows and spears. Joe's quick eye soon distinguished +their chief, towards whom he galloped, still at full speed, till +within a yard or two of his horse's head; then he reined up suddenly. +So rapidly did Joe and his comrades approach, and so instantaneously +did they pull up, that their steeds were thrown almost on their +haunches. + +The Indian chief did not move a muscle. He was a tall, powerful +savage, almost naked, and mounted on a coal-black charger, which he +sat with the ease of a man accustomed to ride from infancy. He was, +indeed, a splendid-looking savage, but his face wore a dark frown, +for, although he and his band had visited the settlements and +trafficked with the fur-traders on the Missouri, he did not love the +"Pale-faces," whom he regarded as intruders on the hunting-grounds of +his fathers, and the peace that existed between them at that time was +of a very fragile character. Indeed, it was deemed by the traders +impossible to travel through the Indian country at that period except +in strong force, and it was the very boldness of the present attempt +that secured to our hunters anything like a civil reception. + +Joe, who could speak the Pawnee tongue fluently, began by explaining +the object of his visit, and spoke of the presents which he had +brought for the great chief; but it was evident that his words made +little impression. As he discoursed to them the savages crowded round +the little party, and began to handle and examine their dresses +and weapons with a degree of rudeness that caused Joe considerable +anxiety. + +"Mahtawa believes that the heart of the Pale-face is true," said the +savage, when Joe paused, "but he does not choose to make peace. The +Pale-faces are grasping. They never rest. They turn their eyes to the +great mountains and say, 'There we will stop.' But even there they +will not stop. They are never satisfied; Mahtawa knows them well." + +This speech sank like a death-knell into the hearts of the hunters, +for they knew that if the savages refused to make peace, they would +scalp them all and appropriate their goods. To make things worse, a +dark-visaged Indian suddenly caught hold of Henri's rifle, and, ere +he was aware, had plucked it from his hand. The blood rushed to the +gigantic hunter's forehead, and he was on the point of springing at +the man, when Joe said in a deep quiet voice,-- + +"Be still, Henri. You will but hasten death." + +At this moment there was a movement in the outskirts of the circle +of horsemen, and another chief rode into the midst of them. He was +evidently higher in rank than Mahtawa, for he spoke authoritatively to +the crowd, and stepped in before him. The hunters drew little comfort +from the appearance of his face, however, for it scowled upon them. +He was not so powerful a man as Mahtawa, but he was more gracefully +formed, and had a more noble and commanding countenance. + +"Have the Pale-faces no wigwams on the great river that they should +come to spy out the lands of the Pawnee?" he demanded. + +"We have not come to spy your country," answered Joe, raising himself +proudly as he spoke, and taking off his cap. "We have come with a +message from the great chief of the Pale-faces, who lives in the +village far beyond the great river where the sun rises. He says, Why +should the Pale-face and the Red-man fight? They are brothers. The +same Manitou[*] watches over both. The Pale-faces have more beads, and +guns, and blankets, and knives, and vermilion than they require; they +wish to give some of these things for the skins and furs which +the Red-man does not know what to do with. The great chief of the +Pale-faces has sent me to say, Why should we fight? let us smoke the +pipe of peace." + +[Footnote *: The Indian name for God.] + +At the mention of beads and blankets the face of the wily chief +brightened for a moment. Then he said sternly,-- + +"The heart of the Pale-face is not true. He has come here to trade for +himself. San-it-sa-rish has eyes that can see; they are not shut. +Are not these your goods?" The chief pointed to the pack-horse as he +spoke. + +"Trappers do not take their goods into the heart of an enemy's camp," +returned Joe. "San-it-sa-rish is wise, and will understand this. These +are gifts to the chief of the Pawnees. There are more awaiting him +when the pipe of peace is smoked. I have said. What message shall we +take back to the great chief of the Pale-faces?" + +San-it-sa-rish was evidently mollified. + +"The hunting-field is not the council tent," he said. "The Pale-faces +will go with us to our village." + +Of course Joe was too glad to agree to this proposal, but he now +deemed it politic to display a little firmness. + +"We cannot go till our rifle is restored. It will not do to go back +and tell the great chief of the Pale-faces that the Pawnees are +thieves." + +The chief frowned angrily. + +"The Pawnees are true; they are not thieves. They choose to _look_ at +the rifle of the Pale-face. It shall be returned." + +The rifle was instantly restored, and then our hunters rode off with +the Indians towards their camp. On the way they met hundreds of women +and children going to the scene of the great hunt, for it was their +special duty to cut up the meat and carry it into camp. The men, +considering that they had done quite enough in killing it, returned to +smoke and eat away the fatigues of the chase. + +As they rode along, Dick Varley observed that some of the "braves," as +Indian warriors are styled, were eating pieces of the bloody livers +of the buffaloes in a raw state, at which he expressed not a little +disgust. + +"Ah, boy! you're green yet," remarked Joe Blunt in an undertone. +"Mayhap ye'll be thankful to do that same yerself some day." + +"Well, I'll not refuse to try when it is needful," said Dick with a +laugh; "meanwhile I'm content to see the Redskins do it, Joe Blunt." + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + +_Dick and his friends visit the Indians and see many wonders--Crusoe, +too, experiences a few surprises, and teaches Indian dogs a lesson--An +Indian dandy--A foot-race._ + +The Pawnee village, at which they soon arrived, was situated in the +midst of a most interesting and picturesque scene. + +It occupied an extensive plain which sloped gently down to a creek[*], +whose winding course was marked by a broken line of wood, here and +there interspersed with a fine clump of trees, between the trunks of +which the blue waters of a lake sparkled in the distance. Hundreds of +tents or "lodges" of buffalo-skins covered the ground, and thousands +of Indians--men, women, and children--moved about the busy scene. Some +were sitting in their lodges, lazily smoking their pipes. But these +were chiefly old and infirm veterans, for all the young men had gone +to the hunt which we have just described. The women were stooping over +their fires, busily preparing maize and meat for their husbands and +brothers; while myriads of little brown and naked children romped +about everywhere, filling the air with their yells and screams, which +were only equalled, if not surpassed, by the yelping dogs that seemed +innumerable. + +[Footnote *: In America small rivers or rivulets are termed "creeks."] + +Far as the eye could reach were seen scattered herds of horses. These +were tended by little boys who were totally destitute of clothing, +and who seemed to enjoy with infinite zest the pastime of +shooting-practice with little bows and arrows. No wonder that these +Indians become expert bowmen. There were urchins there, scarce two +feet high, with round bullets of bodies and short spindle-shanks, who +could knock blackbirds off the trees at every shot, and cut the heads +off the taller flowers with perfect certainty! There was much need, +too, for the utmost proficiency they could attain, for the very +existence of the Indian tribes of the prairies depends on their +success in hunting the buffalo. + +There are hundreds and thousands of North American savages who would +undoubtedly perish, and their tribes become extinct, if the buffaloes +were to leave the prairies or die out. Yet, although animals are +absolutely essential to their existence, they pursue and slay them +with improvident recklessness, sometimes killing hundreds of them +merely for the sake of the sport, the tongues, and the marrow bones. +In the bloody hunt described in the last chapter, however, the +slaughter of so many was not wanton, because the village that had to +be supplied with food was large, and, just previous to the hunt, they +had been living on somewhat reduced allowance. Even the blackbirds +shot by the brown-bodied urchins before mentioned had been thankfully +put into the pot. Thus precarious is the supply of food among the +Red-men, who on one day are starving, and the next are revelling in +superabundance. + +But to return to our story. At one end of this village the creek +sprang over a ledge of rock in a low cascade and opened out into a +beautiful lake, the bosom of which was studded with small islands. +Here were thousands of those smaller species of wild water-fowl which +were either too brave or too foolish to be scared away by the noise +of the camp. And here, too, dozens of children were sporting on the +beach, or paddling about in their light bark canoes. + +"Isn't it strange," remarked Dick to Henri, as they passed among the +tents towards the centre of the village--"isn't it strange that them +Injuns should be so fond o' fightin', when they've got all they can +want--a fine country, lots o' buffalo, an', as far as I can see, happy +homes?" + +"Oui, it is remarkaibel, vraiment. Bot dey do more love war to peace. +Dey loves to be excit-ed, I s'pose." + +"Humph! One would think the hunt we seed a little agone would be +excitement enough. But, I say, that must he the chiefs tent, by the +look o't." + +Dick was right. The horsemen pulled up and dismounted opposite the +principal chief's tent, which was a larger and more elegant structure +than the others. Meanwhile an immense concourse of women, children, +and dogs gathered round the strangers, and while the latter yelped +their dislike to white men, the former chattered continuously, as they +discussed the appearance of the strangers and their errand, which +latter soon became known. An end was put to this by San-it-sa-rish +desiring the hunters to enter the tent, and spreading a buffalo robe +for them to sit on. Two braves carried in their packs, and then led +away their horses. + +All this time Crusoe had kept as close as possible to his master's +side, feeling extremely uncomfortable in the midst of such a strange +crowd, the more especially that the ill-looking Indian curs gave him +expressive looks of hatred, and exhibited some desire to rush upon him +in a body, so that he had to keep a sharp look-out all round him. When +therefore Dick entered the tent, Crusoe endeavoured to do so along +with him; but he was met by a blow on the nose from an old squaw, who +scolded him in a shrill voice and bade him begone. + +Either our hero's knowledge of the Indian language was insufficient to +enable him to understand the order, or he had resolved not to obey it, +for instead of retreating, he drew a deep gurgling breath, curled his +nose, and displayed a row of teeth that caused the old woman to draw +back in alarm. Crusoe's was a forgiving spirit. The instant that +opposition ceased he forgot the injury, and was meekly advancing, when +Dick held up his finger. + +"Go outside, pup, and wait." + +Crusoe's tail drooped; with a deep sigh he turned and left the tent. +He took up a position near the entrance, however, and sat down +resignedly. So meek, indeed, did the poor dog look that six +mangy-looking curs felt their dastardly hearts emboldened to make a +rush at him with boisterous yells. + +Crusoe did not rise. He did not even condescend to turn his head +toward them; but he looked at them out of the corner of his dark eye, +wrinkled--very slightly--the skin of his nose, exhibited two beautiful +fangs, and gave utterance to a soft remark, that might be described +as quiet, deep-toned gurgling. It wasn't much, but it was more than +enough for the valiant six, who paused and snarled violently. + +It was a peculiar trait of Crusoe's gentle nature that, the moment any +danger ceased, he resumed his expression of nonchalant gravity. The +expression on this occasion was misunderstood, however; and as about +two dozen additional yelping dogs had joined the ranks of the enemy, +they advanced in close order to the attack. + +Crusoe still sat quiet, and kept his head high; but he _looked_ at +them again, and exhibited four fangs for their inspection. Among the +pack there was one Indian dog of large size--almost as large as Crusoe +himself--which kept well in the rear, and apparently urged the lesser +dogs on. The little dogs didn't object, for little dogs are generally +the most pugnacious. At this big dog Crusoe directed a pointed glance, +but said nothing. Meanwhile a particularly small and vicious cur, with +a mere rag of a tail, crept round by the back of the tent, and coming +upon Crusoe in rear, snapped at his tail sharply, and then fled +shrieking with terror and surprise, no doubt, at its own temerity. + +Crusoe did not bark; he seldom barked; he usually either said nothing, +or gave utterance to a prolonged roar of indignation of the most +terrible character, with barks, as it were, mingled through it. It +somewhat resembled that peculiar and well-known species of thunder, +the prolonged roll of which is marked at short intervals in its +course by cannon-like cracks. It was a continuous, but, so to speak, +_knotted_ roar. + +On receiving the snap, Crusoe gave forth _the_ roar with a majesty and +power that scattered the pugnacious front rank of the enemy to the +winds. Those that still remained, half stupified, he leaped over with +a huge bound, and alighted, fangs first, on the back of the big +dog. There was one hideous yell, a muffled scramble of an instant's +duration, and the big dog lay dead upon the plain! + +It was an awful thing to do, but Crusoe evidently felt that the +peculiar circumstances of the case required that an example should be +made; and to say truth, all things considered, we cannot blame him. +The news must have been carried at once through the canine portion of +the camp, for Crusoe was never interfered with again after that. + +Dick witnessed this little incident; but he observed that the Indian +chief cared not a straw about it, and as his dog returned quietly +and sat down in its old place he took no notice of it either, but +continued to listen to the explanations which Joe gave to the chief, +of the desire of the Pale-faces to be friends with the Red-men. + +Joe's eloquence would have done little for him on this occasion had +his hands been empty, but he followed it up by opening one of his +packs and displaying the glittering contents before the equally +glittering eyes of the chief and his squaws. + +"These," said Joe, "are the gifts that the great chief of the +Pale-faces sends to the great chief of the Pawnees. And he bids me say +that there are many more things in his stores which will be traded for +skins with the Red-men, when they visit him; and he also says that if +the Pawnees will not steal horses any more from the Pale-faces, they +shall receive gifts of knives, and guns, and powder, and blankets +every year." + +"Wah!" grunted the chief; "it is good. The great chief is wise. We +will smoke the pipe of peace." + +The things that afforded so much satisfaction to San-it-sa-rish were +the veriest trifles. Penny looking-glasses in yellow gilt tin frames, +beads of various colours, needles, cheap scissors and knives, +vermilion paint, and coarse scarlet cloth, etc. They were of priceless +value, however, in the estimation of the savages, who delighted to +adorn themselves with leggings made from the cloth, beautifully worked +with beads by their own ingenious women. They were thankful, too, for +knives even of the commonest description, having none but bone ones of +their own; and they gloried in daubing their faces with intermingled +streaks of charcoal and vermilion. To gaze at their visages, when +thus treated, in the little penny looking-glasses is their summit of +delight! + +Joe presented the chief with a portion of these coveted goods, and +tied up the remainder. We may remark here that the only thing which +prevented the savages from taking possession of the whole at once, +without asking permission, was the promise of the annual gifts, +which they knew would not be forthcoming were any evil to befall +the deputies of the Pale-faces. Nevertheless, it cost them a severe +struggle to restrain their hands on this occasion, and Joe and his +companions felt that they would have to play their part well in order +to fulfil their mission with safety and credit. + +"The Pale-faces may go now and talk with the braves," said +San-it-sa-rish, after carefully examining everything that was given +to him; "a council will be called soon, and we will smoke the pipe of +peace." + +Accepting this permission to retire, the hunters immediately left the +tent; and being now at liberty to do what they pleased, they amused +themselves by wandering about the village. + +"He's a cute chap that," remarked Joe, with a sarcastic smile; "I +don't feel quite easy about gettin' away. He'll bother the life out o' +us to get all the goods we've got, and, ye see, as we've other tribes +to visit, we must give away as little as we can here." + +"Ha! you is right," said Henri; "dat fellow's eyes twinkle at de +knives and tings like two stars." + +"Fire-flies, ye should say. Stars are too soft an' beautiful to +compare to the eyes o' yon savage," said Dick, laughing. "I wish we +were well away from them. That rascal Mahtawa is an ugly customer." + +"True, lad," returned Joe; "had _he_ bin the great chief our scalps +had bin dryin' in the smoke o' a Pawnee wigwam afore now. What now, +lad?" + +Joe's question was put in consequence of a gleeful smile that +overspread the countenance of Dick Varley, who replied by pointing to +a wigwam towards which they were approaching. + +"Oh! that's only a dandy," exclaimed Joe. "There's lots o' them in +every Injun camp. They're fit for nothin' but dress, poor contemptible +critters." + +Joe accompanied his remark with a sneer, for of all pitiable objects +he regarded an unmanly man as the most despicable. He consented, +however, to sit down on a grassy bank and watch the proceedings of +this Indian dandy, who had just seated himself in front of his wigwam +for the purpose of making his toilet. + +He began it by greasing his whole person carefully and smoothly over +with buffalo fat, until he shone like a patent leather boot; then he +rubbed himself almost dry, leaving the skin sleek and glossy. Having +proceeded thus far, he took up a small mirror, a few inches in +diameter, which he or some other member of the tribe must have +procured during one of their few excursions to the trading-forts of +the Pale-faces, and examined himself, as well as he could, in so +limited a space. Next, he took a little vermilion from a small parcel +and rubbed it over his face until it presented the somewhat demoniac +appearance of a fiery red. He also drew a broad red score along the +crown of his head, which was closely shaved, with the exception of the +usual tuft or scalplock on the top. This scalplock stood bristling +straight up a few inches, and then curved over and hung down his back +about two feet. Immense care and attention was bestowed on this lock. +He smoothed it, greased it, and plaited it into the form of a pigtail. +Another application was here made to the glass, and the result was +evidently satisfactory, to judge from the beaming smile that played on +his features. But, not content with the general effect, he tried the +effect of expression--frowned portentously, scowled savagely, gaped +hideously, and grinned horribly a ghastly smile. + +Then our dandy fitted into his ears, which were bored in several +places, sundry ornaments, such as rings, wampum, etc., and hung +several strings of beads round his neck. Besides these he affixed one +or two ornaments to his arms, wrists, and ankles, and touched in a few +effects with vermilion on the shoulders and breast. After this, and +a few more glances at the glass, he put on a pair of beautiful +moccasins, which, besides being richly wrought with beads, were soft +as chamois leather and fitted his feet like gloves. A pair of leggings +of scarlet cloth were drawn on, attached to a waist-belt, and bound +below the knee with broad garters of variegated bead-work. + +It was some time before this Adonis was quite satisfied with himself. +He retouched the paint on his shoulders several times, and modified +the glare of that on his wide-mouthed, high-cheek-boned visage, before +he could tear himself away; but at last he did so, and throwing +a large piece of scarlet cloth over his shoulders, he thrust his +looking-glass under his belt, and proceeded to mount his palfrey, +which was held in readiness near to the tent door by one of his wives. +The horse was really a fine animal, and seemed worthy of a more +warlike master. His shoulders, too, were striped with red paint, and +feathers were intertwined with his mane and tail, while the bridle was +decorated with various jingling ornaments. + +Vaulting upon his steed, with a large fan of wild goose and turkey +feathers in one hand, and a whip dangling at the wrist of the other, +this incomparable dandy sallied forth for a promenade--that being his +chief delight when there was no buffalo hunting to be done. Other men +who were not dandies sharpened their knives, smoked, feasted, and +mended their spears and arrows at such seasons of leisure, or played +at athletic games. "Let's follow my buck," said Joe Blunt. + +"Oui. Come 'long," replied Henri, striding after the rider at a pace +that almost compelled his comrades to run. + +"Hold on!" cried Dick, laughing; "we don't want to keep him company. A +distant view is quite enough o' sich a chap as that." + +"Mais you forgit I cannot see far." + +"So much the better," remarked Joe; "it's my opinion we've seen enough +o' him. Ah! he's goin' to look on at the games. Them's worth lookin' +at." + +The games to which Joe referred were taking place on a green level +plain close to the creek, and a little above the waterfall before +referred to. Some of the Indians were horse-racing, some jumping, +and others wrestling; but the game which proved most attractive was +throwing the javelin, in which several of the young braves were +engaged. + +This game is played by two competitors, each armed with a dart, in an +arena about fifty yards long. One of the players has a hoop of six +inches in diameter. At a signal they start off on foot at full speed, +and on reaching the middle of the arena the Indian with the hoop rolls +it along before them, and each does his best to send a javelin through +the hoop before the other. He who succeeds counts so many points; if +both miss, the nearest to the hoop is allowed to count, but not so +much as if he had "ringed" it. The Indians are very fond of this game, +and will play at it under a broiling sun for hours together. But a +good deal of the interest attaching to it is owing to the fact that +they make it a means of gambling. Indians are inveterate gamblers, and +will sometimes go on until they lose horses, bows, blankets, robes, +and, in short, their whole personal property. The consequences are, as +might be expected, that fierce and bloody quarrels sometimes arise in +which life is often lost. + +"Try your hand at that," said Henri to Dick. + +"By all means," cried Dick, handing his rifle to his friend, and +springing into the ring enthusiastically. + +A general shout of applause greeted the Pale-face, who threw off' his +coat and tightened his belt, while, a young Indian presented him with +a dart. + +"Now, see that ye do us credit, lad," said Joe. + +"I'll try," answered Dick. + +In a moment they were off. The young Indian rolled away the hoop, +and Dick threw his dart with such vigour that it went deep into the +ground, but missed the hoop by a foot at least. The young Indian's +first dart went through the centre. + +"Ha!" exclaimed Joe Blunt to the Indians near him, "the lad's not used +to that game; try him at a race. Bring out your best brave--he whose +bound is like the hunted deer." + +We need scarcely remind the reader that Joe spoke in the Indian +language, and that the above is a correct rendering of the sense of +what he said. + +The name of Tarwicadia, or the little chief, immediately passed from +lip to lip, and in a few minutes an Indian, a little below the medium +size, bounded into the arena with an indiarubber-like elasticity that +caused a shade of anxiety to pass over Joe's face. + +"Ah, boy!" he whispered, "I'm afeard you'll find him a tough +customer." + +"That's just what I want," replied Dick. "He's supple enough, but he +wants muscle in the thigh. We'll make it a long heat." + +"Right, lad, ye're right." + +Joe now proceeded to arrange the conditions of the race with the +chiefs around him. It was fixed that the distance to be run should +be a mile, so that the race would be one of two miles, out and back. +Moreover, the competitors were to run without any clothes, except a +belt and a small piece of cloth round the loins. This to the Indians +was nothing, for they seldom wore more in warm weather; but Dick would +have preferred to keep on part of his dress. The laws of the course, +however, would not permit of this, so he stripped and stood forth, the +_beau-ideal_ of a well-formed, agile man. He was greatly superior in +size to his antagonist, and more muscular, the savage being slender +and extremely lithe and springy. + +"Ha! I will run too," shouted Henri, bouncing forward with clumsy +energy, and throwing off his coat just as they were going to start. + +The savages smiled at this unexpected burst, and made no objection, +considering the thing in the light of a joke. + +The signal was given, and away they went. Oh! it would have done you +good to have seen the way in which Henri manoeuvred his limbs on this +celebrated occasion! He went over the ground with huge elephantine +bounds, runs, and jumps. He could not have been said to have one style +of running; he had a dozen styles, all of which came into play in the +course of half as many minutes. The other two ran like the wind; yet +although Henri _appeared_ to be going heavily over the ground, he kept +up with them to the turning-point. As for Dick, it became evident in +the first few minutes that he could outstrip his antagonist with ease, +and was hanging back a little all the time. He shot ahead like an +arrow when they came about half-way back, and it was clear that the +real interest of the race was to lie in the competition between Henri +and Tarwicadia. + +Before they were two-thirds of the way back, Dick walked in to the +winning-point, and turned to watch the others. Henri's wind was about +gone, for he exerted himself with such violence that he wasted half +his strength. The Indian, on the contrary, was comparatively fresh, +but he was not so fleet as his antagonist, whose tremendous strides +carried him over the ground at an incredible pace. On they came neck +and neck, till close on the score that marked the winning-point. Here +the value of enthusiasm came out strongly in the case of Henri. He +_felt_ that he could not gain an inch on Tarwicadia to save his life, +but just as he came up he observed the anxious faces of his comrades +and the half-sneering countenances of the savages. His heart thumped +against his ribs, every muscle thrilled with a gush of conflicting +feelings, and he _hurled_ himself over the score like a cannon shot, +full six inches ahead of the little chief! + +But the thing did not by any means end here. Tarwicadia pulled up the +instant he had passed. Not so our Canadian. Such a clumsy and colossal +frame was not to be checked in a moment. The crowd of Indians opened +up to let him pass, but unfortunately a small tent that stood in the +way was not so obliging. Into it he went, head foremost, like a shell, +carried away the corner post with his shoulder, and brought the whole +affair down about his own ears and those of its inmates, among whom +were several children and two or three dogs. It required some time to +extricate them all from the ruins, but when this was effected it was +found that no serious damage had been done to life or limb. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + +_Crusoe acts a conspicuous and humane part_--_A friend gained_--_A +great feast_. + +When the foot-race was concluded the three hunters hung about looking +on at the various games for some time, and then strolled towards the +lake. + +"Ye may be thankful yer neck's whole," said Joe, grinning, as Henri +rubbed his shoulder with a rueful look. "An' we'll have to send that +Injun and his family a knife and some beads to make up for the fright +they got." + +"Ha! an' fat is to be give to me for my broke shoulder?" + +"Credit, man, credit," said Dick Varley, laughing. + +"Credit! fat is dat?" + +"Honour and glory, lad, and the praises of them savages." + +"Ha! de praise? more probeebale de ill-vill of de rascale. I seed dem +scowl at me not ver' pritty." + +"That's true, Henri; but sich as it is it's all ye'll git." + +"I vish," remarked Henri after a pause--"I vish I could git de vampum +belt de leetle chief had on. It vas superb. Fat place do vampums come +from?" + +"They're shells--" + +"Oui," interrupted Henri; "I know _fat_ dey is. Dey is shells, and de +Injuns tink dem goot monish, mais I ask you _fat place_ de come from." + +"They are thought to be gathered on the shores o' the Pacific," said +Joe. "The Injuns on the west o' the Rocky Mountains picks them up and +exchanges them wi' the fellows hereaway for horses and skins--so I'm +told." + +At this moment there was a wild cry of terror heard a short distance +ahead of them. Rushing forward they observed an Indian woman flying +frantically down the river's bank towards the waterfall, a hundred +yards above which an object was seen struggling in the water. + +"'Tis her child," cried Joe, as the mother's frantic cry reached his +ear. "It'll be over the fall in a minute! Run, Dick, you're quickest." + +They had all started forward at speed, but Dick and Crusoe were far +ahead, and abreast of the spot in a few seconds. + +"Save it, pup," cried Dick, pointing to the child, which had been +caught in an eddy, and was for a few moments hovering on the edge of +the stream that rushed impetuously towards the fall. + +The noble Newfoundland did not require to be told what to do. It seems +a natural instinct in this sagacious species of dog to save man or +beast that chances to be struggling in the water, and many are the +authentic stories related of Newfoundland dogs saving life in cases +of shipwreck. Indeed, they are regularly trained to the work in some +countries; and nobly, fearlessly, disinterestedly do they discharge +their trust, often in the midst of appalling dangers. Crusoe sprang +from the bank with such impetus that his broad chest ploughed up +the water like the bow of a boat, and the energetic workings of his +muscles were indicated by the force of each successive propulsion as +he shot ahead. + +In a few seconds he reached the child and caught it by the hair. Then +he turned to swim back, but the stream had got hold of him. Bravely he +struggled, and lifted the child breast-high out of the water in his +powerful efforts to stem the current. In vain. Each moment he was +carried inch by inch down until he was on the brink of the fall, +which, though not high, was a large body of water and fell with a +heavy roar. He raised himself high out of the stream with the vigour +of his last struggle, and then fell back into the abyss. + +By this time the poor mother was in a canoe as close to the fall as +she could with safety approach, and the little bark danced like a +cockle-shell on the turmoil of waters as she stood with uplifted +paddle and staring eyeballs awaiting the rising of the child. + +Crusoe came up almost instantly, but _alone_, for the dash over the +fall had wrenched the child from his teeth. He raised himself high up, +and looked anxiously round for a moment. Then he caught sight of a +little hand raised above the boiling flood. In one moment he had the +child again by the hair, and just as the prow of the Indian woman's +canoe touched the shore he brought the child to land. + +Springing towards him, the mother snatched her child from the flood, +and gazed at its death-like face with eyeballs starting from their +sockets. Then she laid her cheek on its cold breast, and stood like a +statue of despair. There was one slight pulsation of the heart and +a gentle motion of the hand! The child still lived. Opening up her +blanket she laid her little one against her naked, warm bosom, drew +the covering close around it, and sitting down on the bank wept aloud +for joy. + +"Come--come 'way quick," cried Henri, hurrying off to hide the emotion +which he could not crush down. + +"Ay, she don't need our help now," said Joe, following his comrade. + +As for Crusoe, he walked along by his master's side with his usual +quiet, serene look of good-will towards all mankind. Doubtless a +feeling of gladness at having saved a human life filled his shaggy +breast, for he wagged his tail gently after each shake of his dripping +sides; but his meek eyes were downcast, save when raised to receive +the welcome and unusually fervent caress. Crusoe did not know that +those three men loved him as though he had been a brother. + +On their way back to the village the hunters were met by a little boy, +who said that a council was to be held immediately, and their presence +was requested. + +The council was held in the tent of the principal chief, towards which +all the other chiefs and many of the noted braves hurried. Like all +Indian councils, it was preceded by smoking the "medicine pipe," +and was followed by speeches from several of the best orators. The +substance of the discourse differed little from what has been already +related in reference to the treaty between the Pale-faces, and upon +the whole it was satisfactory. But Joe Blunt could not fail to notice +that Mahtawa maintained sullen silence during the whole course of the +meeting. + +He observed also that there was a considerable change in the tone +of the meeting when he informed them that he was bound on a similar +errand of peace to several of the other tribes, especially to one or +two tribes which were the Pawnees' bitter enemies at that time. These +grasping savages having quite made up their minds that they were +to obtain the entire contents of the two bales of goods, were much +mortified on hearing that part was to go to other Indian tribes. Some +of them even hinted that this would not be allowed, and Joe feared at +one time that things were going to take an unfavourable turn. The hair +of his scalp, as he afterwards said, "began to lift a little and feel +oneasy." But San-it-sa-rish stood honestly to his word, said that it +would be well that the Pale-faces and the Pawnees should be brothers, +and hoped that they would not forget the promise of annual presents +from the hand of the great chief who lived in the big village near the +rising sun. + +Having settled this matter amicably, Joe distributed among the Indians +the proportion of his goods designed for them; and then they all +adjourned to another tent, where a great feast was prepared for them. + +"Are ye hungry?" inquired Joe of Dick as they walked along. + +"Ay, that am I. I feel as if I could eat a buffalo alive. Why, it's my +'pinion we've tasted nothin' since daybreak-this mornin'." + +"Well, I've often told ye that them Redskins think it a disgrace to +give in eatin' till all that's set before them at a feast is bolted. +We'll ha' to stretch oursel's, we will." + +"I'se got a plenty room," remarked Henri. + +"Ye have, but ye'll wish ye had more in a little." + +"Bien, I not care!" + +In quarter of an hour all the guests invited to this great "medicine +feast" were assembled. No women were admitted. They never are at +Indian feasts. + +We may remark in passing that the word "medicine," as used among the +North American Indians, has a very much wider signification than it +has with us. It is an almost inexplicable word. When asked, they +cannot give a full or satisfactory explanation of it themselves. In +the general, we may say that whatever is mysterious is "medicine." +Jugglery and conjuring, of a noisy, mysterious, and, we must add, +rather silly nature, is "medicine," and the juggler is a "medicine +man." These medicine men undertake cures; but they are regular +charlatans, and know nothing whatever of the diseases they pretend +to cure or their remedies. They carry bags containing sundry relics; +these are "medicine bags." Every brave has his own private medicine +bag. Everything that is incomprehensible, or supposed to be +supernatural, religious, or medical, is "medicine." This feast, being +an unusual one, in honour of strangers, and in connection with a +peculiar and unexpected event, was "medicine." Even Crusoe, since his +gallant conduct in saving the Indian child, was "medicine;" and Dick +Varley's double-barrelled rifle, which had been an object of wonder +ever since his arrival at the village, was tremendous "medicine!" + +Of course the Indians were arrayed in their best. Several wore +necklaces of the claws of the grizzly bear, of which they are +extremely proud; and a gaudily picturesque group they were. The chief, +however, had undergone a transformation that well-nigh upset the +gravity of our hunters, and rendered Dick's efforts to look solemn +quite abortive. San-it-sa-rish had once been to the trading-forts of +the Pale-faces, and while there had received the customary gift of +a blue surtout with brass buttons, and an ordinary hat, such as +gentlemen wear at home. As the coat was a good deal too small for him, +a terrible length of dark, bony wrist appeared below the cuffs. The +waist was too high, and it was with great difficulty that he managed +to button the garment across his broad chest. Being ignorant of the +nature of a hat, the worthy savage had allowed the paper and string +with which it had been originally covered to remain on, supposing them +to be part and parcel of the hat; and this, together with the high +collar of the coat, which gave him a crushed-up appearance, the +long black naked legs, and the painted visage, gave to him a _tout +ensemble_ which we can compare to nothing, as there was nothing in +nature comparable to it. + +Those guests who assembled first passed their time in smoking the +medicine pipe until the others should arrive, for so long as a single +invited guest is absent the feast cannot begin. Dignified silence was +maintained while the pipe thus circulated from hand to hand. When the +last guest arrived they began. + +The men were seated in two rows, face to face. Feasts of this kind +usually consist of but one species of food, and on the present +occasion it was an enormous caldron full of maize which had to be +devoured. About fifty sat down to eat a quantity of what may be termed +thick porridge that would have been ample allowance for a hundred +ordinary men. Before commencing, San-it-sa-rish desired an aged +medicine man to make an oration, which he did fluently and poetically. +Its subject was the praise of the giver of the feast. At the end of +each period there was a general "hou! hou!" of assent--equivalent to +the "hear! hear!" of civilized men. + +Other orators then followed, all of whom spoke with great ease and +fluency, and some in the most impassioned strains, working themselves +and their audience up to the highest pitch of excitement, now shouting +with frenzied violence till their eyes glared from their sockets and +the veins of their foreheads swelled almost to bursting as they spoke +of war and chase, anon breaking into soft modulated and pleasing tones +while they dilated upon the pleasures of peace and hospitality. + +After these had finished, a number of wooden bowls full of maize +porridge were put down between the guests--one bowl to each couple +facing each other. But before commencing a portion was laid aside and +dedicated to their gods, with various mysterious ceremonies; for here, +as in other places where the gospel is not known, the poor savages +fancied that they could propitiate God with sacrifices. They had never +heard of the "sacrifice of a broken spirit and a contrite heart." This +offering being made, the feast began in earnest. Not only was it a +rule in this feast that every mouthful should be swallowed by each +guest, however unwilling and unable he should be to do so, but he +who could dispose of it with greatest speed was deemed the greatest +man--at least on that occasion--while the last to conclude his supper +was looked upon with some degree of contempt! + +It seems strange that such a custom should ever have arisen, and one +is not a little puzzled in endeavouring to guess at the origin of it. +There is one fact that occurs to us as the probable cause. The Indian +is, as we have before hinted, frequently reduced to a state +bordering on starvation, and in a day after he may be burdened with +superabundance of food. He oftentimes therefore eats as much as he can +stuff into his body when he is blessed with plenty, so as to be the +better able to withstand the attacks of hunger that may possibly be +in store for him. The amount that an Indian will thus eat at a single +meal is incredible. He seems to have the power of distending himself +for the reception of a quantity that would kill a civilized man. +Children in particular become like tightly inflated little balloons +after a feast, and as they wear no clothing, the extraordinary +rotundity is very obvious, not to say ridiculous. We conclude +therefore that unusual powers of gormandizing, being useful, come at +last to be cultivated as praiseworthy. + +By good fortune Dick and Joe Blunt happened to have such enormous +gluttons as _vis-a-vis_ that the portions of their respective bowls +which they could not devour were gobbled up for them. By good capacity +and digestion, with no small amount of effort, Henri managed to +dispose of his own share; but he was last of being done, and fell in +the savages' esteem greatly. The way in which that sticky compost of +boiled maize went down was absolutely amazing. The man opposite Dick, +in particular, was a human boa-constrictor. He well-nigh suffocated +Dick with suppressed laughter. He was a great raw-boned savage, with a +throat of indiarubber, and went quickly and quietly on swallowing mass +after mass with the solemn gravity of an owl. It mattered not a straw +to him that Dick took comparatively small mouthfuls, and nearly choked +on them too for want of liquid to wash them down. Had Dick eaten none +at all he would have uncomplainingly disposed of the whole. Jack the +Giant-Killer's feats were nothing to his; and when at last the bowl +was empty, he stopped short like a machine from which the steam had +been suddenly cut off, and laid down his buffalo horn-spoon _without_ +a sigh. + +Dick sighed, though with relief and gratitude, when his bowl was +empty. + +"I hope I may never have to do it again," said Joe that night as they +wended their way back to the chief's tent after supper. "I wouldn't be +fit for anything for a week arter it." + +Dick could only laugh, for any allusion to the feast instantly brought +back that owl-like gourmand to whom he was so deeply indebted. + +Henri groaned. "Oh! mes boy, I am speechless! I am ready for bust! +Oui--hah! I veesh it vas to-morrow." + +Many a time that night did Henri "veesh it vas to-morrow," as he lay +helpless on his back, looking up through the roof of the chief's tent +at the stars, and listening enviously to the plethoric snoring of Joe +Blunt. + +He was entertained, however, during those waking hours with a serenade +such as few civilized ears ever listen to. This was nothing else than +a vocal concert performed by all the dogs of the village, and as they +amounted to nearly two thousand the orchestra was a pretty full one. + +These wretches howled as if they had all gone mad. Yet there was +"method in their madness;" for they congregated in a crowd before +beginning, and sat down on their haunches. Then one, which seemed to +be the conductor, raised his snout to the sky and uttered a long, low, +melancholy wail. The others took it up by twos and threes, until the +whole pack had their noses pointing to the stars and their throats +distended to the uttermost, while a prolonged yell filled the air. +Then it sank gradually, one or two (bad performers probably) making +a yelping attempt to get it up again at the wrong time. Again the +conductor raised his nose, and out it came--full swing. There was no +vociferous barking. It was simple wolfish howling increased in fervour +to an electric yell, with slight barks running continuously through it +like an obbligato accompaniment. + +When Crusoe first heard the unwonted sound he sprang to his feet, +bristled up like a hyena, showed all his teeth, and bounded out of the +tent blazing with indignation and astonishment. When he found out what +it was he returned quite sleek, and with a look of profound contempt +on his countenance as he resumed his place by his master's side and +went to sleep. + + + +CHAPTER X. + + +_Perplexities_--_Our hunters plan their escape_--_Unexpected +interruption_--_The tables turned_--_Crusoe mounts guard_--_The +escape_. + + +Dick Varley sat before the fire ruminating. We do not mean to assert +that Dick had been previously eating grass. By no means. For several +days past he had been mentally subsisting on the remarkable things +that he heard and saw in the Pawnee village, and wondering how he was +to get away without being scalped. He was now chewing the cud of this +intellectual fare. We therefore repeat emphatically--in case any +reader should have presumed to contradict us--that Dick Varley sat +before the fire _ruminating_! + +Joe Blunt likewise sat by the fire along with him, ruminating too, and +smoking besides. Henri also sat there smoking, and looking a little +the worse of his late supper. + +"I don't like the look o' things," said Joe, blowing a whiff of smoke +slowly from his lips, and watching it as it ascended into the still +air. "That blackguard Mahtawa is determined not to let us off till +he gits all our goods; an' if he gits them, he may as well take our +scalps too, for we would come poor speed in the prairies without guns, +horses, or goods." + +Dick looked at his friend with an expression of concern. "What's to be +done?" said he. + + +"Ve must escape," answered Henri; but his tone was not a hopeful one, +for he knew the danger of their position better than Dick. + +"Ay, we must escape--at least we must try," said Joe. "But I'll make +one more effort to smooth over San-it-sa-rish, an' git him to snub +that villain Mahtawa." + +Just as he spoke the villain in question entered the tent with a bold, +haughty air, and sat down before the fire in sullen silence. For +some minutes no one spoke, and Henri, who happened at the time to be +examining the locks of Dick's rifle, continued to inspect them with an +appearance of careless indifference that he was far from feeling. + +Now, this rifle of Dick's had become a source of unceasing wonder to +the Indians--wonder which was greatly increased by the fact that no +one could discharge it but himself. Dick had, during his short stay at +the Pawnee village, amused himself and the savages by exhibiting his +marvellous powers with the "silver rifle." Since it had been won by +him at the memorable match in the Mustang Valley, it had scarce ever +been out of his hand, so that he had become decidedly the best shot in +the settlement, could "bark" squirrels (that is, hit the bark of the +branch on which a squirrel happened to be standing, and so kill it +by the concussion alone), and could "drive the nail" every shot. The +silver rifle, as we have said, became "great medicine" to the Red-men +when they saw it kill at a distance which the few wretched guns they +had obtained from the fur-traders could not even send a spent ball to. +The double shot, too, filled them with wonder and admiration; but that +which they regarded with an almost supernatural feeling of curiosity +was the percussion cap, which, in Dick's hands, always exploded, but +in theirs was utterly useless! + +This result was simply owing to the fact that Dick, after firing, +handed the rifle to the Indians without renewing the cap; so that when +they loaded and attempted to fire, of course it merely snapped. When +he wished again to fire, he adroitly exchanged the old cap for a new +one. He was immensely tickled by the solemn looks of the Indians at +this most incomprehensible of all "medicines," and kept them for some +days in ignorance of the true cause, intending to reveal it before he +left. But circumstances now arose which banished all trifling thoughts +from his mind. + +Mahtawa raised his head suddenly, and said, pointing to the silver +rifle, "Mahtawa wishes to have the two-shotted medicine gun. He will +give his best horse in exchange." + +"Mahtawa is liberal," answered Joe; "but the pale-faced youth cannot +part with it. He has far to travel, and must shoot buffaloes by the +way." + +"The pale-faced youth shall have a bow and arrows to shoot the +buffalo," rejoined the Indian. + +"He cannot use the bow and arrow," answered Joe. "He has not been +trained like the Red-man." + +Mahtawa was silent for a few seconds, and his dark brows frowned more +heavily than ever over his eyes. + +"The Pale-faces are too bold," he exclaimed, working himself into a +passion. "They are in the power of Mahtawa. If they will not give the +gun he will take it." + +He sprang suddenly to his feet as he spoke, and snatched the rifle +from Henri's hand. + +Henri being ignorant of the language had not been able to understand +the foregoing conversation, although he saw well enough that it was +not an agreeable one; but no sooner did he find himself thus rudely +and unexpectedly deprived of the rifle than he jumped up, wrenched it +in a twinkling from the Indian's grasp, and hurled him violently out +of the tent. + +In a moment Mahtawa drew his knife, uttered a savage yell, and sprang +on the reckless hunter, who, however, caught his wrist, and held it as +if in a vice. The yell brought a dozen warriors instantly to the spot, +and before Dick had time to recover from his astonishment, Henri was +surrounded and pinioned despite his herculean struggles. + +Before Dick could move, Joe Blunt grasped his arm, and whispered +quickly, "Don't rise. You can't help him. They daren't kill him till +San-it-sa-rish agrees." + +Though much surprised, Dick obeyed, but it required all his efforts, +both of voice and hand, to control Crusoe, whose mind was much too +honest and straightforward to understand such subtle pieces of +diplomacy, and who strove to rush to the rescue of his ill-used +friend. + +When the tumult had partly subsided, Joe Blunt rose and said,--"Have +the Pawnee braves turned traitors that they draw the knife against +those who have smoked with them the pipe of peace and eaten their +maize? The Pale-faces are three; the Pawnees are thousands. If evil +has been done, let it be laid before the chief. Mahtawa wishes to have +the medicine gun. Although we said, No, we could not part with it, he +tried to take it by force. Are we to go back to the great chief of the +Pale-faces and say that the Pawnees are thieves? Are the Pale-faces +henceforth to tell their children when they steal, 'That is bad; +that is like the Pawnee?' No; this must not be. The rifle shall be +restored, and we will forget this disagreement. Is it not so?" + +There was an evident disposition on the part of many of the Indians, +with whom Mahtawa was no favourite, to applaud this speech; but the +wily chief sprang forward, and, with flashing eyes, sought to turn the +tables. + +"The Pale-face speaks with soft words, but his heart is false. Is he +not going to make peace with the enemies of the Pawnee? Is he not +going to take goods to them, and make them gifts and promises? The +Pale-faces are spies. They come to see the weakness of the Pawnee +camp; but they have found that it is strong. Shall we suffer the false +hearts to escape? Shall they live? No; we will hang their scalps in +our wigwams, for they have _struck a chief_, and we will keep all +their goods for our squaws--wah!" + +This allusion to keeping all the goods had more effect on the minds of +the vacillating savages than the chief's eloquence. But a new turn +was given to their thoughts by Joe Blunt remarking in a quiet, almost +contemptuous tone,-- + +"Mahtawa is not the _great_ chief." + +"True, true," they cried, and immediately hurried to the tent of +San-it-sa-rish. + +Once again this chief stood between the hunters and the savages, who +wanted but a signal to fall on them. There was a long palaver, which +ended in Henri being set at liberty and the rifle being restored. + +That evening, as the three friends sat beside their fire eating their +supper of boiled maize and buffalo meat, they laughed and talked as +carelessly as ever; but the gaiety was assumed, for they were at the +time planning their escape from a tribe which, they foresaw, would +not long refrain from carrying out their wishes, and robbing, perhaps +murdering them. + +"Ye see," said Joe with a perplexed air, while he drew a piece of live +charcoal from the fire with his fingers and lighted his pipe--"ye see, +there's more difficulties in the way o' gettin' off than ye think--" + +"Oh, nivare mind de difficulties," interrupted Henri, whose wrath at +the treatment he had received had not yet cooled down. "Ve must jump +on de best horses ve can git hold, shake our fists at de red reptiles, +and go away fast as ve can. De best hoss _must_ vin de race." + +Joe shook his head. "A hundred arrows would be in our backs before we +got twenty yards from the camp. Besides, we can't tell which are the +best horses. Our own are the best in my 'pinion, but how are we to +git' em?" + +"I know who has charge o' them," said Dick. "I saw them grazing near +the tent o' that poor squaw whose baby was saved by Crusoe. Either her +husband looks after them or some neighbours." + +"That's well," said Joe. "That's one o' my difficulties gone." + +"What are the others?" + +"Well, d'ye see, they're troublesome. We can't git the horses out o' +camp without bein' seen, for the red rascals would see what we were at +in a jiffy. Then, if we do git 'em out, we can't go off without our +bales, an' we needn't think to take 'em from under the nose o' the +chief and his squaws without bein' axed questions. To go off without +them would niver do at all." + +"Joe," said Dick earnestly, "I've hit on a plan." + +"Have ye, Dick--what is't?" + +"Come and I'll let ye see," answered Dick, rising hastily and quitting +the tent, followed by his comrades and his faithful dog. + +It may be as well to remark here, that no restraint whatever had yet +been put on the movements of our hunters as long as they kept to their +legs, for it was well known that any attempt by men on foot to escape +from mounted Indians on the plains would be hopeless. Moreover, the +savages thought that as long as there was a prospect of their being +allowed to depart peaceably with their goods, they would not be so +mad as to fly from the camp, and, by so doing, risk their lives and +declare war with their entertainers. They had therefore been permitted +to wander unchecked, as yet, far beyond the outskirts of the camp, and +amuse themselves in paddling about the lake in the small Indian canoes +and shooting wild-fowl. + +Dick now led the way through the labyrinths of tents in the direction +of the lake, and they talked and laughed loudly, and whistled +to Crusoe as they went, in order to prevent their purpose being +suspected. For the purpose of further disarming suspicion, they went +without their rifles. Dick explained his plan by the way, and it was +at once warmly approved of by his comrades. + +On reaching the lake they launched a small canoe, into which Crusoe +was ordered to jump; then, embarking, they paddled swiftly to the +opposite shore, singing a canoe song as they dipped their paddles in +the moonlit waters of the lake. Arrived at the other side, they hauled +the canoe up and hurried through the thin belt of wood and willows +that intervened between the lake and the prairie. Here they paused. + +"Is that the bluff, Joe?" + +"No, Dick; that's too near. T'other one'll be best--far away to the +right. It's a little one, and there's others near it. The sharp eyes +o' the Redskins won't be so likely to be prowlin' there." + +"Come on, then; but we'll have to take down by the lake first." + +In a few minutes the hunters were threading their way through the +outskirts of the wood at a rapid trot, in the opposite direction from +the bluff, or wooded knoll, which they wished to reach. This they did +lest prying eyes should have followed them. In quarter of an hour they +turned at right angles to their track, and struck straight out into +the prairie, and after a long run they edged round and came in upon +the bluff from behind. + +It was merely a collection of stunted but thick-growing willows. + +Forcing their way into the centre of this they began to examine it. + +"It'll do," said Joe. + +"De very ting," remarked Henri. + +"Come here, Crusoe." + +Crusoe bounded to his master's side, and looked up in his face. + +"Look at this place, pup; smell it well." + +Crusoe instantly set off all round among the willows, in and out, +snuffing everywhere, and whining with excitement. + +"Come here, good pup; that will do. Now, lads, we'll go back." So +saying, Dick and his friends left the bluff, and retraced their steps +to the camp. Before they had gone far, however, Joe halted, and +said,-- + +"D'ye know, Dick, I doubt if the pup's so cliver as ye think. What if +he don't quite onderstand ye?" + +Dick replied by taking off his cap and throwing it down, at the same +time exclaiming, "Take it yonder, pup," and pointing with his hand +towards the bluff. The dog seized the cap, and went off with it at +full speed towards the willows, where it left it, and came galloping +back for the expected reward--not now, as in days of old, a bit of +meat, but a gentle stroke of its head and a hearty clap on its shaggy +side. + +"Good pup! go now an' fetch it." + +Away he went with a bound, and in a few seconds came back and +deposited the cap at his master's feet. + +"Will that do?" asked Dick, triumphantly. + + +"Ay, lad, it will. The pup's worth its weight in goold." + +"Oui, I have said, and I say it agen, de dog is _human_, so him is. If +not, fat am he?" + +Without pausing to reply to this perplexing question, Dick stepped +forward again, and in half-an-hour or so they were back in the camp. + +"Now for _your_ part of the work, Joe. Yonder's the squaw that owns +the half-drowned baby. Everything depends on her." + +Dick pointed to the Indian woman as he spoke. She was sitting beside +her tent, and playing at her knee was the identical youngster who had +been saved by Crusoe. + +"I'll manage it," said Joe, and walked towards her, while Dick and +Henri returned to the chief's tent. + +"Does the Pawnee woman thank the Great Spirit that her child is +saved?" began Joe as he came up. + +"She does," answered the woman, looking up at the hunter. "And her +heart is warm to the Pale-faces." + +After a short silence Joe continued,-- + +"The Pawnee chiefs do not love the Pale-faces. Some of them hate +them." + +"The Dark Flower knows it," answered the woman; "she is sorry. She +would help the Pale-faces if she could." + +This was uttered in a low tone, and with a meaning glance of the eye. + +Joe hesitated again--could he trust her? Yes; the feelings that filled +her breast and prompted her words were not those of the Indian just +now--they were those of a _mother_, whose gratitude was too full for +utterance. + +"Will the Dark Flower," said Joe, catching the name she had given +herself, "help the Pale-face if he opens his heart to her? Will she +risk the anger of her nation?" + +"She will," replied the woman; "she will do what she can." + +Joe and his dark friend now dropped their high-sounding style of +speech, and spoke for some minutes rapidly in an undertone. It was +finally arranged that on a given day, at a certain hour, the woman +should take the four horses down the shores of the lake to its lower +end, as if she were going for firewood, there cross the creek at the +ford, and drive them to the willow bluff, and guard them till the +hunters should arrive. + +Having settled this, Joe returned to the tent and informed his +comrades of his success. + +During the next three days Joe kept the Indians in good-humour by +giving them one or two trinkets, and speaking in glowing terms of the +riches of the white men, and the readiness with which they would part +with them to the savages if they would only make peace. + +Meanwhile, during the dark hours of each night, Dick managed to +abstract small quantities of goods from their pack, in room of which +he stuffed in pieces of leather to keep up the size and appearance. +The goods thus taken out he concealed about his person, and went off +with a careless swagger to the outskirts of the village, with Crusoe +at his heels. Arrived there, he tied the goods in a small piece of +deerskin, and gave the bundle to the dog, with the injunction, "Take +it yonder, pup." + +Crusoe took it up at once, darted off at full speed with the bundle in +his mouth, down the shore of the lake towards the ford of the river, +and was soon lost to view. In this way, little by little, the goods +were conveyed by the faithful dog to the willow bluff and left there, +while the stuffed pack still remained in safe keeping in the chiefs +tent. + +Joe did not at first like the idea of thus sneaking off from the camp, +and more than once made strong efforts to induce San-it-sa-rish to let +him go; but even that chief's countenance was not so favourable as it +had been. It was clear that he could not make up his mind to let slip +so good a chance of obtaining guns, powder and shot, horses, and +goods, without any trouble; so Joe made up his mind to give them the +slip at once. + +A dark night was chosen for the attempt, and the Indian woman went off +with the horses to the place where firewood for the camp was usually +cut. Unfortunately, the suspicion of that wily savage Mahtawa had been +awakened, and he stuck close to the hunters all day--not knowing what +was going on, but feeling convinced that something was brewing which +he resolved to watch, without mentioning his suspicions to any one. + +"I think that villain's away at last," whispered Joe to his comrades. +"It's time to go, lads; the moon won't be up for an hour. Come along." + +"Have ye got the big powder-horn, Joe?" + +"Ay, ay, all right." + +"Stop! stop! my knife, my couteau. Ah, here I be! Now, boy." + +The three set off as usual, strolling carelessly to the outskirts +of the camp; then they quickened their pace, and, gaining the lake, +pushed off in a small canoe. + +At the same moment Mahtawa stepped from the bushes, leaped into +another canoe, and followed them. + +"Ha! he must die," muttered Henri. + +"Not at all," said Joe; "we'll manage him without that." + +The chief landed and strode boldly up to them, for he knew well that +whatever their purpose might be they would not venture to use their +rifles within sound of the camp at that hour of the night. As for +their knives, he could trust to his own active limbs and the woods to +escape and give the alarm if need be. + +"The Pale-faces hunt very late," he said, with a malicious grin. "Do +they love the dark better than the sunshine?" + +"Not so," replied Joe, coolly; "but we love to walk by the light of +the moon. It will be up in less than an hour, and we mean to take a +long ramble to-night." + +"The Pawnee chief loves to walk by the moon, too; he will go with the +Pale-faces." + +"Good!" ejaculated Joe. "Come along, then." + +The party immediately set forward, although the savage was a little +taken by surprise at the indifferent way in which Joe received his +proposal to accompany them. He walked on to the edge of the prairie, +however, and then stopped. + +"The Pale-faces must go alone," said he; "Mahtawa will return to his +tent." + +Joe replied to this intimation by seizing him suddenly by the throat +and choking back the yell that would otherwise have brought the Pawnee +warriors rushing to the scene of action in hundreds. Mahtawa's hand +was on the handle of his scalping-knife in a moment, but before he +could draw it his arms were glued to his sides by the bear-like +embrace of Henri, while Dick tied a handkerchief quickly yet firmly +round his mouth. The whole thing was accomplished in two minutes. +After taking his knife and tomahawk away, they loosened their gripe +and escorted him swiftly over the prairie. + +Mahtawa was perfectly submissive after the first convulsive struggle +was over. He knew that the men who walked on each side of him grasping +his arms were more than his match singly, so he wisely made no +resistance. + +Hurrying him to a clump of small trees on the plain which was so far +distant from the village that a yell could not be heard, they removed +the bandage from Mahtawa's mouth. + +"_Must_ he be kill?" inquired Henri, in a tone of commiseration. + +"Not at all," answered Joe; "we'll tie him to a tree and leave him +here." + +"Then he vill be starve to deat'. Oh, dat is more horrobell!" + +"He must take his chance o' that. I've no doubt his friends'll find +him in a day or two, an' he's game to last for a week or more. But +you'll have to run to the willow bluff, Dick, and bring a bit of line +to tie him. We can't spare it well; but there's no help." + +"But there _is_ help," retorted Dick. "Just order the villain to climb +into that tree." + +"Why so, lad?" + +"Don't ask questions, but do what I bid ye." + +The hunter smiled for a moment as he turned to the Indian, and ordered +him to climb up a small tree near to which he stood. Mahtawa looked +surprised, but there was no alternative. Joe's authoritative tone +brooked no delay, so he sprang into the tree like a monkey. + +"Crusoe," said Dick, "_watch him!_" + +The dog sat quietly down at the foot of the tree, and fixed his eyes +on the savage with a glare that spoke unutterable things. At the same +time he displayed his full complement of teeth, and uttered a sound +like distant thunder. + +Joe almost laughed, and Henri did laugh outright. + +"Come along; he's safe now," cried Dick, hurrying away in the +direction of the willow bluff, which they soon reached, and found that +the faithful squaw had tied their steeds to the bushes, and, moreover, +had bundled up their goods into a pack, and strapped it on the back of +the pack-horse; but she had not remained with them. + +"Bless yer dark face!" ejaculated Joe, as he sprang into the saddle +and rode out of the clump of bushes. + + +He was followed immediately by the others, and in three minutes they +were flying over the plain at full speed. + +On gaining the last far-off ridge, that afforded a distant view of the +woods skirting the Pawnee camp, they drew up; and Dick, putting his +fingers to his mouth, drew a long, shrill whistle. + +It reached the willow bluff like a faint echo. At the same moment the +moon arose and more clearly revealed Crusoe's cataleptic glare at the +Indian chief, who, being utterly unarmed, was at the dog's mercy. The +instant the whistle fell on his ear, however, he dropped his eyes, +covered his teeth, and, leaping through the bushes, flew over the +plains like an arrow. At the same instant Mahtawa, descending from +his tree, ran as fast as he could towards the village, uttering the +terrible war-whoop when near enough to be heard. No sound sends such a +thrill through an Indian camp. Every warrior flew to arms, and vaulted +on his steed. So quickly was the alarm given that in less than ten +minutes a thousand hoofs were thundering on the plain, and faintly +reached the ears of the fugitives. + +Joe smiled. "It'll puzzle them to come up wi' nags like ours. They're +in prime condition, too--lots o' wind in' em. If we only keep out o' +badger holes we may laugh at the red varmints." + +Joe's opinion of Indian horses was correct. In a very few minutes the +sound of hoofs died away; but the fugitives did not draw bridle during +the remainder of that night, for they knew not how long the pursuit +might be continued. By pond, and brook, and bluff they passed, down +in the grassy bottoms and over the prairie waves--nor checked their +headlong course till the sun blazed over the level sweep of the +eastern plain as if it arose out of the mighty ocean. + +Then they sprang from the saddle, and hastily set about the +preparation of their morning meal. + + + +CHAPTER XI. + + +_Evening meditations and morning reflections--Buffaloes, badgers, +antelopes, and accidents--An old bull and the wolves--"Mad +tails"--Henri floored, etc._ + +There is nothing that prepares one so well for the enjoyment of rest, +both mental and physical, as a long-protracted period of excitement +and anxiety, followed up by bodily fatigue. Excitement alone banishes +rest; but, united with severe physical exertion, it prepares for it. +At least, courteous reader, this is our experience; and certainly this +was the experience of our three hunters as they lay on their backs +beneath the branches of a willow bush and gazed serenely up at the +twinkling stars two days after their escape from the Indian village. + +They spoke little; they were too tired for that, also they were too +comfortable. Their respective suppers of fresh antelope steak, shot +that day, had just been disposed of. Their feet were directed towards +the small fire on which the said steaks had been cooked, and which +still threw a warm, ruddy glow over the encampment. Their blankets +were wrapped comfortably round them, and tucked in as only hunters and +mothers know _how_ to tuck them in. Their respective pipes delivered +forth, at stated intervals, three richly yellow puffs of smoke, as if +a three-gun battery were playing upon the sky from that particular +spot of earth. The horses were picketed and hobbled in a rich grassy +bottom close by, from which the quiet munch of their equine jaws +sounded pleasantly, for it told of healthy appetites, and promised +speed on the morrow. The fear of being overtaken during the night was +now past, and the faithful Crusoe, by virtue of sight, hearing, and +smell, guaranteed them against sudden attack during the hours of +slumber. A perfume of wild flowers mingled with the loved odours of +the "weed," and the tinkle of a tiny rivulet fell sweetly on their +ears. In short, the "Pale-faces" were supremely happy, and disposed to +be thankful for their recent deliverance and their present comforts. + +"I wonder what the stars are," said Dick, languidly taking the pipe +out of his mouth. + +"Bits o' fire," suggested Joe. + +"I tink dey are vorlds," muttered Henri, "an' have peepels in dem. I +have hear men say dat." + +A long silence followed, during which, no doubt, the star-gazers were +working out various theories in their own minds. + +"Wonder," said Dick again, "how far off they be." + +"A mile or two, maybe," said Joe. + +Henri was about to laugh sarcastically at this, but on further +consideration he thought it would be more comfortable not to, so he +lay still. In another minute he said,-- + +"Joe Blunt, you is ver' igrant. Don't you know dat de books say de +stars be hondreds, tousands--oh! milleryons of mile away to here, and +dat dey is more bigger dan dis vorld?" + +Joe snored lightly, and his pipe fell out of his mouth at this point, +so the conversation dropped. Presently Dick asked in a low tone, "I +say, Henri, are ye asleep?" + +"Oui," replied Henry faintly. "Don't speak, or you vill vaken me." + +"Ah, Crusoe! you're not asleep, are you, pup?" No need to ask that +question. The instantaneous wag of that speaking tail and the glance +of that wakeful eye, as the dog lifted his head and laid his chin on +Dick's arm, showed that he had been listening to every word that was +spoken. We cannot say whether he understood it, but beyond all doubt +he heard it. Crusoe never presumed to think of going to sleep until +his master was as sound as a top, then he ventured to indulge in that +light species of slumber which is familiarly known as "sleeping with +one eye open." But, comparatively as well as figuratively speaking, +Crusoe slept usually with one eye and a half open, and the other half +was never very tightly shut. + +Gradually Dick's pipe fell out of his mouth, an event which the dog, +with an exercise of instinct almost, if not quite, amounting to +reason, regarded as a signal for him to go off. The camp fire went +slowly out, the stars twinkled down at their reflections in the brook, +and a deep breathing of wearied men was the only sound that rose in +harmony with the purling stream. + +Before the sun rose next morning, and while many of the brighter stars +were still struggling for existence with the approaching day, Joe was +up and buckling on the saddle-bags, while he shouted to his unwilling +companions to rise. + +"If it depended on you," he said, "the Pawnees wouldn't be long afore +they got our scalps. Jump, ye dogs, an' lend a hand, will ye?" + +A snore from Dick and a deep sigh from Henri was the answer to this +pathetic appeal. It so happened, however, that Henri's pipe, in +falling from his lips, had emptied the ashes just under his nose, so +that the sigh referred to drew a quantity thereof into his throat and +almost choked him. Nothing could have been a more effective awakener. +He was up in a moment coughing vociferously. Most men have a tendency +to vent ill-humour on some one, and they generally do it on one whom +they deem to be worse than themselves. Henri, therefore, instead of +growling at Joe for rousing him, scolded Dick for not rising. + +"Ha, mauvais dog! bad chien! vill you dare to look to me?" + +Crusoe did look with amiable placidity, as though to say, "Howl away, +old boy, I won't budge till Dick does." + +With a mighty effort Giant Sleep was thrown off at last, and the +hunters were once more on their journey, cantering lightly over the +soft turf. + +"Ho, let's have a run!" cried Dick, unable to repress the feelings +aroused by the exhilarating morning air. + +"Have a care, boy," cried Joe, as they stretched out at full gallop. +"Keep off the ridge; it's riddled wi' badger--Ha! I thought so." + +At that moment Dick's horse put its foot into a badger-hole and turned +completely over, sending its rider through the air in a curve that an +East Indian acrobat would have envied. For a few seconds Dick lay flat +on his back, then he jumped up and laughed, while his comrades hurried +up anxiously to his assistance. + +"No bones broke?" inquired Joe. + +Dick gave a hysterical gasp. "I--I think not." + +"Let's have a look. No, nothin' to speak o', be good luck. Ye should +niver go slap through a badger country like that, boy; always keep i' +the bottoms, where the grass is short. Now then, up ye go. That's it!" + +Dick remounted, though not with quite so elastic a spring as usual, +and they pushed forward at a more reasonable pace. + +Accidents of this kind are of common occurrence in the prairies. Some +horses, however, are so well trained that they look sharp out for +these holes, which are generally found to be most numerous on the high +and dry grounds. But in spite of all the caution both of man and horse +many ugly falls take place, and sometimes bones are broken. + +They had not gone far after this accident when an antelope leaped from +a clump of willows, and made for a belt of woodland that lay along the +margin of a stream not half-a-mile off. + +"Hurrah!" cried Dick, forgetting his recent fall. "Come along, +Crusoe." And away they went again full tilt, for the horse had not +been injured by its somersault. + +The antelope which Dick was thus wildly pursuing was of the same +species as the one he had shot some time before--namely, the +prong-horned antelope. These graceful creatures have long, slender +limbs, delicately-formed heads, and large, beautiful eyes. The horns +are black, and rather short; they have no branches, like the antlers +of the red-deer, but have a single projection on each horn, near the +head, and the extreme points of the horns curve suddenly inwards, +forming the hook or prong from which the name of the animal is +derived. Their colour is dark yellowish brown. They are so fleet that +not one horse in a hundred can overtake them; and their sight and +sense of smell are so acute that it would be next to impossible to +kill them, were it not for the inordinate curiosity which we have +before referred to. The Indians manage to attract these simple little +creatures by merely lying down on their backs and kicking their heels +in the air, or by waving any white object on the point of an arrow, +while the hunter keeps concealed by lying flat in the grass. By these +means a herd of antelopes may be induced to wheel round and round an +object in timid but intense surprise, gradually approaching until they +come near enough to enable the hunter to make sure of his mark. Thus +the animals, which of all others _ought_ to be the most difficult to +slay, are, in consequence of their insatiable curiosity, more easily +shot than any other deer of the plains. + +May we not gently suggest to the reader for his or her consideration +that there are human antelopes, so to speak, whose case bears a +striking resemblance to the prong-horn of the North American prairie? + +Dick's horse was no match for the antelope, neither was Crusoe; so +they pulled up shortly and returned to their companions, to be laughed +at. + +"It's no manner o' use to wind yer horse, lad, after sich game. +They're not much worth, an', if I mistake not, we'll be among the +buffalo soon. There's fresh tracks everywhere, and the herds are +scattered now. Ye see, when they keep together in bands o' thousands +ye don't so often fall in wi' them. But when they scatters about in +twos, an' threes, an' sixes ye may shoot them every day as much as ye +please." + +Several groups of buffalo had already been seen on the horizon, but as +a red-deer had been shot in a belt of woodland the day before they +did not pursue them. The red-deer is very much larger than the +prong-horned antelope, and is highly esteemed both for its flesh +and its skin, which latter becomes almost like chamois leather when +dressed. Notwithstanding this supply of food, the hunters could not +resist the temptation to give chase to a herd of about nine buffaloes +that suddenly came into view as they overtopped an undulation in the +plain. + +"It's no use," cried Dick, "I _must_ go at them!" + +Joe himself caught fire from the spirit of his young friend, so +calling to Henri to come on and let the pack-horse remain to feed, he +dashed away in pursuit. The buffaloes gave one stare of surprise, and +then fled as fast as possible. At first it seemed as if such huge, +unwieldy carcasses could not run very fast; but in a few minutes they +managed to get up a pace that put the horses to their mettle. Indeed, +at first it seemed as if the hunters did not gain an inch; but by +degrees they closed with them, for buffaloes are not long winded. + +On nearing the herd, the three men diverged from each other and +selected their animals. Henri, being short-sighted, naturally singled +out the largest; and the largest--also naturally--was a tough old +bull. Joe brought down a fat young cow at the first shot, and Dick was +equally fortunate. But he well-nigh shot Crusoe, who, just as he was +about to fire, rushed in unexpectedly and sprang at the animal's +throat, for which piece of recklessness he was ordered back to watch +the pack-horse. + +Meanwhile, Henri, by dint of yelling, throwing his arms wildly about, +and digging his heels into the sides of his long-legged horse, +succeeded in coming close up with the bull, which once or twice turned +his clumsy body half round and glared furiously at its pursuer with +its small black eyes. Suddenly it stuck out its tail, stopped short, +and turned full round. Henri stopped short also. Now, the sticking out +of a buffalo's tail has a peculiar significance which it is well to +point out. It serves, in a sense, the same purpose to the hunter that +the compass does to the mariner--it points out where to go and what to +do. When galloping away in ordinary flight, the buffalo carries his +tail like ordinary cattle, which indicates that you may push on. When +wounded, he lashes it from side to side, or carries it over his back, +up in the air; this indicates, "Look out! haul off a bit!" But when he +carries it stiff and horizontal, with a _slight curve_ in the middle +of it, it says plainly, "Keep back, or kill me as quick as you can," +for that is what Indians call the _mad tail_, and is a sign that +mischief is brewing. + +Henri's bull displayed the mad tail just before turning, but he didn't +observe it, and, accordingly, waited for the bull to move and show his +shoulder for a favourable shot. But instead of doing this he put his +head down, and, foaming with rage, went at him full tilt. The big +horse never stirred; it seemed to be petrified, Henri had just time to +fire at the monster's neck, and the next moment was sprawling on his +back, with the horse rolling over four or five yards beyond him. It +was a most effective tableau--Henri rubbing his shins and grinning +with pain, the horse gazing in affright as he rose trembling from the +plain, and the buffalo bull looking on half stunned, and evidently +very much surprised at the result of his charge. + +Fortunately, before he could repeat the experiment, Dick galloped up +and put a ball through his heart. + +Joe and his comrades felt a little ashamed of their exploit on this +occasion, for there was no need to have killed three animals--they +could not have carried with them more than a small portion of one--and +they upbraided themselves several times during the operation of +cutting out the tongues and other choice portions of the two victims. +As for the bull, he was almost totally useless, so they left him as a +gift to the wolves. + +Now that they had come among the buffalo, wolves were often seen +sneaking about and licking their hungry jaws; but although they +approached pretty near to the camp at nights, they did not give the +hunters any concern. Even Crusoe became accustomed to them at last, +and ceased to notice them. These creatures are very dangerous +sometimes, however, and when hard pressed by hunger will even attack +man. The day after this hunt the travellers came upon a wounded old +buffalo which had evidently escaped from the Indians (for a couple of +arrows were sticking in its side), only to fall a prey to his deadly +enemies, the white wolves. These savage brutes hang on the skirts of +the herds of buffaloes to attack and devour any one that may chance, +from old age or from being wounded, to linger behind the rest. The +buffalo is tough and fierce, however, and fights so desperately that, +although surrounded by fifty or a hundred wolves, he keeps up the +unequal combat for several days before he finally succumbs. + +The old bull that our travellers discovered had evidently been long +engaged with his ferocious adversaries, for his limbs and flesh were +torn in shreds in many places, and blood was streaming from his sides. +Yet he had fought so gallantly that he had tossed and stamped to death +dozens of the enemy. There could not have been fewer than fifty wolves +round him; and they had just concluded another of many futile attacks +when the hunters came up, for they were ranged in a circle round their +huge adversary--some lying down, some sitting on their haunches to +rest, and others sneaking about, lolling out their red tongues and +licking their chops as if impatient to renew the combat. The poor +buffalo was nearly spent, and it was clear that a few hours more would +see him torn to shreds and his bones picked clean. + +"Ugh! de brutes," ejaculated Henri. + +"They don't seem to mind us a bit," remarked Dick, as they rode up to +within pistol shot. + +"It'll be merciful to give the old fellow a shot," said Joe. "Them +varmints are sure to finish him at last." + +Joe raised his rifle as he spoke, and fired. The old bull gave his +last groan and fell, while the wolves, alarmed by the shot, fled in +all directions; but they did not run far. They knew well that some +portion, at least, of the carcass would fall to their share; so they +sat down at various distances all round, to wait as patiently as they +might for the hunters to retire. Dick left the scene with a feeling +of regret that the villanous wolves should have their feast so much +sooner than they expected. + +Yet, after all, why should we call these wolves villanous? They did +nothing wrong--nothing contrary to the laws of their peculiar nature. +Nay, if we come to reason upon it, they rank higher in this matter +than man; for while the wolf does no violence to the laws of its +instincts, man often deliberately silences the voice of conscience, +and violates the laws of his own nature. But we will not insist on the +term, good reader, if you object strongly to it. We are willing to +admit that the wolves are _not_ villanous, but, _assuredly_, they are +unlovable. + +In the course of the afternoon the three horsemen reached a small +creek, the banks of which were lined with a few stunted shrubs and +trees. Having eaten nothing since the night before, they dismounted +here to "feed," as Joe expressed it. + +"Cur'ous thing," remarked Joe, as he struck a light by means of flint, +steel, and tinder-box--"cur'ous thing that we're made to need sich a +lot o' grub. If we could only get on like the sarpints, now, wot can +breakfast on a rabbit, and then wait a month or two for dinner! Ain't +it cur'ous?" + +Dick admitted that it was, and stooped to blow the fire into a blaze. + +Here Henri uttered a cry of consternation, and stood speechless, with +his mouth open. + +"What's the matter? what is't?" cried Dick and Joe, seizing their +rifles instinctively. + +"De--grub--him--be--forgat!" + +There was a look of blank horror, and then a burst of laughter from +Dick Varley. "Well, well," cried he, "we've got lots o' tea an' sugar, +an' some flour; we can git on wi' that till we shoot another buffalo, +or a--ha!" + +Dick observed a wild turkey stalking among the willows as he spoke. It +was fully a hundred yards off, and only its head was seen above the +leaves. This was a matter of little moment, however, for by aiming a +little lower he knew that he must hit the body. But Dick had driven +the nail too often to aim at its body; he aimed at the bird's eye, and +cut its head off. + +"Fetch it, Crusoe." + +In three minutes it was at Dick's feet, and it is not too much to say +that in five minutes more it was in the pot. + +As this unexpected supply made up for the loss of the meat which +Henri had forgotten at their last halting-place, their equanimity was +restored; and while the meal was in preparation Dick shouldered his +rifle and went into the bush to try for another turkey. He did not +get one, however, but he shot a couple of prairie-hens, which are +excellent eating. Moreover, he found a large quantity of wild grapes +and plums. These were unfortunately not nearly ripe, but Dick resolved +to try his hand at a new dish, so he stuffed the breast of his coat +full of them. + +After the pot was emptied, Dick washed it out, and put a little clean +water in it. Then he poured some flour in, and stirred it well. While +this was heating, he squeezed the sour grapes and plums into what Joe +called a "mush," mixed it with a spoonful of sugar, and emptied it +into the pot. He also skimmed a quantity of the fat from the remains +of the turkey soup and added that to the mess, which he stirred with +earnest diligence till it boiled down into a sort of thick porridge. + +"D'ye think it'll be good?" asked Joe gravely; "I've me doubts of it." + +"We'll see.--Hold the tin dish, Henri." + +"Take care of de fingers. Ha! it looks magnifique--superb!" + +The first spoonful produced an expression on Henri's face that needed +not to be interpreted. It was as sour as vinegar. + +"Ye'll ha' to eat it yerself, Dick, lad," cried Joe, throwing down his +spoon, and spitting out the unsavoury mess. + +"Nonsense," cried Dick, bolting two or three mouthfuls, and trying to +look as if he liked it. "Try again; it's not so bad as you think." + +"Ho-o-o-o-o!" cried Henri, after the second mouthful. "Tis vinegre. +All de sugare in de pack would not make more sweeter one bite of it." + +Dick was obliged to confess the dish a failure, so it was thrown out +after having been offered to Crusoe, who gave it one sniff and turned +away in silence. Then they mounted and resumed their journey. + +At this place mosquitoes and horse-flies troubled our hunters and +their steeds a good deal. The latter especially were very annoying to +the poor horses. They bit them so much that the blood at last came +trickling down their sides. They were troubled also, once or twice, by +cockchafers and locusts, which annoyed them, not indeed by biting, +but by flying blindly against their faces, and often-narrowly missed +hitting them in the eyes. Once particularly they were so bad that +Henri in his wrath opened his lips to pronounce a malediction on the +whole race, when a cockchafer flew straight into his mouth, and, to +use his own forcible expression, "nearly knocked him off de hoss." But +these were minor evils, and scarcely cost the hunters a thought. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + +_Wanderings on the prairie_--_A war party_--_Chased by Indians_--_A +bold leap for life_. + +For many days the three hunters wandered over the trackless prairie in +search of a village of the Sioux Indians, but failed to find one, for +the Indians were in the habit of shifting their ground and following +the buffalo. Several times they saw small isolated bands of Indians; +but these they carefully avoided, fearing they might turn out to be +war parties, and if they fell into their hands the white men could not +expect civil treatment, whatever nation the Indians might belong to. + +During the greater portion of this time they met with numerous herds +of buffalo and deer, and were well supplied with food; but they had to +cook it during the day, being afraid to light a fire at night while +Indians were prowling about. + +One night they halted near the bed of a stream which was almost dry. +They had travelled a day and a night without water, and both men and +horses were almost choking, so that when they saw the trees on the +horizon which indicated the presence of a stream, they pushed forward +with almost frantic haste. + +"Hope it's not dry," said Joe anxiously as they galloped up to it. +"No, there's water, lads," and they dashed forward to a pool that had +not yet been dried up. They drank long and eagerly before they noticed +that the pool was strongly impregnated with salt. Many streams in +those parts of the prairies are quite salt, but fortunately this one +was not utterly undrinkable, though it was very unpalatable. + +"We'll make it better, lads," said Joe, digging a deep hole in the +sand with his hands, a little below the pool. In a short time the +water filtered through, and though not rendered fresh, it was, +nevertheless, much improved. + +"We may light a fire to-night, d'ye think?" inquired Dick; "we've not +seed Injuns for some days." + +"P'r'aps 'twould be better not," said Joe; "but I daresay we're safe +enough." + +A fire was therefore lighted in as sheltered a spot as could be found, +and the three friends bivouacked as usual. Towards dawn they were +aroused by an angry growl from Crusoe. + +"It's a wolf likely," said Dick, but all three seized and cocked their +rifles nevertheless. + +Again Crusoe growled more angrily than before, and springing out of +the camp snuffed the breeze anxiously. + +"Up, lads! catch the nags! There's something in the wind, for the dog +niver did that afore." + +In a few seconds the horses were saddled and the packs secured. + +"Call in the dog," whispered Joe Blunt; "if he barks they'll find out +our whereabouts." + +"Here, Crusoe, come--" + +It was too late; the dog barked loudly and savagely at the moment, +and a troop of Indians came coursing over the plain. On hearing the +unwonted sound they wheeled directly and made for the camp. + +"It's a war party; fly, lads! nothin' 'll save our scalps now but our +horses' heels," cried Joe. + +In a moment they vaulted into the saddle and urged their steeds +forward at the utmost speed. The savages observed them, and with an +exulting yell dashed after them. Feeling that there was now no need +of concealment, the three horsemen struck off into the open prairie, +intending to depend entirely on the speed and stamina of their horses. +As we have before remarked, they were good ones; but the Indians soon +proved that they were equally well if not better mounted. + +"It'll be a hard run," said Joe in a low, muttering tone, and looking +furtively over his shoulder. "The varmints are mounted on wild +horses--leastways they were wild not long agone. Them chaps can +throw the lasso and trip a mustang as well as a Mexican. Mind the +badger-holes, Dick.--Hold in a bit, Henri; yer nag don't need drivin'; +a foot in a hole just now would cost us our scalps. Keep down by the +creek, lads." + +"Ha! how dey yell," said Henri in a savage tone, looking back, and +shaking his rifle at them, an act that caused them to yell more +fiercely than ever. "Dis old pack-hoss give me moche trobel." + +The pace was now tremendous. Pursuers and pursued rose and sank on the +prairie billows as they swept along, till they came to what is termed +a "dividing ridge," which is a cross wave, as it were, that cuts the +others in two, thus forming a continuous level. Here they advanced +more easily; but the advantage was equally shared with their pursuers, +who continued the headlong pursuit with occasional yells, which served +to show the fugitives that they at least did not gain ground. + +A little to the right of the direction in which they were flying a +blue line was seen on the horizon. This indicated the existence of +trees to Joe's practised eyes, and feeling that if the horses broke +down they could better make a last manful stand in the wood than on +the plain he urged his steed towards it. The savages noticed the +movement at once, and uttered a yell of exultation, for they regarded +it as an evidence that the fugitives doubted the strength of their +horses. + +"Ye haven't got us yet," muttered Joe, with a sardonic grin. "If they +get near us, Dick, keep yer eyes open an' look out for yer neck, else +they'll drop a noose over it, they will, afore ye know they're near, +an' haul ye off like a sack." + +Dick nodded in reply, but did not speak, for at that moment his eye +was fixed on a small creek ahead which they must necessarily leap or +dash across. It was lined with clumps of scattered shrubbery, and he +glanced rapidly for the most suitable place to pass. Joe and Henri did +the same, and having diverged a little to the different points chosen, +they dashed through the shrubbery and were hid from each other's view. +On approaching the edge of the stream, Dick found to his consternation +that the bank was twenty feet high opposite him, and too wide for any +horse to clear. Wheeling aside without checking speed, at the risk of +throwing his steed, he rode along the margin of the stream for a few +hundred yards until he found a ford--at least such a spot as might be +cleared by a bold leap. The temporary check, however, had enabled an +Indian to gain so close upon his heels that his exulting yell sounded +close in his ear. + +With a vigorous bound his gallant little horse went over. Crusoe could +not take it, but he rushed down the one bank and up the other, so that +he only lost a few yards. These few yards, however, were sufficient +to bring the Indian close upon him as he cleared the stream at full +gallop. The savage whirled his lasso swiftly round for a second, and +in another moment Crusoe uttered a tremendous roar as he was tripped +up violently on the plain. + +Dick heard the cry of his faithful dog, and turned quickly round, just +in time to see him spring at the horse's throat, and bring both steed +and rider down upon him. Dick's heart leaped to his throat. Had a +thousand savages been rushing on him he would have flown to the rescue +of his favourite; but an unexpected obstacle came in the way. His +fiery little steed, excited by the headlong race and the howls of the +Indians, had taken the bit in his teeth and was now unmanageable. Dick +tore at the reins like a maniac, and in the height of his frenzy even +raised the butt of his rifle with the intent to strike the poor horse +to the earth, but his better nature prevailed. He checked the uplifted +hand, and with, a groan dropped the reins, and sank almost helplessly +forward on the saddle; for several of the Indians had left the main +body and were pursuing him alone, so that there would have been now no +chance of his reaching the place where Crusoe fell, even if he could +have turned his horse. + +Spiritless, and utterly indifferent to what his fate might be, Dick +Varley rode along with his head drooping, and keeping his seat almost +mechanically, while the mettlesome little steed flew on over wave and +hollow. Gradually he awakened from this state of despair to a sense +of danger. Glancing round he observed that the Indians were now +far behind him, though still pursuing. He also observed that his +companions were galloping miles away on the horizon to the left, and +that he had foolishly allowed the savages to get between him and them. +The only chance that remained for him was to outride his pursuers, and +circle round towards his comrades, and this he hoped to accomplish, +for his little horse had now proved itself to be superior to those of +the Indians, and there was good running in him still. + +Urging him forward, therefore, he soon left the savages still farther +behind, and feeling confident that they could not now overtake him he +reined up and dismounted. The pursuers quickly drew near, but short +though it was the rest did his horse good. Vaulting into the saddle, +he again stretched out, and now skirted along the margin of a wood +which seemed to mark the position of a river of considerable size. + +At this moment his horse put his foot into a badger-hole, and both of +them came heavily to the ground. In an instant Dick rose, picked up +his gun, and leaped unhurt into the saddle. But on urging his poor +horse forward he found that its shoulder was badly sprained. + +There was no room for mercy, however--life and death were in the +balance--so he plied the lash vigorously, and the noble steed warmed +into something like a run, when again it stumbled, and fell with +a crash on the ground, while the blood burst from its mouth and +nostrils. Dick could hear the shout of triumph uttered by his +pursuers. + +"My poor, poor horse!" he exclaimed in a tone of the deepest +commiseration, while he stooped and stroked its foam-studded neck. + +The dying steed raised its head for a moment, it almost seemed as +if to acknowledge the tones of affection, then it sank down with a +gurgling groan. + +Dick sprang up, for the Indians were now upon him, and bounded like an +antelope into the thickest of the shrubbery; which was nowhere +thick enough, however, to prevent the Indians following. Still, it +sufficiently retarded them to render the chase a more equal one than +could have been expected. In a few minutes Dick gained a strip of open +ground beyond, and found himself on the bank of a broad river, whose +evidently deep waters rushed impetuously along their unobstructed +channel. The bank at the spot where he reached it was a sheer +precipice of between thirty and forty feet high. Glancing up and +down the river he retreated a few paces, turned round and shook his +clenched fist at the savages, accompanying the action with a shout of +defiance, and then running to the edge of the bank, sprang far out +into the boiling flood and sank. + +The Indians pulled up on reaching the spot. There was no possibility +of galloping down the wood-encumbered banks after the fugitive; but +quick as thought each Red-man leaped to the ground, and fitting an +arrow to his bow, awaited Dick's re-appearance with eager gaze. + +Young though he was, and unskilled in such wild warfare, Dick knew +well enough what sort of reception he would meet with on coming to the +surface, so he kept under water as long as he could, and struck out as +vigorously as the care of his rifle would permit. At last he rose for +a few seconds, and immediately half-a-dozen arrows whizzed through the +air; but most of them fell short--only one passed close to his cheek, +and went with a "whip" into the river. He immediately sank again, and +the next time he rose to breathe he was far beyond the reach of his +Indian enemies. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + +_Escape from Indians--A discovery--Alone in the desert_. + +Dick Varley had spent so much of his boyhood in sporting about among +the waters of the rivers and lakes near which he had been reared, and +especially during the last two years had spent so much of his leisure +time in rolling and diving with his dog Crusoe in the lake of the +Mustang Valley, that he had become almost as expert in the water as a +South Sea islander; so that when he found himself whirling down the +rapid river, as already described, he was more impressed with a +feeling of gratitude to God for his escape from the Indians than +anxiety about getting ashore. + +He was not altogether blind or indifferent to the danger into which he +might be hurled if the channel of the river should be found lower down +to be broken with rocks, or should a waterfall unexpectedly appear. +After floating down a sufficient distance to render pursuit out of the +question, he struck into the bank opposite to that from which he had +plunged, and clambering up to the greensward above, stripped off the +greater part of his clothing and hung it on the branches of a bush to +dry. Then he sat down on the trunk of a fallen tree to consider what +course he had best pursue in his present circumstances. + +These circumstances were by no means calculated to inspire him with +hope or comfort. He was in the midst of an unknown wilderness, +hundreds of miles from any white man's settlement; surrounded by +savages; without food or blanket; his companions gone, he knew not +whither--perhaps taken and killed by the Indians; his horse dead; and +his dog, the most trusty and loving of all his friends, lost to him, +probably, for ever! A more veteran heart might have quailed in the +midst of such accumulated evils; but Dick Varley possessed a strong, +young, and buoyant constitution, which, united with a hopefulness +of disposition that almost nothing could overcome, enabled him very +quickly to cast aside the gloomy view of his case and turn to its +brighter aspects. + +He still grasped his good rifle, that was some comfort; and as his eye +fell upon it, he turned with anxiety to examine into the condition of +his powder-horn and the few things that he had been fortunate enough +to carry away with him about his person. + +The horn in which western hunters carry their powder is usually that +of an ox. It is closed up at the large end with a piece of hard wood +fitted tightly into it, and the small end is closed with a wooden peg +or stopper. It is therefore completely water-tight, and may be for +hours immersed without the powder getting wet, unless the stopper +should chance to be knocked out. Dick found, to his great +satisfaction, that the stopper was fast and the powder perfectly dry. +Moreover, he had by good fortune filled it full two days before from +the package that contained the general stock of ammunition, so that +there were only two or three charges out of it. His percussion caps, +however, were completely destroyed; and even though they had not +been, it would have mattered little, for he did not possess more than +half-a-dozen. But this was not so great a misfortune as at first +it might seem, for he had the spare flint locks and the little +screw-driver necessary for fixing and unfixing them stowed away in his +shot pouch. + +To examine his supply of bullets was his next care, and slowly he +counted them out, one by one, to the number of thirty. This was a +pretty fair supply, and with careful economy would last him many days. +Having relieved his mind on these all-important points, he carefully +examined every pouch and corner of his dress to ascertain the exact +amount and value of his wealth. + +Besides the leather leggings, moccasins, deerskin hunting-shirt, +cap, and belt which composed his costume, he had a short heavy +hunting-knife, a piece of tinder, a little tin pannikin, which he had +been in the habit of carrying at his belt, and a large cake of maple +sugar. This last is a species of sugar which is procured by the +Indians from the maple-tree. Several cakes of it had been carried off +from the Pawnee village, and Dick usually carried one in the breast of +his coat. Besides these things, he found that the little Bible, for +which his mother had made a small inside breast-pocket, was safe. +Dick's heart smote him when he took it out and undid the clasp, for he +had not looked at it until that day. It was firmly bound with a brass +clasp, so that, although the binding and the edges of the leaves were +soaked, the inside was quite dry. On opening the book to see if it +had been damaged, a small paper fell out. Picking it up quickly, he +unfolded it, and read, in his mother's handwriting: "_Call upon me in +the time of trouble; and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify +me. My son, give me thine heart_." + +Dick's eyes filled with tears while the sound, as it were, of +his mother's voice thus reached him unexpectedly in that lonely +wilderness. Like too many whose hearts are young and gay, Dick had +regarded religion, if not as a gloomy, at least as not a cheerful +thing. But he felt the comfort of these words at that moment, and he +resolved seriously to peruse his mother's parting gift in time to +come. + +The sun was hot, and a warm breeze gently shook the leaves, so that +Dick's garments were soon dry. A few minutes served to change the +locks of his rifle, draw the wet charges, dry out the barrels, and +re-load. Then throwing it across his shoulder, he entered the wood +and walked lightly away. And well he might, poor fellow, for at that +moment he felt light enough in person if not in heart. His worldly +goods were not such as to oppress him; but the little note had turned +his thoughts towards home, and he felt comforted. + +Traversing the belt of woodland that marked the course of the river, +Dick soon emerged on the wide prairie beyond, and here he paused in +some uncertainty as to how he should proceed. + +He was too good a backwoodsman, albeit so young, to feel perplexed as +to the points of the compass. He knew pretty well what hour it was, so +that the sun showed him the general bearings of the country, and he +knew that when night came he could correct his course by the pole +star. Dick's knowledge of astronomy was limited; he knew only one star +by name, but that one was an inestimable treasure of knowledge. His +perplexity was owing to his uncertainty as to the direction in which +his companions and their pursuers had gone; for he had made up his +mind to follow their trail if possible, and render all the succour his +single arm might afford. To desert them, and make for the settlement, +he held, would be a faithless and cowardly act. + +While they were together Joe Blunt had often talked to him about the +route he meant to pursue to the Rocky Mountains, so that, if they had +escaped the Indians, he thought there might be some chance of finding +them at last. But, to set against this, there was the probability that +they had been taken and carried away in a totally different direction; +or they might have taken to the river, as he had done, and gone +farther down without his observing them. Then, again, if they had +escaped, they would be sure to return and search the country round for +him, so that if he left the spot he might miss them. + +"Oh for my dear pup Crusoe!" he exclaimed aloud in this dilemma; but +the faithful ear was shut now, and the deep silence that followed his +cry was so oppressive that the young hunter sprang forward at a +run over the plain, as if to fly from solitude. He soon became so +absorbed, however, in his efforts to find the trail of his companions, +that he forgot all other considerations, and ran straight forward for +hours together with his eyes eagerly fixed on the ground. At last he +felt so hungry, having tasted no food since supper-time the previous +evening, that he halted for the purpose of eating a morsel of maple +sugar. A line of bushes in the distance indicated water, so he sped on +again, and was soon seated beneath a willow, drinking water from the +cool stream. No game was to be found here, but there were several +kinds of berries, among which wild grapes and plums grew in abundance. +With these and some sugar he made a meal, though not a good one, for +the berries were quite green and intensely sour. + +All that day Dick Varley followed up the trail of his companions, +which he discovered at a ford in the river. They had crossed, +therefore, in safety, though still pursued; so he ran on at a regular +trot, and with a little more hope than he had felt during the day. +Towards night, however, Dick's heart sank again, for he came upon +innumerable buffalo tracks, among which those of the horses soon +became mingled up, so that he lost them altogether. Hoping to find +them again more easily by broad daylight, he went to the nearest clump +of willows he could find, and encamped for the night. + +Remembering the use formerly made of the tall willows, he set to work +to construct a covering to protect him from the dew. As he had no +blanket or buffalo skin, he used leaves and grass instead, and found +it a better shelter than he had expected, especially when the fire was +lighted, and a pannikin of hot sugar and water smoked at his feet; but +as no game was to be found, he was again compelled to sup off unripe +berries. Before lying down to rest he remembered his resolution, and +pulling out the little Bible, read a portion of it by the fitful blaze +of the fire, and felt great comfort in its blessed words. It seemed +to him like a friend with whom he could converse in the midst of his +loneliness. + +The plunge into the river having broken Dick's pipe and destroyed his +tobacco, he now felt the want of that luxury very severely, and, never +having wanted it before, he was greatly surprised to find how much he +had become enslaved to the habit. It cost him more than an hour's rest +that night, the craving for his wonted pipe. + +The sagacious reader will doubtless not fail here to ask himself the +question, whether it is wise in man to create in himself an unnatural +and totally unnecessary appetite, which may, and often does, entail +hours--ay, sometimes months--of exceeding discomfort; but we would +not for a moment presume to suggest such a question to him. We have a +distinct objection to the ordinary method of what is called "drawing a +moral." It is much better to leave wise men to do this for themselves. + +Next morning Dick rose with the sun, and started without breakfast, +preferring to take his chance of finding a bird or animal of some kind +before long, to feeding again on sour berries. He was disappointed, +however, in finding the tracks of his companions. The ground here was +hard and sandy, so that little or no impression of a distinct kind was +made on it; and as buffaloes had traversed it in all directions, he +was soon utterly bewildered. He thought it possible that, by running +out for several miles in a straight line, and then taking a wide +circuit round, he might find the tracks emerging from the confusion +made by the buffaloes. But he was again disappointed, for the buffalo +tracks still continued, and the ground became less capable of showing +a footprint. + +Soon Dick began to feel so ill and weak from eating such poor fare, +that he gave up all hope of discovering the tracks, and was compelled +to push forward at his utmost speed in order to reach a less barren +district, where he might procure fresh meat; but the farther he +advanced the worse and more sandy did the district become. For several +days he pushed on over this arid waste without seeing bird or beast, +and, to add to his misery, he failed at last to find water. For a day +and a night he wandered about in a burning fever, and his throat so +parched that he was almost suffocated. Towards the close of the second +day he saw a slight line of bushes away down in a hollow on his right. +With eager steps he staggered towards them, and, on drawing near, +beheld--blessed sight!--a stream of water glancing in the beams of the +setting sun. + +Dick tried to shout for joy, but his parched throat refused to give +utterance to the voice. It mattered not. Exerting all his remaining +strength he rushed down the bank, dropped his rifle, and plunged +headforemost into the stream. + +The first mouthful sent a thrill of horror to his heart; it was salt +as brine! + +The poor youth's cup of bitterness was now full to overflowing. +Crawling out of the stream, he sank down on the bank in a species of +lethargic torpor, from which, he awakened next morning in a raging +fever. Delirium soon rendered him insensible to his sufferings. The +sun rose like a ball of fire, and shone down with scorching power on +the arid plain. What mattered it to Dick? He was far away in the shady +groves of the Mustang Valley, chasing the deer at times, but more +frequently cooling his limbs and sporting with Crusoe in the bright +blue lake. Now he was in his mother's cottage, telling her how he had +thought of her when far away on the prairie, and what a bright, sweet +word it was she had whispered in his ear--so unexpectedly, too. Anon +he was scouring over the plains on horseback, with the savages at his +heels; and at such times Dick would spring with almost supernatural +strength from the ground, and run madly over the burning plain; but, +as if by a species of fascination, he always returned to the salt +river, and sank exhausted by its side, or plunged helplessly into its +waters. + +These sudden immersions usually restored him for a short time to +reason, and he would crawl up the bank and gnaw a morsel of the maple +sugar; but he could not eat much, for it was in a tough, compact cake, +which his jaws had not power to break. All that day and the next night +he lay on the banks of the salt stream, or rushed wildly over the +plain. It was about noon of the second day after his attack that he +crept slowly out of the water, into which he had plunged a few seconds +before. His mind was restored, but he felt an indescribable sensation +of weakness, that seemed to him to be the approach of death. Creeping +towards the place where his rifle lay, he fell exhausted beside it, +and laid his cheek on the Bible, which had fallen out of his pocket +there. + +While his eyes were closed in a dreamy sort of half-waking slumber, he +felt the rough, hairy coat of an animal brush against his forehead. +The idea of being torn to pieces by wolves flashed instantly across +his mind, and with a shriek of terror he sprang up--to be almost +overwhelmed by the caresses of his faithful dog. + +Yes, there he was, bounding round his master, barking and whining, and +giving vent to every possible expression of canine joy! + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + +_Crusoe's return, and his private adventures among the Indians--Dick +at a very low ebb--Crusoe saves him_. + +The means by which Crusoe managed to escape from his two-legged +captors, and rejoin his master, require separate and special notice. + +In the struggle with the fallen horse and Indian, which Dick had seen +begun but not concluded, he was almost crushed to death; and the +instant the Indian gained his feet, he sent an arrow at his head with +savage violence. Crusoe, however, had been so well used to dodging the +blunt-headed arrows that were wont to be shot at him by the boys of +the Mustang Valley, that he was quite prepared, and eluded the shaft +by an active bound. Moreover, he uttered one of his own peculiar +roars, flew at the Indian's throat, and dragged him down. At the same +moment the other Indians came up, and one of them turned aside to the +rescue. This man happened to have an old gun, of the cheap sort at +that time exchanged for peltries by the fur-traders. With the butt of +this he struck Crusoe a blow on the head that sent him sprawling on +the grass. + +The rest of the savages, as we have seen, continued in pursuit of Dick +until he leaped into the river; then they returned, took the saddle +and bridle off his dead horse, and rejoined their comrades. Here they +held a court-martial on Crusoe, who was now bound foot and muzzle +with cords. Some were for killing him; others, who admired his noble +appearance, immense size, and courage, thought it would be well to +carry him to their village and keep him. There was a pretty violent +dispute on the subject, but at length it was agreed that they should +spare his life in the meantime, and perhaps have a dog-dance round him +when they got to their wigwams. + +This dance, of which Crusoe was to be the chief though passive +performer, is peculiar to some of the tribes east of the Rocky +Mountains, and consists in killing a dog and cutting out its liver, +which is afterwards sliced into shreds or strings and hung on a pole +about the height of a man's head. A band of warriors then come and +dance wildly round this pole, and each one in succession goes up to +the raw liver and bites a piece off it, without, however, putting his +hands near it. Such is the dog-dance, and to such was poor Crusoe +destined by his fierce captors, especially by the one whose throat +still bore very evident marks of his teeth. + +But Crusoe was much too clever a dog to be disposed of in so +disgusting a manner. He had privately resolved in his own mind that +he would escape; but the hopelessness of his ever carrying that +resolution into effect would have been apparent to any one who could +have seen the way in which his muzzle was secured, and his four paws +were tied together in a bunch, as he hung suspended across the saddle +of one of the savages! + +This particular party of Indians who had followed Dick Varley +determined not to wait for the return of their comrades who were in +pursuit of the other two hunters, but to go straight home, so for +several days they galloped away over the prairie. At nights, when they +encamped, Crusoe was thrown on the ground like a piece of old lumber, +and left to lie there with a mere scrap of food till morning, when he +was again thrown across the horse of his captor and carried on. When +the village was reached, he was thrown again on the ground, and would +certainly have been torn to pieces in five minutes by the Indian curs +which came howling round him, had not an old woman come to the rescue +and driven them away. With the help of her grand-son--a little naked +creature, just able to walk, or rather to stagger--she dragged him to +her tent, and, undoing the line that fastened his mouth, offered him a +bone. + +Although lying in a position that was unfavourable for eating +purposes, Crusoe opened his jaws and took it. An awful crash was +followed by two crunches--and it was gone! and Crusoe looked up in the +old squaw's face with a look that said plainly, "Another of the same, +please, and as quick as possible." The old woman gave him another, +and then a lump of meat, which latter went down with a gulp; but he +coughed after it! and it was well he didn't choke. After this the +squaw left him, and Crusoe spent the remainder of that night gnawing +the cords that bound him. So diligent was he that he was free before +morning and walked deliberately out of the tent. Then he shook +himself, and with a yell that one might have fancied was intended for +defiance he bounded joyfully away, and was soon out of sight. + +To a dog with a good appetite which had been on short allowance for +several days, the mouthful given to him by the old squaw was a mere +nothing. All that day he kept bounding over the plain from bluff to +bluff in search of something to eat, but found nothing until dusk, +when he pounced suddenly and most unexpectedly on a prairie-hen fast +asleep. In one moment its life was gone. In less than a minute its +body was gone too--feathers and bones and all--down Crusoe's ravenous +throat. + +On the identical spot Crusoe lay down and slept like a top for four +hours. At the end of that time he jumped up, bolted a scrap of skin +that somehow had been overlooked at supper, and flew straight over the +prairie to the spot where he had had the scuffle with the Indian. He +came to the edge of the river, took precisely the same leap that his +master had done before him, and came out on the other side a good deal +higher up than Dick had done, for the dog had no savages to dodge, and +was, as we have said before, a powerful swimmer. + +It cost him a good deal of running about to find the trail, and it was +nearly dark before he resumed his journey; then, putting his keen nose +to the ground, he ran step by step over Dick's track, and at last +found him, as we have shown, on the banks of the salt creek. + +It is quite impossible to describe the intense joy which filled Dick's +heart on again beholding his favourite. Only those who have lost and +found such an one can know it. Dick seized him round the neck and +hugged him as well as he could, poor fellow! in his feeble arms; then +he wept, then he laughed, and then he fainted. + +This was a consummation that took Crusoe quite aback. Never having +seen his master in such a state before he seemed to think at first +that he was playing some trick, for he bounded round him, and barked, +and wagged his tail. But as Dick lay quite still and motionless, he +went forward with a look of alarm; snuffed him once or twice, and +whined piteously; then he raised his nose in the air and uttered a +long melancholy wail. + +The cry seemed to revive Dick, for he moved, and with some difficulty +sat up, to the dog's evident relief. There is no doubt whatever that +Crusoe learned an erroneous lesson that day, and was firmly convinced +thenceforth that the best cure for a fainting fit is a melancholy +yell. So easy is it for the wisest of dogs as well as men to fall into +gross error! + +"Crusoe," said Dick, in a feeble voice, "dear good pup, come here." +He crawled, as he spoke, down to the water's edge, where there was a +level patch of dry sand. + +"Dig," said Dick, pointing to the sand. + +Crusoe looked at him in surprise, as well he might, for he had never +heard the word "dig" in all his life before. + +Dick pondered a minute then a thought struck him. + +He turned up a little of the sand with his fingers, and, pointing to +the hole, cried, "_Seek him out, pup_!" + +Ha! Crusoe understood _that_. Many and many a time had he unhoused +rabbits, and squirrels, and other creatures at that word of command; +so, without a moment's delay, he commenced to dig down into the sand, +every now and then stopping for a moment and shoving in his nose, and +snuffing interrogatively, as if he fully expected to find a buffalo at +the bottom of it. Then he would resume again, one paw after another +so fast that you could scarce see them going--"hand over hand," as +sailors would have called it--while the sand flew out between his hind +legs in a continuous shower. When the sand accumulated so much behind +him as to impede his motions he scraped it out of his way, and set to +work again with tenfold earnestness. After a good while he paused and +looked up at Dick with an "it-won't-do,-I-fear,-there's-nothing-here" +expression on his face. + +"Seek him out, pup!" repeated Dick. + +"Oh! very good," mutely answered the dog, and went at it again, tooth +and nail, harder than ever. + +In the course of a quarter of an hour there was a deep yawning hole +in the sand, into which Dick peered with intense anxiety. The bottom +appeared slightly _damp_. Hope now reanimated Dick Varley, and by +various devices he succeeded in getting the dog to scrape away a sort +of tunnel from the hole, into which he might roll himself and put down +his lips to drink when the water should rise high enough. Impatiently +and anxiously he lay watching the moisture slowly accumulate in the +bottom of the hole, drop by drop, and while he gazed he fell into a +troubled, restless slumber, and dreamed that Crusoe's return was a +dream, and that he was alone again, perishing for want of water. + +When he awakened the hole was half full of clear water, and Crusoe was +lapping it greedily. + +"Back, pup!" he shouted, as he crept down to the hole and put his +trembling lips to the water. It was brackish, but drinkable, and as +Dick drank deeply of it he esteemed it at that moment better than +nectar. Here he lay for half-an-hour, alternately drinking and gazing +in surprise at his own emaciated visage as reflected in the pool. + +The same afternoon Crusoe, in a private hunting excursion of his own, +discovered and caught a prairie-hen, which he quietly proceeded to +devour on the spot, when Dick, who saw what had occurred, whistled to +him. + +Obedience was engrained in every fibre of Crusoe's mental and +corporeal being. He did not merely answer at once to the call--he +_sprang_ to it, leaving the prairie-hen untasted. + +"Fetch it, pup," cried Dick eagerly as the dog came up. + +In a few moments the hen was at his feet. Dick's circumstances could +not brook the delay of cookery; he gashed the bird with his knife and +drank the blood, and then gave the flesh to the dog, while he crept +to the pool again for another draught. Ah! think not, reader, that +although we have treated this subject in a slight vein of pleasantry, +because it ended well, that therefore our tale is pure fiction. Not +only are Indians glad to satisfy the urgent cravings of hunger with +raw flesh, but many civilized men and delicately nurtured have done +the same--ay, and doubtless will do the same again, as long as +enterprising and fearless men shall go forth to dare the dangers of +flood and field in the wild places of our wonderful world! + +Crusoe had finished his share of the feast before Dick returned from +the pool. Then master and dog lay down together side by side and fell +into a long, deep, peaceful slumber. + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + +_Health and happiness return_--Incidents of the journey_--_A buffalo +shot_--_A wild horse "creased"_--_Dick's battle with a mustang_. + +Dick Varley's fears and troubles, in the meantime, were ended. On the +day following he awoke refreshed and happy--so happy and light at +heart, as he felt the glow of returning health coursing through his +veins, that he fancied he must have dreamed it all. In fact, he was so +certain that his muscles were strong that he endeavoured to leap up, +but was powerfully convinced of his true condition by the miserable +stagger that resulted from the effort. + +However, he knew he was recovering, so he rose, and thanking God for +his recovery, and for the new hope that was raised in his heart, he +went down to the pool and drank deeply of its water. Then he returned, +and, sitting down beside his dog, opened the Bible and read long--and, +for the first time, _earnestly_--the story of Christ's love for sinful +man. He at last fell asleep over the book, and when he awakened felt +so much refreshed in body and mind that he determined to attempt to +pursue his journey. + +He had not proceeded far when he came upon a colony of prairie-dogs. +Upon this occasion he was little inclined to take a humorous view of +the vagaries of these curious little creatures, but he shot one, and, +as before, ate part of it raw. These creatures are so active that they +are difficult to shoot, and even when killed generally fall into their +holes and disappear. Crusoe, however, soon unearthed the dead animal +on this occasion. That night the travellers came to a stream of fresh +water, and Dick killed a turkey, so that he determined to spend a +couple of days there to recruit. At the end of that time he again set +out, but was able only to advance five miles when he broke down. In +fact, it became evident to him that he must have a longer period of +absolute repose ere he could hope to continue his journey; but to do +so without food was impossible. Fortunately there was plenty of water, +as his course lay along the margin of a small stream, and, as the arid +piece of prairie was now behind him, he hoped to fall in with birds, +or perhaps deer, soon. + +While he was plodding heavily and wearily along, pondering these +things, he came to the brow of a wave from which he beheld a most +magnificent view of green grassy plains decked with flowers, and +rolling out to the horizon, with a stream meandering through it, and +clumps of trees scattered everywhere far and wide. It was a glorious +sight; but the most glorious object in it to Dick, at that time, was a +fat buffalo which stood grazing not a hundred yards off. The wind was +blowing towards him, so that the animal did not scent him, and, as he +came up very slowly, and it was turned away, it did not see him. + +Crusoe would have sprung forward in an instant, but his master's +finger imposed silence and caution. Trembling with eagerness, Dick +sank flat down in the grass, cocked both barrels of his piece, and, +resting it on his left hand with his left elbow on the ground, he +waited until the animal should present its side. In a few seconds +it moved; Dick's eye glanced along the barrel, but it trembled--his +wonted steadiness of aim was gone. He fired, and the buffalo sprang +off in terror. With a groan of despair he fired again--almost +recklessly--and the buffalo fell! It rose once or twice and stumbled +forward a few paces, then it fell again. Meanwhile Dick reloaded with +trembling hand, and advanced to give it another shot; but it was not +needful--the buffalo was already dead. + +"Now, Crusoe," said Dick, sitting down on the buffalo's shoulder and +patting his favourite on the head, "we're all right at last. You and I +shall have a jolly time o't, pup, from this time for'ard." + +Dick paused for breath, and Crusoe wagged his tail and looked as if to +say--pshaw! "_as if!_" + +We tell you what it is, reader, it's of no use at all to go on writing +"as if," when we tell you what Crusoe said. If there is any language +in eyes whatever--if there is language in a tail, in a cocked ear, in +a mobile eyebrow, in the point of a canine nose,--if there is language +in any terrestrial thing at all, apart from that which flows from the +tongue, then Crusoe _spoke!_ Do we not speak at this moment to _you?_ +and if so, then tell me wherein lies the difference between a written +_letter_ and a given _sign?_ + +Yes, Crusoe spoke. He said to Dick as plain as dog could say it, +slowly and emphatically, "That's my opinion precisely, Dick. You're +the dearest, most beloved, jolliest fellow that ever walked on two +legs, you are; and whatever's your opinion is mine, no matter _how_ +absurd it may be." + +Dick evidently understood him perfectly, for he laughed as he looked +at him and patted him on the head, and called him a "funny dog." Then +he continued his discourse:-- + +"Yes, pup, we'll make our camp here for a long bit, old dog, in this +beautiful plain. We'll make a willow wigwam to sleep in, you and I, +jist in yon clump o' trees, not a stone's-throw to our right, where +we'll have a run o' pure water beside us, and be near our buffalo at +the same time. For, ye see, we'll need to watch him lest the wolves +take a notion to eat him--that'll be _your_ duty, pup. Then I'll skin +him when I get strong enough, which'll be in a day or two, I hope, and +we'll put one-half of the skin below us and t'other half above us +i' the camp, an' sleep, an' eat, an' take it easy for a week or +two--won't we, pup?" + +"Hoora-a-a-y!" shouted Crusoe, with a jovial wag of his tail, that no +human arm with hat, or cap, or kerchief ever equalled. + +Poor Dick Varley! He smiled to think how earnestly he had been talking +to the dog; but he did not cease to do it, for although he entered +into discourses the drift of which Crusoe's limited education did not +permit him to follow, he found comfort in hearing the sound of his own +voice, and in knowing that it fell pleasantly on another ear in that +lonely wilderness. + +Our hero now set about his preparations as vigorously as he could. He +cut out the buffalo's tongue--a matter of great difficulty to one in +his weak state--and carried it to a pleasant spot near to the stream +where the turf was level and green, and decked with wild flowers. Here +he resolved to make his camp. + +His first care was to select a bush whose branches were long enough to +form a canopy over his head when bent, and the ends thrust into the +ground. The completing of this exhausted him greatly, but after a rest +he resumed his labours. The next thing was to light a fire--a comfort +which he had not enjoyed for many weary days. Not that he required it +for warmth, for the weather was extremely warm, but he required it to +cook with, and the mere _sight_ of a blaze in a dark place is a most +heart-cheering thing, as every one knows. + +When the fire was lighted he filled his pannikin at the brook and put +it on to boil, and cutting several slices of buffalo tongue, he thrust +short stakes through them and set them up before the fire to roast. By +this time the water was boiling, so he took it off with difficulty, +nearly burning his fingers and singeing the tail of his coat in so +doing. Into the pannikin he put a lump of maple sugar, and stirred it +about with a stick, and tasted it. It seemed to him even better than +tea or coffee. It was absolutely delicious! + +Really one has no notion what he can do if he makes believe _very +hard_. The human mind is a nicely balanced and extremely complex +machine, and when thrown a little off the balance can be made +to believe almost anything, as we see in the case of some poor +monomaniacs, who have fancied that they were made of all sorts of +things--glass and porcelain, and such like. No wonder then that poor +Dick Varley, after so much suffering and hardship, came to regard that +pannikin of hot sirup as the most delicious beverage he ever drank. + +During all these operations Crusoe sat on his haunches beside him and +looked. And you haven't, no, you haven't got the most distant notion +of the way in which that dog manoeuvred with his head and face. He +opened his eyes wide, and cocked his ears, and turned his head first a +little to one side, then a little to the other. After that he turned +it a _good deal_ to one side, and then a good deal more to the other. +Then he brought it straight, and raised one eyebrow a little, and then +the other a little, and then both together very much. Then, when Dick +paused to rest and did nothing, Crusoe looked mild for a moment, and +yawned vociferously. Presently Dick moved--up went the ears again, and +Crusoe came, in military parlance, "to the position of attention!" At +last supper was ready and they began. + +Dick had purposely kept the dog's supper back from him, in order that +they might eat it in company. And between every bite and sup that Dick +took, he gave a bite--but not a sup--to Crusoe. Thus lovingly they +ate together; and when Dick lay that night under the willow branches, +looking up through them at the stars, with his feet to the fire and +Crusoe close along his side, he thought it the best and sweetest +supper he ever ate, and the happiest evening he ever spent--so +wonderfully do circumstances modify our notions of felicity. + +Two weeks after this "Richard was himself again." + +The muscles were springy, and the blood coursed fast and free, as was +its wont. Only a slight, and, perhaps, salutary feeling of weakness +remained, to remind him that young muscles might again become more +helpless than those of an aged man or a child. + +Dick had left his encampment a week ago, and was now advancing by +rapid stages towards the Rocky Mountains, closely following the trail +of his lost comrades, which he had no difficulty in finding and +keeping now that Crusoe was with him. The skin of the buffalo that he +had killed was now strapped to his shoulders, and the skin of another +animal that he had shot a few days after was cut up into a long line +and slung in a coil round his neck. Crusoe was also laden. He had a +little bundle of meat slung on each side of him. + +For some time past numerous herds of mustangs, or wild horses, had +crossed their path, and Dick was now on the look-out for a chance to +_crease_ one of those magnificent creatures. + +On one occasion a band of mustangs galloped close up to him before +they were aware of his presence, and stopped short with a wild snort +of surprise on beholding him; then, wheeling round, they dashed away +at full gallop, their long tails and manes flying wildly in the air, +and their hoofs thundering on the plain. Dick did not attempt to +crease one upon this occasion, fearing that his recent illness might +have rendered his hand too unsteady for so extremely delicate an +operation. + +In order to crease a wild horse the hunter requires to be a perfect +shot, and it is not every man of the west who carries a rifle that can +do it successfully. Creasing consists in sending a bullet through the +gristle of the mustang's neck, just above the bone, so as to stun the +animal. If the ball enters a hair's-breadth too low, the horse +falls dead instantly. If it hits the exact spot, the horse falls as +instantaneously, and dead to all appearance; but, in reality, he is +only stunned, and if left for a few minutes will rise and gallop away +nearly as well as ever. When hunters crease a horse successfully they +put a rope, or halter, round his under jaw and hobbles round his feet, +so that when he rises he is secured, and, after considerable trouble, +reduced to obedience. + +The mustangs which roam in wild freedom on the prairies of the far +west are descended from the noble Spanish steeds that were brought +over by the wealthy cavaliers who accompanied Fernando Cortez, the +conqueror of Mexico, in his expedition to the New World in 1518. These +bold, and, we may add, lawless cavaliers were mounted on the finest +horses that could be procured from Barbary and the deserts of the Old +World. The poor Indians of the New World were struck with amazement +and terror at these awful beings, for, never having seen horses +before, they believed that horse and rider were one animal. During the +wars that followed many of the Spaniards were killed, and their +steeds bounded into the wilds of the new country, to enjoy a life of +unrestrained freedom. These were the forefathers of the present race +of magnificent creatures which are found in immense droves all over +the western wilderness, from the Gulf of Mexico to the confines of the +snowy regions of the far north. + +At first the Indians beheld these horses with awe and terror, but +gradually they became accustomed to them, and finally succeeded in +capturing great numbers and reducing them to a state of servitude. +Not, however, to the service of the cultivated field, but to the +service of the chase and war. The savages soon acquired the method of +capturing wild horses by means of the lasso--as the noose at that end +of a long line of raw hide is termed--which they adroitly threw over +the heads of the animals and secured them, having previously run them +down. At the present day many of the savage tribes of the west almost +live upon horseback, and without these useful creatures they could +scarcely subsist, as they are almost indispensable in the chase of the +buffalo. + +Mustangs are regularly taken by the Indians to the settlements of the +white men for trade, but very poor specimens are these of the breed +of wild horses. This arises from two causes. First, the Indian cannot +overtake the finest of a drove of wild mustangs, because his own steed +is inferior to the best among the wild ones, besides being weighted +with a rider, so that only the weak and inferior animals are captured. +And, secondly, when the Indian does succeed in lassoing a first-rate +horse he keeps it for his own use. Thus, those who have not visited +the far-off prairies and seen the mustang in all the glory of +untrammelled freedom, can form no adequate idea of its beauty, +fleetness, and strength. + +The horse, however, was not the only creature imported by Cortez. +There were priests in his army who rode upon asses, and although we +cannot imagine that the "fathers" charged with the cavaliers and were +unhorsed, or, rather, un-assed in battle, yet, somehow, the asses got +rid of their riders and joined the Spanish chargers in their joyous +bound into a new life of freedom. Hence wild asses also are found in +the western prairies. But think not, reader, of those poor miserable +wretches we see at home, which seem little better than rough door-mats +sewed up and stuffed, with head, tail, and legs attached, and just +enough of life infused to make them move! No, the wild ass of the +prairie is a large powerful, swift creature. He has the same long +ears, it is true, and the same hideous, exasperating bray, and the +same tendency to flourish his heels; but for all that he is a very +fine animal, and often wages _successful_ warfare with the wild horse. + +But to return. The next drove of mustangs that Dick and Crusoe saw +were feeding quietly and unsuspectingly in a rich green hollow in the +plain. Dick's heart leaped up as his eyes suddenly fell on them, +for he had almost discovered himself before he was aware of their +presence. + +"Down, pup!" he whispered, as he sank and disappeared among the grass, +which was just long enough to cover him when lying quite flat. + +Crusoe crouched immediately, and his master made his observations of +the drove, and the dispositions of the ground that might favour his +approach, for they were not within rifle range. Having done so he +crept slowly back until the undulation of the prairie hid him from +view; then he sprang to his feet, and ran a considerable distance +along the bottom until he gained the extreme end of a belt of low +bushes, which would effectually conceal him while he approached to +within a hundred yards or less of the troop. + +Here he made his arrangements. Throwing down his buffalo robe, he took +the coil of line and cut off a piece of about three yards in length. +On this he made a running noose. The longer line he also prepared with +a running noose. These he threw in a coil over his arm. + +He also made a pair of hobbles, and placed them in the breast of his +coat, and then, taking up his rifle, advanced cautiously through the +bushes--Crusoe following close behind him. In a few minutes he was +gazing in admiration at the mustangs, which were now within easy shot, +and utterly ignorant of the presence of man, for Dick had taken care +to approach in such a way that the wind did not carry the scent of him +in their direction. + +And well might he admire them. The wild horse of these regions is not +very large, but it is exceedingly powerful, with prominent eye, +sharp nose, distended nostril, small feet, and a delicate leg. Their +beautiful manes hung at great length down their arched necks, and +their thick tails swept the ground. One magnificent fellow in +particular attracted Dick's attention. He was of a rich dark-brown +colour, with black mane and tail, and seemed to be the leader of the +drove. + +Although not the nearest to him, he resolved to crease this horse. It +is said that creasing generally destroys or damages the spirit of the +horse, so Dick determined to try whether his powers of close shooting +would not serve him on this occasion. Going down on one knee he aimed +at the creature's neck, just a hair's-breadth above the spot where he +had been told that hunters usually hit them, and fired. The effect +upon the group was absolutely tremendous. With wild cries and snorting +terror they tossed their proud heads in the air, uncertain for one +moment in which direction to fly; then there was a rush as if a +hurricane swept over the place, and they were gone. + +But the brown horse was down. Dick did not wait until the others +had fled. He dropped his rifle, and with the speed of a deer sprang +towards the fallen horse, and affixed the hobbles to his legs. His aim +had been true. Although scarcely half a minute elapsed between the +shot and the fixing of the hobbles, the animal recovered, and with a +frantic exertion rose on his haunches, just as Dick had fastened the +noose of the short line in his under jaw. But this was not enough. If +the horse had gained his feet before the longer line was placed round +his neck, he would have escaped. As the mustang made the second +violent plunge that placed it on its legs, Dick flung the noose +hastily; it caught on one ear, and would have fallen off, had not the +horse suddenly shaken its head, and unwittingly sealed its own fate by +bringing the noose round its neck. + +And now the struggle began. Dick knew well enough, from hearsay, the +method of "breaking down" a wild horse. He knew that the Indians choke +them with the noose round the neck until they fall down exhausted and +covered with foam, when they creep up, fix the hobbles, and the line +in the lower jaw, and then loosen the lasso to let the horse breathe, +and resume its plungings till it is almost subdued, when they +gradually draw near and breathe into its nostrils. But the violence +and strength of this animal rendered this an apparently hopeless task. +We have already seen that the hobbles and noose in the lower jaw +had been fixed, so that Dick had nothing now to do but to choke his +captive, and tire him out, while Crusoe remained a quiet though +excited spectator of the scene. + +But there seemed to be no possibility of choking this horse. Either +the muscles of his neck were too strong, or there was something +wrong with the noose which prevented it from acting, for the furious +creature dashed and bounded backwards and sideways in its terror for +nearly an hour, dragging Dick after it, till he was almost exhausted; +and yet, at the end of that time, although flecked with foam and +panting with terror, it seemed as strong as ever. Dick held both +lines, for the short one attached to its lower jaw gave him great +power over it. At last he thought of seeking assistance from his dog. + +"Crusoe," he cried, "lay hold, pup!" + +The dog seized the long line in his teeth and pulled with all his +might. At the same moment Dick let go the short line and threw all +his weight upon the long one. The noose tightened suddenly under this +strain, and the mustang, with a gasp, fell choking to the ground. + +Dick had often heard of the manner in which the Mexicans "break" their +horses, so he determined to abandon the method which had already +almost worn him out, and adopt the other, as far as the means in his +power rendered it possible. Instead, therefore, of loosening the lasso +and re-commencing the struggle, he tore a branch from a neighbouring +bush, cut the hobbles, strode with his legs across the fallen steed, +seized the end of the short line or bridle, and then, ordering Crusoe +to quit his hold, he loosened the noose which compressed the horse's +neck and had already well-nigh terminated its existence. + +One or two deep sobs restored it, and in a moment it leaped to its +feet with Dick firmly on its back. To say that the animal leaped and +kicked in its frantic efforts to throw this intolerable burden +would be a tame manner of expressing what took place. Words cannot +adequately describe the scene. It reared, plunged, shrieked, vaulted +into the air, stood straight up on its hind legs, and then almost as +straight upon its fore ones; but its rider held on like a burr. Then +the mustang raced wildly forwards a few paces, then as wildly back, +and then stood still and trembled violently. But this was only a brief +lull in the storm, so Dick saw that the time was now come to assert +the superiority of his race. + +"Stay back, Crusoe, and watch my rifle, pup," he cried, and raising +his heavy switch he brought it down with a sharp cut across the +horse's flank, at the same time loosening the rein which hitherto he +had held tight. + +The wild horse uttered a passionate cry, and sprang forward like the +bolt from a cross-bow. + +And now commenced a race which, if not so prolonged, was at least as +furious as that of the far-famed Mazeppa. Dick was a splendid rider, +however--at least as far as "sticking on" goes. He might not have come +up to the precise pitch desiderated by a riding-master in regard to +carriage, etc., but he rode that wild horse of the prairie with as +much ease as he had formerly ridden his own good steed, whose bones +had been picked by the wolves not long ago. + +The pace was tremendous, for the youth's weight was nothing to that +muscular frame, which bounded with cat-like agility from wave to wave +of the undulating plain in ungovernable terror. In a few minutes the +clump of willows where Crusoe and his rifle lay were out of sight +behind; but it mattered not, for Dick had looked up at the sky and +noted the position of the sun at the moment of starting. Away they +went on the wings of the wind, mile after mile over the ocean-like +waste--curving slightly aside now and then to avoid the bluffs that +occasionally appeared on the scene for a few minutes and then swept +out of sight behind them. Then they came to a little rivulet. It was a +mere brook of a few feet wide, and two or three yards, perhaps, from +bank to bank. Over this they flew so easily that the spring was +scarcely felt, and continued the headlong course. And now a more +barren country was around them. Sandy ridges and scrubby grass +appeared everywhere, reminding Dick of the place where he had been +so ill. Rocks, too, were scattered about, and at one place the horse +dashed with clattering hoofs between a couple of rocky sand-hills +which, for a few seconds, hid the prairie from view. Here the mustang +suddenly shied with such violence that his rider was nearly thrown, +while a rattlesnake darted from the path. Soon they emerged from this +pass, and again the plains became green and verdant. Presently a +distant line of trees showed that they were approaching water, and +in a few minutes they were close on it. For the first time Dick felt +alarm. He sought to check his steed, but no force he could exert had +the smallest influence on it. + +Trees and bushes flew past in bewildering confusion. The river was +before him; what width, he could not tell, but he was reckless now, +like his charger, which he struck with the willow rod with all his +force as they came up. One tremendous bound, and they were across, but +Dick had to lie flat on the mustang's back as it crashed through the +bushes to avoid being scraped off by the trees. Again they were on the +open plain, and the wild horse began to show signs of exhaustion. + +Now was its rider's opportunity to assert his dominion. He plied the +willow rod and urged the panting horse on, until it was white with +foam and laboured a little in its gait. Then Dick gently drew the +halter, and it broke into a trot; still tighter, and it walked, and in +another minute stood still, trembling in every limb. Dick now quietly +rubbed its neck, and spoke to it in soothing tones; then he wheeled it +gently round, and urged it forward. It was quite subdued and docile. +In a little time they came to the river and forded it, after which +they went through the belt of woodland at a walk. By the time they +reached the open prairie the mustang was recovered sufficiently to +feel its spirit returning, so Dick gave it a gentle touch with the +switch, and away they went on their return journey. + +But it amazed Dick not a little to find how long that journey was. +Very different was the pace, too, from the previous mad gallop, and +often would the poor horse have stopped had Dick allowed him. But this +might not be. The shades of night were approaching, and the camp lay a +long way ahead. + +At last it was reached, and Crusoe came out with great demonstrations +of joy, but was sent back lest he should alarm the horse. Then Dick +jumped off his back, stroked his head, put his cheek close to his +mouth and whispered softly to him, after which he fastened him to a +tree and rubbed him down slightly with a bunch of grass. Having done +this, he left him to graze as far as his tether would permit; and, +after supping with Crusoe, lay down to-rest, not a little elated with +his success in this first attempt at "creasing" and "breaking" a +mustang. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + +_Dick becomes a horse tamer--Resumes his journey--Charlie's +doings--Misfortunes which lead to, but do not terminate in, the Rocky +Mountains--A grizzly bear_. + +There is a proverb--or a saying--or at least somebody or book has told +us, that some Irishman once said, "Be aisy; or, if ye can't be aisy, +be as aisy as ye can." + +Now, we count that good advice, and strongly recommend it to all and +sundry. Had we been at the side of Dick Varley on the night after his +taming of the wild horse, we would have strongly urged that advice +upon him. Whether he would have listened to it or not is quite another +question; we rather think not. Reader, if you wish to know why, go and +do what he did, and if you feel no curious sensations about the region +of the loins after it, we will tell you why Dick Varley wouldn't have +listened to that advice. Can a man feel as if his joints were wrenched +out of their sockets, and listen to advice--be that advice good or +bad? Can he feel as though these joints were trying to re-set and +re-dislocate themselves perpetually, and listen to advice? Can he feel +as if he were sitting down on red-hot iron, when he's not sitting down +at all, and listen to advice? Can he--but no! why pursue the subject. +Poor Dick spent that night in misery, and the greater part of the +following day in sleep, to make up for it. + +When he got up to breakfast in the afternoon he felt much better, but +shaky. + +"Now, pup," he said, stretching himself, "we'll go and see our horse. +_Ours_, pup; yours and mine: didn't you help to catch him, eh, pup?" + +Crusoe acknowledged the fact with a wag and a playful +"bow-wow--wow-oo-ow!" and followed his master to the place where +the horse had been picketed. It was standing there quite quiet, but +looking a little timid. + +Dick went boldly up to it, and patted its head and stroked its nose, +for nothing is so likely to alarm either a tame or a wild horse as any +appearance of timidity or hesitation on the part of those who approach +them. + +After treating it thus for a short time, he stroked down its neck, +and then its shoulders--the horse eying him all the time nervously. +Gradually he stroked its back and limbs gently, and walked quietly +round and round it once or twice, sometimes approaching and sometimes +going away, but never either hesitating or doing anything abruptly. +This done, he went down to the stream and filled his cap with water +and carried it to the horse, which snuffed suspiciously and backed a +little; so he laid the cap down, and went up and patted him again. +Presently he took up the cap and carried it to his nose. The poor +creature was almost choking with thirst, so that, the moment he +understood what was in the cap, he buried his lips in it and sucked it +up. + +This was a great point gained: he had accepted a benefit at the hands +of his new master; he had become a debtor to man, and no doubt he felt +the obligation. Dick filled the cap and the horse emptied it again, +and again, and again, until its burning thirst was slaked. Then Dick +went up to his shoulder, patted him, undid the line that fastened him, +and vaulted lightly on his back! + +We say _lightly_, for it was so, but it wasn't _easily_, as Dick could +have told you! However, he was determined not to forego the training +of his steed on account of what _he_ would have called a "little bit +pain." + +At this unexpected act the horse plunged and reared a good deal, and +seemed inclined to go through the performance of the day before over +again; but Dick patted and stroked him into quiescence, and having +done so, urged him into a gallop over the plains, causing the dog to +gambol round in order that he might get accustomed to him. This tried +his nerves a good deal, and no wonder, for if he took Crusoe for a +wolf, which no doubt he did, he must have thought him a very giant of +the pack. + +By degrees they broke into a furious gallop, and after breathing him +well, Dick returned and tied him to the tree. Then he rubbed him down +again, and gave him another drink. This time the horse smelt his new +master all over, and Dick felt that he had conquered him by kindness. +No doubt the tremendous run of the day before could scarcely be called +kindness, but without this subduing run he never could have brought +the offices of kindness to bear on so wild a steed. + +During all these operations Crusoe sat looking on with demure +sagacity--drinking in wisdom and taking notes. We know not whether any +notes made by the canine race have ever been given to the world, but +certain are we that, if the notes and observations made by Crusoe on +that journey were published, they would, to say the least, surprise +us! + +Next day Dick gave the wild horse his second lesson, and his name. +He called him "Charlie," after a much-loved companion in the Mustang +Valley. And long and heartily did Dick Varley laugh as he told the +horse his future designation in the presence of Crusoe, for it struck +him as somewhat ludicrous that a mustang which, two days ago, pawed +the earth in all the pride of independent freedom, should suddenly +come down so low as to carry a hunter on his back and be named +Charlie. + +The next piece of instruction began by Crusoe being led up under +Charlie's nose, and while Dick patted the dog with his right hand he +patted the horse with his left. It backed a good deal at first and +snorted, but Crusoe walked slowly and quietly in front of him several +times, each time coming nearer, until he again stood under his nose; +then the horse smelt him nervously, and gave a sigh of relief when he +found that Crusoe paid no attention to him whatever. Dick then ordered +the dog to lie down at Charlie's feet, and went to the camp to fetch +his rifle, and buffalo robe, and pack of meat. These and all the other +things belonging to him were presented for inspection, one by one, to +the horse, who arched his neck, and put forward his ears, and eyed +them at first, but smelt them all over, and seemed to feel more easy +in his mind. + +Next, the buffalo robe was rubbed over his nose, then over his eyes +and head, then down his neck and shoulder, and lastly was placed on +his back. Then it was taken off and _flung_ on; after that it was +strapped on, and the various little items of the camp were attached to +it. This done, Dick took up his rifle and let him smell it; then he +put his hand on Charlie's shoulder, vaulted on to his back, and rode +away. + +Charlie's education was completed. And now our hero's journey began +again in earnest, and with some prospect of its speedy termination. + +In this course of training through which Dick put his wild horse, he +had been at much greater pains and had taken far longer time than is +usually the case among the Indians, who will catch, and "break," and +ride a wild horse into camp in less than _three hours_. But Dick +wanted to do the thing well, which the Indians are not careful to +do; besides, it must be borne in remembrance that this was his +first attempt, and that his horse was one of the best and most +high-spirited, while those caught by the Indians, as we have said, are +generally the poorest of a drove. + +Dick now followed the trail of his lost companions at a rapid pace, +yet not so rapidly as he might have done, being averse to exhausting +his good dog and his new companion. Each night he encamped under the +shade of a tree or a bush when he could find one, or in the open +prairie when there were none, and, picketing his horse to a short +stake or pin which he carried with him for the purpose, lit his fire, +had supper, and lay down to rest. In a few days Charlie became so +tame and so accustomed to his master's voice that he seemed quite +reconciled to his new life. There can be no doubt whatever that he had +a great dislike to solitude; for on one occasion, when Dick and Crusoe +went off a mile or so from the camp, where Charlie was tied, and +disappeared from his view, he was heard to neigh so loudly that Dick +ran back, thinking the wolves must have attacked him. He was all +right, however, and exhibited evident tokens of satisfaction when they +returned. + +On another occasion his fear of being left alone was more clearly +demonstrated. + +Dick had been unable to find wood or water that day, so he was obliged +to encamp upon the open plain. The want of water was not seriously +felt, however, for he had prepared a bladder in which he always +carried enough to give him one pannikin of hot sirup, and leave +a mouthful for Crusoe and Charlie. Dried buffalo dung formed a +substitute for fuel. Spreading his buffalo robe, he lit his fire, put +on his pannikin to boil, and stuck up a piece of meat to roast, to the +great delight of Crusoe, who sat looking on with much interest. + +Suddenly Charlie, who was picketed a few hundred yards off in a grassy +spot, broke his halter close by the headpiece, and with a snort of +delight bounded away, prancing and kicking up his heels! + +Dick heaved a deep sigh, for he felt sure that his horse was gone. +However, in a little Charlie stopped, and raised his nose high in the +air, as if to look for his old equine companions. But they were gone; +no answering neigh replied to his; and he felt, probably for the first +time, that he was really alone in the world. Having no power of smell, +whereby he might have traced them out as the dog would have done, he +looked in a bewildered and excited state all round the horizon. Then +his eye fell on Dick and Crusoe sitting by their little fire. Charlie +looked hard at them, and then again at the horizon; and then, coming +to the conclusion, no doubt, that the matter was quite beyond his +comprehension, he quietly took to feeding. + +Dick availed himself of the chance, and tried to catch him; but he +spent an hour with Crusoe in the vain attempt, and at last they gave +it up in disgust and returned to the fire, where they finished their +supper and went to bed. + +Next morning they saw Charlie feeding close at hand, so they took +breakfast, and tried to catch him again. But it was of no use; he was +evidently coquetting with them, and dodged about and defied their +utmost efforts, for there were only a few inches of line hanging to +his head. At last it occurred to Dick that he would try the experiment +of forsaking him. So he packed up his things, rolled up the buffalo +robe, threw it and the rifle on his shoulder, and walked deliberately +away. + +"Come along, Crusoe!" he cried, after walking a few paces. + +But Crusoe stood by the fire with his head up, and an expression on +his face that said, "Hallo, man! what's wrong? You've forgot Charlie! +Hold on! Are you mad?" + +"Come here, Crusoe!" cried his master in a decided tone. + +Crusoe obeyed at once. Whatever mistake there might be, there was +evidently none in that command; so he lowered his head and tail +humbly, and trotted on with his master, but he perpetually turned his +head as he went, first on this side and then on that, to look and +wonder at Charlie. + +When they were far away on the plain, Charlie suddenly became aware +that something was wrong. He trotted to the brow of a slope, with his +head and tail very high up indeed, and looked after them; then he +looked at the fire, and neighed; then he trotted quickly up to it, and +seeing that everything was gone he began to neigh violently, and at +last started off at full speed, and overtook his friends, passing +within a few feet of them, and, wheeling round a few yards off, stood +trembling like an aspen leaf. + +Dick called him by his name and advanced, while Charlie met him +half-way, and allowed himself to be saddled, bridled, and mounted +forthwith. + +After this Dick had no further trouble with his wild horse. + +At his next camping-place, which was in the midst of a cluster of +bushes close beside a creek, Dick came unexpectedly upon a little +wooden cross which marked the head of a grave. There was no +inscription on it, but the Christian symbol told that it was the grave +of a white man. It is impossible to describe the rush of mingled +feelings that filled the soul of the young hunter as he leaned on the +muzzle of his rifle and looked at this solitary resting-place of one +who, doubtless like himself, had been a roving hunter. Had he been +young or old when he fell? had he a mother in the distant settlement +who watched and longed and waited for the son that was never more to +gladden her eyes? had he been murdered, or had he died there and been +buried by his sorrowing comrades? These and a thousand questions +passed rapidly through his mind as he gazed at the little cross. + +Suddenly he started. "Could it be the grave of Joe or Henri?" For an +instant the idea sent a chill to his heart; but it passed quickly, for +a second glance showed that the grave was old, and that the wooden +cross had stood over it for years. + +Dick turned away with a saddened heart; and that night, as he pored +over the pages of his Bible, his mind was filled with many thoughts +about eternity and the world to come. He, too, must come to the grave +one day, and quit the beautiful prairies and his loved rifle. It was a +sad thought; but while he meditated he thought upon his mother. "After +all," he murmured, "there must be happiness _without_ the rifle, and +youth, and health, and the prairie! My mother's happy, yet she don't +shoot, or ride like wild-fire over the plains." Then that word which +had been sent so sweetly to him through her hand came again to his +mind, "My son, give me thine heart;" and as he read God's Book, he met +with the word, "Delight thyself in the Lord, and he shall give thee +the desire of thine heart." "_The desire of thine heart_" Dick +repeated this, and pondered it till he fell asleep. + +A misfortune soon after this befell Dick Varley which well-nigh caused +him to give way to despair. For some time past he had been approaching +the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains--those ragged, jagged, +mighty hills which run through the whole continent from north to south +in a continuous chain, and form, as it were, the backbone of America. +One morning, as he threw the buffalo robe off his shoulders and sat +up, he was horrified to find the whole earth covered with a mantle +of snow. We say he was horrified, for this rendered it absolutely +impossible any further to trace his companions either by scent or +sight. + +For some time he sat musing bitterly on his sad fate, while his dog +came and laid his head sympathizingly on his arm. + +"Ah, pup!" he said, "I know ye'd help me if ye could! But it's all up +now; there's no chance of findin' them--none!" + +To this Crusoe replied by a low whine. He knew full well that +something distressed his master, but he hadn't yet ascertained what +it was. As something had to be done, Dick put the buffalo robe on +his steed, and mounting said, as he was in the habit of doing each +morning, "Lead on, pup." + +Crusoe put his nose to the ground and ran forward a few paces, then he +returned and ran about snuffing and scraping up the snow. At last he +looked up and uttered a long melancholy howl. + +"Ah! I knowed it," said Dick, pushing forward. "Come on, pup; you'll +have to _follow_ now. Any way we must go on." + +The snow that had fallen was not deep enough to offer the slightest +obstruction to their advance. It was, indeed, only one of those +occasional showers common to that part of the country in the late +autumn, which season had now crept upon Dick almost before he was +aware of it, and he fully expected that it would melt away in a few +days. In this hope he kept steadily advancing, until he found himself +in the midst of those rocky fastnesses which divide the waters that +flow into the Atlantic from those that flow into the Pacific Ocean. +Still the slight crust of snow lay on the ground, and he had no means +of knowing whether he was going in the right direction or not. + +Game was abundant, and there was no lack of wood now, so that his +night bivouac was not so cold or dreary as might have been expected. + +Travelling, however, had become difficult, and even dangerous, owing +to the rugged nature of the ground over which he proceeded. The +scenery had completely changed in its character. Dick no longer +coursed over the free, open plains, but he passed through beautiful +valleys filled with luxuriant trees, and hemmed in by stupendous +mountains, whose rugged sides rose upward until the snow-clad peaks +pierced the clouds. + +There was something awful in these dark solitudes, quite overwhelming +to a youth of Dick's temperament. His heart began to sink lower and +lower every day, and the utter impossibility of making up his mind +what to do became at length agonizing. To have turned and gone back +the hundreds of miles over which he had travelled would have caused +him some anxiety under any circumstances, but to do so while Joe and +Henri were either wandering about there or in the power of the savages +was, he felt, out of the question. Yet in which way should he go? +Whatever course he took might lead him farther and farther away from +them. + +In this dilemma he came to the determination of remaining where he +was, at least until the snow should leave the ground. + +He felt great relief even when this hopeless course was decided +upon, and set about making himself an encampment with some degree of +cheerfulness. When he had completed this task, he took his rifle, and +leaving Charlie picketed in the centre of a dell, where the long, rich +grass rose high above the snow, went off to hunt. + +On turning a rocky point his heart suddenly bounded into his throat, +for there, not thirty yards distant, stood a huge grizzly bear! + +Yes, there he was at last, the monster to meet which the young hunter +had so often longed--the terrible size and fierceness of which he had +heard so often spoken about by the old hunters. There it stood at +last; but little did Dick Varley think that the first time he should +meet with his foe should be when alone in the dark recesses of the +Rocky Mountains, and with none to succour him in the event of the +battle going against him. Yes, there was one. The faithful Crusoe +stood by his side, with his hair bristling, all his formidable teeth +exposed, and his eyes glaring in their sockets. Alas for poor Crusoe +had he gone into that combat alone! One stroke of that monster's paw +would have hurled him dead upon the ground. + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + +_Dick's first fight with a grizzly_--_Adventure with a deer_--_A +surprise_. + + +There is no animal in all the land so terrible and dangerous as the +grizzly bear. Not only is he the largest of the species in America, +but he is the fiercest, the strongest, and the most tenacious of +life--facts which are so well understood that few of the western +hunters like to meet him single-handed, unless they happen to be +first-rate shots; and the Indians deem the encounter so dangerous that +to wear a collar composed of the claws of a grizzly bear of his own +killing is counted one of the highest honours to which a young warrior +can attain. + +The grizzly bear resembles the brown bear of Europe, but it is larger, +and the hair is long, the points being of a paler shade. About the +head there is a considerable mixture of gray hair, giving it the +"grizzly" appearance from which it derives its name. The claws are +dirty white, arched, and very long, and so strong that when the animal +strikes with its paw they cut like a chisel. These claws are not +embedded in the paw, as is the case with the cat, but always project +far beyond the hair, thus giving to the foot a very ungainly +appearance. They are not sufficiently curved to enable the grizzly +bear to climb trees, like the black and brown bears; and this +inability on their part is often the only hope of the pursued hunter, +who, if he succeeds in ascending a tree, is safe, for the time at +least, from the bear's assaults. But "Caleb" is a patient creature, +and will often wait at the foot of the tree for many hours for his +victim. + +The average length of his body is about nine feet, but he sometimes +attains to a still larger growth. Caleb is more carnivorous in his +habits than other bears; but, like them, he does not object to indulge +occasionally in vegetable diet, being partial to the bird-cherry, the +choke-berry, and various shrubs. He has a sweet tooth, too, and revels +in honey--when he can get it. + +The instant the grizzly bear beheld Dick Varley standing in his path, +he rose on his hind legs and made a loud hissing noise, like a man +breathing quick, but much harsher. To this Crusoe replied by a deep +growl, and showing the utmost extent of his teeth, gums and all; and +Dick cocked both barrels of his rifle. + +To say that Dick Varley felt no fear would be simply to make him out +that sort of hero which does not exist in nature--namely, a _perfect_ +hero. He _did_ feel a sensation as if his bowels had suddenly melted +into water! Let not our reader think the worse of Dick for this. There +is not a man living who, having met with a huge grizzly bear for the +first time in his life in a wild, solitary place, all alone, has +not experienced some such sensation. There was no cowardice in this +feeling. + +Fear is not cowardice. Acting in a wrong and contemptible manner +because of our fear is cowardice. + +It is said that Wellington or Napoleon, we forget which, once stood +watching the muster of the men who were to form the forlorn-hope in +storming a citadel. There were many brave, strong, stalwart men there, +in the prime of life, and flushed with the blood of high health and +courage. There were also there a few stern-browed men of riper years, +who stood perfectly silent, with lips compressed, and as pale as +death. "Yonder veterans," said the general, pointing to these +soldiers, "are men whose courage I can depend on; they _know_ what +they are going to, the others _don't!_" Yes, these young soldiers +_very probably_ were brave; the others _certainly_ were. + +Dick Varley stood for a few seconds as if thunderstruck, while the +bear stood hissing at him. Then the liquefaction of his interior +ceased, and he felt a glow of fire gush through his veins. Now Dick +knew well enough that to fly from a grizzly bear was the sure and +certain way of being torn to pieces, as when taken thus by surprise +they almost invariably follow a retreating enemy. He also knew that +if he stood where he was, perfectly still, the bear would get +uncomfortable under his stare, and would retreat from him. But he +neither intended to run away himself nor to allow the bear to do so; +he intended to kill it, so he raised his rifle quickly, "drew a bead," +as the hunters express it, on the bear's heart, and fired. + +It immediately dropped on its fore legs and rushed at him. "Back, +Crusoe! out of the way, pup!" shouted Dick, as his favourite was about +to spring forward. + +The dog retired, and Dick leaped behind a tree. As the bear passed he +gave it the contents of the second barrel behind the shoulder, which +brought it down; but in another moment it rose and again rushed at +him. Dick had no time to load, neither had he time to spring up the +thick tree beside which he stood, and the rocky nature of the ground +out of which it grew rendered it impossible to dodge round it. His +only resource was flight; but where was he to fly to? If he ran along +the open track, the bear would overtake him in a few seconds. On the +right was a sheer precipice one hundred feet high; on the left was an +impenetrable thicket. In despair he thought for an instant of clubbing +his rifle and meeting the monster in close conflict; but the utter +hopelessness of such an effort was too apparent to be entertained for +a moment. He glanced up at the overhanging cliffs. There were one or +two rents and projections close above him. In the twinkling of an eye +he sprang up and grasped a ledge of about an inch broad, ten or twelve +feet up, to which he clung while he glanced upward. Another projection +was within reach; he gained it, and in a few seconds he stood upon a +ledge about twenty feet up the cliff, where he had just room to plant +his feet firmly. + +Without waiting to look behind, he seized his powder-horn and loaded +one barrel of his rifle; and well was it for him that his early +training had fitted him to do this with rapidity, for the bear dashed +up the precipice after him at once. The first time it missed its hold, +and fell back with a savage growl; but on the second attempt it sunk +its long claws into the fissures between the rocks, and ascended +steadily till within a foot of the place where Dick stood. + +At this moment Crusoe's obedience gave way before a sense of Dick's +danger. Uttering one of his lion-like roars, he rushed up the +precipice with such violence that, although naturally unable to climb, +he reached and seized the bear's flank, despite his master's stern +order to "keep back," and in a moment the two rolled down the face of +the rock together, just as Dick completed loading. + +Knowing that one stroke of the bear's paw would be certain death to +his poor dog, Dick leaped from his perch, and with one bound reached +the ground at the same moment with the struggling animals, and close +beside them, and, before they had ceased rolling, he placed the muzzle +of his rifle into the bear's ear, and blew out its brains. + +Crusoe, strange to say, escaped with only one scratch on the side. It +was a deep one, but not dangerous, and gave him but little pain at the +time, although it caused him many a smart for some weeks after. + +Thus happily ended Dick's first encounter with a grizzly bear; and +although, in the course of his wild life, he shot many specimens of +"Caleb," he used to say that "he an' pup were never so near goin' +under as on the day he dropped _that_ bar!" + +Having refreshed himself with a long draught from a neighbouring +rivulet, and washed Crusoe's wound, Dick skinned the bear on the spot. +"We chawed him up that time, didn't we, pup?" said Dick, with a smile +of satisfaction, as he surveyed his prize. + +Crusoe looked up and assented to this. + +"Gave us a hard tussle, though; very nigh sent us both under, didn't +he, pup?" + +Crusoe agreed entirely, and, as if the remark reminded him of +honourable scars, he licked his wound. + +"Ah, pup!" cried Dick, sympathetically, "does't hurt ye, eh, poor +dog?" + +Hurt him? such a question! No, he should think not; better ask if that +leap from the precipice hurt yourself. + +So Crusoe might have said, but he didn't; he took no notice of the +remark whatever. + +"We'll cut him up now, pup," continued Dick. "The skin'll make a +splendid bed for you an' me o' nights, and a saddle for Charlie." + +Dick cut out all the claws of the bear by the roots, and spent the +remainder of that night in cleaning them and stringing them on a strip +of leather to form a necklace. Independently of the value of these +enormous claws (the largest as long as a man's middle finger) as an +evidence of prowess, they formed a remarkably graceful collar, which +Dick wore round his neck ever after with as much pride as if he had +been a Pawnee warrior. + +When it was finished he held it out at arm's-length, and said, +"Crusoe, my pup, ain't ye proud of it? I'll tell ye what it is, pup, +the next time you an' I floor Caleb, I'll put the claws round _your_ +neck, an' make ye wear em ever arter, so I will." + +The dog did not seem quite to appreciate this piece of prospective +good fortune. Vanity had no place in his honest breast, and, sooth to +say, it had not a large place in that of his master either, as we may +well grant when we consider that this first display of it was on the +occasion of his hunter's soul having at last realized its brightest +day-dream. + +Dick's dangers and triumphs seemed to accumulate on him rather thickly +at this place, for on the very next day he had a narrow escape of +being killed by a deer. The way of it was this. + +Having run short of meat, and not being particularly fond of grizzly +bear steak, he shouldered his rifle and sallied forth in quest of +game, accompanied by Crusoe, whose frequent glances towards his +wounded side showed that, whatever may have been the case the day +before, it "hurt" him now. + +They had not gone far when they came on the track of a deer in the +snow, and followed it up till they spied a magnificent buck about +three hundred yards off, standing in a level patch of ground which was +everywhere surrounded either by rocks or thicket. It was a long shot, +but as the nature of the ground rendered it impossible for Dick to get +nearer without being seen, he fired, and wounded the buck so badly +that he came up with it in a few minutes. The snow had drifted in the +place where it stood bolt upright, ready for a spring, so Dick went +round a little way, Crusoe following, till he was in a proper position +to fire again. Just as he pulled the trigger, Crusoe gave a howl +behind him and disturbed his aim, so that he feared he had missed; but +the deer fell, and he hurried towards it. On coming up, however, +the buck sprang to its legs, rushed at him with its hair bristling, +knocked him down in the snow, and deliberately commenced stamping him +to death. + +Dick was stunned for a moment, and lay quite still, so the deer left +off pommelling him, and stood looking at him. But the instant he moved +it plunged at him again and gave him another pounding, until he was +content to lie still. This was done several times, and Dick felt his +strength going fast. He was surprised that Crusoe did not come to his +rescue, and once he cleared his mouth and whistled to him; but as the +deer gave him another pounding for this, he didn't attempt it again. +He now for the first time bethought him of his knife, and quietly drew +it from his belt; but the deer observed the motion, and was on him +again in a moment. Dick, however, sprang up on his left elbow, and +making several desperate thrusts upward, succeeded in stabbing the +animal to the heart. + +Rising and shaking the snow from his garments, he whistled loudly to +Crusoe, and, on listening, heard him whining piteously. He hurried +to the place whence the sound came, and found that the poor dog +had fallen into a deep pit or crevice in the rocks, which had been +concealed from view by a crust of snow, and he was now making frantic +but unavailing efforts to leap out. + +Dick soon freed him from his prison by means of his belt, which he +let down for the dog to grasp, and then returned to camp with as much +deer-meat as he could carry. Dear meat it certainly was to him, for +it had nearly cost him his life, and left him all black and blue +for weeks after. Happily no bones were broken, so the incident only +confined him a day to his encampment. + +Soon after this the snow fell thicker than ever, and it became +evident that an unusually early winter was about to set in among the +mountains. This was a terrible calamity, for if the regular snow of +winter set in, it would be impossible for him either to advance or +retreat. + +While he was sitting on his bearskin by the camp-fire one day, +thinking anxiously what he should do, and feeling that he must either +make the attempt to escape or perish miserably in that secluded spot, +a strange, unwonted sound struck upon his ear, and caused both him +and Crusoe to spring violently to their feet and listen. Could he be +dreaming?--it seemed like the sound of human voices. For a moment he +stood with his eyes rivetted on the ground, his lips apart, and his +nostrils distended, as he listened with the utmost intensity. Then he +darted out and bounded round the edge of a rock which concealed +an extensive but narrow valley from his view, and there, to his +amazement, he beheld a band of about a hundred human beings advancing +on horseback slowly through the snow. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + +_A surprise, and a piece of good news--The fur-traders--Crusoe proved, +and the Peigans pursued_. + + +Dick's first and most natural impulse, on beholding this band, was to +mount his horse and fly, for his mind naturally enough recurred to the +former rough treatment he had experienced at the hands of Indians. On +second thoughts, however, he considered it wiser to throw himself upon +the hospitality of the strangers; "for," thought he, "they can but +kill me, an' if I remain here I'm like to die at any rate." + +So Dick mounted his wild horse, grasped his rifle in his right hand, +and, followed by Crusoe, galloped full tilt down the valley to meet +them. + +He had heard enough of the customs of savage tribes, and had also of +late experienced enough, to convince him that when a man found himself +in the midst of an overwhelming force, his best policy was to assume +an air of confident courage. He therefore approached them at his +utmost speed. + +The effect upon the advancing band was electrical; and little wonder, +for the young hunter's appearance was very striking. His horse, from +having rested a good deal of late, was full of spirit. Its neck was +arched, its nostrils expanded, and its mane and tail never having been +checked in their growth flew wildly around him in voluminous curls. +Dick's own hair, not having been clipped for many months, appeared +scarcely less wild, as they thundered down the rocky pass at what +appeared a break-neck gallop. Add to this the grandeur of the scene +out of which they sprang, and the gigantic dog that bounded by his +side, and you will not be surprised to hear that the Indian warriors +clustered together, and prepared to receive this bold horseman as if +he, in his own proper person, were a complete squadron of cavalry. It +is probable, also, that they fully expected the tribe of which Dick +was the chief to be at his heels. + +As he drew near the excitement among the strangers seemed very great, +and, from the peculiarity of the various cries that reached him, he +knew that there were women and children in the band--a fact which, in +such a place and at such a season, was so unnatural that it surprised +him very much. He noted also that, though the men in front were +Indians, their dresses were those of trappers and hunters, and he +almost leaped out of his saddle when he observed that "_Pale-faces_" +were among them. But he had barely time to note these facts when he +was up with the band. According to Indian custom, he did not check his +speed till he was within four or five yards of the advance-guard, who +stood in a line before him, quite still, and with their rifles lying +loosely in their left palms; then he reined his steed almost on its +haunches. + +One of the Indians advanced and spoke a few words in a language which +was quite unintelligible to Dick, who replied, in the little Pawnee he +could muster, that he didn't understand him. + +"Why, you must be a trapper!" exclaimed a thick-set, middle-aged man, +riding out from the group. "Can you speak English?" + +"Ay, that can I," cried Dick joyfully, riding up and shaking the +stranger heartily by the hand; "an' right glad am I to fall in wi' a +white-skin an' a civil tongue in his head." + +"Good sooth, sir," replied the stranger, with a quiet smile on his +kind, weather-beaten face, "I can return you the compliment; for when +I saw you come thundering down the corrie with that wonderful horse +and no less wonderful dog of yours, I thought you were the wild man o' +the mountain himself, and had an ambush ready to back you. But, young +man, do you mean to say that you live here in the mountain all alone +after this fashion?" + +"No, that I don't. I've comed here in my travels, but truly this +bean't my home. But, sir (for I see you are what the fur-traders call +a bourgeois), how comes it that such a band as this rides i' the +mountains? D'ye mean to say that _they_ live here?" Dick looked round +in surprise, as he spoke, upon the crowd of mounted men and women, +with children and pack-horses, that now surrounded him. + +"'Tis a fair question, lad. I am a principal among the fur-traders +whose chief trading-post lies near the Pacific Ocean, on the west side +of these mountains; and I have come with these trappers and their +families, as you see, to hunt the beaver and other animals for a +season in the mountains. We've never been here before; but that's a +matter of little moment, for it's not the first time I've been on +what may be called a discovery-trading expedition. We are somewhat +entangled, however, just now among these wild passes, and if you can +guide us out of our difficulties to the east side of the mountains, +I'll thank you heartily and pay you well. But first tell me who and +what you are, if it's a fair question." + +"My name is Dick Varley, and my home's in the Mustang Valley, near +the Missouri River. As to _what_ I am--I'm nothin' yet, but I hope to +desarve the name o' a hunter some day. I can guide you to the east +side o' the mountains, for I've comed from there; but more than that I +can't do, for I'm a stranger to the country here, like yourself. But +you're on the east side o' the mountains already, if I mistake not; +only these mountains are so rugged and jumbled up, that it's not easy +tellin' where ye are. And what," continued Dick, "may be the name o' +the bourgeois who speaks to me?" + +"My name is Cameron--Walter Cameron--a well-known name among the +Scottish hills, although it sounds a little strange here. And now, +young man, will you join my party as guide, and afterwards remain as +trapper? It will pay you better, I think, than roving about alone." + +Dick shook his head and looked grave. "I'll guide you," said he, "as +far as my knowledge 'll help me; but after that I must return to look +for two comrades whom I have lost. They have been driven into the +mountains by a band of Injuns. God grant they may not have bin +scalped!" + +The trader's face looked troubled, and he spoke with one of his +Indians for a few minutes in earnest, hurried tones. + +"What were they like, young man?" + +Dick described them. + +"The same," continued the trader. "They've been seen, lad, not more +than two days ago, by this Indian here, when he was out hunting alone +some miles away from our camp. He came suddenly on a band of Indians +who had two prisoners with them, such as you describe. They were +stout, said you?" + +"Yes, both of them," cried Dick, listening with intense eagerness. + +"Ay. They were tied to their horses, an' from what I know of these +fellows I'm sure they're doomed. But I'll help you, my friend, as well +as I can. They can't be far from this. I treated my Indian's story +about them as a mere fabrication, for he's the most notorious liar in +my company; but he seems to have spoken truth for once." + +"Thanks, thanks, good sir," cried Dick. "Had we not best turn back and +follow them at once?" + +"Nay, friend, not quite so fast," replied Cameron, pointing to his +people. "These must be provided for first, but I shall be ready before +the sun goes down. And now, as I presume you don't bivouac in the +snow, will you kindly conduct us to your encampment, if it be not far +hence?" + +Although burning with impatience to fly to the rescue of his friends, +Dick felt constrained to comply with so reasonable a request, so +he led the way to his camping-place, where the band of fur-traders +immediately began to pitch their tents, cut down wood, kindle fires, +fill their kettles with water, cook their food, and, in fact, make +themselves comfortable. The wild spot which, an hour before, had been +so still, and grand, and gloomy, was now, as if by magic, transformed +into a bustling village, with bright fires blazing among the rocks and +bushes, and merry voices of men, women, and children ringing in +the air. It seemed almost incredible, and no wonder Dick, in his +bewilderment, had difficulty in believing it was not all a dream. + +In days long gone by the fur-trade in that country was carried on in a +very different way from the manner in which it is now conducted. These +wild regions, indeed, are still as lonesome and untenanted (save by +wild beasts and wandering tribes of Indians) as they were then; +but the Indians of the present day have become accustomed to the +"Pale-face" trader, whose little wooden forts or trading-posts are +dotted here and there, at wide intervals, all over the land. But in +the days of which we write it was not so. The fur-traders at that time +went forth in armed bands into the heart of the Indians' country, and +he who went forth did so "with his life in his hand." As in the case +of the soldier who went out to battle, there was great probability +that he might never return. + +The band of which Walter Cameron was the chief had, many months +before, started from one of the distant posts of Oregon on a hunting +expedition into the then totally unknown lands of the Snake Indians. +It consisted of about sixty men, thirty women, and as many children +of various ages--about a hundred and twenty souls in all. Many of the +boys were capable of using the gun and setting a beaver-trap. The men +were a most motley set. There were Canadians, half-breeds, Iroquois, +and Scotchmen. Most of the women had Indian blood in their veins, and +a few were pure Indians. + +The equipment of this strange band consisted of upwards of two +hundred beaver-traps--which are similar to our rat-traps, with this +difference, that they have two springs and no teeth--seventy guns, a +few articles for trade with the Indians, and a large supply of powder +and ball; the whole--men, women, children, goods, and chattels--being +carried on the backs of nearly four hundred horses. Many of these +horses, at starting, were not laden, being designed for the transport +of furs that were to be taken in the course of the season. + +For food this adventurous party depended entirely on their guns, and +during the march hunters were kept constantly out ahead. As a matter +of course, their living was precarious. Sometimes their kettles were +overflowing; at others they scarce refrained from eating their horses. +But during the months they had already spent in the wilderness good +living had been the rule, starvation the exception. They had already +collected a large quantity of beaver skins, which at that time were +among the most valuable in the market, although they are now scarcely +saleable! Having shot two wild horses, seven elks, six small deer, and +four big-horned sheep the day before they met Dick Varley, the camp +kettles were full, and the people consequently happy. + +"Now, Master Dick Varley," said Cameron, touching the young hunter on +the shoulder as he stood ready equipped by one of the camp-fires, +"I'm at your service. The people won't need any more looking after +to-night. I'll divide my men--thirty shall go after this rascally band +of Peigans, for such I believe they are, and thirty shall remain to +guard the camp. Are you ready?" + +"Ready! ay, this hour past." + +"Mount then, lad; the men have already been told off, and are +mustering down yonder where the deer gave you such a licking." + +Dick needed no second bidding. He vaulted on Charlie's back, and along +with their commander joined the men, who were thirty as fine, hardy, +reckless looking fellows as one could desire for a forlorn-hope. +They were chatting and laughing while they examined their guns and +saddle-girths. Their horses were sorry looking animals compared with +the magnificent creature that Dick bestrode, but they were hardy, +nevertheless, and well fitted for their peculiar work. + +"My! wot a blazer!" exclaimed a trapper as Dick rode up. + +"Where you git him?" inquired a half-breed. + +"I caught him," answered Dick. + +"Baw!" cried the first speaker. + +Dick took no notice of this last remark. + +"No, did ye though?" he asked again. + +"I did," answered Dick quietly. "I creased him in the prairie; you can +see the mark on his neck if you look." + +The men began to feel that the young hunter was perhaps a little +beyond them at their own trade, and regarded him with increased +respect. + +"Look sharp now, lads," said Cameron, impatiently, to several dilatory +members of the band. "Night will be on us ere long." + +"Who sold ye the bear-claw collar?" inquired another man of Dick. + +"I didn't buy it. I killed the bear and made it." + +"Did ye, though, all be yer lone?" + +"Ay; that wasn't much, was it?" + +"You've begun well, yonker," said a tall, middle-aged hunter, whose +general appearance was not unlike that of Joe Blunt. "Jest keep clear +o' the Injuns an' the grog bottle, an' ye've a glor'ous life before +ye." + +At this point the conversation was interrupted by the order being +given to move on, which was obeyed in silence, and the cavalcade, +descending the valley, entered one of the gorges in the mountains. + +For the first half-mile Cameron rode a little ahead of his men, then +he turned to speak to one of them, and for the first time observed +Crusoe trotting close beside his master's horse. + +"Ah! Master Dick," he exclaimed with a troubled expression, "that +won't do. It would never do to take a dog on an expedition like this." + +"Why not?" asked Dick; "the pup's quiet and peaceable." + +"I doubt it not; but he will betray our presence to the Indians, which +might be inconvenient." + +"I have travelled more than a thousand miles through prairie and +forest, among game an' among Injuns, an' the pup never betrayed me +yet," said Dick, with suppressed vehemence. "He has saved my life more +than once though." + +"You seem to have perfect confidence in your dog, but as this is a +serious matter you must not expect me to share in it without proof of +his trustworthiness." + +"The pup may be useful to us; how would you have it proved?" inquired +Dick. + +"Any way you like." + +"You forgot your belt at starting, I think I heerd ye say." + +"Yes, I did," replied the trader, smiling. + +Dick immediately took hold of Cameron's coat, and bade Crusoe smell +it, which the dog did very carefully. Then he showed him his own belt +and said, "Go back to the camp and fetch it, pup." + +Crusoe was off in a moment, and in less than twenty minutes returned +with Cameron's belt in his mouth. + +"Well, I'll trust him," said Cameron, patting Crusoe's head. "Forward, +lads!" and away they went at a brisk trot along the bottom of a +beautiful valley on each side of which the mountains towered in dark +masses. Soon the moon rose and afforded light sufficient to enable +them to travel all night in the track of the Indian hunter who said he +had seen the Peigans, and who was constituted guide to the party. Hour +after hour the horsemen pressed on without check, now galloping over a +level plain, now bounding by the banks of a rivulet, or bending their +heads to escape the boughs of overhanging trees, and anon toiling +slowly up among the rocks of some narrow defile. At last the moon set, +and the order was given to halt in a little plain where there were +wood and water. + +The horses were picketed, a fire kindled, a mouthful of dried meat +hastily eaten, the watch was set, and then each man scraped away the +snow, spread some branches on the ground, and wrapping himself in his +blanket, went to sleep with his feet presented towards the fire. + +Two hours were allowed for rest; then they were awakened, and in a few +minutes were off again by the gray light of dawn. In this way they +travelled two nights and a day. At the end of that time they came +suddenly on a small party of nine Indians, who were seated on the +ground with their snow-shoes and blankets by their sides. They had +evidently been taken by surprise, but they made no attempt to escape, +knowing that it was useless. Each sat still with his bow and arrows +between his legs on the ground ready for instant use. + +As soon as Cameron spoke, however, in their own language they felt +relieved, and began to talk. + +"Where do you come from, and what are you doing here?" asked the +trader. + +"We have come to trade with the white men," one of them replied, "and +to hunt. We have come from the Missouri. Our country is far away." + +"Do Peigans hunt with _war-arrows?_" asked Cameron, pointing to their +weapons. + +This question seemed to perplex them, for they saw that their +interrogator knew the difference between a war and a hunting +arrow--the former being barbed in order to render its extraction from +the wound difficult, while the head of the latter is round, and can be +drawn out of game that has been killed, and used again. + +"And do Peigans," continued Cameron, "come from a far country to trade +with the white men _with nothing?_" + +Again the Indians were silent, for they had not an article to trade +about them. + +Cameron now felt convinced that this party of Peigans, into whose +hands Joe Blunt and Henri had fallen, were nothing else than a war +party, and that the men now before him were a scouting party sent out +from them, probably to spy out his own camp, on the trail of which +they had fallen, so he said to them:-- + +"The Peigans are not wise men; they tell lies to the traders. I +will tell you that you are a war party, and that you are only a +few warriors sent out to spy the traders' camp. You have also two +_Pale-face_ prisoners in your camp. You cannot deceive me. It is +useless to try. Now, conduct me to your camp. My object is not war; it +is peace. I will speak with your chiefs about trading with the white +men, and we will smoke the pipe of peace. Are my words good?" + +Despite their proverbial control of muscle, these Indians could not +conceal their astonishment at hearing so much of their affairs thus +laid bare; so they said that the Pale-face chief was wise, that he +must be a great medicine man, and that what he said was all true +except about the white men. They had never seen any Pale-faces, and +knew nothing whatever about those he spoke of. + +This was a terrible piece of news to poor Dick, and at first his heart +fairly sank within him, but by degrees he came to be more hopeful. He +concluded that if these men told lies in regard to one thing, they +would do it in regard to another, and perhaps they might have some +strong reason for denying any knowledge of Joe and Henri. + +The Indians now packed up the buffalo robes on which they had slept, +and the mouthful of provisions they had taken with them. + +"I don't believe a word of what they say about your friends," said +Cameron to Dick in a low tone while the Indians were thus engaged. +"Depend upon it they hope to hide them till they can send to the +settlements and get a ransom, or till they get an opportunity of +torturing them to death before their women and children when they get +back to their own village. But we'll balk them, my friend, do not +fear." + +The Indians were soon ready to start, for they were cumbered with +marvellously little camp equipage. In less than half-an-hour after +their discovery they were running like deer ahead of the cavalcade in +the direction of the Peigan camp. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + +_Adventures with the Peigans_--_Crusoe does good service as a +discoverer_--_The savages outwitted_--_The rescue_. + + +A run of twenty miles brought the travellers to a rugged defile in +the mountains, from which they had a view of a beautiful valley of +considerable extent. During the last two days a steady thaw had been +rapidly melting away the snow, so that it appeared only here and +there in the landscape in dazzling patches. At the distance of about +half-a-mile from where they halted to breathe the horses before +commencing the descent into this vale, several thin wreaths of smoke +were seen rising above the trees. + +"Is that your camp?" inquired Cameron, riding up to the Indian +runners, who stood in a group in front, looking as fresh after their +twenty miles' run as though they had only had a short walk. + +To this they answered in the affirmative, adding that there were about +two hundred Peigans there. + +It might have been thought that thirty men would have hesitated to +venture to attack so large a number as two hundred; but it had always +been found in the experience of Indian life that a few resolute white +men well armed were more than a match for ten times their number of +Indians. And this arose not so much from the superior strength or +agility of the Whites over their red foes, as from that bull-dog +courage and utter recklessness of their lives in combat--qualities +which the crafty savage can neither imitate nor understand. The +information was received with perfect indifference by most of the +trappers, and with contemptuous laughter by some; for a large number +of Cameron's men were wild, evil-disposed fellows, who would have as +gladly taken the life of an Indian as that of a buffalo. + +Just as the word was given to resume the march, Dick Varley rode up to +Cameron and said in a somewhat anxious tone,-- + +"D'ye obsarve, sir, that one o' the Redskins has gone off ahead o' his +comrades?" + +"I see that, Master Dick; and it was a mistake of mine not to have +stopped him, but he was gone too far before I observed it, and I +thought it better to appear unconcerned. We must push on, though, and +give him as short time as possible to talk with his comrades in the +camp." + +The trappers pressed forward accordingly at a gallop, and were soon in +front of the clump of trees amongst which the Peigans were encamped. +Their approach had evidently spread great alarm among them, for there +was a good deal of bustle and running to and fro; but by the time the +trappers had dismounted and advanced in a body on foot, the savages +had resumed their usual quiet dignity of appearance, and were seated +calmly round their fires with their bows and arrows beside them. There +were no tents, no women or children, and the general aspect of the men +showed Cameron conclusively that his surmise about their being a war +party was correct. + +A council was immediately called. The trappers ranged themselves on +one side of the council fire and the Indians on the other. Meanwhile, +our friend Crusoe had been displaying considerable irritability +against the Indians, and he would certainly have attacked the whole +two hundred single-handed if he had not been ordered by his master to +lie still; but never in his life before had Crusoe obeyed with such a +bad grace. He bristled and whined in a low tremulous tone, and looked +imploringly at Dick as if for permission to fly at them. + +"The Pale-face traders are glad to meet with the Peigans," began +Cameron, who determined to make no allusion to his knowledge that they +were a war party, "for they wish to be friends with all the children +of the woods and prairies. They wish to trade with them--to exchange +blankets, and guns, and beads, and other goods which the Peigans +require, for furs of animals which the Pale-faces require." + +"Ho! ho!" exclaimed the Indians, which expression might be translated, +"Hear! hear!" + +"But," continued Cameron, "we wish to have no war. We wish to see the +hatchet buried, and to see all the red men and the white men smoking +the pipe of peace, and hunting like brothers." + +The "Ho--ho--ing" at this was very emphatic. + +"Now," resumed the trader, "the Peigans have got two prisoners--two +Pale-faces--in their camp, and as we cannot be on good terms while our +brothers are detained, we have come to ask for them, and to _present +some gifts_ to the Peigans." + +To this there was no "Ho" at all, but a prolonged silence, which was +at length interrupted by a tall chief stepping forward to address the +trappers. + +"What the Pale-face chief has said is good," began the Indian. "His +words are wise, and his heart is not double. The Red-men are willing +to smoke the pipe of peace, and to hunt with all men as brothers, but +they cannot do it while many of their scalps are hanging in the lodges +of their enemies and fringing the robes of the warriors. The Peigans +must have vengeance; then they will make peace." + +After a short pause he continued,-- + +"The chief is wrong when he says there are Pale-faces in the Peigan +camp. The Peigans are not at war with the Pale-faces; neither have +they seen any on their march. The camp is open. Let the Pale-faces +look round and see that what we say is true." + +The chief waved his hand towards his warriors as he concluded, as if +to say, "Search amongst them. There are no Pale-faces there." + +Cameron now spoke to Dick in a low tone. "They speak confidently," he +said, "and I fear greatly that your poor comrades have either been +killed or conveyed away from the camp and hidden among the mountains, +in which case, even though they should not be far off, it would be +next to impossible to find them, especially when such a band of +rascals is near, compelling us to keep together. But I'll try what a +little tempting them with goods will do. At any rate, we shan't give +in without a scuffle." + +It now, for the first time, flashed across Dick Varley that there was +something more than he imagined in Crusoe's restless anxiety, which +had not in the least abated, and the idea of making use of him now +occurred to his mind. + +"I've a notion that I'll settle this matter in a shorter time than you +think," he said hurriedly, "if you'll agree to try what _threatening_ +will do." + +The trader looked grave and undecided. "I never resort to that except +as a last hope," he answered; "but I've a good deal of confidence in +your prudence. What would you advise?" + +Dick and the trader whispered a few minutes together, while some of +the men, in order to show the Indians how perfectly unconcerned they +were, and how ready for _anything_, took out their pipes and began +to smoke. Both parties were seated on the ground, and during this +interval the Indians also held eager discussion. + +At length Cameron stood up, and said to his men in a quiet tone, "Be +ready, lads, for instant action. When I give the word 'Up,' spring to +your feet and cock your guns; but _don't fire a shot till you get the +word_." He then stepped forward and said,-- + +"The Peigan warriors are double-tongued; they know that they have hid +the Pale-face prisoners. We do not wish to quarrel, but if they are +not delivered up at once the Pale-faces and the Peigans will not be +friends." + +Upon this the Indian chief again stood forward and said, "The Peigans +are _not_ double-tongued. They have not seen Pale-faces till to-day. +They can say no more." + +Without moving hand or foot, Cameron then said in a firm tone, "The +first Peigan that moves shall die! Up, lads, and ready!" + +In the twinkling of an eye the trappers sprang to their feet, and +cocking their rifles stood perfectly motionless, scowling at the +savages, who were completely taken by surprise at the unusual +suddenness and informality of such a declaration of war. Not a man +moved, for, unlike white men, they seldom risk their lives in open +fight; and as they looked at the formidable row of muzzles that waited +but a word to send instant death into their midst, they felt that +discretion was at that time the better part of valour. + +"Now," said Cameron, while Dick Varley and Crusoe stepped up beside +him, "my young warrior will search for the Pale-face prisoners. If +they are found, we will take them and go away. If they are not found, +we will ask the Peigans to forgive us, and will give them gifts. But +in the meantime, if a Peigan moves from the spot where he sits, or +lifts a bow, my young men shall fire, and the Peigans know that the +rifle of the Pale-face always kills." + +Without waiting for an answer, Dick immediately said, "Seek 'em out, +pup," and Crusoe bounded away. + +For a few minutes he sprang hither and thither through the camp, quite +regardless of the Indians, and snuffed the air several times, whining +in an excited tone, as if to relieve his feelings. Then he put his +nose to the ground and ran straight forward into the woods. + +Dick immediately bounded after him like a deer, while the trappers +kept silent guard over the savages. + +For some time Crusoe ran straight forward. Then he came to a spot +where there was a good deal of drifted snow on the ground. Here +he seemed to lose the trail for a little, and ran about in all +directions, whining in a most piteous tone. + +"Seek 'em out, pup," repeated Dick encouragingly, while his own breast +heaved with excitement and expectation. + +In a few seconds the dog resumed its onward course, and led the +way into a wild, dark spot, which was so overshadowed by trees and +precipitous cliffs that the light of the sun scarce found entrance. +There were many huge masses of rock scattered over the ground, which +had fallen from the cliffs. Behind one of these lay a mound of dried +leaves, towards which Crusoe darted and commenced scraping violently. + +Trembling with dread that he should find this to be the grave of his +murdered companions, Dick rushed forward and hastily cleared away the +leaves. The first handful thrown off revealed part of the figure of a +man. Dick's heart beat audibly as he cleared the leaves from the face, +and he uttered a suppressed cry on beholding the well-known features +of Joe Blunt. But they were not those of a dead man. Joe's eyes met +his with a scowl of anger, which instantly gave place to one of +intense surprise. + +"Joe Blunt!" exclaimed Dick in a voice of intense amazement, while +Crusoe snuffed round the heap of leaves and whined with excitement. +But Joe did not move, neither did he speak a word in reply--for the +very good reason that his mouth was tightly bound with a band of +leather, his hands and feet were tied, and his whole body was secured +in a rigid, immovable position by being bound to a pole of about his +own length. + +In a moment Dick's knife was out, bands and cords were severed, and +Joe Blunt was free. + +"Thank God!" exclaimed Joe with a deep, earnest sigh, the instant his +lips were loosened, "and thanks to _you_, lad!" he added, endeavouring +to rise; but his limbs had become so benumbed in consequence of the +cords by which they had been compressed that for some time he could +not move. + +"I'll rub ye, Joe; I'll soon rub ye into a right state," said Dick, +going down on his knees. + +"No, no, lad, look sharp and dig up Henri. He's just beside me here." + +Dick immediately rose, and pushing aside the heap of leaves, found +Henri securely bound in the same fashion. But he could scarce refrain +from laughing at the expression of that worthy's face. Hearing the +voices of Joe and Dick Varley in conversation, though unable to see +their persons, he was filled with such unbounded amazement that his +eyes, when uncovered, were found to be at their largest possible +stretch, and as for the eyebrows they were gone, utterly lost among +the roots of his voluminous hair. + +"Henri, friend, I knew I should find ye," said Dick, cutting the +thongs that bound him. "Get up if ye can; we haven't much time +to lose, an' mayhap we'll have to fight afore we're done wi' the +Redskins. Can ye rise?" + +Henri could do nothing but lie on his back and gasp, "Eh! possible! +mon frere! Oh, non, non, _not_ possible. Oui! my broder Deek!" + +Here he attempted to rise, but being unable fell back again, and the +whole thing came so suddenly, and made so deep an impression on his +impulsive mind, that he incontinently burst into tears; then he burst +into a long laugh. Suddenly he paused, and scrambling up to a sitting +posture, looked earnestly into Dick's face through his tearful eyes. + +"Oh, non, non!" he exclaimed, stretching himself out at full length +again, and closing his eyes; "it are too goot to be true. I am dream. +I vill wait till I am wake." + +Dick roused him out of this, resolute sleep, however, somewhat +roughly. Meanwhile Joe had rubbed and kicked himself into a state of +animation, exclaiming that he felt as if he wos walkin' on a thousand +needles and pins, and in a few minutes they were ready to accompany +their overjoyed deliverer back to the Peigan camp. Crusoe testified +his delight in various elephantine gambols round the persons of his +old friends, who were not slow to acknowledge his services. + +"They haven't treated us overly well," remarked Joe Blunt, as they +strode through the underwood. + +"Non, de rascale, vraiment, de am villains. Oui! How de have talk, +too, 'bout--oh-o-oo-ooo-wah!--roastin' us alive, an' puttin' our scalp +in de vigvam for de poo-poose to play wid!" + +"Well, niver mind, Henri, we'll be quits wi' them now," said Joe, as +they came in sight of the two bands, who remained in precisely the +same position in which they had been left, except that one or two of +the more reckless of the trappers had lit their pipes and taken to +smoking, without, however, laying down their rifles or taking their +eyes off the savages. + +A loud cheer greeted the arrival of the prisoners, and looks of +considerable discomfort began to be evinced by the Indians. + +"Glad to see you, friends," said Cameron, as they came up. + +"Ve is 'appy ov de same," replied Henri, swaggering up in the +joviality of his heart, and seizing the trader's hand in his own +enormous fist. "Shall ve go to vork an' slay dem all at vonce, or von +at a time?" + +"We'll consider that afterwards, my lad. Meantime go you to the rear +and get a weapon of some sort." + +"Oui. Ah! c'est charmant," he cried, going with an immense flounder +into the midst of the amused trappers, and slapping those next to +him on the back. "Give me veapon, do, mes amis--gun, pistol, +anyting--cannon, if you have von." + +Meanwhile Cameron and Joe spoke together for a few moments. + +"You had goods with you, and horses, I believe, when you were +captured," said the former. + +"Ay, that we had. Yonder stand the horses, under the pine-tree, along +wi' the rest o' the Redskin troop; an' a hard time they've had o't, +as their bones may tell without speakin'. As for the goods," he +continued, glancing round the camp, "I don't know where--ah! yes, +there they be in the old pack. I see all safe." + +Cameron now addressed the Indians. + +"The Peigans," he said, "have not done well. Their hearts have not +been true to the Pale-faces. Even now I could take your scalps where +you sit, but white men do not like war, they do not like revenge. The +Peigans may go free." + +Considering the fewness of their numbers, this was bold language to +use towards the Indians; but the boldest is generally the best policy +on such occasions. Moreover, Cameron felt that, being armed with +rifles, while the Indians had only bows and arrows, the trappers had a +great advantage over them. + +The Indian who had spoken before now rose and said he was sorry there +should be any cause of difference between them, and added he was sorry +for a great many more things besides, but he did not say he was sorry +for having told a lie. + +"But, before you go, you must deliver up the horses and goods +belonging to these men," said Cameron, pointing to Joe and Henri. + +This was agreed to. The horses were led out, the two little packs +containing Joe's goods were strapped upon them, and then the trappers +turned to depart. The Indians did not move until they had mounted; +then they rose and advanced in a body to the edge of the wood, to see +the Pale-faces go away. Meanwhile Joe spoke a few words to Cameron, +and the men were ordered to halt, while the former dismounted and led +his horse towards the band of savages. + +"Peigans," he said, "you know the object for which I came into this +country was to make peace between you and the Pale-faces. I have often +told you so when you would not listen, and when you told me that I had +a double heart and told lies. You were wrong when you said this; but I +do not wonder, for you live among nations who do not fear God, and +who think it right to lie. I now repeat to you what I said before. +It would be good for the Red-men if they would make peace with the +Pale-faces, and if they would make peace with each other. I will now +convince you that I am in earnest, and have all along been speaking +the truth." + +Hereupon Joe Blunt opened his bundle of goods, and presented fully +one-half of the gaudy and brilliant contents to the astonished +Indians, who seemed quite taken aback by such generous treatment. +The result of this was that the two parties separated with mutual +expressions of esteem and good-will. The Indians then returned to the +forest, and the white men galloped back to their camp among the hills. + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + +_New plans_--_Our travellers join the fur-traders, and see many +strange things_--_A curious fight_--_A narrow escape, and a prisoner +taken_. + + +Not long after the events related in the last chapter, our four +friends--Dick, and Joe, and Henri, and Crusoe--agreed to become for a +time members of Walter Cameron's band of trappers. Joe joined because +one of the objects which the traders had in view was similar to his +own mission--namely, the promoting of peace among the various Indian +tribes of the mountains and plains to the west. Joe, therefore, +thought it a good opportunity of travelling with a band of men who +could secure him a favourable hearing from the Indian tribes they +might chance to meet with in the course of their wanderings. Besides, +as the traders carried about a large supply of goods with them, he +could easily replenish his own nearly exhausted pack by hunting wild +animals and exchanging their skins for such articles as he might +require. + +Dick joined because it afforded him an opportunity of seeing the wild, +majestic scenery of the Rocky Mountains, and shooting the big-horned +sheep which abounded there, and the grizzly "bars," as Joe named them, +or "Caleb," as they were more frequently styled by Henri and the other +men. + +Henri joined because it was agreeable to the inclination of his own +rollicking, blundering, floundering, crashing disposition, and because +he would have joined anything that had been joined by the other two. + +Crusoe's reason for joining was single, simple, easy to be expressed, +easy to be understood, and commendable. _He_ joined--because Dick did. + +The very day after the party left the encampment where Dick had shot +the grizzly bear and the deer, he had the satisfaction of bringing +down a splendid specimen of the big-horned sheep. It came suddenly +out from a gorge of the mountain, and stood upon the giddy edge of a +tremendous precipice, at a distance of about two hundred and fifty +yards. + +"_You_ could not hit that," said a trapper to Henri, who was rather +fond of jeering him about his shortsightedness. + +"Non!" cried Henri, who didn't see the animal in the least; "say you +dat? ve shall see;" and he let fly with a promptitude that amazed his +comrades, and with a result that drew from them peals of laughter. + +"Why, you have missed the mountain!" + +"Oh, non! dat am eempossoble." + +It was true, nevertheless, for his ball had been arrested in its +flight by the stem of a tree not twenty yards before him. + +While the shot was yet ringing, and before the laugh above referred to +had pealed forth, Dick Varley fired, and the animal, springing wildly +into the air, fell down the precipice, and was almost dashed to +pieces at their feet. This Rocky Mountain or big-horned sheep was a +particularly large and fine one, but being a patriarch of the flock +was not well suited for food. It was considerably larger in size than +the domestic sheep, and might be described as somewhat resembling a +deer in the body and a ram in the head. Its horns were the chief point +of interest to Dick; and, truly, they were astounding! Their enormous +size was out of all proportion to the animal's body, and they curved +backwards and downwards, and then curled up again in a sharp point. +These creatures frequent the inaccessible heights of the Rocky +Mountains, and are difficult to approach. They have a great fondness +for salt, and pay regular visits to the numerous caverns of these +mountains, which are encrusted with a saline substance. + +Walter Cameron now changed his intention of proceeding to the +eastward, as he found the country not so full of beaver at that +particular spot as he had anticipated. He therefore turned towards +the west, penetrated into the interior of the mountains, and took a +considerable sweep through the lovely valleys on their western slopes. + +The expedition which this enterprising fur-trader was conducting was +one of the first that ever penetrated these wild regions in search of +furs. The ground over which they travelled was quite new to them, and +having no guide they just moved about at haphazard, encamping on the +margin of every stream or river on which signs of the presence of +beaver were discovered, and setting their traps. + +Beaver skins at this time were worth 25s. a-piece in the markets of +civilized lands, and in the Snake country, through which our friends +were travelling, thousands of them were to be had from the Indians for +trinkets and baubles that were scarce worth a farthing. A beaver skin +could be procured from the Indians for a brass finger-ring or a penny +looking-glass. Horses were also so numerous that one could be procured +for an axe or a knife. + +Let not the reader, however, hastily conclude that the traders cheated +the Indians in this traffic, though the profits were so enormous. The +ring or the axe was indeed a trifle to the trader, but the beaver skin +and the horse were equally trifles to the savage, who could procure as +many of them as he chose with very little trouble, while the ring and +the axe were in his estimation of priceless value. Besides, be it +remembered, to carry that ring and that axe to the far-distant haunts +of the Red-man cost the trader weeks and months of constant toil, +trouble, anxiety, and, alas! too frequently cost him his life! The +state of trade is considerably modified in these regions at the +present day. It is not more _justly_ conducted, for, in respect of the +value of goods given for furs, it was justly conducted _then_, but +time and circumstances have tended more to equalize the relative +values of articles of trade. + +The snow which had prematurely fallen had passed away, and the +trappers now found themselves wandering about in a country so +beautiful and a season so delightful, that it would have seemed to +them a perfect paradise, but for the savage tribes who hovered about +them, and kept them ever on the _qui vive_. + +They soon passed from the immediate embrace of stupendous heights and +dark gorges to a land of sloping ridges, which divided the country +into a hundred luxuriant vales, composed part of woodland and part of +prairie. Through these, numerous rivers and streams flowed deviously, +beautifying the landscape and enriching the land. There were also many +lakes of all sizes, and these swarmed with fish, while in some of them +were found the much-sought-after and highly-esteemed beaver. Salt +springs and hot springs of various temperatures abounded here, and +many of the latter were so hot that meat could be boiled in them. +Salt existed in all directions in abundance and of good quality. A +sulphurous spring was also discovered, bubbling out from the base of a +perpendicular rock three hundred feet high, the waters of which were +dark-blue and tasted like gunpowder. In short, the land presented +every variety of feature calculated to charm the imagination and +delight the eye. + +It was a mysterious land, too; for broad rivers burst in many places +from the earth, flowed on for a short space, and then disappeared +as if by magic into the earth from which they rose. Natural bridges +spanned the torrents in many places, and some of these were so +correctly formed that it was difficult to believe they had not been +built by the hand of man. They often appeared opportunely to our +trappers, and saved them the trouble and danger of fording rivers. +Frequently the whole band would stop in silent wonder and awe as they +listened to the rushing of waters under their feet, as if another +world of streams, and rapids, and cataracts were flowing below the +crust of earth on which they stood. Some considerable streams were +likewise observed to gush from the faces of precipices, some twenty or +thirty feet from their summits, while on the top no water was to be +seen. + +Wild berries of all kinds were found in abundance, and wild +vegetables, besides many nutritious roots. Among other fish, splendid +salmon were found in the lakes and rivers, and animal life swarmed on +hill and in dale. Woods and valleys, plains and ravines, teemed with +it. On every plain the red-deer grazed in herds by the banks of lake +and stream. Wherever there were clusters of poplar and elder trees and +saplings, the beaver was seen nibbling industriously with his sharp +teeth, and committing as much havoc in the forest as if he had been +armed with the woodman's axe; others sported in the eddies. Racoons +sat in the tree-tops; the marten, the black fox, and the wolf prowled +in the woods in quest of prey; mountain sheep and goats browsed on the +rocky ridges; and badgers peeped from their holes. + +Here, too, the wild horse sprang snorting and dishevelled from his +mountain retreats--with flourishing mane and tail, spanking step, and +questioning gaze--and thundered away over the plains and valleys, +while the rocks echoed back his shrill neigh. The huge, heavy, +ungainly elk, or moose-deer, _trotted_ away from the travellers with +speed equal to that of the mustang: elks seldom gallop; their best +speed is attained at the trot. Bears, too, black, and brown, and +grizzly, roamed about everywhere. + +So numerous were all these creatures that on one occasion the hunters +of the party brought in six wild horses, three bears, four elks, and +thirty red-deer; having shot them all a short distance ahead of the +main body, and almost without diverging from the line of march. And +this was a matter of everyday occurrence--as it had need to be, +considering the number of mouths that had to be filled. + +The feathered tribes were not less numerous. Chief among these were +eagles and vultures of uncommon size, the wild goose, wild duck, and +the majestic swan. + +In the midst of such profusion the trappers spent a happy time of it, +when not molested by the savages, but they frequently lost a horse or +two in consequence of the expertness of these thievish fellows. They +often wandered, however, for days at a time without seeing an Indian, +and at such times they enjoyed to the full the luxuries with which a +bountiful God had blessed these romantic regions. + +Dick Varley was almost wild with delight. It was his first excursion +into the remote wilderness; he was young, healthy, strong, and +romantic; and it is a question whether his or his dog's heart, or that +of the noble wild horse he bestrode, bounded most with joy at +the glorious sights and sounds and influences by which they were +surrounded. It would have been perfection, had it not been for the +frequent annoyance and alarms caused by the Indians. + +Alas! alas! that we who write and read about those wondrous scenes +should have to condemn our own species as the most degraded of all the +works of the Creator there! Yet so it is. Man, exercising his reason +and conscience in the path of love and duty which his Creator points +out, is God's noblest work; but man, left to the freedom of his own +fallen will, sinks morally lower than the beasts that perish. Well +may every Christian wish and pray that the name and the gospel of the +blessed Jesus may be sent speedily to the dark places of the earth; +for you may read of, and talk about, but you _cannot conceive_ the +fiendish wickedness and cruelty which causes tearless eyes to glare, +and maddened hearts to burst, in the lands of the heathen. + +While we are on this subject, let us add (and our young readers +will come to know it if they are spared to see many years) that +_civilization_ alone will never improve the heart. Let history speak, +and it will tell you that deeds of darkest hue have been perpetrated +in so-called civilized though pagan lands. Civilization is like the +polish that beautifies inferior furniture, which water will wash off +if it be but _hot enough_. Christianity resembles dye, which permeates +every fibre of the fabric, and which nothing can eradicate. + +The success of the trappers in procuring beaver here was great. In all +sorts of creeks and rivers they were found. One day they came to one +of the curious rivers before mentioned, which burst suddenly out of +a plain, flowed on for several miles, and then disappeared into the +earth as suddenly as it had risen. Even in this strange place beaver +were seen, so the traps were set, and a hundred and fifty were caught +at the first lift. + +The manner in which the party proceeded was as follows:--They marched +in a mass in groups or in a long line, according to the nature of +the ground over which they travelled. The hunters of the party went +forward a mile or two in advance, and scattered through the woods. +After them came the advance-guard, being the bravest and most stalwart +of the men mounted on their best steeds, and with rifle in hand; +immediately behind followed the women and children, also mounted, and +the pack-horses with the goods and camp equipage. Another band of +trappers formed the rear-guard to this imposing cavalcade. There was +no strict regimental order kept, but the people soon came to adopt the +arrangements that were most convenient for all parties, and at length +fell naturally into their places in the line of march. + +Joe Blunt usually was the foremost and always the most successful of +the hunters. He was therefore seldom seen on the march except at the +hour of starting, and at night when he came back leading his horse, +which always groaned under its heavy load of meat. Henri, being a +hearty, jovial soul and fond of society, usually kept with the main +body. As for Dick, he was everywhere at once, at least as much so as +it is possible for human nature to be! His horse never wearied; it +seemed to delight in going at full speed; no other horse in the troop +could come near Charlie, and Dick indulged him by appearing now at +the front, now at the rear, anon in the centre, and frequently +_nowhere_!--having gone off with Crusoe like a flash of lightning +after a buffalo or a deer. Dick soon proved himself to be the best +hunter of the party, and it was not long before he fulfilled his +promise to Crusoe and decorated his neck with a collar of grizzly bear +claws. Well, when the trappers came to a river where there were signs +of beaver they called a halt, and proceeded to select a safe and +convenient spot, near wood and water, for the camp. Here the property +of the band was securely piled in such a manner as to form a +breastwork or slight fortification, and here Walter Cameron +established headquarters. This was always the post of danger, being +exposed to sudden attack by prowling savages, who often dogged the +footsteps of the party in their journeyings to see what they could +steal. But Cameron was an old hand, and they found it difficult to +escape his vigilant eye. + +From this point all the trappers were sent forth in small parties +every morning in various directions, some on foot and some on +horseback, according to the distances they had to go; but they never +went farther than twenty miles, as they had to return to camp every +evening. + +Each trapper had ten steel traps allowed him. These he set every +night, and visited every morning, sometimes oftener when practicable, +selecting a spot in the stream where many trees had been cut down by +beavers for the purpose of damming up the water. In some places as +many as fifty tree stumps were seen in one spot, within the compass of +half an acre, all cut through at about eighteen inches from the +root. We may remark, in passing, that the beaver is very much like a +gigantic water-rat, with this marked difference, that its tail is very +broad and flat like a paddle. The said tail is a greatly-esteemed +article of food, as, indeed, is the whole body at certain seasons of +the year. The beaver's fore legs are very small and short, and it uses +its paws as hands to convey food to its mouth, sitting the while in an +erect position on its hind legs and tail. Its fur is a dense coat of +a grayish-coloured down, concealed by long coarse hair, which lies +smooth, and is of a bright chestnut colour. Its teeth and jaws are of +enormous power; with them it can cut through the branch of a tree as +thick as a walking-stick at one snap, and, as we have said, it gnaws +through thick trees themselves. + +As soon as a tree falls, the beavers set to work industriously to lop +off the branches, which, as well as the smaller trunks, they cut into +lengths, according to their weight and thickness. These are then +dragged by main force to the water-side, launched, and floated to +their destination. Beavers build their houses, or "lodges," under the +banks of rivers and lakes, and always select those of such depth of +water that there is no danger of their being frozen to the bottom. +When such cannot be found, and they are compelled to build in small +rivulets of insufficient depth, these clever little creatures dam up +the waters until they are deep enough. The banks thrown up by them +across rivulets for this purpose are of great strength, and would do +credit to human engineers. Their lodges are built of sticks, mud, and +stones, which form a compact mass; this freezes solid in winter, and +defies the assaults of that housebreaker, the wolverine, an animal +which is the beaver's implacable foe. From this lodge, which is +capable often of holding four old and six or eight young ones, a +communication is maintained with the water below the ice, so that, +should the wolverine succeed in breaking up the lodge, he finds the +family "not at home," they having made good their retreat by the +back-door. When man acts the part of housebreaker, however, he +cunningly shuts the back-door _first_, by driving stakes through the +ice, and thus stopping the passage. Then he enters, and, we almost +regret to say, finds the family at home. We regret it, because the +beaver is a gentle, peaceable, affectionate, hairy little creature, +towards which one feels an irresistible tenderness. But to return from +this long digression. + +Our trappers, having selected their several localities, set their +traps in the water, so that when the beavers roamed about at night +they put their feet into them, and were caught and drowned; for +although they can swim and dive admirably, they cannot live altogether +under water. + +Thus the different parties proceeded; and in the mornings the camp was +a busy scene indeed, for then the whole were engaged in skinning the +animals. The skins were always stretched, dried, folded up with the +hair in the inside, and laid by; and the flesh was used for food. + +But oftentimes the trappers had to go forth with the gun in one hand +and their traps in the other, while they kept a sharp look-out on the +bushes to guard against surprise. Despite their utmost efforts, a +horse was occasionally stolen before their very eyes, and sometimes +even an unfortunate trapper was murdered, and all his traps carried +off. + +An event of this kind occurred soon after the party had gained the +western slopes of the mountains. Three Iroquois Indians, who belonged +to the band of trappers, were sent to a stream about ten miles off. +Having reached their destination, they all entered the water to +set their traps, foolishly neglecting the usual precaution of one +remaining on the bank to protect the others. They had scarcely +commenced operations when three arrows were discharged into their +backs, and a party of Snake Indians rushed upon and slew them, +carrying away their traps and horses and scalps. This was not known +for several days, when, becoming anxious about their prolonged +absence, Cameron sent out a party, which found their mangled bodies +affording a loathsome banquet to the wolves and vultures. + +After this sad event, the trappers were more careful to go in larger +parties, and keep watch. + +As long as beaver were taken in abundance, the camp remained +stationary; but whenever the beaver began to grow scarce, the camp was +raised, and the party moved on to another valley. + +One day Dick Varley came galloping into camp with the news that there +were several bears in a valley not far distant, which he was anxious +not to disturb until a number of the trappers were collected together +to go out and surround them. + +On receiving the information, Walter Cameron shook his head. + +"We have other things to do, young man," said he, "than go a-hunting +after bears. I'm just about making up my mind to send off a party to +search out the valley on the other side of the Blue Mountains yonder, +and bring back word if there are beaver there; for if not, I mean +to strike away direct south. Now, if you've a mind to go with them, +you're welcome. I'll warrant you'll find enough in the way of +bear-hunting to satisfy you; perhaps a little Indian hunting to boot, +for if the Banattees get hold of your horses, you'll have a long hunt +before you find them again. Will you go?" + +"Ay, right gladly," replied Dick. "When do we start?" + +"This afternoon." + +Dick went off at once to his own part of the camp to replenish his +powder-horn and bullet-pouch, and wipe out his rifle. + +That evening the party, under command of a Canadian named Pierre, set +out for the Blue Hills. They numbered twenty men, and expected to be +absent three days, for they merely went to reconnoitre, not to trap. +Neither Joe nor Henri was of this party, both having been out hunting +when it was organized; but Crusoe and Charlie were, of course. + +Pierre, although a brave and trusty man, was of a sour, angry +disposition, and not a favourite with Dick; but the latter resolved to +enjoy himself, and disregard his sulky comrade. Being so well mounted, +he not unfrequently shot far ahead of his companions, despite their +warnings that he ran great risk by so doing. On one of these occasions +he and Crusoe witnessed a very singular fight, which is worthy of +record. + +Dick had felt a little wilder in spirit that morning than usual, and +on coming to a pretty open plain he gave the rein to Charlie, and with +an "_Adieu, mes camarade_," he was out of sight in a few minutes. He +rode on several miles in advance without checking speed, and then came +to a wood where rapid motion was inconvenient; so he pulled up, and, +dismounting, tied Charlie to a tree, while he sauntered on a short way +on foot. + +On coming to the edge of a small plain he observed two large birds +engaged in mortal conflict. Crusoe observed them too, and would soon +have put an end to the fight had Dick not checked him. Creeping as +close to the belligerents as possible, he found that one was a wild +turkey-cock, the other a white-headed eagle. These two stood with +their heads down and all their feathers bristling for a moment; then +they dashed at each other, and struck fiercely with their spurs, as +our domestic cocks do, but neither fell, and the fight was continued +for about five minutes without apparent advantage on either side. + +Dick now observed that, from the uncertainty of its motions, the +turkey-cock was blind, a discovery which caused a throb of compunction +to enter his breast for standing and looking on, so he ran forward. +The eagle saw him instantly, and tried to fly away, but was unable +from exhaustion. + +"At him, Crusoe," cried Dick, whose sympathies all lay with the other +bird. + +Crusoe went forward at a bound, and was met by a peck between the eyes +that would have turned most dogs; but Crusoe only winked, and the next +moment the eagle's career was ended. + +Dick found that the turkey-cock was quite blind, the eagle having +thrust out both its eyes, so, in mercy, he put an end to its +sufferings. + +The fight had evidently been a long and severe one, for the grass all +round the spot, for about twenty yards, was beaten to the ground, and +covered with the blood and feathers of the fierce combatants. + +Meditating on the fight which he had just witnessed, Dick returned +towards the spot where he had left Charlie, when he suddenly missed +Crusoe from his side. + +"Hallo, Crusoe! here, pup! where are you?" he cried. + +The only answer to this was a sharp whizzing sound, and an arrow, +passing close to his ear, quivered in a tree beyond. Almost at the +same moment Crusoe's angry roar was followed by a shriek from some one +in fear or agony. Cocking his rifle, the young hunter sprang through +the bushes towards his horse, and was just in time to save a Banattee +Indian from being strangled by the dog. It had evidently scented out +this fellow, and pinned him just as he was in the act of springing on +the back of Charlie, for the halter was cut, and the savage lay on the +ground close beside him. + +Dick called off the dog, and motioned to the Indian to rise, which he +did so nimbly that it was quite evident he had sustained no injury +beyond the laceration of his neck by Crusoe's teeth, and the surprise. + +He was a tall strong Indian for the tribe to which he belonged, so +Dick proceeded to secure him at once. Pointing to his rifle and to +the Indian's breast, to show what he might expect if he attempted to +escape, Dick ordered Crusoe to keep him steady in that position. + +The dog planted himself in front of the savage, who began to tremble +for his scalp, and gazed up in his face with a look which, to say the +least of it, was the reverse of amiable, while Dick went towards his +horse for the purpose of procuring a piece of cord to tie him with. +The Indian naturally turned his head to see what was going to be done, +but a peculiar _gurgle_ in Crusoe's throat made him turn it round +again very smartly, and he did not venture thereafter to move a +muscle. + +In a few seconds Dick returned with a piece of leather and tied his +hands behind his back. While this was being done the Indian glanced +several times at his bow, which lay a few feet away, where it had +fallen when the dog caught him; but Crusoe seemed to understand him, +for he favoured him with such an additional display of teeth, and +such a low--apparently distant, almost, we might say, subterranean +--_rumble_, that he resigned himself to his fate. + +His hands secured, a long line was attached to his neck with a running +noose, so that if he ventured to run away the attempt would effect its +own cure by producing strangulation. The other end of this line was +given to Crusoe, who at the word of command marched him off, while +Dick mounted Charlie and brought up the rear. + + +Great was the laughter and merriment when this apparition met the eyes +of the trappers; but when they heard that he had attempted to shoot +Dick their ire was raised, and a court-martial was held on the spot. + +"Hang the reptile!" cried one. + +"Burn him!" shouted another. + +"No, no," said a third; "don't imitate them villains: don't be cruel. +Let's shoot him." "Shoot 'im," cried Pierre. "Oui, dat is de ting; it +too goot pour lui, mais it shall be dooed." + +"Don't ye think, lads, it would be better to let the poor wretch off?" +said Dick Varley; "he'd p'r'aps give a good account o' us to his +people." + +There was a universal shout of contempt at this mild proposal. +Unfortunately, few of the men sent on this exploring expedition were +imbued with the peace-making spirit of their chief, and most of them +seemed glad to have a chance of venting their hatred of the poor +Indians on this unhappy wretch, who, although calm, looked sharply +from one speaker to another, to gather hope, if possible, from the +tones of their voices. + +Dick was resolved, at the risk of a quarrel with Pierre, to save the +poor man's life, and had made up his mind to insist on having him +conducted to the camp to be tried by Cameron, when one of the men +suggested that they should take the savage to the top of a hill about +three miles farther on, and there hang him up on a tree as a warning +to all his tribe. + +"Agreed, agreed!" cried the men; "come on." + +Dick, too, seemed to agree to this proposal, and hastily ordered +Crusoe to run on ahead with the savage; an order which the dog obeyed +so vigorously that, before the men had done laughing at him, he was a +couple of hundred yards ahead of them. + +"Take care that he don't get off!" cried Dick, springing on Charlie +and stretching out at a gallop. + +In a moment he was beside the Indian. Scraping together the little of +the Indian language he knew, he stooped down, and, cutting the thongs +that bound him, said,-- + +"Go! white men love the Indians." + +The man cast on his deliverer one glance of surprise, and the next +moment bounded aside into the bushes and was gone. + +A loud shout from the party behind showed that this act had been +observed; and Crusoe stood with the end of the line in his mouth, +and an expression on his face that said, "You're absolutely +incomprehensible, Dick! It's all right, I _know_, but to my feeble +capacity it _seems_ wrong." + +"Fat for you do dat?" shouted Pierre in a rage, as he came up with a +menacing look. + +Dick confronted him. "The prisoner was mine. I had a right to do with +him as it liked me." + +"True, true," cried several of the men who had begun to repent of +their resolution, and were glad the savage was off. "The lad's right. +Get along, Pierre." + +"You had no right, you vas wrong. Oui, et I have goot vill to give you +one knock on de nose." + +Dick looked Pierre in the face, as he said this, in a manner that +cowed him. + +"It is time," he said quietly, pointing to the sun, "to go on. Your +bourgeois expects that time won't be wasted." + +Pierre muttered something in an angry tone, and wheeling round his +horse, dashed forward at full gallop, followed by the rest of the men. + +The trappers encamped that night on the edge of a wide grassy plain, +which offered such tempting food for the horses that Pierre resolved +to forego his usual cautious plan of picketing them close to the camp, +and set them loose on the plain, merely hobbling them to prevent their +straying far. + +Dick remonstrated, but in vain. An insolent answer was all he got for +his pains. He determined, however, to keep Charlie close beside him +all night, and also made up his mind to keep a sharp look-out on the +other horses. + +At supper he again remonstrated. + +"No 'fraid," said Pierre, whose pipe was beginning to improve his +temper. "The red reptiles no dare to come in open plain when de moon +so clear." + +"Dun know that," said a taciturn trapper, who seldom ventured a remark +of any kind; "them varmints 'ud steal the two eyes out o' you' head +when they set their hearts on't." + +"Dat ar' umposs'ble, for dey have no hearts," said a half-breed; "dey +have von hole vere de heart vas be." + +This was received with a shout of laughter, in the midst of which an +appalling yell was heard, and, as if by magic, four Indians were seen +on the backs of four of the best horses, yelling like fiends, and +driving all the other horses furiously before them over the plain! + +How they got there was a complete mystery, but the men did not wait +to consider that point. Catching up their guns they sprang after them +with the fury of madmen, and were quickly scattered far and wide. Dick +ordered Crusoe to follow and help the men, and turned to spring on the +back of Charlie; but at that moment he observed an Indian's head and +shoulders rise above the grass, not fifty yards in advance from him, +so without hesitation he darted forward, intending to pounce upon him. + +Well would it have been for Dick Varley had he at that time possessed +a little more experience of the wiles and stratagems of the Banattees. +The Snake nation is subdivided into several tribes, of which those +inhabiting the Rocky Mountains, called the Banattees, are the most +perfidious. Indeed, they are confessedly the banditti of the hills, +and respect neither friend nor foe, but rob all who come in their way. + +Dick reached the spot where the Indian had disappeared in less than a +minute, but no savage was to be seen. Thinking he had crept ahead, he +ran on a few yards farther, and darted about hither and thither, +while his eye glanced from side to side. Suddenly a shout in the camp +attracted his attention, and looking back he beheld the savage on +Charlie's back turning to fly. Next moment he was off and away far +beyond the hope of recovery. Dick had left his rifle in the camp, +otherwise the savage would have gone but a short way. As it was, Dick +returned, and sitting down on a mound of grass, stared straight before +him with a feeling akin to despair. Even Crusoe could not have helped +him had he been there, for nothing on four legs, or on two, could keep +pace with Charlie. + +The Banattee achieved this feat by adopting a stratagem which +invariably deceives those who are ignorant of their habits and +tactics. When suddenly pursued the Banattee sinks into the grass, and, +serpent-like, creeps along with wonderful rapidity, not _from_ but +_towards_ his enemy, taking care, however, to avoid him, so that when +the pursuer reaches the spot where the pursued is supposed to be +hiding, he hears him shout a yell of defiance far away in the rear. + +It was thus that the Banattee eluded Dick and gained the camp almost +as soon as the other reached the spot where he had disappeared. + +One by one the trappers came back weary, raging, and despairing. In a +short time they all assembled, and soon began to reproach each other. +Ere long one or two had a fight, which resulted in several bloody +noses and black eyes, thus adding to the misery which, one would +think, had been bad enough without such additions. At last they +finished their suppers and their pipes, and then lay down to sleep +under the trees till morning, when they arose in a particularly silent +and sulky mood, rolled up their blankets, strapped their things on +their shoulders, and began to trudge slowly back to the camp on foot. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + +_Wolves attack the horses, and Cameron circumvents the wolves_--_A +bear-hunt, in which Henri shines conspicuous_--_Joe and the +"Natter-list_"--_An alarm_--_A surprise and a capture_. + + +We must now return to the camp where Walter Cameron still guarded the +goods, and the men pursued their trapping avocations. + +Here seven of the horses had been killed in one night by wolves while +grazing in a plain close to the camp, and on the night following a +horse that had strayed was also torn to pieces and devoured. The +prompt and daring manner in which this had been done convinced the +trader that white wolves had unfortunately scented them out, and he +set several traps in the hope of capturing them. + +White wolves are quite distinct from the ordinary wolves that prowl +through woods and plains in large packs. They are much larger, +weighing sometimes as much as a hundred and thirty pounds; but they +are comparatively scarce, and move about alone, or in small bands of +three or four. Their strength is enormous, and they are so fierce that +they do not hesitate, upon occasions, to attack man himself. Their +method of killing horses is very deliberate. Two wolves generally +undertake the cold-blooded murder. They approach their victim with the +most innocent-looking and frolicsome gambols, lying down and rolling +about, and frisking presently, until the horse becomes a little +accustomed to them. Then one approaches right in front, the other +in rear, still frisking playfully, until they think themselves near +enough, when they make a simultaneous rush. The wolf which approaches +in rear is the true assailant; the rush of the other is a mere feint. +Then both fasten on the poor horse's haunches, and never let go till +the sinews are cut and he is rolling on his side. + +The horse makes comparatively little struggle in this deadly assault; +he seems paralyzed, and soon falls to rise no more. + +Cameron set his traps towards evening in a circle with a bait in the +centre, and then retired to rest. Next morning he called Joe Blunt, +and the two went off together. + +"It is strange that these rascally white wolves should be so bold when +the smaller kinds are so cowardly," remarked Cameron, as they walked +along. + +"So 'tis," replied Joe; "but I've seed them other chaps bold enough +too in the prairie when they were in large packs and starvin'." + +"I believe the small wolves follow the big fellows, and help them to +eat what they kill, though they generally sit round and look on at the +killing." + +"Hist!" exclaimed Joe, cocking his gun; "there he is, an' no mistake." + +There he was, undoubtedly. A wolf of the largest size with one of his +feet in the trap. He was a terrible-looking object, for, besides his +immense size and naturally ferocious aspect, his white hair bristled +on end and was all covered with streaks and spots of blood from his +bloody jaws. In his efforts to escape he had bitten the trap until he +had broken his teeth and lacerated his gums, so that his appearance +was hideous in the extreme. And when the two men came up he struggled +with all his might to fly at them. + +Cameron and Joe stood looking at him in a sort of wondering +admiration. + +"We'd better put a ball in him," suggested Joe after a time. "Mayhap +the chain won't stand sich tugs long." + +"True, Joe; if it break, we might get an ugly nip before we killed +him." + +So saying Cameron fired into the wolf's head and killed it. It was +found, on examination, that four wolves had been in the traps, but the +rest had escaped. Two of them, however, had gnawed off their paws and +left them lying in the traps. + +After this the big wolves did not trouble them again. The same +afternoon a bear-hunt was undertaken, which well-nigh cost one of the +Iroquois his life. It happened thus:-- + +While Cameron and Joe were away after the white wolves, Henri came +floundering into camp tossing his arms like a maniac, and shouting +that "seven bars wos be down in de bush close by!" It chanced that +this was an idle day with most of the men, so they all leaped on their +horses, and taking guns and knives sallied forth to give battle to the +bears. + +Arrived at the scene of action, they found the seven bears busily +engaged in digging up roots, so the men separated in order to surround +them, and then closed in. The place was partly open and partly covered +with thick bushes into which a horseman could not penetrate. + + +The moment the bears got wind of what was going forward they made off +as fast as possible, and then commenced a scene of firing, galloping, +and yelling that defies description! Four out of the seven were shot +before they gained the bushes; the other three were wounded, but made +good their retreat. As their places of shelter, however, were like +islands in the plain, they had no chance of escaping. + +The horsemen now dismounted and dashed recklessly into the bushes, +where they soon discovered and killed two of the bears; the third was +not found for some time. At last an Iroquois came upon it so suddenly +that he had not time to point his gun before the bear sprang upon him +and struck him to the earth, where it held him down. + +Instantly the place was surrounded by eager men; but the bushes were +so thick, and the fallen trees among which the bear stood were so +numerous, that they could not use their guns without running the risk +of shooting their companion. Most of them drew their knives and seemed +about to rush on the bear with these; but the monster's aspect, as it +glared around, was so terrible that they held back for a moment in +hesitation. + +At this moment Henri, who had been at some distance engaged in the +killing of one of the other bears, came rushing forward after his own +peculiar manner. "Ah! fat is eet--hay? de bar no go under yit?" + +Just then his eye fell on the wounded Iroquois with the bear above +him, and he uttered a yell so intense in tone that the bear himself +seemed to feel that something decisive was about to be done at last. +Henri did not pause, but with a flying dash he sprang like a spread +eagle, arms and legs extended, right into the bear's bosom. At the +same moment he sent his long hunting-knife down into its heart. But +Bruin is proverbially hard to kill, and although mortally wounded, he +had strength enough to open his jaws and close them on Henri's neck. + +There was a cry of horror, and at the same moment a volley was fired +at the bear's head; for the trappers felt that it was better to risk +shooting their comrades than see them killed before their eyes. +Fortunately the bullets took effect, and tumbled him over at once +without doing damage to either of the men, although several of the +balls just grazed Henri's temple and carried off his cap. + +Although uninjured by the shot, the poor Iroquois had not escaped +scathless from the paw of the bear. His scalp was torn almost off, and +hung down over his eyes, while blood streamed down his face. He was +conveyed by his comrades to the camp, where he lay two days in a state +of insensibility, at the end of which time he revived and recovered +daily. Afterwards when the camp moved he had to be carried; but in +the course of two months he was as well as ever, and quite as fond of +bear-hunting! + +Among other trophies of this hunt there were two deer and a buffalo, +which last had probably strayed from the herd. Four or five Iroquois +were round this animal whetting their knives for the purpose of +cutting it up when Henri passed, so he turned aside to watch them +perform the operation, quite regardless of the fact that his neck +and face were covered with blood which flowed from one or two small +punctures made by the bear. + +The Indians began by taking off the skin, which certainly did not +occupy them more than five minutes. Then they cut up the meat and made +a pack of it, and cut out the tongue, which is somewhat troublesome, +as that member requires to be cut out from under the jaw of the +animal, and not through the natural opening of the mouth. One of the +fore legs was cut off at the knee joint, and this was used as a hammer +with which to break the skull for the purpose of taking out the +brains, these being used in the process of dressing and softening the +animal's skin. An axe would have been of advantage to break the skull, +but in the hurry of rushing to the attack the Indians had forgotten +their axes; so they adopted the common fashion of using the buffalo's +hoof as a hammer, the shank being the handle. The whole operation of +flaying, cutting up, and packing the meat did not occupy more than +twenty minutes. Before leaving the ground these expert butchers +treated themselves to a little of the marrow and warm liver in a raw +state! + +Cameron and Joe walked up to the group while they were indulging in +this little feast. + +"Well, I've often seen that eaten, but I never could do it myself," +remarked the former. "No!" cried Joe in surprise; "now that's oncommon +cur'us. I've _lived_ on raw liver an' marrow-bones for two or three +days at a time, when we wos chased by the Camanchee Injuns an' didn't +dare to make a fire; an' it's ra'al good, it is. Won't ye try it +_now_?" + +Cameron shook his head. + +"No, thankee; I'll not refuse when I can't help it, but until then +I'll remain in happy ignorance of how good it is." + +"Well, it _is_ strange how some folk can't abide anything in the meat +way they ha'n't bin used to. D'ye know I've actually knowed men from +the cities as wouldn't eat a bit o' horseflesh for love or money. +Would ye believe it?" + +"I can well believe that, Joe, for I have met with such persons +myself; in fact, they are rather numerous. What are you chuckling at, +Joe?" + +"Chucklin'? If ye mean be that 'larfin in to myself,' it's because I'm +thinkin' o' a chap as once comed out to the prairies." + +"Let us walk back to the camp, Joe, and you can tell me about him as +we go along." + +"I think," continued Joe, "he comed from Washington, but I never could +make out right whether he wos a Government man or not. Anyhow, he wos +a pheelosopher--a natter-list I think he call his-self--" + +"A naturalist," suggested Cameron. + +"Ay, that wos more like it. Well, he wos about six feet two in his +moccasins, an' as thin as a ramrod, an' as blind as a bat--leastways +he had weak eyes an' wore green spectacles. He had on a gray shootin' +coat an' trousers an' vest an' cap, with rid whiskers an' a long nose +as rid at the point as the whiskers wos." + +"Well, this gentleman engaged me an' another hunter to go a trip with +him into the prairies, so off we sot one fine day on three hosses, +with our blankets at our backs--we wos to depend on the rifle for +victuals. At first I thought the natter-list one o' the cruellest +beggars as iver went on two long legs, for he used to go about +everywhere pokin' pins through all the beetles an' flies an' creepin' +things he could sot eyes on, an' stuck them in a box. But he told me +he comed here a-purpose to git as many o' them as he could; so says I, +'If that's it, I'll fill yer box in no time.' + +"'Will ye?' says he, quite pleased like. + +"'I will,' says I, an' galloped off to a place as was filled wi' all +sorts o' crawlin' things. So I sets to work, an' whenever I seed a +thing crawlin' I sot my fut on it an' crushed it, an' soon filled my +breast pocket. I cotched a lot o' butterflies too, an' stuffed them +into my shot-pouch, an' went back in an hour or two an' showed him the +lot. He put on his green spectacles an' looked at them as if he'd seen +a rattlesnake. + +"'My good man,' says he, 'you've crushed them all to pieces!' + +"'They'll taste as good for all that,' says I; for somehow I'd taken't +in me head that he'd heard o' the way the Injuns make soup o' the +grasshoppers, an' wos wantin' to try his hand at a new dish! + +"He laughed when I said this, an' told me he wos collectin' them to +take home to be _looked_ at. But that's not wot I was goin' to tell ye +about him," continued Joe; "I wos goin' to tell ye how we made him eat +horseflesh. He carried a revolver, too, this natter-list did, to load +wi' shot as small as dust a'most, an' shoot little birds with. I've +seed him miss birds only three feet away with it. An' one day he drew +it all of a suddent an' let fly at a big bum-bee that wos passin', +yellin' out that it wos the finest wot he had iver seed. He missed the +bee, of coorse, 'cause it wos a flyin' shot, he said, but he sent the +whole charge right into Martin's back--Martin was my comrade's name. +By good luck Martin had on a thick leather coat, so the shot niver got +the length o' his skin." + +"One day I noticed that the natter-list had stuffed small corks into +the muzzles of all the six barrels of his revolver. I wondered what +they wos for, but he wos al'ays doin' sich queer things that I +soon forgot it. 'Maybe,' thought I, jist before it went out o' my +mind--'maybe he thinks that'll stop the pistol from goin' off by +accident;' for ye must know he'd let it off three times the first day +by accident, an' well-nigh blowed off his leg the last time, only +the shot lodged in the back o' a big toad he'd jist stuffed into his +breeches pocket. Well, soon after we shot a buffalo bull, so when it +fell, off he jumps from his horse an' runs up to it. So did I, for I +wasn't sure the beast was dead, an' I had jist got up when it rose an' +rushed at the natter-list. + +"'Out o' the way,' I yelled, for my rifle was empty; but he didn't +move, so I rushed for'ard an' drew the pistol out o' his belt and let +fly in the bull's ribs jist as it ran the poor man down. Martin came +up that moment an' put a ball through its heart, an' then we went to +pick up the natter-list. He came to in a little, an' the first thing +he said was, 'Where's my revolver?' When I gave it to him he looked +at it, an' said with a solemcholy shake o' the head, 'There's a whole +barrel-full lost!' It turned out that he had taken to usin' the +barrels for bottles to hold things in, but he forgot to draw the +charges, so sure enough I had fired a charge o' bum-bees an' beetles +an' small shot into the buffalo! + +"But that's not what I wos goin' to tell ye yit. We corned to a part +o' the plains where we wos well-nigh starved for want o' game, an' the +natter-list got so thin that ye could a'most see through him, so I +offered to kill my horse, an' cut it up for meat; but you niver saw +sich a face he made. 'I'd rather die first,' says he, 'than eat it;' +so we didn't kill it. But that very day Martin got a shot at a wild +horse an' killed it. The natter-list was down in the bed o' a creek at +the time gropin' for creepers, an' he didn't see it. + +"'He'll niver eat it,' says Martin. + +"'That's true,' says I. + +"'Let's tell him it's a buffalo,' says he. + +"'That would be tellin' a lie,' says I. + +"So we stood lookin' at each other, not knowin' what to do. + +"'I'll tell ye what,' cries Martin; 'we'll cut it up, and take the +meat into camp an' cook it without _sayin' a word_.' + +"'Done,' says I, 'that's it;' for ye must know the poor critter wos no +judge o' meat. He couldn't tell one kind from another, an' he niver +axed questions. In fact he niver a'most spoke to us all the trip. +Well, we cut up the horse, an' carried the flesh an' marrowbones into +camp, takin' care to leave the hoofs an' skin behind, an' sot to work +an' roasted steaks an' marrowbones." + +"When the natter-list came back ye should ha' seen the joyful face he +put on when he smelt the grub, for he was all but starved out, poor +critter." + +"'What have we got here?' cried he, rubbin' his hands an' sittin' +down." + +"'Steaks an' marrow-bones,' says Martin." + +"'Capital!' says he. 'I'm _so_ hungry.'" + +"So he fell to work like a wolf. I niver seed a man pitch into +anything like as that natter-list did into that horseflesh." + +"'These are first-rate marrow-bones,' says he, squintin' with one eye +down the shin-bone o' the hind leg to see if it was quite empty." + +"'Yes, sir, they is,' answered Martin, as grave as a judge." + +"'Take another, sir,' says I." + +"'No, thankee,' says he with a sigh, for he didn't like to leave off." + +"Well, we lived for a week on horseflesh, an' first-rate livin' it +wos; then we fell in with buffalo, an' niver ran short again till we +got to the settlements, when he paid us our money an' shook hands, +sayin' we'd had a nice trip, an' he wished us well. Jist as we wos +partin' I said, says I, 'D'ye know what it wos we lived on for a week +arter we wos well-nigh starved in the prairies?'" + +"'What,' says he, 'when we got yon capital marrowbones?'" + +"'The same,' says I. 'Yon wos _horse_ flesh,' says I; 'an' I think +ye'll surely niver say again that it isn't first-rate livin'.'" + +"'Ye're jokin',' says he, turnin' pale." + +"'It's true, sir; as true as ye're standin' there.'" + +"Well, would ye believe it, he turned--that natter-list did--as sick +as a dog on the spot wot he wos standin' on, an' didn't taste meat +again for three days!" + +Shortly after the conclusion of Joe's story they reached the camp, +and here they found the women and children flying about in a state of +terror, and the few men who had been left in charge arming themselves +in the greatest haste. + +"Hallo! something wrong here," cried Cameron, hastening forward, +followed by Joe. "What has happened, eh?" + +"Injuns comin', monsieur; look dere," answered a trapper, pointing +down the valley. + +"Arm and mount at once, and come to the front of the camp," cried +Cameron in a tone of voice that silenced every other, and turned +confusion into order. + +The cause of all this outcry was a cloud of dust seen far down the +valley, which was raised by a band of mounted Indians who approached +the camp at full speed. Their numbers could not be made out, but they +were a sufficiently formidable band to cause much anxiety to +Cameron, whose men, at the time, were scattered to the various +trapping-grounds, and only ten chanced to be within call of the camp. +However, with these ten he determined to show a bold front to the +savages, whether they came as friends or foes. He therefore ordered +the women and children within the citadel formed of the goods and +packs of furs piled upon each other, which point of retreat was to +be defended to the last extremity. Then galloping to the front he +collected his men and swept down the valley at full speed. In a few +minutes they were near enough to observe that the enemy only numbered +four Indians, who were driving a band of about a hundred horses before +them, and so busy were they in keeping the troop together that Cameron +and his men were close upon them before they were observed. + +It was too late to escape. Joe Blunt and Henri had already swept round +and cut off their retreat. In this extremity the Indians slipped from +the backs of their steeds and darted into the bushes, where they were +safe from pursuit, at least on horseback, while the trappers got +behind the horses and drove them towards the camp. + +At this moment one of the horses sprang ahead of the others and made +for the mountain, with its mane and tail flying wildly in the breeze. + +"Marrow-bones and buttons!" shouted one of the men, "there goes Dick +Varley's horse." + +"So it am!" cried Henri, and dashed off in pursuit, followed by Joe +and two others. + +"Why, these are our own horses," said Cameron in surprise, as they +drove them into a corner of the hills from which they could not +escape. + +This was true, but it was only half the truth, for, besides their own +horses, they had secured upwards of seventy Indian steeds; a most +acceptable addition to their stud, which, owing to casualties and +wolves, had been diminishing too much of late. The fact was that the +Indians who had captured the horses belonging to Pierre and his party +were a small band of robbers who had travelled, as was afterwards +learned, a considerable distance from the south, stealing horses from +various tribes as they went along. As we have seen, in an evil hour +they fell in with Pierre's party and carried off their steeds, which +they drove to a pass leading from one valley to the other. Here they +united them with the main band of their ill-gotten gains, and while +the greater number of the robbers descended farther into the plains in +search of more booty, four of them were sent into the mountains with +the horses already procured. These four, utterly ignorant of the +presence of white men in the valley, drove their charge, as we have +seen, almost into the camp. + +Cameron immediately organized a party to go out in search of Pierre +and his companions, about whose fate he became intensely anxious, +and in the course of half-an-hour as many men as he could spare with +safety were despatched in the direction of the Blue Mountains. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + +_Charlie's adventures with savages and bears_--_Trapping life_. + + +It is one thing to chase a horse; it is another thing to catch it. +Little consideration and less sagacity are required to convince us of +the truth of that fact. + +The reader may perhaps venture to think this rather a trifling fact. +We are not so sure of that. In this world of fancies, to have _any_ +fact incontestably proved and established is a comfort, and whatever +is a source of comfort to mankind is worthy of notice. Surely our +reader won't deny that! Perhaps he will, so we can only console +ourself with the remark that there are people in this world who would +deny _anything_--who would deny that there was a nose on their face if +you said there was! + +Well, to return to the point, which was the chase of a horse in the +abstract; from which we will rapidly diverge to the chase of Dick +Varley's horse in particular. This noble charger, having been ridden +by savages until all his old fire and blood and mettle were worked up +to a red heat, no sooner discovered that he was pursued than he gave +a snort of defiance, which he accompanied with a frantic shake of his +mane and a fling of contempt in addition to a magnificent wave of his +tail. Then he thundered up the valley at a pace which would speedily +have left Joe Blunt and Henri out of sight behind if--ay! that's the +word, _if_! What a word that _if_ is! what a world of _if's_ we live +in! There never was anything that wouldn't have been something else +_if_ something hadn't intervened to prevent it! Yes, we repeat Charlie +would have left his two friends miles and miles behind in what is +called "no time," _if_ he had not run straight into a gorge which was +surrounded by inaccessible precipices, and out of which there was no +exit except by the entrance, which was immediately barred by Henri, +while Joe advanced to catch the run-away. + +For two hours at least did Joe Blunt essay to catch Charlie, and +during that space of time he utterly failed The horse seemed to have +made up his mind for what is vulgarly termed "a lark." + +"It won't do, Henri," said Joe, advancing towards his companion, and +wiping his forehead with the cuff of his leathern coat; "I can't catch +him. The wind's a'most blowed out o' me body." + +"Dat am vexatiable," replied Henri, in a tone of commiseration. +"S'pose I wos make try?" + +"In that case I s'pose ye would fail. But go ahead, an' do what ye +can. I'll hold yer horse." + +So Henri began by a rush and a flourish of legs and arms that nearly +frightened the horse out of his wits. For half-an-hour he went through +all the complications of running and twisting of which he was capable, +without success, when Joe Blunt suddenly uttered a stentorian yell +that rooted him to the spot on which he stood. + +To account for this, we must explain that in the heights of the Rocky +Mountains vast accumulations of snow take place among the crevices and +gorges during winter. Such of these masses as form on steep slopes +are loosened by occasional thaws, and are precipitated in the form of +avalanches into the valleys below, carrying trees and stones along +with them in their thundering descent. In the gloomy gorge where +Dick's horse had taken refuge the precipices were so steep that many +avalanches had occurred, as was evident from the mounds of heaped snow +that lay at the foot of most of them. Neither stones nor trees were +carried down here, however, for the cliffs were nearly perpendicular, +and the snow slipping over their edges had fallen on the grass below. +Such an avalanche was now about to take place, and it was this that +caused Joe to utter his cry of alarm and warning. + +Henri and the horse were directly under the cliff over which it was +about to be hurled, the latter close to the wall of rock, the other at +some distance away from it. + +Joe cried again, "Back, Henri! back _vite_!" when the mass _flowed +over_ and fell with a roar like prolonged thunder. Henri sprang back +in time to save his life, though he was knocked down and almost +stunned; but poor Charlie was completely buried under the avalanche, +which now presented the appearance of a _hill_ of snow. + +The instant Henri recovered sufficiently, Joe and he mounted their +horses and galloped back to the camp as fast as possible. + +Meanwhile, another spectator stepped forward upon the scene they had +left, and surveyed the snow hill with a critical eye. This was no less +than a grizzly bear, which had, unobserved, been a spectator, and +which immediately proceeded to dig into the mound, with the purpose, +no doubt, of disentombing the carcass of the horse for purposes of his +own. + +While he was thus actively engaged the two hunters reached the camp, +where they found that Pierre and his party had just arrived. The men +sent out in search of them had scarcely advanced a mile when they +found them trudging back to the camp in a very disconsolate manner. +But all their sorrows were put to flight on hearing of the curious way +in which the horses had been returned to them with interest. + +Scarcely had Dick Varley, however, congratulated himself on the +recovery of his gallant steed, when he was thrown into despair by the +sudden arrival of Joe with the tidings of the catastrophe we have just +related. + +Of course there was a general rush to the rescue. Only a few men were +ordered to remain to guard the camp, while the remainder mounted their +horses and galloped towards the gorge where Charlie had been entombed. +On arriving, they found that Bruin had worked with such laudable zeal +that nothing but the tip of his tail was seen sticking out of the hole +which he had dug. The hunters could not refrain from laughing as they +sprang to the ground, and standing in a semicircle in front of the +hole, prepared to fire. But Crusoe resolved to have the honour of +leading the assault. He seized fast hold of Bruin's flank, and caused +his teeth to meet therein. Caleb backed out at once and turned round, +but before he could recover from his surprise a dozen bullets pierced +his heart and brain. + +"Now, lads," cried Cameron, setting to work with a large wooden +shovel, "work like niggers. If there's any life left in the horse, +it'll soon be smothered out unless we set him free." + +The men needed no urging, however. They worked as if their lives +depended on their exertions. Dick Varley, in particular, laboured like +a young Hercules, and Henri hurled masses of snow about in a most +surprising manner. Crusoe, too, entered heartily into the spirit of +the work, and, scraping with his forepaws, sent such a continuous +shower of snow behind him that he was speedily lost to view in a hole +of his own excavating. In the course of half-an-hour a cavern was dug +in the mound almost close up to the cliff, and the men were beginning +to look about for the crushed body of Dick's steed, when an +exclamation from Henri attracted their attention. + +"Ha! mes ami, here am be one hole." + +The truth of this could not be doubted, for the eccentric trapper had +thrust his shovel through the wall of snow into what appeared to be a +cavern beyond, and immediately followed up his remark by thrusting in +his head and shoulders. He drew them out in a few seconds, with a look +of intense amazement. + +"Voila! Joe Blunt. Look in dere, and you shall see fat you vill +behold." + +"Why, it's the horse, I do b'lieve!" cried Joe. "Go ahead, lads!" + +So saying, he resumed his shovelling vigorously, and in a few minutes +the hole was opened up sufficiently to enable a man to enter. Dick +sprang in, and there stood Charlie close beside the cliff, looking +as sedate and, unconcerned as if all that had been going on had no +reference to him whatever. + +The cause of his safety was simple enough. The precipice beside which +he stood when the avalanche occurred overhung its base at that point +considerably, so that when the snow descended a clear space of several +feet wide was left all along its base. Here Charlie had remained in +perfect comfort until his friends dug him out. + +Congratulating themselves not a little on having saved the charger and +bagged a grizzly bear, the trappers remounted, and returned to the +camp. + +For some time after this nothing worthy of particular note occurred. +The trapping operations went on prosperously and without interruption +from the Indians, who seemed to have left the locality altogether. +During this period, Dick, and Crusoe, and Charlie had many excursions +together, and the silver rifle full many a time sent death to the +heart of bear, and elk, and buffalo; while, indirectly, it sent joy +to the heart of man, woman, and child in camp, in the shape of juicy +steaks and marrow-bones. Joe and Henri devoted themselves almost +exclusively to trapping beaver, in which pursuit they were so +successful that they speedily became wealthy men, according to +backwood notions of wealth. + +With the beaver that they caught they purchased from Cameron's store +powder and shot enough for a long hunting expedition, and a couple +of spare horses to carry their packs. They also purchased a large +assortment of such goods and trinkets as would prove acceptable to +Indians, and supplied themselves with new blankets, and a few pairs of +strong moccasins, of which they stood much in need. + +Thus they went on from day to day, until symptoms of the approach of +winter warned them that it was time to return to the Mustang Valley. +About this time an event occurred which totally changed the aspect +of affairs in these remote valleys of the Rocky Mountains, and +precipitated the departure of our four friends, Dick, Joe, Henri, and +Crusoe. This was the sudden arrival of a whole tribe of Indians. +As their advent was somewhat remarkable, we shall devote to it the +commencement of a new chapter. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + +_Savage sports--Living cataracts--An alarm--Indians and their +doings--The stampede--Charlie again_. + + +One day Dick Varley was out on a solitary hunting expedition near the +rocky gorge where his horse had received temporary burial a week or +two before. Crusoe was with him, of course. Dick had tied Charlie to a +tree, and was sunning himself on the edge of a cliff, from the top of +which he had a fine view of the valley and the rugged precipices that +hemmed it in. + +Just in front of the spot on which he sat, the precipices on the +opposite side of the gorge rose to a considerable height above him, so +that their ragged outlines were drawn sharply across the clear sky. +Dick was gazing in dreamy silence at the jutting rocks and dark +caverns, and speculating on the probable number of bears that dwelt +there, when a slight degree of restlessness on the part of Crusoe +attracted him. + +"What is't, pup?" said he, laying his hand on the dog's broad back. + +Crusoe looked the answer, "I don't know, Dick, but it's _something_, +you may depend upon it, else I would not have disturbed you." + +Dick lifted his rifle from the ground, and laid it in the hollow of +his left arm. + +"There must be something in the wind," remarked Dick. + +As wind is known to be composed of two distinct gases, Crusoe felt +perfectly safe in replying "Yes" with his tail. Immediately after he +added, "Hallo! did you hear that?" with his ears. + +Dick did hear it, and sprang hastily to his feet, as a sound like, yet +unlike, distant thunder came faintly down upon the breeze. In a few +seconds the sound increased to a roar in which was mingled the wild +cries of men. Neither Dick nor Crusoe moved, for the sounds came from +behind the heights in front of them, and they felt that the only way +to solve the question, "What can the sounds be?" was to wait till the +sounds should solve it themselves. + +Suddenly the muffled sounds gave place to the distinct bellowing of +cattle, the clatter of innumerable hoofs, and the yells of savage men, +while at the same moment the edges of the opposite cliffs became alive +with Indians and buffaloes rushing about in frantic haste--the former +almost mad with savage excitement, the latter with blind rage and +terror. + +On reaching the edge of the dizzy precipice, the buffaloes turned +abruptly and tossed their ponderous heads as they coursed along the +edge. Yet a few of them, unable to check their headlong course, fell +over, and were dashed to pieces on the rocks below. Such falls, Dick +observed, were hailed with shouts of delight by the Indians, whose +sole object evidently was to enjoy the sport of driving the terrified +animals over the precipice. The wily savages had chosen their ground +well for this purpose. + +The cliff immediately opposite to Dick Varley was a huge projection +from the precipice that hemmed in the gorge, a species of cape or +promontory several hundred yards wide at the base, and narrowing +abruptly to a point. The sides of this wedge-shaped projection were +quite perpendicular--indeed, in some places the top overhung the +base--and they were at least three hundred feet high. Broken and +jagged rocks, of that peculiarly chaotic character which probably +suggested the name to this part of the great American chain, projected +from and were scattered all round the cliffs. Over these the Indians, +whose numbers increased every moment, strove to drive the luckless +herd of buffaloes that had chanced to fall in their way. The task was +easy. The unsuspecting animals, of which there were hundreds, +rushed in a dense mass upon the cape referred to. On they came with +irresistible impetuosity, bellowing furiously, while their hoofs +thundered on the turf with the muffled continuous roar of a distant +but mighty cataract; the Indians, meanwhile, urging them on by hideous +yells and frantic gestures. + +The advance-guard came bounding madly to the edge of the precipice. +Here they stopped short, and gazed affrighted at the gulf below. It +was but for a moment. The irresistible momentum of the flying mass +behind pushed them over. Down they came, absolutely a living cataract, +upon the rocks below. Some struck on the projecting rocks in the +descent, and their bodies were dashed almost in pieces, while their +blood spurted out in showers. Others leaped from rock to rock with +awful bounds, until, losing their foothold, they fell headlong; +while others descended sheer down into the sweltering mass that lay +shattered at the base of the cliffs. + +Dick Varley and his dog remained rooted to the rock, as they gazed at +the sickening sight, as if petrified. Scarce fifty of that noble herd +of buffaloes escaped the awful leap, but they escaped only to fall +before the arrows of their ruthless pursuers. Dick had often heard of +this tendency of the Indians, where buffaloes were very numerous, to +drive them over precipices in mere wanton sport and cruelty, but +he had never seen it until now, and the sight filled his soul with +horror. It was not until the din and tumult of the perishing herd and +the shrill yells of the Indians had almost died away that he turned to +quit the spot. But the instant he did so another shout was raised. The +savages had observed him, and were seen galloping along the cliffs +towards the head of the gorge, with the obvious intention of gaining +the other side and capturing him. Dick sprang on Charlie's back, and +the next instant was flying down the valley towards the camp. + +He did not, however, fear being overtaken, for the gorge could not be +crossed, and the way round the head of it was long and rugged; but he +was anxious to alarm the camp as quickly as possible, so that they +might have time to call in the more distant trappers and make +preparations for defence. + +"Where away now, youngster?" inquired Cameron, emerging from his tent +as Dick, taking the brook that flowed in front at a flying leap, came +crashing through the bushes into the midst of the fur-packs at full +speed. + +"Injuns!" ejaculated Dick, reining up, and vaulting out of the saddle. +"Hundreds of 'em. Fiends incarnate every one!" + +"Are they near?" + +"Yes; an hour'll bring them down on us. Are Joe and Henri far from +camp to-day?" + +"At Ten-mile Creek," replied Cameron with an expression of bitterness, +as he caught up his gun and shouted to several men, who hurried up on +seeing our hero burst into camp. + +"Ten-mile Creek!" muttered Dick. "I'll bring 'em in, though," he +continued, glancing at several of the camp horses that grazed close at +hand. + +In another moment he was on Charlie's back, the line of one of the +best horses was in his hand, and almost before Cameron knew what he +was about he was flying down the valley like the wind. Charlie often +stretched out at full speed to please his young master, but seldom +had he been urged forward as he was upon this occasion. The led horse +being light and wild, kept well up, and in a marvellously short space +of time they were at Ten-mile Creek. + +"Hallo, Dick, wot's to do?" inquired Joe Blunt, who was up to his +knees in the water setting a trap at the moment his friend galloped +up. + +"Injuns! Where's Henri?" demanded Dick. + +"At the head o' the dam there." + +Dick was off in a moment, and almost instantly returned with Henri +galloping beside him. + +No word was spoken. In time of action these men did not waste words. +During Dick's momentary absence, Joe Blunt had caught up his rifle and +examined the priming, so that when Dick pulled up beside him he merely +laid his hand on the saddle, saying, "All right!" as he vaulted on +Charlie's back behind his young companion. In another moment they were +away at full speed. The mustang seemed to feel that unwonted exertions +were required of him. Double weighted though he was, he kept well up +with the other horse, and in less than two hours after Dick's leaving +the camp the three hunters came in sight of it. + +Meanwhile Cameron had collected nearly all his forces and put his +camp in a state of defence before the Indians arrived, which they did +suddenly, and, as usual, at full gallop, to the amount of at least +two hundred. They did not at first seem disposed to hold friendly +intercourse with the trappers, but assembled in a semicircle round the +camp in a menacing attitude, while one of their chiefs stepped forward +to hold a palaver. For some time the conversation on both sides was +polite enough, but by degrees the Indian chief assumed an imperious +tone, and demanded gifts from the trappers, taking care to enforce +his request by hinting that thousands of his countrymen were not far +distant. Cameron stoutly refused, and the palaver threatened to come +to an abrupt and unpleasant termination just at the time that Dick and +his friends appeared on the scene of action. + +The brook was cleared at a bound; the three hunters leaped from their +steeds and sprang to the front with a degree of energy that had a +visible effect on the savages; and Cameron, seizing the moment, +proposed that the two parties should smoke a pipe and hold a council. +The Indians agreed, and in a few minutes they were engaged in animated +and friendly intercourse. The speeches were long, and the compliments +paid on either side were inflated, and, we fear, undeserved; but the +result of the interview was, that Cameron made the Indians a present +of tobacco and a few trinkets, and sent them back to their friends to +tell them that he was willing to trade with them. + +Next day the whole tribe arrived in the valley, and pitched their +deerskin tents on the plain opposite to the camp of the white men. +Their numbers far exceeded Cameron's expectation, and it was with some +anxiety that he proceeded to strengthen his fortifications as much as +circumstances and the nature of the ground would admit. + +The Indian camp, which numbered upwards of a thousand souls, was +arranged with great regularity, and was divided into three distinct +sections, each section being composed of a separate tribe. The Great +Snake nation at that time embraced three tribes or divisions--namely, +the Shirry-dikas, or dog-eaters; the War-are-ree-kas, or fish-eaters; +and the Banattees, or robbers. These were the most numerous and +powerful Indians on the west side of the Rocky Mountains. The +Shirry-dikas dwelt in the plains, and hunted the buffaloes; dressed +well; were cleanly; rich in horses; bold, independent, and good +warriors. The War-are-ree-kas lived chiefly by fishing, and were found +on the banks of the rivers and lakes throughout the country. They were +more corpulent, slovenly, and indolent than the Shirry-dikas, and more +peaceful. The Banattees, as we have before mentioned, were the robbers +of the mountains. They were a wild and contemptible race, and at +enmity with every one. In summer they went about nearly naked. In +winter they clothed themselves in the skins of rabbits and wolves. +Being excellent mimics, they could imitate the howling of wolves, the +neighing of horses, and the cries of birds, by which means they could +approach travellers, rob them, and then fly to their rocky fastnesses +in the mountains, where pursuit was vain. + +Such were the men who now assembled in front of the camp of the +fur-traders, and Cameron soon found that the news of his presence in +the country had spread far and wide among the natives, bringing them +to the neighbourhood of his camp in immense crowds, so that during the +next few days their numbers increased to thousands. + +Several long palavers quickly ensued between the red men and the +white, and the two great chiefs who seemed to hold despotic rule +over the assembled tribes were extremely favourable to the idea of +universal peace which was propounded to them. In several set speeches +of great length and very considerable power, these natural orators +explained their willingness to enter into amicable relations with all +the surrounding nations, as well as with the white men. + +"But," said Pee-eye-em, the chief of the Shirry-dikas, a man above +six feet high, and of immense muscular strength--"but my tribe cannot +answer for the Banattees, who are robbers, and cannot be punished, +because they dwell in scattered families among the mountains. The +Banattees are bad; they cannot be trusted." + +None of the Banattees were present at the council when this was said; +and if they had been it would have mattered little, for they were +neither fierce nor courageous, although bold enough in their own +haunts to murder and rob the unwary. + +The second chief did not quite agree with Pee-eye-em. He said that it +was impossible for them to make peace with their natural enemies, the +Peigans and the Blackfeet on the east side of the mountains. It was +very desirable, he admitted; but neither of these tribes would consent +to it, he felt sure. + +Upon this Joe Blunt rose and said, "The great chief of the +War-are-ree-kas is wise, and knows that enemies cannot be reconciled +unless deputies are sent to make proposals of peace." + +"The Pale-face does not know the Blackfeet," answered the chief. "Who +will go into the lands of the Blackfeet? My young men have been sent +once and again, and their scalps are now fringes to the leggings of +their enemies. The War-are-ree-kas do not cross the mountains but for +the purpose of making war." + +"The chief speaks truth," returned Joe; "yet there are three men round +the council fire who will go to the Blackfeet and the Peigans with +messages of peace from the Snakes if they wish it." + +Joe pointed to himself, Henri, and Dick as he spoke, and added, "We +three do not belong to the camp of the fur-traders; we only, lodge +with them for a time. The Great Chief of the white men has sent us to +make peace with the Red-men, and to tell them that he desires to trade +with them--to exchange hatchets, and guns, and blankets for furs." + +This declaration interested the two chiefs greatly, and after a good +deal of discussion they agreed to take advantage of Joe Blunt's offer; +and appoint him as a deputy to the court of their enemies. Having +arranged these matters to their satisfaction, Cameron bestowed a red +flag and a blue surtout with brass buttons on each of the chiefs, and +a variety of smaller articles on the other members of the council, and +sent them away in a particularly amiable frame of mind. + +Pee-eye-em burst the blue surtout at the shoulders and elbows in +putting it on, as it was much too small for his gigantic frame; +but never having seen such an article of apparel before, he either +regarded this as the natural and proper consequence of putting it on, +or was totally indifferent to it, for he merely looked at the rents +with a smile of satisfaction, while his squaw surreptitiously cut off +the two back buttons and thrust them into her bosom. + +By the time the council closed the night was far advanced, and a +bright moon was shedding a flood of soft light over the picturesque +and busy scene. + +"I'll go to the Injun camp," said Joe to Walter Cameron, as the chiefs +rose to depart. "The season's far enough advanced already; it's time +to be off; and if I'm to speak for the Redskins in the Blackfeet +Council, I'd need to know what to say." + +"Please yourself, Master Blunt," answered Cameron. "I like your +company and that of your friends, and if it suited you I would be +glad to take you along with us to the coast of the Pacific; but your +mission among the Indians is a good one, and I'll help it on all I +can.--I suppose you will go also?" he added, turning to Dick Varley, +who was still seated beside the council fire caressing Crusoe. + +"Wherever Joe goes, I go," answered Dick. + +Crusoe's tail, ears, and eyes demonstrated high approval of the +sentiment involved in this speech. + +"And your friend Henri?" + +"He goes too," answered Joe. "It's as well that the Redskins should +see the three o' us before we start for the east side o' the +mountains.--Ho, Henri! come here, lad." + +Henri obeyed, and in a few seconds the three friends crossed the +brook to the Indian camp, and were guided to the principal lodge by +Pee-eye-em. Here a great council was held, and the proposed attempt +at negotiations for peace with their ancient enemies fully discussed. +While they were thus engaged, and just as Pee-eye-em had, in the +energy of an enthusiastic peroration, burst the blue surtout _almost_ +up to the collar, a distant rushing sound was heard, which caused +every man to spring to his feet, run out of the tent, and seize his +weapons. + +"What can it be, Joe?" whispered Dick as they stood at the tent door +leaning on their rifles, and listening intently. + +"Dun'no'," answered Joe shortly. + +Most of the numerous fires of the camp had gone out, but the bright +moon revealed the dusky forms of thousands of Indians, whom the +unwonted sound had startled, moving rapidly about. + +The mystery was soon explained. The Indian camp was pitched on an open +plain of several miles in extent, which took a sudden bend half-a-mile +distant, where a spur of the mountains shut out the farther end of +the valley from view. From beyond this point the dull rumbling sound +proceeded. Suddenly there was a roar as if a mighty cataract had been +let loose upon the scene. At the same moment a countless herd of wild +horses came thundering round the base of the mountain and swept over +the plain straight towards the Indian camp. + +"A stampede!" cried Joe, springing to the assistance of Pee-eye-em, +whose favourite horses were picketed near the tent. + +On they came like a living torrent, and the thunder of a thousand +hoofs was soon mingled with the howling of hundreds of dogs in the +camp, and the yelling of Indians, as they vainly endeavoured to +restrain the rising excitement of their steeds. Henri and Dick stood +rooted to the ground, gazing in silent wonder at the fierce and +uncontrollable gallop of the thousands of panic-stricken horses that +bore down upon the camp with the tumultuous violence of a mighty +cataract. + +As the maddened troop drew nigh, the camp horses began to snort and +tremble violently, and when the rush of the wild steeds was almost +upon them, they became ungovernable with terror, broke their halters +and hobbles, and dashed wildly about. To add to the confusion at that +moment, a cloud passed over the moon and threw the whole scene into +deep obscurity. Blind with terror, which was probably increased by the +din of their own mad flight, the galloping troop came on, and with a +sound like the continuous roar of thunder that for an instant drowned +the yell of dog and man they burst upon the camp, trampling over +packs and skins, and dried meat, etc., in their headlong speed, and +overturning several of the smaller tents. In another moment they swept +out upon the plain beyond, and were soon lost in the darkness of the +night, while the yelping of dogs, as they vainly pursued them, mingled +and gradually died away with the distant thunder of their retreat. + +This was a _stampede_, one of the most extraordinary scenes that can +be witnessed in the western wilderness. + +"Lend a hand, Henri," shouted Joe, who was struggling with a powerful +horse. "Wot's comed over yer brains, man? This brute'll git off if you +don't look sharp." + +Dick and Henri both answered to the summons, and they succeeded in +throwing the struggling animal on its side and holding it down +until its excitement was somewhat abated. Pee-eye-em had also been +successful in securing his favourite hunter: but nearly every other +horse belonging to the camp had broken loose and joined the whirlwind +gallop. But they gradually dropped out, and before morning the most of +them were secured by their owners. As there were at least two thousand +horses and an equal number of dogs in the part of the Indian camp +which had been thus overrun by the wild mustangs, the turmoil, as may +be imagined, was prodigious! Yet, strange to say, no accident of a +serious nature occurred beyond the loss of several chargers. + +In the midst of this exciting scene there was one heart which beat +with a nervous vehemence that well-nigh burst it. This was the heart +of Dick Varley's horse, Charlie. Well known to him was that distant +rumbling sound that floated on the night air into the fur-traders' +camp, where he was picketed close to Cameron's tent. Many a time had +he heard the approach of such a wild troop, and often, in days not +long gone by, had his shrill neigh rung out as he joined and led +the panic-stricken band. He was first to hear the sound, and by his +restive actions to draw the attention of the fur-traders to it. As a +precautionary measure they all sprang up and stood by their horses to +soothe them, but as a brook with a belt of bushes and quarter of a +mile of plain intervened between their camp and the mustangs as they +flew past, they had little or no trouble in restraining them. Not +so, however, with Charlie. At the very moment that his master was +congratulating himself on the supposed security of his position, he +wrenched the halter from the hand of him who held it, burst through +the barrier of felled trees that had been thrown round the camp, +cleared the brook at a bound, and with a wild hilarious neigh resumed +his old place in the ranks of the free-born mustangs of the prairie. + +Little did Dick think, when the flood of horses swept past him, that +his own good steed was there, rejoicing in his recovered liberty. But +Crusoe knew it. Ay, the wind had borne down the information to his +acute nose before the living storm burst upon the camp; and when +Charlie rushed past, with the long tough halter trailing at his heels, +Crusoe sprang to his side, seized the end of the halter with his +teeth, and galloped off along with him. + +It was a long gallop and a tough one, but Crusoe held on, for it was a +settled principle in his mind _never_ to give in. At first the check +upon Charlie's speed was imperceptible, but by degrees the weight of +the gigantic dog began to tell, and after a time they fell a little +to the rear; then by good fortune the troop passed through a mass of +underwood, and the line getting entangled brought their mad career +forcibly to a close; the mustangs passed on, and the two friends were +left to keep each other company in the dark. + +How long they would have remained thus is uncertain, for neither +of them had sagacity enough to undo a complicated entanglement. +Fortunately, however, in his energetic tugs at the line, Crusoe's +sharp teeth partially severed it, and a sudden start on the part of +Charlie caused it to part. Before he could escape, Crusoe again seized +the end of it, and led him slowly but steadily back to the Indian +camp, never halting or turning aside until he had placed the line in +Dick Varley's hand. + +"Hallo, pup! where have ye bin? How did ye bring him here?" exclaimed +Dick, as he gazed in amazement at his foam-covered horse. + +Crusoe wagged his tail, as if to say, "Be thankful that you've got +him, Dick, my boy, and don't ask questions that you know I can't +answer." + +"He must ha' broke loose and jined the stampede," remarked Joe, coming +out of the chief's tent at the moment; "but tie him up, Dick, and come +in, for we want to settle about startin' to-morrow or nixt day." + +Having fastened Charlie to a stake, and ordered Crusoe to watch him, +Dick re-entered the tent where the council had reassembled, and where +Pee-eye-em--having, in the recent struggle, split the blue surtout +completely up to the collar, so that his backbone was visible +throughout the greater part of its length--was holding forth in +eloquent strains on the subject of peace in general and peace with the +Blackfeet, the ancient enemies of the Shirry-dikas, in particular. + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + + +_Plans and prospects--Dick becomes home-sick, and Henri +metaphysical--Indians attack the camp--A blow-up._ + + +On the following day the Indians gave themselves up to unlimited +feasting, in consequence of the arrival of a large body of hunters +with an immense supply of buffalo meat. It was a regular day of +rejoicing. Upwards of six hundred buffaloes had been killed and as the +supply of meat before their arrival had been ample, the camp was now +overflowing with plenty. + + +Feasts were given by the chiefs, and the medicine men went about the +camp uttering loud cries, which were meant to express gratitude to the +Great Spirit for the bountiful supply of food. They also carried a +portion of meat to the aged and infirm who were unable to hunt for +themselves, and had no young men in their family circle to hunt for +them. + +This arrival of the hunters was a fortunate circumstance, as it put +the Indians in great good-humour, and inclined them to hold friendly +intercourse with the trappers, who for some time continued to drive a +brisk trade in furs. Having no market for the disposal of their furs, +the Indians of course had more than they knew what to do with, and +were therefore glad to exchange those of the most beautiful and +valuable kind for a mere trifle, so that the trappers laid aside their +traps for a time and devoted themselves to traffic. + +Meanwhile Joe Blunt and his friends made preparations for their return +journey. + +"Ye see," remarked Joe to Henri and Dick, as they sat beside the fire +in Pee-eye-em's lodge, and feasted on a potful of grasshopper soup, +which the great chief's squaw had just placed before them--"ye see, my +calc'lations is as follows. Wot with trappin' beavers and huntin', we +three ha' made enough to set us up, an it likes us, in the Mustang +Valley--" + +"Ha!" interrupted Dick, remitting for a few seconds the use of his +teeth in order to exercise his tongue--ha! Joe, but it don't like +_me_! What, give up a hunter's life and become a farmer? I should +think not!" + +"Bon!" ejaculated Henri, but whether the remark had reference to the +grasshopper soup or the sentiment we cannot tell. + +"Well," continued Joe, commencing to devour a large buffalo steak with +a hunter's appetite, "ye'll please yourselves, lads, as to that; but +as I wos sayin', we've got a powerful lot o' furs, an' a big pack o' +odds and ends for the Injuns we chance to meet with by the way, an' +powder and lead to last us a twelvemonth, besides five good horses to +carry us an' our packs over the plains; so if it's agreeable to you, I +mean to make a bee-line for the Mustang Valley. We're pretty sure to +meet with Blackfeet on the way, and if we do we'll try to make peace +between them an' the Snakes. I 'xpect it'll be pretty well on for six +weeks afore we git to home, so we'll start to-morrow." + +"Dat is fat vill do ver' vell," said Henri; "vill you please donnez me +one petit morsel of steak." + +"I'm ready for anything, Joe," cried Dick; "you are leader. Just point +the way, and I'll answer for two o' us followin' ye--eh! won't we, +Crusoe?" + +"We will," remarked the dog quietly. + +"How comes it," inquired Dick, "that these Indians don't care for our +tobacco?" + +"They like their own better, I s'pose," answered Joe; "most all the +western Injuns do. They make it o' the dried leaves o' the shumack +and the inner bark o' the red-willow, chopped very small an' mixed +together. They call this stuff _kinnekinnik_; but they like to mix +about a fourth o' our tobacco with it, so Pee-eye-em tells me, an' +he's a good judge. The amount that red-skinned mortal smokes _is_ +oncommon." + +"What are they doin' yonder?" inquired Dick, pointing to a group of +men who had been feasting for some time past in front of a tent within +sight of our trio. + +"Goin' to sing, I think," replied Joe. + +As he spoke six young warriors were seen to work their bodies about +in a very remarkable way, and give utterance to still more remarkable +sounds, which gradually increased until the singers burst out into +that terrific yell, or war-whoop, for which American savages have long +been famous. Its effect would have been appalling to unaccustomed +ears. Then they allowed their voices to die away in soft, plaintive +tones, while their action corresponded thereto. Suddenly the furious +style was revived, and the men wrought themselves into a condition +little short of madness, while their yells rang wildly through the +camp. This was too much for ordinary canine nature to withstand, so +all the dogs in the neighbourhood joined in the horrible chorus. + +Crusoe had long since learned to treat the eccentricities of Indians +and their curs with dignified contempt. He paid no attention to this +serenade, but lay sleeping by the fire until Dick and his companions +rose to take leave of their host and return to the camp of the +fur-traders. The remainder of that night was spent in making +preparations for setting forth on the morrow; and when, at gray dawn, +Dick and Crusoe lay down to snatch a few hours' repose, the yells and +howling in the Snake camp were going on as vigorously as ever. + +The sun had arisen, and his beams were just tipping the summits of the +Rocky Mountains, causing the snowy peaks to glitter like flame, and +the deep ravines and gorges to look sombre and mysterious by contrast, +when Dick and Joe and Henri mounted their gallant steeds, and, with +Crusoe gambolling before, and the two pack-horses trotting by their +side, turned their faces eastward, and bade adieu to the Indian camp. + +Crusoe was in great spirits. He was perfectly well aware that he and +his companions were on their way home, and testified his satisfaction +by bursts of scampering over the hills and valleys. Doubtless he +thought of Dick Varley's cottage, and of Dick's mild, kind-hearted +mother. Undoubtedly, too, he thought of his own mother, Fan, and +felt a glow of filial affection as he did so. Of this we feel quite +certain. He would have been unworthy the title of hero if he hadn't. +Perchance he thought of Grumps, but of this we are not quite so sure. +We rather think, upon the whole, that he did. + +Dick, too, let his thoughts run away in the direction of _home_. +Sweet word! Those who have never left it cannot, by any effort of +imagination, realize the full import of the word "home." Dick was a +bold hunter; but he was young, and this was his first long expedition. +Oftentimes, when sleeping under the trees and gazing dreamily up +through the branches at the stars, had he thought of home, until +his longing heart began to yearn to return. He repelled such tender +feelings, however, when they became too strong, deeming them unmanly, +and sought to turn his mind to the excitements of the chase; but +latterly his efforts were in vain. He became thoroughly home-sick, and +while admitting the fact to himself, he endeavoured to conceal it from +his comrades. He thought that he was successful in this attempt. Poor +Dick Varley! as yet he was sadly ignorant of human nature. Henri knew +it, and Joe Blunt knew it. Even Crusoe knew that something was wrong +with his master, although he could not exactly make out what it was. +But Crusoe made memoranda in the note-book of his memory. He jotted +down the peculiar phases of his master's new disease with the care and +minute exactness of a physician, and, we doubt not, ultimately +added the knowledge of the symptoms of home-sickness to his already +well-filled stores of erudition. + +It was not till they had set out on their homeward journey that +Dick Varley's spirits revived, and it was not till they reached the +beautiful prairies on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, and +galloped over the greensward towards the Mustang Valley, that Dick +ventured to tell Joe Blunt what his feelings had been. + +"D'ye know, Joe," he said confidentially, reining up his gallant steed +after a sharp gallop--"d'ye know I've bin feelin' awful low for some +time past." + +"I know it, lad," answered Joe, with a quiet smile, in which there +was a dash of something that implied he knew more than he chose to +express. + +Dick felt surprised, but he continued, "I wonder what it could have +bin. I never felt so before." + +"'Twas home-sickness, boy," returned Joe. + +"How d'ye know that?" + +"The same way as how I know most things--by experience an' +obsarvation. I've bin home-sick myself once, but it was long, long +agone." + +Dick felt much relieved at this candid confession by such a bronzed +veteran, and, the chords of sympathy having been struck, he opened up +his heart at once, to the evident delight of Henri, who, among other +curious partialities, was extremely fond of listening to and taking +part in conversations that bordered on the metaphysical, and were hard +to be understood. Most conversations that were not connected with +eating and hunting were of this nature to Henri. + +"Hom'-sik," he cried, "veech mean bein' sik of hom'! Hah! dat is fat I +am always be, ven I goes hout on de expedition. Oui, vraiment." + +"I always packs up," continued Joe, paying no attention to Henri's +remark--"I always packs up an' sets off for home when I gits +home-sick. It's the best cure; an' when hunters are young like +you, Dick, it's the only cure. I've knowed fellers a'most die o' +home-sickness, an' I'm told they _do_ go under altogether sometimes." + +"Go onder!" exclaimed Henri; "oui, I vas all but die myself ven I +fust try to git away from hom'. If I have not git away, I not be here +to-day." + +Henri's idea of home-sickness was so totally opposed to theirs that +his comrades only laughed, and refrained from attempting to set him +right. + +"The fust time I wos took bad with it wos in a country somethin' like +that," said Joe, pointing to the wide stretch of undulating prairie, +dotted with clusters of trees and meandering streamlets, that lay +before them. "I had bin out about two months, an' was makin' a good +thing of it, for game wos plenty, when I began to think somehow more +than usual o' home. My mother wos alive then." + +Joe's voice sank to a deep, solemn tone as he said this, and for a few +minutes he rode on in silence. + +"Well, it grew worse and worse. I dreamed o' home all night an' +thought of it all day, till I began to shoot bad, an' my comrades wos +gittin' tired o' me; so says I to them one night, says I, 'I give out, +lads; I'll make tracks for the settlement to-morrow.' They tried to +laugh me out of it at first, but it was no go, so I packed up, bid +them good-day, an' sot off alone on a trip o' five hundred miles. The +very first mile o' the way back I began to mend, and before two days I +wos all right again." + +Joe was interrupted at this point by the sudden appearance of a +solitary horseman on the brow of an eminence not half-a-mile distant. +The three friends instantly drove their pack-horses behind a clump of +trees; but not in time to escape the vigilant eye of the Red-man, who +uttered a loud shout, which brought up a band of his comrades at full +gallop. + +"Remember, Henri," cried Joe Blunt, "our errand is one of _peace_." + +The caution was needed, for in the confusion of the moment Henri was +making preparation to sell his life as dearly as possible. Before +another word could be uttered, they were surrounded by a troop of +about twenty yelling Blackfeet Indians. They were, fortunately, not a +war party, and, still more fortunately, they were peaceably disposed, +and listened to the preliminary address of Joe Blunt with exemplary +patience; after which the two parties encamped on the spot, the +council fire was lighted, and every preparation made for a long +palaver. + +We will not trouble the reader with the details of what was said on +this occasion. The party of Indians was a small one, and no chief of +any importance was attached to it. Suffice it to say that the pacific +overtures made by Joe were well received, the trifling gifts made +thereafter were still better received, and they separated with mutual +expressions of good-will. + +Several other bands which were afterwards met with were equally +friendly, and only one war party was seen. Joe's quick eye observed +it in time to enable them to retire unseen behind the shelter of some +trees, where they remained until the Indian warriors were out of +sight. + +The next party they met with, however, were more difficult to manage, +and, unfortunately, blood was shed on both sides before our travellers +escaped. + +It was at the close of a beautiful day that a war party of Blackfeet +were seen riding along a ridge on the horizon. It chanced that the +prairie at this place was almost destitute of trees or shrubs large +enough to conceal the horses. By dashing down the grassy wave into +the hollow between the two undulations, and dismounting, Joe hoped to +elude the savages, so he gave the word; but at the same moment a shout +from the Indians told that they were discovered. + +"Look sharp, lads! throw down the packs on the highest point of the +ridge," cried Joe, undoing the lashings, seizing one of the bales of +goods, and hurrying to the top of the undulation with it; "we must +keep them at arm's-length, boys--be alive! War parties are not to be +trusted." + +Dick and Henri seconded Joe's efforts so ably that in the course of +two minutes the horses were unloaded, the packs piled in the form of a +wall in front of a broken piece of ground, the horses picketed close +beside them, and our three travellers peeping over the edge, with +their rifles cocked, while the savages--about thirty in number--came +sweeping down towards them. + +"I'll try to git them to palaver," said Joe Blunt; "but keep yer eye +on 'em, Dick, an' if they behave ill, shoot the _horse_ o' the leadin' +chief. I'll throw up my left hand, as a signal. Mind, lad, don't hit +human flesh till my second signal is given, and see that Henri don't +draw till I git back to ye." + +So saying, Joe sprang lightly over the slight parapet of their little +fortress, and ran swiftly out, unarmed, towards the Indians. In a +few seconds he was close up with them, and in another moment was +surrounded. At first the savages brandished their spears and rode +round the solitary man, yelling like fiends, as if they wished to +intimidate him; but as Joe stood like a statue, with his arms crossed, +and a grave expression of contempt on his countenance, they quickly +desisted, and, drawing near, asked him where he came from, and what he +was doing there. + +Joe's story was soon told; but instead of replying, they began to +shout vociferously, and evidently meant mischief. + +"If the Blackfeet are afraid to speak to the Pale-face, he will go +back to his braves," said Joe, passing suddenly between two of the +warriors and taking a few steps towards the camp. + +Instantly every bow was bent, and it seemed as if our bold hunter were +about to be pierced by a score of arrows, when he turned round and +cried,--"The Blackfeet must not advance a single step. The first that +moves his _horse_ shall die. The second that moves _himself_ shall +die." + +To this the Blackfeet chief replied scornfully, "The Pale-face talks +with a big mouth. We do not believe his words. The Snakes are liars; +we will make no peace with them." + +While he was yet speaking, Joe threw up his hand; there was a loud +report, and the noble horse of the savage chief lay struggling in +death agony on the ground. + +The use of the rifle, as we have before hinted, was little known at +this period among the Indians of the far west, and many had never +heard the dreaded report before, although all were aware, from +hearsay, of its fatal power. The fall of the chief's horse, therefore, +quite paralyzed them for a few moments, and they had not recovered +from their surprise when a second report was heard, a bullet whistled +past, and a second horse fell. At the same moment there was a loud +explosion in the camp of the Pale-faces, a white cloud enveloped it, +and from the midst of this a loud shriek was heard, as Dick, Henri, +and Crusoe bounded over the packs with frantic gestures. + +At this the gaping savages wheeled their steeds round, the dismounted +horsemen sprang on behind two of their comrades, and the whole band +dashed away over the plains as if they were chased by evil spirits. + +Meanwhile Joe hastened towards his comrades in a state of great +anxiety, for he knew at once that one of the powder-horns must have +been accidentally blown up. + +"No damage done, boys, I hope?" he cried on coming up. + +"Damage!" cried Henri, holding his hands tight over his face. "Oh! +oui, great damage--moche damage; me two eyes be blowed out of dere +holes." + +"Not quite so bad as that, I hope," said Dick, who was very slightly +singed, and forgot his own hurts in anxiety about his comrade. "Let me +see." + +"My eye!" exclaimed Joe Blunt, while a broad grin overspread his +countenance, "ye've not improved yer looks, Henri." + +This was true. The worthy hunter's hair was singed to such an extent +that his entire countenance presented the appearance of a universal +frizzle. Fortunately the skin, although much blackened, was quite +uninjured--a fact which, when he ascertained it beyond a doubt, +afforded so much satisfaction to Henri that he capered about shouting +with delight, as if some piece of good fortune had befallen him. + +The accident had happened in consequence of Henri having omitted to +replace the stopper of his powder-horn, and when, in his anxiety for +Joe, he fired at random amongst the Indians, despite Dick's entreaties +to wait, a spark communicated with the powder-horn and blew him up. +Dick and Crusoe were only a little singed, but the former was not +disposed to quarrel with an accident which had sent their enemies so +promptly to the right-about. + +This band followed them for some nights, in the hope of being able to +steal their horses while they slept; but they were not brave enough to +venture a second time within range of the death-dealing rifle. + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + + +_Dangers of the prairie_--_Our travellers attacked by Indians, and +delivered in a remarkable manner_. + + +There are periods in the life of almost all men A when misfortunes +seem to crowd upon them in rapid succession, when they escape from +one danger only to encounter another, and when, to use a well-known +expression, they succeed in leaping out of the frying-pan at the +expense of plunging into the fire. + +So was it with our three friends upon this occasion. They were +scarcely rid of the Blackfeet, who found them too watchful to be +caught napping, when, about daybreak one morning, they encountered a +roving band of Camanchee Indians, who wore such a warlike aspect that +Joe deemed it prudent to avoid them if possible. + +"They don't see us yit, I guess," said Joe, as he and his companions +drove the horses into a hollow between the grassy waves of the +prairie, "an' if we only can escape their sharp eyes till we're in +yonder clump o' willows, we're safe enough." + +"But why don't you ride up to them, Joe," inquired Dick, "and make +peace between them and the Pale-faces, as you ha' done with other +bands?" + +"Because it's o' no use to risk our scalps for the chance o' makin' +peace wi' a rovin' war party. Keep yer head down, Henri! If they git +only a sight o' the top o' yer cap, they'll be down on us like a +breeze o' wind." + +"Ha! let dem come!" said Henri. + +"They'll come without askin' yer leave," remarked Joe, dryly. + +Notwithstanding his defiant expression, Henri had sufficient prudence +to induce him to bend his head and shoulders, and in a few minutes +they reached the shelter of the willows unseen by the savages. At +least so thought Henri, Joe was not quite sure about it, and Dick +hoped for the best. + +In the course of half-an-hour the last of the Camanchees was seen to +hover for a second on the horizon, like a speck of black against the +sky, and then to disappear. + +Immediately the three hunters vaulted on their steeds and resumed +their journey; but before that evening closed they had sad evidence of +the savage nature of the band from which they had escaped. On passing +the brow of a slight eminence, Dick, who rode first, observed that +Crusoe stopped and snuffed the breeze in an anxious, inquiring manner. + +"What is't, pup?" said Dick, drawing up, for he knew that his faithful +dog never gave a false alarm. + +Crusoe replied by a short, uncertain bark, and then bounding forward, +disappeared behind a little wooded knoll. In another moment a long, +dismal howl floated over the plains. There was a mystery about the +dog's conduct which, coupled with his melancholy cry, struck the +travellers with a superstitious feeling of dread, as they sat looking +at each other in surprise. + +"Come, let's clear it up," cried Joe Blunt, shaking the reins of his +steed, and galloping forward. A few strides brought them to the other +side of the knoll, where, scattered upon the torn and bloody turf, +they discovered the scalped and mangled remains of about twenty or +thirty human beings. Their skulls had been cleft by the tomahawk and +their breasts pierced by the scalping-knife, and from the position in +which many of them lay it was evident that they had been slain while +asleep. + +Joe's brow flushed and his lips became tightly compressed as he +muttered between his set teeth, "Their skins are white." + +A short examination sufficed to show that the men who had thus been +barbarously murdered while they slept had been a band of trappers or +hunters, but what their errand had been, or whence they came, they +could not discover. + +Everything of value had been carried off, and all the scalps had been +taken. Most of the bodies, although much mutilated, lay in a posture +that led our hunters to believe they had been killed while asleep; but +one or two were cut almost to pieces, and from the blood-bespattered +and trampled sward around, it seemed as if they had struggled long and +fiercely for life. Whether or not any of the savages had been slain, +it was impossible to tell, for if such had been the case, their +comrades, doubtless, had carried away their bodies. + +That they had been slaughtered by the party of Camanchees who had been +seen at daybreak was quite clear to Joe; but his burning desire to +revenge the death of the white men had to be stifled, as his party was +so small. + +Long afterwards it was discovered that this was a band of trappers +who, like those mentioned at the beginning of this volume, had set out +to avenge the death of a comrade; but God, who has retained the right +of vengeance in his own hand, saw fit to frustrate their purpose, by +giving them into the hands of the savages whom they had set forth to +slay. + +As it was impossible to bury so many bodies, the travellers resumed +their journey, and left them to bleach there in the wilderness; but +they rode the whole of that day almost without uttering a word. + +Meanwhile the Camanchees, who had observed the trio, and had ridden +away at first for the purpose of deceiving them into the belief that +they had passed unobserved, doubled on their track, and took a long +sweep in order to keep out of sight until they could approach under +the shelter of a belt of woodland towards which the travellers now +approached. + +The Indians adopted this course instead of the easier method of +simply pursuing so weak a party, because the plains at this part were +bordered by a long stretch of forest into which the hunters could have +plunged, and rendered pursuit more difficult, if not almost useless. +The detour thus taken was so extensive that the shades of evening were +beginning to descend before they could put their plan into execution. +The forest lay about a mile to the right of our hunters, like some +dark mainland, of which the prairie was the sea and the scattered +clumps of wood the islands. + +"There's no lack o' game here," said Dick Varley, pointing to a herd +of buffaloes which rose at their approach and fled away towards the +wood. + +"I think we'll ha' thunder soon," remarked Joe. "I never feel it +onnatteral hot like this without lookin' out for a plump." + +"Ha! den ve better look hout for one goot tree to get b'low," +suggested Henri. "Voila!" he added, pointing with his finger towards +the plain; "dere am a lot of wild hosses." + +A troop of about thirty wild horses appeared, as he spoke, on the brow +of a ridge, and advanced slowly towards them. + +"Hist!" exclaimed Joe, reining up; "hold on, lads. Wild horses! my +rifle to a pop-gun there's wilder men on t'other side o' them." + +"What mean you, Joe?" inquired Dick, riding close up. + +"D'ye see the little lumps on the shoulder o' each horse?" said Joe. +"Them's Injun's _feet_; an' if we don't want to lose our scalps we'd +better make for the forest." + +Joe proved himself to be in earnest by wheeling round and making +straight for the thick wood as fast as his horse could run. The others +followed, driving the pack-horses before them. + +The effect of this sudden movement on the so-called "wild horses" +was very remarkable, and to one unacquainted with the habits of the +Camanchee Indians must have appeared almost supernatural. In the +twinkling of an eye every steed had a rider on its back, and before +the hunters had taken five strides in the direction of the forest, the +whole band were in hot pursuit, yelling like furies. + +The manner in which these Indians accomplish this feat is very +singular, and implies great activity and strength of muscle on the +part of the savages. + +The Camanchees are low in stature, and usually are rather corpulent. +In their movements on foot they are heavy and ungraceful, and they +are, on the whole, a slovenly and unattractive race of men. But the +instant they mount their horses they seem to be entirely changed, and +surprise the spectator with the ease and elegance of their movements. +Their great and distinctive peculiarity as horsemen is the power they +have acquired of throwing themselves suddenly on either side of their +horse's body, and clinging on in such a way that no part of them is +visible from the other side save the foot by which they cling. In this +manner they approach their enemies at full gallop, and, without rising +again to the saddle, discharge their arrows at them over the horses' +backs, or even under their necks. + +This apparently magical feat is accomplished by means of a halter of +horse-hair, which is passed round under the neck of the horse and both +ends braided into the mane, on the withers, thus forming a loop which +hangs under the neck and against the breast. This being caught by the +hand, makes a sling, into which the elbow falls, taking the weight +of the body on the middle of the upper arm. Into this loop the rider +drops suddenly and fearlessly, leaving his heel to hang over the +horse's back to steady him, and also to restore him to his seat when +desired. + +By this stratagem the Indians had approached on the present occasion +almost within rifle range before they were discovered, and it required +the utmost speed of the hunters' horses to enable them to avoid +being overtaken. One of the Indians, who was better mounted than his +fellows, gained on the fugitives so much that he came within arrow +range, but reserved his shaft until they were close on the margin of +the wood, when, being almost alongside of Henri, he fitted an arrow to +his bow. Henri's eye was upon him, however. Letting go the line of the +pack-horse which he was leading, he threw forward his rifle; but at +the same moment the savage disappeared behind his horse, and an arrow +whizzed past the hunter's ear. + +Henri fired at the horse, which dropped instantly, hurling the +astonished Camanchee upon the ground, where he lay for some time +insensible. In a few seconds pursued and pursuers entered the wood, +where both had to advance with caution, in order to avoid being swept +off by the overhanging branches of the trees. + +Meanwhile the sultry heat of which Joe had formerly spoken increased +considerably, and a rumbling noise, as if of distant thunder, was +heard; but the flying hunters paid no attention to it, for the led +horses gave them so much trouble, and retarded their flight so much, +that the Indians were gradually and visibly gaining on them. + +"We'll ha' to let the packs go," said Joe, somewhat bitterly, as he +looked over his shoulder. "Our scalps'll pay for't, if we don't." + +Henri uttered a peculiar and significant _hiss_ between his teeth, as +he said, "P'r'aps ve better stop and fight!" + +Dick said nothing, being resolved to do exactly what Joe Blunt bid +him; and Crusoe, for reasons best known to himself, also said nothing, +but bounded along beside his master's horse, casting an occasional +glance upwards to catch any signal that might be given. + +They had passed over a considerable space of ground, and were +forcing their way at the imminent hazard of their necks through a +densely-clothed part of the wood, when the sound above referred to +increased, attracting the attention of both parties. In a few seconds +the air was filled with a steady and continuous rumbling sound, like +the noise of a distant cataract. Pursuers and fugitives drew rein +instinctively, and came to a dead stand; while the rumbling increased +to a roar, and evidently approached them rapidly, though as yet +nothing to cause it could be seen, except that there was a dense, dark +cloud overspreading the sky to the southward. The air was oppressively +still and hot. + +"What can it be?" inquired Dick, looking at Joe, who was gazing with +an expression of wonder, not unmixed with concern, at the southern +sky. + +"Dun'no', boy. I've bin more in the woods than in the clearin' in my +day, but I niver heerd the likes o' that." + + +"It am like t'ondre," said Henri; "mais it nevair do stop." + + +This was true. The sound was similar to continuous, uninterrupted +thunder. On it came with a magnificent roar that shook the very earth, +and revealed itself at last in the shape of a mighty whirlwind. In a +moment the distant woods bent before it, and fell like grass before +the scythe. It was a whirling hurricane, accompanied by a deluge of +rain such as none of the party had ever before witnessed. Steadily, +fiercely, irresistibly it bore down upon them, while the crash of +falling, snapping, and uprooting trees mingled with the dire artillery +of that sweeping storm like the musketry on a battle-field. + +"Follow me, lads!" shouted Joe, turning his horse and dashing at full +speed towards a rocky eminence that offered shelter. But shelter +was not needed. The storm was clearly defined. Its limits were +as distinctly marked by its Creator as if it had been a living +intelligence sent forth to put a belt of desolation round the world; +and, although the edge of devastation was not five hundred yards from +the rock behind which the hunters were stationed, only a few drops of +ice-cold rain fell upon them. + +It passed directly between the Camanchee Indians and their intended +victims, placing between them a barrier which it would have taken days +to cut through. The storm blew for an hour, then it travelled onward +in its might, and was lost in the distance. Whence it came and whither +it went none could tell, but far as the eye could see on either hand +an avenue a quarter of a mile wide was cut through the forest. It had +levelled everything with the dust; the very grass was beaten flat; the +trees were torn, shivered, snapped across, and crushed; and the earth +itself in many places was ploughed up and furrowed with deep scars. +The chaos was indescribable, and it is probable that centuries will +not quite obliterate the work of that single hour. + +While it lasted, Joe and his comrades remained speechless and +awe-stricken. When it passed, no Indians were to be seen. So our +hunters remounted their steeds, and, with feelings of gratitude to +God for having delivered them alike from savage foes and from the +destructive power of the whirlwind, resumed their journey towards the +Mustang Valley. + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + + +_Anxious fears followed by a joyful surprise--Safe home at last, and +happy hearts_. + + +One fine afternoon, a few weeks after the storm of which we have given +an account in the last chapter, old Mrs. Varley was seated beside her +own chimney corner in the little cottage by the lake, gazing at the +glowing logs with the earnest expression of one whose thoughts were +far away. Her kind face was paler than usual, and her hands rested +idly on her knee, grasping the knitting-wires to which was attached a +half-finished stocking. + +On a stool near to her sat young Marston, the lad to whom, on the day +of the shooting-match, Dick Varley had given his old rifle. The boy +had an anxious look about him, as he lifted his eyes from time to time +to the widow's face. + +"Did ye say, my boy, that they were _all_ killed?" inquired Mrs. +Varley, awaking from her reverie with a deep sigh. + +"Every one," replied Marston. "Jim Scraggs, who brought the news, said +they wos all lying dead with their scalps off. They wos a party o' +white men." + +Mrs. Varley sighed again, and her face assumed an expression of +anxious pain as she thought of her son Dick being exposed to a similar +fate. Mrs. Varley was not given to nervous fears, but as she listened +to the boy's recital of the slaughter of a party of white men, news +of which had just reached the valley, her heart sank, and she prayed +inwardly to Him who is the husband of the widow that her dear one +might be protected from the ruthless hand of the savage. + +After a short pause, during which young Marston fidgeted about and +looked concerned, as if he had something to say which he would fain +leave unsaid, Mrs. Varley continued,-- + +"Was it far off where the bloody deed was done?" + +"Yes; three weeks off, I believe. And Jim Scraggs said that he found +a knife that looked like the one wot belonged to--to--" the lad +hesitated. + +"To whom, my boy? Why don't ye go on?" + +"To your son Dick." + +The widow's hands dropped by her side, and she would have fallen had +not Marston caught her. + +"O mother dear, don't take on like that!" he cried, smoothing down the +widow's hair as her head rested on his breast. + +For some time Mrs. Varley suffered the boy to fondle her in silence, +while her breast laboured with anxious dread. + +"Tell me all," she said at last, recovering a little. "Did Jim +see--Dick?" + +"No," answered the boy. "He looked at all the bodies, but did not find +his; so he sent me over here to tell ye that p'r'aps he's escaped." + +Mrs. Varley breathed more freely, and earnestly thanked God; but her +fears soon returned when she thought of his being a prisoner, and +recalled the tales of terrible cruelty often related of the savages. + +While she was still engaged in closely questioning the lad, Jim +Scraggs himself entered the cottage, and endeavoured in a gruff sort +of way to reassure the widow. + +"Ye see, mistress," he said, "Dick is an oncommon tough customer, an' +if he could only git fifty yards' start, there's not an Injun in the +West as could git hold o' him agin; so don't be takin' on." + +"But what if he's been taken prisoner?" said the widow. + +"Ay, that's jest wot I've comed about. Ye see it's not onlikely he's +bin took; so about thirty o' the lads o' the valley are ready jest now +to start away and give the red riptiles chase, an' I come to tell ye; +so keep up heart, mistress." + +With this parting word of comfort, Jim withdrew, and Marston soon +followed, leaving the widow to weep and pray in solitude. + +Meanwhile an animated scene was going on near the block-house. Here +thirty of the young hunters of the Mustang Valley were assembled, +actively engaged in supplying themselves with powder and lead, and +tightening their girths, preparatory to setting out in pursuit of the +Indians who had murdered the white men; while hundreds of boys and +girls, and not a few matrons, crowded round and listened to the +conversation, and to the deep threats of vengeance that were uttered +ever and anon by the younger men. + +Major Hope, too, was among them. The worthy major, unable to restrain +his roving propensities, determined to revisit the Mustang Valley, and +had arrived only two days before. + +Backwoodsmen's preparations are usually of the shortest and simplest. +In a few minutes the cavalcade was ready, and away they went towards +the prairies, with the bold major at their head. But their journey was +destined to come to an abrupt and unexpected close. A couple of hours' +gallop brought them to the edge of one of those open plains which +sometimes break up the woodland near the verge of the great prairies. +It stretched out like a green lake towards the horizon, on which, just +as the band of horsemen reached it, the sun was descending in a blaze +of glory. + +With a shout of enthusiasm, several of the younger members of the +party sprang forward into the plain at a gallop; but the shout was +mingled with one of a different tone from the older men. + +"Hist!--hallo!--hold on, ye catamounts! There's Injuns ahead!" + +The whole band came to a sudden halt at this cry, and watched eagerly, +and for some time in silence, the motions of a small party of horsemen +who were seen in the far distance, like black specks on the golden +sky. + +"They come this way, I think," said Major Hope, after gazing +steadfastly at them for some minutes. + +Several of the old hands signified their assent to this suggestion by +a grunt, although to unaccustomed eyes the objects in question looked +more like crows than horsemen, and their motion was for some time +scarcely perceptible. + + +"I sees pack-horses among them," cried young Marston in an excited +tone; "an' there's three riders; but there's som'thin' else, only wot +it be I can't tell." + +"Ye've sharp eyes, younker," remarked one of the men, "an' I do +b'lieve ye're right." + +Presently the horsemen approached, and soon there was a brisk fire of +guessing as to who they could be. It was evident that the strangers +observed the cavalcade of white men, and regarded them as friends, for +they did not check the headlong speed at which they approached. In a +few minutes they were clearly made out to be a party of three horsemen +driving pack-horses before them, and _somethin_' which some of the +hunters guessed was a buffalo calf. + +Young Marston guessed too, but his guess was different. Moreover, it +was uttered with a yell that would have done credit to the fiercest +of all the savages. "Crusoe!" he shouted, while at the same moment he +brought his whip heavily down on the flank of his little horse, and +sprang over the prairie like an arrow. + +One of the approaching horsemen was far ahead of his comrades, and +seemed as if encircled with the flying and voluminous mane of his +magnificent horse. + +"Ha! ho!" gasped Marston in a low tone to himself, as he flew along. +"Crusoe! I'd know ye, dog, among a thousand! A buffalo calf! Ha! git +on with ye!" + +This last part of the remark was addressed to his horse, and was +followed by a whack that increased the pace considerably. + +The space between two such riders was soon devoured. + +"Hallo! Dick--Dick Varley!" + +"Eh! why, Marston, my boy!" + +The friends reined up so suddenly that one might have fancied they had +met like the knights of old in the shock of mortal conflict. + +"Is't yerself, Dick Varley?" + +Dick held out his hand, and his eyes glistened, but he could not find +words. + +Marston seized it, and pushing his horse close up, vaulted nimbly off +and alighted on Charlie's back behind his friend. + +"Off ye go, Dick! I'll take ye to yer mother." + +Without reply, Dick shook the reins, and in another minute was in the +midst of the hunters. + +To the numberless questions that were put to him he only waited to +shout aloud, "We're all safe! They'll tell ye all about it," he added, +pointing to his comrades, who were now close at hand; and then, +dashing onward, made straight for home, with little Marston clinging +to his waist like a monkey. + +Charlie was fresh, and so was Crusoe, so you may be sure it was not +long before they all drew up opposite the door of the widow's cottage. +Before Dick could dismount, Marston had slipped off, and was already +in the kitchen. + +"Here's Dick, mother!" + +The boy was an orphan, and loved the widow so much that he had come at +last to call her mother. + +Before another word could be uttered, Dick Varley was in the room. +Marston immediately stepped out and softly shut the door. Reader, we +shall not open it! + +Having shut the door, as we have said, Marston ran down to the edge of +the lake and yelled with delight--usually terminating each paroxysm +with the Indian war-whoop, with which he was well acquainted. Then he +danced, and then he sat down on a rock, and became suddenly aware that +there were other hearts there, close beside him, as glad as his own. +Another mother of the Mustang Valley was rejoicing over a long-lost +son. + +Crusoe and his mother Fan were scampering round each other in a manner +that evinced powerfully the strength of their mutual affection. + +Talk of holding converse! Every hair on Crusoe's body, every motion +of his limbs, was eloquent with silent language. He gazed into his +mother's mild eyes as if he would read her inmost soul (supposing that +she had one). He turned his head to every possible angle, and cocked +his ears to every conceivable elevation, and rubbed his nose against +Fan's, and barked softly, in every imaginable degree of modulation, +and varied these proceedings by bounding away at full speed over the +rocks of the beach, and in among the bushes and out again, but always +circling round and round Fan, and keeping her in view! + +It was a sight worth seeing, and young Marston sat down on a rock, +deliberately and enthusiastically, to gloat over it. But perhaps the +most remarkable part of it has not yet been referred to. There was yet +another heart there that was glad--exceeding glad that day. It was a +little one too, but it was big for the body that held it. Grumps was +there, and all that Grumps did was to sit on his haunches and stare at +Fan and Crusoe, and wag his tail as well as he could in so awkward a +position! Grumps was evidently bewildered with delight, and had lost +nearly all power to express it. Crusoe's conduct towards him, too, was +not calculated to clear his faculties. Every time he chanced to pass +near Grumps in his elephantine gambols, he gave him a passing touch +with his nose, which always knocked him head over heels; whereat +Grumps invariably got up quickly and wagged his tail with additional +energy. Before the feelings of those canine friends were calmed, they +were all three ruffled into a state of comparative exhaustion. + +Then young Marston called Crusoe to him, and Crusoe, obedient to the +voice of friendship, went. + +"Are you happy, my dog?" + +"You're a stupid fellow to ask such a question; however it's an +amiable one. Yes, I am." + +"What do _you_ want, ye small bundle o' hair?" + +This was addressed to Grumps, who came forward innocently, and sat +down to listen to the conversation. + +On being thus sternly questioned the little dog put down its +ears flat, and hung its head, looking up at the same time with a +deprecatory look, as if to say, "Oh dear, I beg pardon. I--I only want +to sit near Crusoe, please; but if you wish it, I'll go away, sad and +lonely, with my tail _very_ much between my legs; indeed I will, only +say the word, but--but I'd _rather_ stay if I might." + +"Poor bundle!" said Marston, patting its head, "you can stay then. +Hooray! Crusoe, are you happy, I say? Does your heart bound in you +like a cannon ball that wants to find its way out, and can't, eh?" +Crusoe put his snout against Marston's cheek, and in the excess of +his joy the lad threw his arms round the dog's neck and hugged it +vigorously--a piece of impulsive affection which that noble animal +bore with characteristic meekness, and which Grumps regarded with +idiotic satisfaction. + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + + +_Rejoicings_--_The feast at the block-house_--_Grumps and Crusoe come +out strong_--The closing scene_. + + +The day of Dick's arrival with his companions was a great day in the +annals of the Mustang Valley, and Major Hope resolved to celebrate it +by an impromptu festival at the old block-house; for many hearts in +the valley had been made glad that day, and he knew full well that, +under such circumstances, some safety-valve must be devised for the +escape of overflowing excitement. + +A messenger was sent round to invite the population to assemble +without delay in front of the block-house. With backwoods-like +celerity the summons was obeyed; men, women, and children hurried +towards the central point, wondering, yet more than half suspecting, +what was the major's object in calling them together. + +They were not long in doubt. The first sight that presented itself, +as they came trooping up the slope in front of the log-hut, was an +ox roasting whole before a gigantic bonfire. Tables were being +extemporized on the broad level plot in front of the gate. Other fires +there were, of smaller dimensions, on which sundry steaming pots were +placed, and various joints of wild horse, bear, and venison roasted, +and sent forth a savoury odour as well as a pleasant hissing noise. +The inhabitants of the block-house were self-taught brewers, and the +result of their recent labours now stood displayed in a row of goodly +casks of beer--the only beverage with which the dwellers in these +far-off regions were wont to regale themselves. + +The whole scene, as the cooks moved actively about upon the lawn, and +children romped round the fires, and settlers came flocking through +the forests, might have recalled the revelry of merry England in the +olden time, though the costumes of the far west were perhaps somewhat +different from those of old England. + +No one of all the band assembled there on that day of rejoicing +required to ask what it was all about. Had any one been in doubt for a +moment, a glance at the centre of the crowd assembled round the gate +of the western fortress would have quickly enlightened him. For there +stood Dick Varley, and his mild-looking mother, and his loving dog +Crusoe. There, too, stood Joe Blunt, like a bronzed warrior returned +from the fight, turning from one to another as question poured in upon +question almost too rapidly to permit of a reply. There, too, stood +Henri, making enthusiastic speeches to whoever chose to listen to +him--now glaring at the crowd with clenched fists and growling voice, +as he told of how Joe and he had been tied hand and foot, and lashed +to poles, and buried in leaves, and threatened with a slow death by +torture; at other times bursting into a hilarious laugh as he held +forth on the predicament of Mahtawa, when that wily chief was treed +by Crusoe in the prairie. Young Marston was there, too, hanging about +Dick, whom he loved as a brother and regarded as a perfect hero. +Grumps, too, was there, and Fan. Do you think, reader, that Grumps +looked at any one but Crusoe? If you do, you are mistaken. Grumps +on that day became a regular, an incorrigible, utter, and perfect +nuisance to everybody--not excepting himself, poor beast! Grumps was +a dog of one idea, and that idea was Crusoe. Out of that great idea +there grew one little secondary idea, and that idea was that the only +joy on earth worth mentioning was to sit on his haunches, exactly +six inches from Crusoe's nose, and gaze steadfastly into his face. +Wherever Crusoe went Grumps went. If Crusoe stopped, Grumps was +down before him in an instant. If Crusoe bounded away, which in the +exuberance of his spirits he often did, Grumps was after him like a +bundle of mad hair. He was in everybody's way, in Crusoe's way, and +being, so to speak, "beside himself," was also in his own way. If +people trod upon him accidentally, which they often did, Grumps +uttered a solitary heart-rending yell proportioned in intensity to the +excruciating nature of the torture he endured, then instantly resumed +his position and his fascinated stare. Crusoe generally held his head +up, and gazed over his little friend at what was going on around him; +but if for a moment he permitted his eye to rest on the countenance of +Grumps, that creature's tail became suddenly imbued with an amount of +wriggling vitality that seemed to threaten its separation from the +body. + +It was really quite interesting to watch this unblushing, and +disinterested, and utterly reckless display of affection on the part +of Grumps, and the amiable way in which Crusoe put up with it. We +say put up with it advisedly, because it must have been a very great +inconvenience to him, seeing that if he attempted to move, his +satellite moved in front of him, so that his only way of escaping +temporarily was by jumping over Grumps's head. + +Grumps was everywhere all day. Nobody, almost, escaped trampling on +part of him. He tumbled over everything, into everything, and against +everything. He knocked himself, singed himself, and scalded himself, +and in fact forgot himself altogether; and when, late that night, +Crusoe went with Dick into his mother's cottage, and the door +was shut, Grumps stretched his ruffled, battered, ill-used, and +dishevelled little body down on the door-step, thrust his nose against +the opening below the door, and lay in humble contentment all night, +for he knew that Crusoe was there. + +Of course such an occasion could not pass without a shooting-match. +Rifles were brought out after the feast was over, just before the sun +went down into its bed on the western prairies, and "the nail" was +soon surrounded by bullets, tipped by Joe Blunt and Jim Scraggs, and +of course driven home by Dick Varley, whose "silver rifle" had now +become in its owner's hand a never-failing weapon. Races, too, were +started, and here again Dick stood pre-eminent; and when night +spread her dark mantle over the scene, the two best fiddlers in the +settlement were placed on empty beer-casks, and some danced by the +light of the monster fires, while others listened to Joe Blunt as +he recounted their adventures on the prairies and among the Rocky +Mountains. + +There were sweethearts, and wives, and lovers at the feast, but we +question if any heart there was so full of love, and admiration, and +gratitude, as that of the Widow Varley as she watched her son Dick +throughout that merry evening. + + * * * * * + +Years rolled by, and the Mustang Valley prospered. Missionaries went +there, and a little church was built, and to the blessings of a +fertile land were added the far greater blessings of Christian light +and knowledge. One sad blow fell on the Widow Varley's heart. Her only +brother, Daniel Hood, was murdered by the Indians. Deeply and long she +mourned, and it required all Dick's efforts and those of the pastor of +the settlement to comfort her. But from the first the widow's heart +was sustained by the loving Hand that dealt the blow, and when time +blunted the keen edge of her feelings her face became as sweet and +mild, though not so lightsome, as before. + +Joe Blunt and Henri became leading men in the councils of the Mustang +Valley; but Dick Varley preferred the woods, although, as long as his +mother lived, he hovered round her cottage--going off sometimes for a +day, sometimes for a week, but never longer. After her head was laid +in the dust, Dick took altogether to the woods, with Crusoe and +Charlie, the wild horse, as his only companions, and his mother's +Bible in the breast of his hunting-shirt. And soon Dick, the bold +hunter, and his dog Crusoe became renowned in the frontier settlements +from the banks of the Yellowstone River to the Gulf of Mexico. + +Many a grizzly bear did the famous "silver rifle" lay low, and many a +wild, exciting chase and adventure did Dick go through; but during +his occasional visits to the Mustang Valley he was wont to say to Joe +Blunt and Henri--with whom he always sojourned--that "nothin' he +ever felt or saw came up to his _first_ grand dash over the western +prairies into the heart of the Rocky Mountains." And in saying this, +with enthusiasm in his eye and voice, Dick invariably appealed to, and +received a ready affirmative glance from, his early companion and his +faithful loving friend, the dog Crusoe. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Dog Crusoe and His Master +by Robert Michael Ballantyne + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DOG CRUSOE AND HIS MASTER *** + +***** This file should be named 10929.txt or 10929.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/9/2/10929/ + +Produced by Dave Morgan, Bradley Norton and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +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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