THE RELIEF PARTY SET OFF--ON THE PRAIRIE--INDIANS DISCOVERED ATTACKING
THE TRAIN--OUR CHARGE--NO QUARTER ASKED NOR GIVEN--MY FATHER AND UNCLE
WOUNDED--THE TRAIN DELAYED AT FORT HAMILTON--PROVISIONS RUN SHORT--A
HUNTING-PARTY ARRANGED--A HERD OF WAPITI--DOG TOBY ON THE SICK-LIST--
CHASING THE DEER--A GAME AT FOLLOW MY LEADER--A FIGHT BETWEEN STAGS--THE
MYSTERIOUS SHOT--THE SOLITARY HUNTER.
I was aroused by feeling a hand on my shoulder, and looking up, I saw
Mr Tidey by the light of a lamp which burned on the table.
"It will soon be dawn," he said; "the troopers are preparing to set off.
But you are knocked up, Mike, and had better sleep on. I should have
let you do so, but I did not like to set off without telling you that I
was going. I hope, however, that we shall soon meet our friends, and
find them all safe and sound."
"I must go!" I cried, jumping up; "the commandant will lend me a horse,
as my own is not likely to be of much use, even if the poor brute is
still alive."
Notwithstanding the Dominie's expostulations, I was quickly ready. The
commandant was on foot. Sympathising with my anxiety, he at once
ordered a horse to be saddled for me. The eight troopers who were to
accompany us mounted, and directly afterwards a half-breed guide made
his appearance.
"He will conduct your train, wherever you may fall in with it, to the
nearest stream or water-hole," observed the commandant. "I cannot
promise you that your friends have not been attacked, as the Indians are
certainly in the neighbourhood, and have carried off some of our cattle;
but I trust that, should such be the case, they will hold out until you
arrive."
This remark increased my anxiety, and made me more eager than ever to be
off. I was looking out for Dio, and was inquiring for him, when he
appeared mounted on a little mustang, with a brace of pistols in his
belt, a soldier's carbine slung over his back, and a sword by his side.
"Dey no want me to go," he said, "but I say I fight as well as dey."
I said I was very glad he had come, and inquired for my horse, which, to
my satisfaction, he informed me was still alive, and that the doctor
thought it would recover. I was thankful to have Dio with us, for he
was as brave as man could be, and I could rely on him in any emergency.
We thus formed a party of twelve, and the troopers considered themselves
capable of coping with any Indians we were likely to encounter. The
sergeant in command of the party was a cautious man, and, afraid of
knocking up the horses, would not move as fast as I in my impatience
desired. We had, however, made good about four or five miles when day
dawned. As we moved on, we kept a look-out for Indians on both sides,
not knowing in what direction they might appear; but even should they
have crossed our course, we could not in the darkness discover their
trail. As the light increased, our guide searched diligently for it,
but he declared that he could perceive no signs of Indians having
recently passed that way, though he observed the trail which we had made
on the previous evening. At length I saw some way ahead the wings of
several large birds flapping just above the ground. As we drew nearer,
six or seven turkey buzzards rose into the air, and circling round flew
to a short distance, where they remained watching us. They had been
feeding on the body of Dio's horse, utterly indifferent to the venom
with which the flesh was impregnated. We kept to windward of it, and
directly we had passed the foul birds flew back to their banquet. This
showed us that the guide had led us aright, and that we could trust him.
Losing patience, I entreated the sergeant to move on faster, reminding
him that even should our friends not be attacked by the Indians, they
were certainly suffering from want of water. He inquired how far off I
calculated we should find the train.
"From fourteen to twenty miles," I answered, "though, as I hope that
they may have been able to move on, perhaps they may be still nearer."
He still hesitated, but Mr Tidey joining his entreaties to mine, he put
his horse into a gallop, ordering his men to advance. We now moved
forward at as fast a rate as I could desire, the guide keeping his eye
on the ground. Mile after mile of the level prairie was quickly
covered, we in the mean time looking out for the plumed heads of any
redskins which might show themselves above the horizon. Noon was
approaching. I saw the guide attentively examining the ground.
"Indians have passed this way, but they have swept round again, off to
the southward. It would take us much out of our way to follow up their
trail, and I think it likely that we shall fall in with it again."
"I hope not," I remarked; "for if so, they may discover our train."
He shrugged his shoulders and said nothing. The ground had now become
more uneven than heretofore. Before us rose an undulating hill of no
great elevation, but of sufficient height to prevent us from seeing any
distance to the eastward, and we had to rein in our horses as we mounted
it. On reaching the top, the sergeant gave the order to halt, unslung
his telescope, and swept the horizon from north to south.
"There's the train," he exclaimed, "coming this way, about three miles
off." Directly afterwards he added, "and there to the southward I see a
troop of mounted Indians; there must be a hundred or more of them. They
have discovered the train, and are galloping towards it as fast as their
horses can go, hoping, I doubt not, to gain an easy victory."
Borrowing the Dominie's glass, I took a look through it, when to my
dismay I perceived that the Indians were much nearer the train than we
were, and might have time to swoop down upon it and be off again before
we could arrive. My father apparently had not discovered them. While,
however, I was still looking through the telescope, I saw the leading
waggons stop and the others move up. I had no doubt that my father,
having discovered the approaching foe, as preparing to meet them by
forming a square. Just then the sergeant cried out--
"We must ride direct for the train, as we shall not be in time to cut
off the redskins before they reach it. Forward!"
On we dashed at headlong speed. We had far to go, and in some places
the ground was uneven; but if we were to save our friends from being cut
to pieces, we must not pull rein until we were up to them. On and on we
pressed. The train, formed in square, came in sight to the naked eye,
as did the body of Indians who appeared close to it. Except the tramp
of our horses over the yielding ground, not a sound was heard, until
suddenly some puffs of smoke were seen and the rattle of musketry
reached our ears. The Indians halted for an instant, but they were too
far off to enable us to see whether or not they shot their arrows at the
camp. Again and again the sound of fire-arms was heard, followed by
war-whoops which, even at that distance, had a fearful sound. A belt of
trees by the side of a dry water-course concealed the Indians from view,
and, their eyes being fixed on their expected prey, they had hitherto
probably not seen us. Louder and louder grew the noise of fighting,
showing us that our friends were still holding out. I knew full well
indeed that my father and uncle would fight to the last. Whether they
had discovered that succour was at hand, we could not tell. It would
not have prevented them from fighting hard, but it would have encouraged
the men to hold out till we had reached them.
The sergeant, when he heard the sounds of battle was as eager to press
forward as we were. The combatants at length saw us coming. Our own
people raised a lusty cheer, while the Indians reined in their steeds,
probably supposing, as we galloped on surrounded by clouds of dust, that
a large body of cavalry were upon them. Some of the chiefs turned their
horses' heads to meet us, but we, charging furiously at them, pistolled
some and cut down others, while the rest wheeling round galloped off,
hoping to get beyond the reach of our shot. Before, however, they could
do so, we pulled up and fired a volley at them, which emptied several
saddles. While we were reloading they got out of our reach. The
troopers then sweeping over the ground sabred all who had fallen and
still showed signs of life. Not a prisoner was taken.
"You came in the nick of time," said my father; "for we were fearfully
overmatched, and many had been wounded,--your uncle, I fear, very
badly."
I saw to my dismay, as he spoke, that an arrow was sticking in his own
side, while Uncle Denis lay under a waggon where he had crawled, his
head bleeding, and with two severe wounds in the leg and shoulder.
Martin Prentis and three of the other men were also badly hurt. They
were all crying out for water, as not a drop remained, and the cattle,
they said, could scarcely proceed. My mother, as may be supposed, was
fearfully agitated and alarmed, as were the two little girls; but they
were cheered by hearing from the guide that a stream existed about two
miles on, nearer the fort.
The wearied oxen were therefore at once again yoked up, and we knew that
they would eagerly press on the moment they scented the water.
The Dominie and I, aided by my mother, lost no time in attending to the
wounded. My father insisted on waiting until Uncle Denis had been
looked to, while Dio and Dan gave their aid to the other wounded men.
We first sawed off the head of the arrow sticking in my uncle's
shoulder. This done, the shaft was extracted; and his other wounds
being bound up, we placed him in one of the waggons.
We had next to perform the same operation on my father, who bore the
pain without flinching. He then consented to lie down in the waggon,
when, the train being ready, we moved forward, led by the guide.
Soon after we had started, I saw Dio galloping off with a couple of skin
bottles over his saddle. My fear was that the Indians would discover
him, and cut him off, but he was quickly out of sight. In a wonderfully
short time he came galloping back again with both the bottles full.
His arrival was hailed with gratitude by the wounded men. The fresh
water he had brought greatly revived them. Even those who had not been
hurt were complaining bitterly of thirst. We could scarcely restrain
the eagerness of the cattle as they reached the water. The sergeant,
however, would not allow us to remain longer than was absolutely
necessary to enable the cattle to quench their thirst, stating that his
orders were to return as soon as possible to the fort. This indeed, for
the sake of my father and uncle and the other wounded men, we were
anxious to do.
We kept, as may be supposed, a look-out for the Indians. The lesson
they had received, however, had taught them that we were not to be
attacked with impunity, but we saw them from time to time hovering in
the distance.
Night set in while we were still far from the fort, but the sergeant
advising us to keep on, we did so, but it was nearly midnight when we
arrived. The commandant received us most kindly, giving up his own room
to my mother and her young charges, while my father and Uncle Denis were
skilfully treated by the surgeon of the garrison, as were the other
wounded men. His opinion was, however, that they would be utterly unfit
to continue their journey for some time to come. This was a severe
trial to them, as they were anxious to proceed in spite of the dangers
we were likely to encounter. The commandant, however, kindly invited us
to remain until they were in a fit state to travel.
So effectually had the surgeon treated my horse, that the animal
recovered rapidly, and in a couple of weeks, though somewhat thin, was
fit for work.
Scouts were daily sent out to watch the movements of the Indians, but
the lesson they had received when attacking our train appeared to have
produced a good effect, as none were discovered in the neighbourhood.
It was hoped, therefore, that they had taken their departure to the
southward, and that we might not be molested. The fort was, however,
provisioned only for its proper garrison, and as the stores we had
brought were nearly exhausted, a difficulty arose about feeding so many
additional mouths. Anxious as was the commanding officer to be
hospitable, he could not use the provisions required for his own men.
He therefore inquired whether any of our party were hunters, as he could
not venture to allow any of his own officers or men to go out in search
of game.
"We will start off at once, then, Mike!" said Mr Tidey to me when he
heard this, "and soon prove, I hope, that we do not wish to eat the
bread of idleness."
Dio begged that he might accompany us, and Dan wished that he might come
also; but our mother, fearing the dangers to which we might be exposed,
was unwilling to let him go, and he without a word of complaint gave up
the idea. The commandant supplied Dio and me with two good horses, and
the Dominie had his own, which after a few days' rest was perfectly fit
for work.
Taking with us four horses to bring home the game we expected to kill,
and followed by Boxer and Toby, we started off. A river, I should have
said, flowing from the northward, swept near the fort, and then ran
south-west. Although the country immediately round was open, about five
or six miles off was, we were told, a forest about ten miles long and
several deep, with open glades, in which, as there existed abundance of
grass, deer were sure to be found, as well as other animals. We had no
difficulty in finding our way, and in a short time came in sight of the
borders of the wood.
We of course kept a look-out for Indian trails, but we could discover
none. We rode on in full expectation of having good sport. We had not
got more than half a mile into the wood, when we caught sight of a dozen
or more wapiti feeding in a large glade. To approach them on horseback
would be impossible; we therefore dismounted and crept round under
shelter of the brushwood, hoping to get within easy shot of them. After
going some distance, the glade sweeping round to the left more than we
had expected, we found to our disappointment that we could not approach
within three hundred yards without being discovered.
"We must return to our horses, and try to reach them from the other
side," whispered Mr Tidey. "Do you stay here, Dio, and if they come in
this direction you may bring one of them down, but keep back the dogs,
unless you see that you with them can turn the herd back towards us."
By keeping on our hands and knees until we ran no risk of being seen by
the deer, we regained our steeds, and then rode to the westward for
nearly half a mile, when we once more tied them up and made our way in
the same fashion as before towards the herd. By looking through the
brushwood we could see them feeding unsuspicious of danger, when just as
we expected to be able to bring down a couple, greatly to our
disappointment a fine antlered fellow, the watchman of the band, lifted
up his head with a startled look, and the whole herd following him moved
off. At first we thought that they were going up the glade, but instead
of so doing they approached the spot where Dio was concealed. The next
instant we heard a shot, and the affrighted herd bounded off at full
speed. We saw, however, that one, a fine stag, by the way he moved was
wounded, and presently the dogs, let loose by Dio, turned him from the
course he was pursuing, and once more he approached us; suddenly he
stopped, and, lowering his head, rushed at the dogs, and lifting one in
the air threw it on its back. Immediately afterwards, while attempting
to treat the other in the same way, down he came on his knees. He was
still, however, a formidable antagonist, and might make poor Boxer pay
dearly for his boldness. The Dominie rushed forward to the dog's
rescue, but as there was a risk of wounding him, as well as the stag, I
refrained from firing. The Dominie, more confident, lifted his rifle,
and the stag rolled over dead. We ran forward to seize our prize. Dio
did not appear.
"He perhaps has gone round to bring up the other horses, or he may hope
to get another shot at the herd," observed the Dominie, as he drew out
his knife and commenced flaying the deer.
My first impulse was to see how it fared with poor Toby. He licked my
hand, and struggled to get on his feet. I was at first afraid that his
ribs were broken, but I could discover no wound, and after a few minutes
he began to revive, and tried to crawl up to share in the feast Boxer
was enjoying. We had nearly completed our task, when we heard another
shot, and after a short time Dio appeared at the end of the glade,
leading the two horses. He brought the satisfactory intelligence that
he had killed another deer. We accordingly packed up the meat, and
having placed Toby, who was still unable to walk, on the top of the
cargo, guided by Dio we mounted and proceeded to the spot where the
animal had fallen. Hitherto the black had been the most successful of
the party, but we did not grudge him the honour. We afterwards killed
two more deer; the Dominie shot one, and I the other. Our horses laden
with the welcome supply, we turned our faces towards the fort.
It was one of several equally successful expeditions we undertook, and
so pleased was the commandant with the amount of meat we brought in,
that he begged we would remain as long as we pleased, assuring us that
we paid amply for whatever other stores we consumed. My father and
uncle were now almost recovered, and proposed that we should continue
our journey in a few days. Mr Tidey and I agreed in the mean time to
make another expedition in search of game, hoping to catch enough to
take a supply with us, and leave the remainder with our friends. On
this occasion Dan got leave to accompany us, and he, with Dio and Martin
Prentis, formed our party. We had three pack-horses, and followed by
our two dogs, we set off.
Dan was in high spirits.
"Even if we do fall in with any Indians, we shall be able to give a good
account of them, I hope," he said, laughing; "they would be bold fellows
to attempt attacking five well-mounted men."
Dan stood up in his stirrups, and looked as big as he could.
Mr Tidey smiled, and observed, "You have the heart of a giant, Dan,
though I don't know that a red warrior would reckon you as a man."
"But I can fire a rifle and pistol, and my bullets may tell as well as
those of bigger people," answered Dan, a little indignant at the remark.
We had determined to go farther from the fort than we had hitherto done,
as the game in the wood we had before hunted in had become scarce,
frightened away by the report of our fire-arms. As we proceeded, we
found the traces of deer become more and more abundant. Frequently we
came suddenly upon one, which started off before we could get a shot.
Now and then we caught sight of a long file of antelopes, who, however,
took care to keep out of our way, and we might as well have chased the
wind as have attempted to overtake them on horseback. It was curious to
observe the manner they imitated the movements of their leader.
Sometimes he would turn round his white breast, and then exhibit his red
flank, when at the same moment a whole line of white breasts or red
flanks were to be seen. Then he would stop, when they would all stop at
once; then he would stamp and advance a step, they all, obedient to the
signal, doing the same. The Dominie remarked that it reminded him of
when he was at school and he and his companions played follow my leader.
Again the headmost animal would wheel to the right, as did his
followers. At last, carrying on this game for some time, they suddenly
winded us and away they all scampered as fast as their agile legs would
carry them, like clouds before the gale.
Although game was thus abundant on the open prairie, we were as well
aware that we should not load our horses, unless we took proper measures
to get near the deer; as the angler is, who sees the fish leap through
the calm surface of a lake in the bright sunshine, that he will not fill
his basket if he does not use the right bait.
There was a wood away to the right, which would, we hoped, afford us an
ambush and enable us to conceal our steeds. We accordingly rode towards
it. As we were moving along the Dominie suddenly pulled up.
"Look at that trail," he said; "that is not the foot-mark of a deer, or
buffalo, or a wolf. If ever I saw the print of a moccasin, that is one.
See, however, the toes are pointing from the wood, though the red-skin,
when he found that he was stepping on soft ground, sprang back, but
probably did not think it worth while to obliterate the mark."
"Possibly there was only a single hunter, and he can do us no harm, even
if he should desire it," I observed; "perhaps indeed, that is the print
of a white man's foot, for many wear moccasins, even in summer."
We searched about, but although we discovered several marks which we
believed were produced by human feet, we could not be certain. Had an
Indian been with us he would have solved the question in a minute. We
therefore remounted, and believing that we were not likely to fall in
with enemies, continued our course.
We soon reached the wood, which was very similar in character to the one
we had before hunted in, with an undergrowth of willows near a stream,
while in other places were clumps of wild rose trees, still covered with
bloom. Penetrating into the wood, we selected a spot for our camp,
where we could leave our horses under charge of Martin and Dan while we
went in search of game. In a short time we reached the borders of a
glade, in which, from the appearance of the grass, we hoped to see some
deer browsing.
After proceeding some distance we caught sight of a herd at the farther
end coming leisurely own towards us, cropping the grass on their way.
The wind blowing from them to us, we settled to remain concealed behind
some thick bushes until they should come within range of our rifles.
Presently a fine stag advanced ahead of the herd. He halted when still
too far off to give us a hope of killing him. His movements were
singular, as he pawed the ground and butted with his horns. The reason
of this was soon apparent, for from the opposite side another stag
issued forth from among the trees, and advanced rapidly towards him. On
seeing his antagonist, the first rushed to meet him, and the two stags
engaged in a fierce combat. We might possibly have got close enough to
shoot both, but by so doing we should have lost our chance of killing
any of the rest of the herd, whose flesh was of more value than that of
the old stags.
We were waiting the issue of the battle, supposing that the deer would
then approach, when we heard a shot and caught sight of a number of
animals scampering across the glade. The report of the gun came from an
opposite direction to that of our camp. For an instant I thought that
Dio must have crept away, but looking round I saw that he was close to
us, the shot must therefore have been fired by a stranger, who could not
have been aware of our vicinity. Fearing to lose the stags, we sprang
forward; at the same time our two dogs dashed out. Mr Tidey aimed at
one of the animals and I at the other. Though both fell, each creature,
under the belief that his hurt had been received from his antagonist,
though brought to the ground, continued to butt furiously at the other,
until the dogs came up, and they turned their rage towards them. We
stopped to reload and call off the dogs, for fear of their being
injured. But the stags were fast succumbing from loss of blood; and
getting up to them, we put an end to their struggles.
We were still standing over their bodies, forgetting for a moment the
shot we had heard, when Dio shouted out--
"See dare, see dare!"
Looking up the glade, we saw a man in hunter's garb, who, having sprang
out of the wood, had seized by the horns a wounded deer which was
endeavouring to escape. The animal was making violent efforts to
release itself, throwing back its head in a way which made it difficult
for him to hold on. To protect himself he lifted up his rifle; one of
the deer's hoofs missed him, but the other struck his weapon, and
breaking his ramrod, brought him down on his knees. The creature was
now about to renew the attack and a blow from his hoof might have
shattered his skull, or at least have seriously injured him. Not a
moment was to be lost. Scarcely thinking of the danger I ran of
wounding the stranger, I lifted my rifle and fired, when the deer
bounding up fell lifeless on its back. The stranger, rising from his
knees, advanced towards us. He was a good-looking youngish man, though
his face, naturally fair, was bronzed by summer suns and winter blasts.
He was dressed in a blue blanket coat trimmed with red, a cloth cap of
the same colour, with a broad peak, and ornamented moccasins. An axe
and long knife were stuck in his belt; he had a serviceable-looking
rifle in his hand, and behind his shoulders was strapped a pack,
containing his buffalo robe and blanket, some provisions apparently; and
several other requisite articles. He put out his hand in a frank manner
as he walked up to Mr Tidey.
"You have done me a service, friend; for that animal showed more fight
than I expected, and might have injured me severely had not your shot
taken effect, though it narrowly missed my head, I suspect."
"Very glad to have been of use to you, but here's the person you should
thank," said the Dominie, pointing to me.
"I confess that it would have been more prudent not to have fired, for
fear of hitting you," I answered as he shook me by the hand.
"Though it was a risk, I am equally thankful. The shot was well aimed,
and you have the right to the venison, my young friend," he said,
looking at me.
We told him that we had no wish to deprive him of it, but he insisted
that the deer should be ours. We settled the point, however, by making
him take a haunch, which was all he would accept.
We now sent off Dio to bring up the horses, that we might load them with
the meat: we in the meantime set to work to flay and cut up the animals,
assisted by the stranger.
"You will come to our camp and pass the night with us," said the Dominie
as we were thus engaged.
To our surprise the stranger declined our invitation.
"I should prove but a poor companion, for I have been too long
accustomed to live by myself to have any desire to join the society of
my fellows," he answered, turning aside; "if I find that you are exposed
to danger from the redskins, I will give you warning, and may be of
assistance in enabling you to escape from them."
We in vain pressed him to alter his decision. He waited until the
horses arrived, and having assisted us in packing the meat, took his own
share, put up in a piece of skin, and after bidding us farewell went off
in an opposite direction to our camp. We had forgotten to mention the
mark of the moccasin we had seen in the morning, but we had little doubt
that the stranger had gone over the ground, and our apprehensions of
Indians being in the neighbourhood were dispelled. We, however, kept as
usual a strict watch at night. As our camp was placed in the recesses
of the wood, we knew that our fire could not be perceived at any
distance beyond it.
As we sat round the cheerful blaze of the fire, we naturally talked of
the stranger, wondering who he could be. His dress was that of a
Canadian trapper, but he spoke without any French accent, and the
Dominie remarked that he recognised a touch of the Irish brogue on his
tongue.
"It is odd that he should prefer camping out by himself, to joining us,
when he might sleep in much greater security than he can all alone," I
observed.
"Tastes differ, and although it is not complimentary to us, he may
prefer his own society to ours," answered the Dominie, laughing.
"Perhaps he is on bad terms with the garrison of the fort, and
consequently does not wish to associate with us, because we have been
staying there," remarked Dan.
"It may be that he has shot one of them, or sided with the Indians, or
has committed some offence against the Government," said Martin.
"We might talk all night, and yet come to no satisfactory conclusion,"
replied the Dominie, "and now, it's time to turn in, to be ready for our
work to-morrow morning."
We accordingly lay down wrapped in our blankets round the fire, Martin
taking the first watch.