A TIMELY WARNING--THE PURSUIT--INDIAN HORSEMEN--THE CAVALRY ENGAGEMENT--
A SHARP SKIRMISH--DIO SAVES MY FATHER'S LIFE--PREPARATIONS FOR
CONTINUING OUR JOURNEY--I ENCOUNTER THE SOLITARY HUNTER--USEFUL
INFORMATION--REJOIN THE TRAIN--FIRST SIGHT OF THE MOUNTAINS--THE "GROSSE
CORNE"--LOOKING OUT FOR A PASS--MOUTH OF THE CANON DISCOVERED--A GLOOMY
PASSAGE--OVERTAKEN BY DARKNESS IN THE GORGE--FIRST GLIMPSE OF "SMILING
VALLEY"--SELECTION OF THE SITE OF OUR FUTURE HOME--BRINGING THE WAGGONS
OVER THE MOUNTAINS.
The stars were shining brightly in the sky, the fire casting a glare on
the trunks and branches of the surrounding trees beyond which was
darkest gloom, when having been aroused by the Dominie, I took the
morning watch.
No sound broke the stillness which reigned through the forest at that
period of the night. Feeling still drowsy, and afraid of dropping off
to sleep again should I sit down, I continued pacing backwards and
forwards, now approaching one side of the glade, now the other,
occasionally giving the fire a poke, or throwing on a few sticks.
Though I had no fear of Indians, a bear or panther, or a pack of hungry
wolves, might pay us a visit, attracted by the smell of the venison
which was packed and ready for transport. As the trees shut out the
view to the eastward, I could only judge when day was approaching by
observing the stars beginning to grow dim. I had gone farther than
usual from the camp-fire, towards the west, when, as I stopped for a
moment, I thought I heard a sound among the underwood in that direction,
as of branches pushed aside and feet pressed on dry leaves.
Expecting to see some animal break through, I brought my gun ready to
shoot, when much to my surprise a man stepped forth from out of the
darkness.
Supposing him to be an Indian and that he might be followed by a number
of others with scalping-knives in their hands, I slowly retreated,
holding my gun ready for action.
"Do not fire, my friend," said a voice which I recognised as that of the
stranger we had met the previous day. "I come as I promised, to give
you warning should you be in danger. I have discovered that a party of
redskins are out on the war-path, and that you are certain to fall in
with them should you continue hunting. I would advise you forthwith to
saddle your horses and return to the fort."
I thanked the stranger for his information and instantly aroused my
companions; he repeated what he had said to Mr Tidey, advising him to
lose no time in starting.
"I will guide you by the shortest cut out of the wood," he said; "after
that you must push on as fast as your horses can go, and you may keep
ahead of the savages, who are now away to the westward, but will soon
discover your trail, and seeing that you are a small party, will be
certain to follow you up." The idea for a moment glanced across my mind
that perhaps the stranger wished to get rid of us, for the sake of
having all the sport to himself, but his frank air and the earnest tone
in which he spoke made me banish the suspicion. Without a moment's
delay all hands set to work to get ready for starting, our friend
energetically assisting us. Our pack-animals were soon ready and our
steeds saddled.
"Now we will be off," said the stranger, and going ahead he led the way,
winding in and out among the trees at so rapid a rate, that we could
with difficulty keep him in sight. Every now and then he turned,
however, to ascertain that we were following. He evidently seemed to
consider that not a moment was to be lost. At length the border of the
wood was gained.
"You can make your way now by yourselves," he said; "the dawn will soon
break, and the rising sun will serve to guide you. Keep slightly to the
right, and you will pass the confines of the next wood. The ground is
even for some miles, and if you press forward as fast as your horses can
go, I trust that you may keep ahead of your enemies. They are sure to
discover your trail, and therefore, although you may not see them, when
looking behind, you must not venture to halt. Whether they intend to
attack the fort, I cannot say, but it is as well that the garrison
should be on the alert."
We thanked him heartily for the important service he had rendered us.
"But will you not come with us," said Mr Tidey; "you yourself may be
exposed to danger from the Indians."
"I have been too long in their territory to have any fear on that score,
and know their ways well enough to avoid them," he answered; "but time
is precious; give your horses the rein. On, on!"
Waving his hand as a farewell, he retreated again into the wood: when I
again looked round he was not to be seen. We galloped forward, the
Dominie, Martin, and Dio leading the pack-animals, which as they were
lightly laden, kept up with us; Dan and I rode alongside each other
ahead of the rest.
"This is capital fun!" cried my young brother; "I would not have missed
it on any account. I only wish that fine fellow had been with us, and
should we be overtaken by the Indians; we might face about and drive
them back."
"If we are overtaken, we shall have to do that at all events," I
replied; "but I hope that we may not be compelled to fight them, and I
have no wish to hear their war-whoops in our rear."
I was not at all certain, however, that those unpleasant sounds would
not reach our ears before we gained the fort. I knew the rate at which
the half-naked savages could scour across the prairie, and when once
they got on our trail, they would, I was convinced, press on at their
utmost speed. But darkness favoured us for some time, though we ran the
risk of one of our horses stepping into a hole or stumbling over the
skeleton of a buffalo or deer, numbers of which strewed the plain. At
length the first streaks of dawn appeared ahead; the light rapidly
increased and the sun which was to guide us rose above the horizon.
Our horses kept up their speed, seeming to be well aware that an enemy
was behind them. My eyes being dazzled by the bright beams of the sun,
I could scarcely see the way, and had to shade them with my hand, while
I bent forward towards my horse's neck.
After a few seconds I made out the wood on our left, and knew that we
were pursuing a right course.
Few words were exchanged by any of the party: at last Dan cried out that
he was getting very hungry, and proposed to stop for breakfast.
"Our scalps are of more value than the refreshing of our inward man,"
answered the Dominie. "We must not think of breakfast, dinner, or
supper, until we get inside the fort, and then we will take all three in
one. Go on, lads, go on."
Urging on our horses, we had already reached the ground over which we
had previously hunted on our first expedition, and knew the way
perfectly, but still the fort was far distant, and we could not yet
distinguish the flag which waved above it.
"We shall get in safe enough now, and perhaps be laughed at for running
away from an imaginary foe," cried Dan.
I was about to answer, when Dio, who had turned in his saddle to look
behind him, exclaimed--
"Dare am de Indians. I see de heads of dem an' de horses 'bove de green
grass far 'way."
We all looked, to be certain that the black was right. There could be
no doubt about the matter. To escape them by concealing ourselves was
impossible, even though the sun might have prevented them as yet from
seeing us.
They had got hold of our trail and were following that up. All we could
do was to trust to the fleetness of our steeds and endeavour to reach
the fort before they should overtake us. Martin proposed that we should
let go the laden animals as they detained us considerably.
"We will not do that until the enemy are much nearer than they are now,"
answered the Dominie. "On, boys, on! we will still keep ahead of them."
We used our spurs and whips to encourage our poor beasts, which were
already showing signs of "knocking-up."
From a glance I took of the pursuing foe, I saw that they were a large
band, against whom it would be useless to make a stand. If overtaken
they would to a certainty kill us for the sake of our scalps. They were
getting nearer and nearer; I looked out anxiously for the fort. At
length the flag appeared in sight; it was a cheering spectacle.
"Oh, massa, massa, go on!" I heard Dio cry out in an anxious tone. I
turned round; it seemed to me that already the savages were almost near
enough to reach us with their arrows. None of us required urging, but
our panting beasts could scarcely keep their legs. A few moments more
and we might have a shower of missiles whizzing about our heads. On we
went until we could see the top of the stockades and the buildings in
the fort. Still the Indians followed, their dreadful war-whoop burst on
our ears, making our horses tremble. It was enough to do so, for no
more terrific sound had I ever heard. At length, when it seemed that we
had no chance of escaping, I saw the gate of the fort open, and a party
of horsemen streaming forth came galloping towards us: the Indians saw
them too. They approached, and as they did so opened their ranks to let
us pass through them, and then with a loud cheer, dashing forward, they
charged the enemy. The savages wheeled and fled, but before the
troopers could get up to them the recall was sounded. The commandant
evidently well knew the danger of pursuing so wily a foe, who only fled
that they might turn round at a favourable moment, or that they might
lead their pursuers into an ambush. Soon after the trumpet-call had
been heard and the cavalry had begun to retire, a far larger band than
those who had followed us appeared on the brow of a hill about half a
mile to the southward.
One of the men cried out that, from their dress and appearance, they
were Cheyennes and Arapahoes, first-rate horsemen. We could see them
clearly against the sky flourishing their spears, their chiefs riding
backwards and forwards in front of their ranks, evidently encouraging
them to come on and attack us. These "buffalo Indians," as they are
called, from spending their time in chase of the shaggy monsters of the
prairie, are accustomed to the saddle from their childhood. They use no
reins, but guide their horses by pressing their heels on whichever side
they wish them to turn, consequently both hands and arms are free to use
their weapons as may be requisite. They carry long spears and powerful
bows, which can shoot their arrows to a great distance, and in their
belts tomahawks, with which they can deal the most deadly blows in a
hand to hand combat. In battle they secure themselves to their saddles,
so that they can bend down on their horses' sides, and thus entirely
hide themselves from the view of their enemies, as they dash forward in
the fight, thus also avoiding the bullets aimed at them. Even when
wounded they are carried away off the field, unless their steeds are
shot down. Our small party of retreating cavalry did not at first
perceive the enemy gathering in their rear, until the trumpet again
sounded, when they halted and faced about. It was not a moment too
soon. Scarcely had they done so, than down swept the savages like a
whirlwind towards them, led by a tall chief with a plume of dark
feathers waving above his head, on a white horse, whooping and shrieking
in the most diabolical manner. We could see their faces through our
glasses, and fierce and terrible they looked, as they held their lances
poised, or their bows bent ready to shoot as they got within range. Our
rear-guard, who were acting as skirmishers, fired, and then fell back on
the main body, with the exception of two or three, who as they were
retreating fell pierced by arrows shot at them from the ranks of the
approaching enemy. Our cavalry were far outnumbered.
On came the savages, a flight of arrows filled the air, and then, with
reiterated whoops and shrieks, the Indians swooped down upon us. With
sorrow, not unallied with dismay, we saw several of our friends fall
from their saddles, while every trooper was engaged in a deadly struggle
with a dozen foes. Amid the smoke of the fire-arms, we could see the
spears thrusting, sabres and tomahawks gleaming, pistols flashing,
horses plunging and rearing, while shouts and cries rent the air. It
was too evident that our party were getting the worst of it and were
being forced back, over the ground towards the fort. Fresh hordes were
seen coming on, probably those who had before retreated. Again the
trumpet sounded the recall. The commandant now summoned every available
man in the fort; some to garrison the pits, others to advance to the
support of the cavalry.
We had dismounted and were soon joined by my father and Uncle Denis,
with about twenty men led by the commandant himself. We advanced
rapidly in two parties, so as to allow the troopers to pass between us.
My father took command of one of the parties. As we advanced we could
see horses and men struggling on the ground, many pierced through and
through with arrows; the tall chief stooping down from his horse, seized
one poor fellow and lifting him up, struck him a deadly blow with his
tomahawk and then hurled him back lifeless.
Some of the troopers, unable to extricate themselves, were still
fighting bravely and dearly selling their lives, while those who could,
obeying the recall, came galloping back. The Indians, now seeing us
advance, the tall chief, dashing forward, with poised spear, was about
to pierce my father, when Dio lifted his rifle and fired. The warrior
bent forward, the blood gushing from his mouth, but still coming on,
when the black, seizing the sabre of a fallen soldier, struck him on the
side and his body fell, his hands touching the ground, while his legs
remained lashed to the saddle. The cross-fire, which, at the word of
command, was poured in on the ranks of the savages, stopped their onward
course. A successful attempt was made, however, to recover the body of
their chief, and his horse though wounded, wheeling round, was seized by
one of the band and carried off, in spite of the bullets aimed at him.
We continued pouring in volley after volley, until the Indians were
beyond our range, but our men fired too high and but few saddles were
emptied after the retreat began.
The battle had been terribly severe, and we had to mourn the loss of
nearly a dozen men killed and as many wounded. Those who had fallen
were dreadfully mutilated by the savages. Horses and riders had been
stripped of their trappings and clothes, most of the men scalped, with
terrible gashes on their bodies, while all around, the trampled
blood-stained ground showed the fierce struggle which had taken place
before our brave fellows had succumbed. Severe as had been our loss, a
still greater number of the Indians must have been killed, although the
majority had been carried out. None of our party who had gone out on
foot had suffered, shewing how much wiser it would have been had the
garrison remained in the fort, without attempting to pursue the enemy.
The object of the commandant, however, had been to drive the savages to
a distance, and to show them that the white men were as ready to meet
them in the open, as within the protection of the stockades.
We watched the enemy as they rode slowly back over the hill, carrying
their dead and wounded. Though defeated, we could not be at all certain
that they would not renew the attack during the night. The belief,
however, was, that dispirited by the loss of their chief, they would,
with blackened faces, be mourning for his death and that of the rest of
the warriors who had fallen, instead of thinking of more fighting.
"It is sad work," observed my father, as we returned from burying our
poor fellows; "the Indians act, of course, according to their instinct,
and consider themselves justified in attacking the forts and trains of
the white men, whom they see advancing to take possession of their
hunting-grounds. I wish that means could be found to induce them to
remain at peace with us, but though over and over again they have signed
treaties they have broken through them whenever they have fancied that
they could gain an advantage by so doing. I do not mean to say for one
moment that the white men are not to blame; they have too often deceived
the Indians and have driven them without compunction from the region
they once called their own. If I could discover a tribe whose
confidence in the pale-faces, as they call us, has not been abused, I
would settle down among them and endeavour by kindness and justice to
work upon their better feelings and induce them to become friends."
The garrison remained under arms during the night, but it passed off in
quietness, and the next day the scouts who went out reported that the
enemy had moved off to a distance. It was hoped that their chief, who
had instigated them to attack the fort, being dead, they would be
inclined in the future to leave it unmolested.
We were now all fully prepared to continue our journey, still, anxious
as was my father to proceed, he was unwilling to expose my mother and
the rest of us to the dangers we might have to encounter. On finding
that the country to the westward was at present free from hostile
Indians, we made several hunting expeditions, by which we supplied
ourselves and the fort with fresh provisions. While one day in chase of
a deer which I had wounded, I got separated from my companions. The
animal plunged into a willow brake, and I thought had escaped me.
Finding, however, an opening in the wood, I made my way through it, on
the chance of coming again upon the deer. Calculating the course it was
likely to take, I pushed forward so as to cross it. Coming upon several
splashes of blood, which showed me the direction the deer had gone, I
was following up the trail, when just before me a person rose suddenly
from behind a bush, and to my surprise I recognised the solitary hunter.
I rode towards him, putting out my hand: "I am glad to meet you again,"
I said; "though I little expected to do so: I wish to thank you for the
warning you gave us; had it not been for you, we should probably have
been killed by the Indians."
"I require no thanks," he answered somewhat coldly.
"We gave the Cheyennes and Arapahoes a lesson they will not forget, and
have been able to hunt since without fear of interruption," I observed.
I asked him whether he considered that our train could pass on towards
the Rocky Mountains without the risk of being attacked.
"If you make haste, you may get through; but you must not idle on the
way," he answered; "the savages have united in a grand expedition
against the forts to the southward, and although they will probably be
defeated, it will give them employment for some time to come."
This was satisfactory intelligence. I thanked him for it. I then asked
him if he had seen a wounded deer pass that way.
"There lies your game," he answered, leading me forward, where behind a
bush I saw the animal I had wounded. "I was employed in cutting it up
when you appeared," he added; "although I brought it to the ground, your
shot enabled me to kill it, and it is therefore yours. I will help you
to load your horse with the meat."
I in vain attempted to induce him to take the whole or a portion. "No,
no," he answered, "I have but one mouth to feed, while you have a
garrison to support," and he continued his task.
"You may have some difficulty in finding your companions," he observed,
when my horse was loaded; "I will lead you to them."
We set off together. After going some distance he stopped, and, shaking
me by the hand, said--
"Go on there, you will soon find your friends; but you need not mention
having met with me."
This remark convinced me more than ever that the stranger had some
reason for not wishing to have any intercourse with the garrison. I
wished him "good-bye," and he plunging into the forest, I soon rejoined
my companions.
We returned with a large supply of venison. My father, to whom I
privately communicated the information I had received from the stranger,
announced his intention of setting out next morning.
The harness during our stay had been put in good order. My horse,
thanks to the remedies applied by the surgeon, had completely recovered,
and we purchased another for Dio.
Everything being ready at the time appointed, we recommenced our
journey, saluted by the cheers of the garrison. Our course was now
towards the north-west, which would lead us across the Laramie plains,
over a range of the Rocky Mountains, beyond which my father expected
from the report of hunters and trappers to find a fertile region, in
which he would be content to establish himself. We had added, I should
have said, two light carts, in which we intended to transport the
cargoes of the waggons, should we find it impossible to drag them when
laden over the heights. As we travelled on I fully expected to fall in
with the stranger, but day after day went by and he did not make his
appearance. Following the advice given, we halted only to rest our
animals. On such occasions we employed the time in hunting, and seldom
returned without a supply of either buffalo meat or venison. The
Indians we met with appeared disposed to be friendly, or at all events,
seeing our large well-armed party, and the vigilant watch we kept, they
did not venture to interfere with us. We were approaching the range it
was our purpose to cross. We had heard that many of the heights were of
great elevation, but that there were passages or canons between them,
through which we might make our way, provided no enemy should appear to
impede our progress. We had during the last day caught sight of what
appeared a bank of white clouds, their outer edges lighted up by the
rays of the sun. During, however, the next couple of days' journey a
light mist hung over the country, which prevented us from seeing objects
at a distance. Having no longer the fear of Indians, the Dominie, Dan,
and I frequently went ahead, sometimes on horseback and sometimes on
foot, for the purpose of killing game or exploring the way. Thus one
day, the ground being rugged and the waggons making but slow progress,
we had proceeded some distance further than usual when we caught sight,
on the top of a rock, of an animal with long horns, which Dan declared
was a sheep, and which I thought was a deer.
"Dan is more nearly right, for it is the sheep of these mountains, but
in its habits it is very like the chamois of Switzerland," observed the
Dominie; "we have very little chance of getting that fellow, but we may
kill others if we are on the watch for them. It is the big-horn, or
`grosse corne,' as the French call it, of the Rocky Mountains. It has
already seen us, and away it goes to some place where it knows we cannot
reach it."
I may as well say that this wild sheep is of stout build, and has feet
stronger and larger than those of the deer. Its light dusky brown
colour is similar to the tint of the rocks among which it lives. About
its ears and neck and legs it carries a small quantity of wool, the rest
of its coat consisting of coarse hair, white on the rump, while the tail
is tipped with black. Both the male and female have horns, those of the
former being remarkable for their enormous size, while those of the
latter somewhat resemble the horns of the ordinary goat. The horns of
some of the sheep we afterwards killed measured upwards of two feet six
inches in length. The head is provided with cartilaginous processes of
great strength, and they with the frontal bone form one strong mass of
so solid a nature that the animal can, when making his escape, fling
himself on his head from considerable heights without injury.
We watched the big-horn as it bounded away, until it speedily
disappeared.
Almost immediately afterwards the mist lifted, and we saw before us a
range of mountains with a snow-capped peak, apparently of great
elevation, rising beyond them, while at their foot slept a lake of clear
water, shining like a polished mirror in the rays of the sun.
"What! shall we have to cross all those mountains?" exclaimed Dan, "we
shall be brought to a stand-still, I fear."
"We shall have to get through them somehow or other, but I hope that a
passage may be found up a canon, between the rocky heights, so that we
shall not be compelled to climb over their tops," answered Mr Tidey.
"The sooner, however, we get back to camp and look out for the required
pass the better. It may take us some days, and as the season is
advancing there is no time to be lost."
We accordingly turned back, and on reaching the train found that the
mountains were as clearly visible as from where we had first seen them.
Near at hand was a rocky height, to the top of which my father and uncle
climbed with us, carrying their spy-glasses that they might take a view
of the range, and endeavour to discover some opening through which we
might hope to make our way.
"Others have gone through yonder rocky barrier, and so may we," said my
father, sweeping the range from north to south with his telescope.
After surveying the mountain for some time, he exclaimed, "I see what
looks like a canon where the cliffs appear to rise almost
perpendicularly out of the plain. We will direct our course towards it.
We shall not reach it to-night, but we will explore it with our carts
to-morrow morning, while we leave the waggons in a safe position, so
that they may be effectually defended should any Indians venture to
attack them, though I have no apprehensions on that score."
The plan being arranged, we returned to the train, and, verging to the
right, moved towards the gap my father had discovered. We reached one
end of the lake which we had seen in the morning, and as the sun had
already disappeared over the mountains, a halt was called, and we
encamped in our usual fashion. We chose a spot with the lake to the
south; on one side a rocky height rose precipitously out of the water,
on the other was a thick wood; we had thus two sides of the camp
strongly defended by nature, and by throwing up a breastwork round the
other two sides the camp might be made as strong as could be required.
Although an enemy might climb to the top of the rock, yet by posting a
couple of men there with rifles, it might be defended against a whole
host of foes. The wood being but a short distance off from which the
timber required could be obtained, all hands setting to work, before
dark the camp was as strongly fortified as we thought requisite.
It was the first time for many days that we had enjoyed a feeling of
perfect security. Dio had lighted a fire a little apart from that of
the men, that its smoke might keep off the flies, which were inclined to
be troublesome. To utilise it, he had hung up one of our pots to boil.
Kathleen, being somewhat tired, was asleep in our waggon, while my
mother and Lily were seated on the ground near it. Boxer and Toby lay a
short distance off, as Lily said, looking at themselves in the lake,
into which the oxen, having taken their fill of the luscious grass
growing on the bank, had come down to drink.
My father, accompanied by Dan and me, having made a circuit of the camp,
to see that all was right, had just joined my mother. Dio, who had been
attending to the pot, drew my father aside, to propound some knotty
point with regard to the waggon which was under his especial charge,
while Dan threw himself down by our mother, to have a game of play with
Lily, Rose and Biddy being at a little distance off, busily washing
clothes in the lake and singing at the top of their voices, the one a
negro, the other an Irish melody, the result, as may be supposed, far
from melodious, each stopping, however, every now and then to exchange
jokes with the men who happened to be passing near them.
That evening-scene in our camp near the mountains made an impression on
me, which is as vivid at the present day as then, and I describe it more
perhaps for my own gratification than for any it may afford the readers
of my journal.
The next morning we set off on our expedition, Martin Prentis being left
in charge of the camp. Our exploring party consisted of my father,
Uncle Denis, Mr Tidey, Dan, and I, Dio, and two of the men. My mother
begged that she might go with us, and as she would not leave the two
little girls behind, Biddy came to assist in taking care of them. We
carried one tent, with provisions and everything requisite for forming a
camp, so that we might send the empty carts back to bring on more
stores, should we find that we could not get the heavy waggons through.
Though the ground at a distance appeared to be level, we had a
considerable ascent to make before we reached the foot of the cliffs.
As we looked ahead, it seemed impossible that we should ever get through
the massive rocks piled up before us, but my father, confident that an
opening would be found, persevered, and at length we saw some way off,
what looked a mere cleft in the rock.
"That's the mouth of the canon," he exclaimed, "though it seems so
narrow, it is wide enough for our cart-wheels and that is all we
require."
We eagerly pressed forward and in a short time entered a gloomy defile
where the rocks towered up on either side, and in some places hung
completely over our heads, but as they had stood for centuries, we had
no fear of their tumbling down while we were passing beneath them.
On and on we went, the rocks becoming higher and higher, and forming
precipitous cliffs, their summits many hundred feet above us. It was
evident that the mountain had been rent asunder by some mighty
earthquake without the assistance of water.
The ground on which we travelled rose but slightly. As we continued our
course the scenery became more gloomy and barren, and, except on the
ground beneath our feet, scarcely a blade of grass or plant of any
description was to be seen growing in the clefts of the dark and sombre
rocks. The atmosphere, seldom warmed by the rays of the sun, felt
chilly in the extreme, and depressed our spirits, and had it not been
for the assurance of my father, that we should discover an outlet on the
other side, some of the party would, I think, have turned back, under
the belief that we should only arrive at last before some vast cavern,
or towering cliff, beyond which all further progress would be barred.
Even the Dominie, I saw, did not half like it, but he was too much
attached to my father to hesitate about proceeding. Our chief anxiety
was about water, as yet not a single cascade had we met with, nor the
smallest rivulet trickling down the sides of the mountains. So lofty
were the rocks, that we could nowhere see even the tops of the mountains
above us. We concluded that we were at some distance from the snowy
peak we had discovered the day before, which would probably have sent
down a stream to afford us the water we required. We stopped to rest at
noon, where the gorge opened out slightly and the ground bore a
sufficient amount of grass to enable our horses to crop a scanty meal.
As we were anxious to get into a more fertile region before nightfall,
we did not remain longer than was necessary. The shades of evening came
on far sooner than would have been the case in the plain. The cliffs
rose on every hand, towering as high, or even higher, than at the
entrance of the gorge. Unwilling to encamp in a place where we could
get neither fire nor water, Mr Tidey and I volunteered to push on
ahead, hoping that we might find a pleasanter spot for camping than in
the narrow defile, even though we might not succeed in altogether
emerging from the pass. We hurried on as long as a ray of light
penetrated into the gorge, but at length it became so dark that we could
scarcely see a yard before us. Were we to proceed further we might
knock our heads against a rock or fall into some yawning chasm.
"Stop, Mike!" said my companion, "better to suffer present evil, than to
rush into greater we know not of. We must return to our friends, if we
don't break our heads in the meantime, and advise them forthwith to come
to a halt."
So pitchy was the darkness, that we could not see the rocks on either
hand, and we were afraid, should we stumble or turn round by any chance,
that we might be going away from, instead of nearing our friends. In
vain we looked up to catch sight of a star by which we might have guided
ourselves, but not a single one could we see.
"It won't do to halt here," observed the Dominie; "depend upon it, the
captain has come to a stand-still long ago."
Every now and then we stopped and shouted as we groped our way forward,
but no answer came, and at last I began to picture to myself all sorts
of accidents which might have happened to my family. Perhaps their
footsteps had been dogged by the Indians, or a rock had fallen and
crushed them, or the horses, suffering from want of water, had sunk down
exhausted.
When I mentioned my apprehensions to Mr Tidey, he laughed at me, and
tried to dispel them. "The thing is, Mike, we came over the road in
daylight, and we are now going back in the dark, and whereas we were
walking four miles an hour, we are now progressing at a quarter that
speed."
Still, I was not convinced, and dreaded that at any instant we might
come upon the dead bodies of our friends.
Again and again I shouted out. How my heart bounded when I at length
heard my father's cheery voice replying to our hail. Turning an angle
of the pass I saw the light of a fire, by the side of which I could
distinguish the carts, the white tent, and the figures of our friends.
Guided by the blaze, we soon reached the little encampment. My father
and Uncle Denis were as glad to get us back as we were to return, though
we had no satisfactory intelligence to communicate. Dio had found some
bushes, from which the fuel for our fire had been procured and what was
of of equal consequence, a small pool of water, to which our thirsty
cattle had been led to drink.
"Had we pushed on we should have missed it, so that we must not grumble
at being detained in the pass," observed my father.
"Provided no storm comes on until we are clear of it," remarked Uncle
Denis; "however, we will not anticipate evils."
So soundly did I sleep, after the fatigues of the evening, that Uncle
Denis had to give me a pretty rough shake, and then looking up, I saw
that it was daylight overhead, though it was still almost dark in the
depths of the pass.
We lost no time, as soon as breakfast was over, in moving on, hoping
that before long we should emerge into the open country. For hours we
trudged on, ascending but slightly, and the horses had no difficulty in
dragging up the carts, when suddenly the bright glare of daylight
appeared before us and we found ourselves looking down on a broad valley
bathed in sunlight, but with another range of mountains beyond. The
sides sloped gradually towards a sparkling stream which flowed at the
bottom, clothed with rich vegetation. Was this valley to be our home,
or were we to cross the second range, into a still more fertile region?
"This is just the sort of spot we have been looking for, and I hope my
father will stop here!" I exclaimed to Mr Tidey, with whom I was
walking.
"Very good possibly, but where are we to find a market for our produce?
Unless there is a pass through the second range, no emigrant trains are
likely to come this way, and I do not think your father or any other
sensible man would wish to exclude himself from the rest of the world,
though undoubtedly we might manage to exist if big-horns, and deer, and
buffalo are to be found in the neighbourhood."
When my father came up, he stopped and surveyed the valley.
"Its beauty consists in its contrast to the dark gorge we have passed
through," he remarked; "see those black rocks cropping up in all
directions through the grass: the soil is of but little depth, and we
could nowhere find an acre of arable land."
Uncle Denis agreed with him, but observed that it would be as well to
camp in the valley, for the sake of giving the horses a good feed, while
we searched a passage either through or over the next range.
I should occupy too much space, were I minutely to describe the next few
days' journey, the steeps we climbed up, the descents we made, now
keeping along the edge of a roaring torrent, now ascending by the brink
of precipices, over which there appeared a great risk of the carts and
horses falling to the bottom.
Still we worked our onward way, my father being confident that we should
encounter no insuperable obstacles. We had climbed to a height early in
the day, from which, through his glass, he had obtained a view over the
region we had to pass. Though wild and rugged in the extreme, it was of
no great elevation.
"If we cannot get through in one direction, we may in another," he
remarked.
Twice we had to return for some distance the way we had come, but
perseverance conquered all difficulties, and at length we gained a
ridge, far away beyond which we saw stretching a magnificent country, a
stream flowing down from the mountains, a wide extent of prairie, a
shining lake, and an extensive forest, with trees of giant growth. We
had only to descend to take possession of any spot on which we might fix
for our future residence. The stream and lake would afford us fish,
herds of deer browsed on the rich grass, and far away we caught sight of
some buffaloes, while numerous "big-horns" were seen bounding amid the
crags on either side.
Another day was spent before we were fairly in the valley, but my father
and Uncle Denis agreed that we were well repaid for the toil we had gone
through. They selected a spot for our habitation on the side of a hill,
sloping gradually up from the stream, where we might be out of the reach
of its swelling waters and yet make use of it for irrigating the land.
We at once pitched my mother's tent, and set to work to cut down timber
for a log hut for ourselves. As soon as this was done, I and two of the
men were despatched by my father to fetch more of our stores, or to
bring on the waggons, should we find a more practicable road than the
one by which we had come. I felt duly proud of the important charge
committed to me, and set off in high spirits.
By keeping more to the left than we had done, I was fortunate enough to
discover a road over which I felt sure that the waggons could make their
way, and once more, after three days' journey, we entered the valley
which had at first so enchanted me. It now wore a very different aspect
to my eyes. The sky was cloudy, and we had come from so far superior a
region that I was very thankful we had not selected it for our location.
As we passed through the gorge, the light of the sun being shut out
from us, my spirits sank, and I began to dread lest our camp might have
been attacked, and we should find it in the same condition as that from
which we had rescued Lily. I forgot how confident my father was that it
would be safe, and that I ought not to be doubtful of his judgment.
Emerging at last from the pass, I caught sight of the white tilts of the
waggons, arranged in perfect order. A cheer rose as we approached, and
Martin hurried out to greet us, and to report "all well."
The journey across the mountain with the heavy waggons, was a far more
difficult undertaking than with the carts, but by caution, perseverance,
and judgment, we succeeded in getting through without any accident, and
I was rewarded on my arrival by the approbation of my father.
For some time after this, we were busily engaged in putting up a house
and outbuildings, with cottages for the men, and in fencing in land for
a garden, and fields, so that during that period we met with no
adventures worth narrating.