OUR NEW HOME--FORTIFICATIONS--SNAKE-FENCING--EDUCATION OF MY SISTER AND
LILY--DIO MEANS TO CATCH A BEAR--DEPREDATIONS ON OUR POULTRY-YARD--
CAPTURE OF DAME BRUIN--A CONTRIBUTION TO UNCLE DENIS'S MENAGERIE--
TRAINING THE CUBS--HUNTING EXPEDITIONS--A COLONY OF BEAVERS--HOW THE
DAMS ARE BUILT--DIO'S MAGIC STICKS--WE TURN TRAPPERS--FIGHT WITH A
GRIZZLY--VISIT OF A WOLVERINE TO OUR HUT--TRAPS SET--OUR SUCCESS--LEFT
IN CHARGE--AN INDIAN TAKES ME BY SURPRISE--KLUKO'S WARNING TO THE
PALE-FACES--COMMENCE OUR RETURN JOURNEY.
The grand point had to be settled, the name we should give to our new
home in the wilderness. Kathleen and Lily begged that it might be
called "Smiling Valley Farm," and all voices were unanimous in deciding
as they wished. A dwelling-house was constructed of rough logs, like an
ordinary log hut but larger, the trunks being placed above each other
horizontally, with a groove in the lower to receive the upper one and
the ends fitting into each other, while the interstices were plastered
with clay and the interior lined with shingles or planks split by wedges
and afterwards shaped and planed down smooth. A broad veranda ran round
it, which afforded shade during the summer, and prevented the snow from
beating into the windows in winter. Surrounding it was a strong
palisade which it was considered necessary to put up, in case we should
be attacked by the Indians, who, although at present we understood were
peaceably disposed, might at any time take it into their heads to
attempt our destruction. Still my father hoped, by treating the tribes
in the neighbourhood fairly and kindly, to win their friendship.
Outside the palisade we dug a deep ditch which served both to drain the
house and strengthen the fortifications. Over it was a drawbridge,
which was raised by tackles and so constructed as greatly to strengthen
the gate. We calculated, should it ever become necessary, that we
should be able to maintain a lengthened siege in our stronghold, though
my father, old soldier as he was, said he earnestly hoped that we should
never be compelled to resort to our means of defence. "It is wise
however to be prepared, and the redskins, seeing that we are ready for
them, will not, I trust, venture to molest us," he added.
Up to the present time, indeed, no Indians had come near the farm, and
the scattered families we occasionally met in our more distant hunting
expeditions seemed unaware of its existence. The huts of the men, also
surrounded by stockades, were so placed on either side of the
dwelling-house that they could sweep the front by a cross-fire should an
enemy ever attempt to escalade our walls.
As we brought the ground under cultivation, we surrounded the garden and
fields with snake fences, which are made in a rough fashion, the rails
being placed one upon another in a zigzag form, and secured at the
angles by stakes driven into the ground. They were formed by splitting
trees into four or five portions, according to their girth, an operation
carried on by means of wedges driven in with sledge-hammers.
When once the rails were split, the fence was very quickly put up. As
in a short time creepers grew over them, they had a very picturesque
appearance.
When we were fairly settled, Mr Tidey resumed his duties as our Tutor.
A large portion of our time, however, was still passed in outdoor
occupations. We had indeed to make frequent hunting excursions to
supply ourselves with meat until our stock of cattle, pigs, and poultry,
had increased sufficiently to allow us to kill any of them for food.
The winter, which rapidly came on, though severe, was shorter than in
more northern latitudes, but by that time our house was in a
sufficiently forward condition to resist the cold, and our stoves were
kept well supplied with logs. I must pass over the events of that
period.
Our evenings, and a portion of every day, when the Dominie was at home,
were spent in receiving instruction from him; my sister and Lily being
also his pupils. He at all events, stored their minds with useful
knowledge, although unable to instruct them in those feminine
accomplishments which young ladies in eastern cities consider of so much
importance. A piano they had never seen, but they knew what it was like
from pictures. They, however, had guitars, which Uncle Denis purchased
from some Mexicans, and they became very fair musicians, being able to
accompany their voices on the instruments with taste and skill. My
father taught them drawing, albeit their lessons were few and far
between; but they showed an aptitude for the art, and made good use of
their pencils. They were, notwithstanding this, accomplished in all
household matters, while they diligently plied their needles and made
puddings and cakes of unsurpassed excellence.
I have mentioned this merely to show that young ladies in the wilderness
may, if they have the will, obtain as fair an amount of useful knowledge
and elegant accomplishments as those who are generally supposed to be
their sole possessors. I am, however, describing them as they were in
subsequent years. At present they were but young girls, though
improving daily in mind and person.
Uncle Denis had long wished to carry out his cherished plan of forming a
menagerie by taming the wild animals of the country, which he averred he
could do by proper treatment.
The difficulty, however, was to take them alive when young enough to
benefit by his proposed training.
"I should like to have a fine young grizzly, though I suspect he would
prove rather an obstinate pupil," remarked Uncle Denis in Dio's hearing.
Some time after this Dio came to me and said, "Me tinkee me get b'ar
'fore long for Massa Denis an' gib him pleasant surprise."
On inquiring how he expected to do this, he told me that he had
discovered a nest of honey-bees in a wood a short distance from the
house, and that twice on returning home late in the evening he had seen
a shaggy beast, which he was sure was a bear, going in that direction,
but that having no bullets in his pouch at the time, he did not wish to
become better acquainted with it. After each occasion he had found that
the nest had been robbed of a portion of its contents, and that from its
position the plunderer had been unable to carry off the remainder. He
was sure that the bear was the thief, and he had formed a plan for
catching it; he would then, he said, bring Uncle Denis to the spot, and
exhibit his captive. I asked him how he intended to proceed.
"Come an' see, Massa Mike. I will show you," he replied.
We accordingly went together into the wood, when he showed me a large
tree, the lower part of the trunk being hollow from age. At the higher
part of the cavity, which had an opening outside, was the bees' nest; up
this it was very evident that the bear had put his paw, but, unable to
reach higher, had to content himself with the lower portion of the comb,
which the industrious inhabitants had set to work immediately afterwards
to restore.
"But, Dio," I observed, "though the bear may possibly go into the hollow
to obtain more honey, how are you to make him stay there. As soon as he
hears your footstep he will be off, unless he is in fighting humour, in
which case we shall be compelled to shoot him to prevent him injuring
us."
"Wait 'bit, massa, you see some day," answered Dio.
Whether the bear was fond of honey, we had soon evidence that he or some
other animal was of our pigs and poultry. One night a tremendous
cackling was heard in the poultry-yard. The next morning it was
discovered that a fat turkey, captured by Uncle Denis, and a couple of
ducks, were carried off, and during the next night we were aroused by
several piercing squeaks, and afterwards found that one of our porkers
had disappeared.
We watched for several following nights, but if Master Bruin had been
the depredator, he was too wary to repeat his visits. As he would not
come to us to be shot, we searched for him in all directions among the
neighbouring rocks, where, in some hitherto undiscovered cave, it was
thought probable he had his abode. No traces of him, however, could we
discover. Dio during this time was not idle. I inquired whether the
bear had again robbed the bees.
"No, he not come back yet, but he soon come, an' den you see," he
answered, looking very mysterious.
At length, one evening, I met him running towards the house in a state
of great excitement.
"Wha'r Massa Denis?" he asked; "me tinkee me got b'ar for him now.
Wha'r is he?"
For a wonder, he was in the house, as was Dan; so I called them both.
"We must get some cords to bind our prisoner, or otherwise he may not be
quite ready to accompany us," said my uncle.
Having procured some pieces of strong rope, we set off. We overtook
Dio, and asked him how he knew that the bear had got into the hollow
trunk. He then described his plan of proceeding. He had filled the
lower part of the cavity with dry leaves, branches, and twigs, and had
laid a train so that he could fire it in an instant. He had also
blocked up a portion of the entrance, and had placed some stout sticks,
sharply pointed, directed inwards, so that although the bear could
squeeze through one way, he would find it a difficult task to back out
again.
As we approached the tree described by Dio, he advised us to get our
rifles ready, and to have our lashings prepared to bind Bruin's legs
when he tried to come out, as he probably would, tail first. Still the
animal did not make his appearance.
"Perhaps he is afraid of descending for fear of burning himself, as you
have lighted a fire at the bottom of the hollow, and he would have to go
through it," observed Uncle Denis.
Dio asserted that it was because the dogs kept up a barking, and he
advised that we should retire to a short distance, while he remained
near to listen when the bear was descending. We kept the dogs back and
held our guns in readiness, should Bruin come forth, indignant at having
his hide singed, and make a rush at us.
We waited several minutes, but with the exception of some low growls,
which grew fainter and fainter, no sounds reached our ears. Dio every
now and then popped his woolly pate out from behind the tree where he
was hiding himself, showing his white teeth, evidently wondering what
was going to happen. Presently a loud crashing noise was heard, and the
sticks which Dio had placed at the entrance of the hollow giving way,
out fell a huge bear headlong to the ground. Dio rushed forward.
"Come here, Massa Denis; come here, make fast de bear!" he shouted.
Then he looked at the animal as Uncle Denis advanced, adding, "Me tink
him dead."
The two dogs also, which now ran forward, seemed to be very much of the
same opinion, for without hesitation they ran up and placed their paws
on the monster, sniffing fearlessly round him. The smoke from Dio's
fire had effectually suffocated him.
"I am afraid that he will not become an inhabitant of my menagerie,"
said Uncle Denis, laughing, "and I doubt, if we had caught him alive,
that he would have proved amenable to my instruction."
Lest the bear should recover at an inconvenient moment, we put a shot
through his head, and then proceeded to cut him up, that we might carry
home the flesh, which was likely to prove very acceptable at the farm.
It was one of the largest of the she-bears of the brown species I ever
met with, and, though not so fierce as the grizzly, would have proved a
formidable antagonist had it been encountered when hard pressed by
hunger.
The smoke which had killed the bear had also suffocated the bees, and
Dan and I, climbing up, secured the remainder of the comb which Bruin
had left.
"We shall probably find Dame Bruin's cubs somewhere or other, if we
follow up her trail," observed Uncle Denis, as we were employed in
cutting up the bear. "Though she would have proved a difficult subject
to tame, we may have more hope of succeeding with them." As soon as the
operation was performed, and we had hung up the meat to the bough of a
tree--a necessary precaution in that region--we set off to look for the
cubs. The animal, not having the instinct of the red man, had left a
clearly marked trail as she made her way through the forest. Guided by
the marks of the grass trampled down, boughs bent aside, and twigs
broken off, we had no difficulty in following it up, though it continued
for a far greater distance than we had expected. It led us towards a
rocky spur of the mountain, mostly covered with trees and thick
brushwood, so that we could see but a short distance ahead.
"Take care, massa, p'r'aps he b'ar dare lookin' after de pickaninnies,
so, if he come out, better be ready to shoot him," observed Dio.
"We'll soon make him show himself," answered Uncle Denis, and he called
to our dogs, who had obediently followed at our heels, to range ahead.
Off they started, delighted with the duty entrusted to them. After
ranging backwards and forwards, occasionally showing themselves amid the
brushwood, their loud barks and yelps convinced us that they had found
either the young bears or some other animal. We made our way towards
the spot from whence the sounds proceeded, with our guns ready should we
discover any formidable antagonist. As we got up we saw the shaggy
tails of our dogs wagging vehemently outside a cavern, within which it
did not seem possible that any large animal could be hidden. Now Boxer
would rush further in, now Toby, while a whimpering sound, mingled with
an occasional infantine growl, showed us that the cave was alone
occupied by the cubs of which we were in search. Fearing that the
animals would be injured, we called off the dogs, when their bloody
mouths and the brown hair sticking to their jaws, proved that they had
had a battle with the occupants of the cave. The difficulty was now to
get the creatures out without further injuring them. Though I might
easily have crawled in, yet it would be at the risk of being bitten by
the young bears, who would, should I do so, naturally mistake me for one
of the dogs about to renew the fight.
"Stay, massa," said Dio at length; "I do it!" Without delay he cut down
a young sapling, which he quickly stripped of its branches. He had
still tied round his waist a piece of the rope we had brought to secure
the bear. With this we formed a noose at the end of the pole. "Now I
get him out," he observed creeping into the mouth of the cavern and
pushing the pole before him. After moving it about for a few seconds,
he shouted--
"Pull 'way, massa, got one of dem!" and, he quickly backing out, we
hauled away on the rope. The resistance we found told us of Dio's
success, and presently we hauled out a good-sized cub, but it was
bleeding from its mouth and shoulders, an evidence of the severe way in
which the dogs had worried it. Though it struggled and tried to bite,
it was so much hurt, that Uncle Denis, believing that it would not live,
at once put it out of its misery.
"Dere is 'nodder inside," observed Dio, listening at the mouth of the
cave; "git him next."
Once more he shoved in the pole. Some time elapsed before he again
shouted out to us to haul away, when we pulled forth by the front paws
another cub, which, although it had some blood-stains about it, seemed
to be unharmed. The smaller one did not struggle so violently as his
companion had done.
"Just the creature I wanted," exclaimed Uncle Denis, delighted. "I must
muzzle Master Bruin at present, to prevent him from biting our
favourites, but he'll soon become as gentle as a lamb."
The little bear made violent efforts to retaliate, but a piece of rope
put round his nose, prevented him from opening his mouth, while we
fastened his fore-legs together; we then, taking two sticks, placed them
under his body and Uncle Denis and I carried him along, while Dio
brought the little dead bear on his back. The bear's flesh we carried
home was very acceptable, but our hunting expeditions had of late not
been so successful as before, many of the animals having migrated
southwards to escape the approaching winter.
At first Master Bruin was very snappish, but as he grew hungry, he was
glad to take a sup of goat's milk, which Uncle Denis gave him from a
bottle, and in a short time he gratefully received food from the hands
of anyone of us. He showed from the first great fondness for honey, to
which his mamma had probably accustomed him, or he may have inherited
the taste from her. Uncle Denis taking him in hand, taught him all
sorts of tricks, and before long he became a most tractable and
well-behaved bear.
A few days after we had captured "Bruno," Dan and I, with Uncle Denis,
accompanied by Dio, set off on a hunting expedition down the valley,
towards a broad river, which after feeding a large lake found its way
into the Missouri. It was itself fed by other streams which came down
from the mountain ranges, but varied greatly, according to the season of
the year. Sometimes they were mere rivulets; at others, they were
swelled by the melting snows. In case of becoming separated, we always
fixed on some well-marked spot, where we could assemble at an hour
agreed on, or at the end of the day's sport, either to camp or return
home. Dan and I always kept together. On this occasion we had lost
sight of Uncle Denis and Dio, though we heard their shots in the
distance.
We had found no deer, though we had killed some wild fowl on the banks
of the stream, when we heard, as we supposed, the report of our uncle's
gun, some way up it. We set off to try and rejoin him; twice again we
heard a shot in the same direction, but apparently further off. Still
we persevered, making our way as well as we could through the thick
wood.
Near the stream, willow, lime, and other water-loving trees grew to a
large size, with a fringe of thick reeds through which it was difficult
to penetrate.
After going some distance, we struck a trail, which we guessed was our
uncle's, certainly not that of an Indian, who would have been careful
where he trod, so as not to have crushed the grass, or broken off leaves
and twigs in his way. The trail, as we advanced, became more and more
clear, and we expected every moment to catch sight of our uncle. Though
we had not heard a shot for some time, we suddenly came upon him, when
he put up his hand as a signal to us not to speak, and crept forward
through the reeds. We followed him, until he stopped behind a tree, and
leaning forward looked up the stream, which flowed over a rocky bed
close to us, while a short distance off a dam, which seemed to have been
constructed by human hands--so considerable was its extent--was thrown
across from side to side, the water beyond it being perfectly smooth.
Out of it rose a number of round-topped artificial structures, some two
feet or more above the surface, while a large community of animals,
which we knew at once were beavers, were busily moving about, some
employed in either repairing or increasing their dam, others in dragging
pieces of willow across their lake, either to form new abodes, to mend
any fractures in the old ones, or to serve as food, the fresh bark being
their chief article of diet. Some again were on shore gnawing away at
young trees with their sharp teeth, and two fell directly over the
stream while we were watching them. Instantly the whole community
hurried forward to assist in cutting off the branches and reducing the
log to a more manageable size.
Unwilling to disturb them, we remained perfectly silent.
Of course we might have shot several; but had we done so, it would have
been difficult afterwards to obtain them, and possibly the community
might have moved off to some other locality. Having, therefore,
satisfied our curiosity, we retired, and made our way back to the spot
where we intended to camp, and where we hoped Dio would join us.
It is seldom that beavers can be seen at work in the day-time, as they
usually perform their various tasks during the hours of darkness. I may
as well here describe the beaver. It is about three and a half feet
long, including the tail, which is flat, covered with scales, and shaped
like a paddle, being about a foot in length. Its back is covered with
long thin hair of a light chestnut colour, beneath which lies a fine
wool of soft greyish brown. The head is rather round than pointed, the
jaws of extraordinary strength, its teeth being also of great power and
extreme sharpness, to enable it to gnaw through wood as well as to bite
off the bark from the trees on which it chiefly lives. The object of
the animals in building the wonderful dams they often construct, is that
they may form ponds in which a sufficient depth of water can be
maintained at all seasons of the year. Instinct rather than reason
prompts them to do this; still, on examining the dams, it is difficult
to suppose that they have been formed by animals. They are composed of
young trees, or of branches cut into lengths, each of about three feet,
and laid horizontally, one upon the other. While one party brings the
log, another follows with mud and stones, which they place upon it to
keep it from rising. At the bottom they are actually twelve feet thick,
though as they rise towards the top they diminish to the width of two
feet. When it is understood that some of these dams are between two and
three hundred yards long, it may be supposed what an enormous number of
small logs are required to make one.
What appears still more extraordinary is that when the stream runs
slowly, the dam is built directly across it, but should the current be
strong it is curved, with the convex side pointing up the stream, so
that it should the better withstand the force of the water. I
frequently found these dams with small trees growing out of them,
showing that they must have existed a number of years. In the lake thus
formed by the dam the beavers build their houses, or lodges, as they are
called by trappers. They are constructed in the same way as the dams,
with small logs kept together by clay and lined with moss, the roof
being plastered thickly with mud, which in time becomes so perfectly
hard, that it is difficult to break through it. It is a task which the
cunning wolverine--who is fond of beaver meat--can never accomplish, and
he prefers to pounce down on any of the animals which incautiously
venture forth, when he is in the neighbourhood.
These "lodges" outside measure as much as seven or eight feet in height,
and they are often from sixteen to twenty in circumference, but the
walls are so thick that the interior does not exceed three feet in
height and from six to eight in circumference. The entrance, which is
under water, is at such a depth that they cannot be frozen in.
It is a common idea among trappers, that the beaver uses his tail for a
trowel to flatten down the mud, but this is denied by more observing
naturalists, who assert that the tail is merely employed for swimming,
although when he is at work with his paws, he may flap it about, but not
for any other object.
One of the most extraordinary characteristics of the beaver is, that it
secretes from certain glands a peculiar odoriferous substance called
"castoreum," or "bark-stone" by the trappers. So strangely are the
beavers attracted by this substance, that sniffing it up with their
nostrils, they will hurry towards it to enjoy the scent. It is
consequently the bait used by trappers. The trap is placed five or six
inches below the water, and just above it is stuck a stick dipped in
bark-stone. The unwary beaver eagerly swims up to it and is caught by
the treacherous trap below. Old beavers are, however, generally too
cunning; and it is said that on discovering a trap they will carry mud
and stones, and drop them over it until it is completely buried. Such
was the account which Uncle Denis gave us as we sat round our camp-fire
that evening. Dio had listened attentively; he merely observed--
"Dis niggar know all 'bout it."
The next morning he invited us to accompany him to the beaver pond,
saying, "You shall see what you shall see." Uncle Denis's curiosity had
been excited by Dio's mysterious remark, and he accompanied us. Dio
produced a bundle of small twigs, which he carried under his arm as we
went along. Approaching the pond he begged that we would remain
concealed while he went forward. After a little time he summoned us and
told us to sit down on the bank of the stream. I had always heard that
beavers were the most timid of creatures, and that they would disappear
on the approach of human beings, but to our surprise, immediately after
Dio had begun to throw in some of his magic twigs, a shoal of beavers
popped up from their lodges and rapidly approached, utterly regardless
of our presence. So close did they come without perceiving us, that we
might have knocked several on the head, but it would probably have been
the signal for the disappearance of the whole of them. They appeared to
be animated with but one thought, that of carrying off the twigs dipped
in their beloved "bark-stone."
A few old fellows swam off to a distance and began to devour the twigs,
which were evidently much to their taste. Beaver-skins were at that
time of great value.
"We have here a mine of wealth, if we work it properly," observed Uncle
Denis; "probably no trappers have as yet discovered this beaver-dam, and
we must take care not to let anyone else know of it until we have
captured the inhabitants. I brought a dozen iron traps among my stores,
though I have as yet been too busy to use them. We will go home
to-morrow morning, look them out, and return with them at once.
Remember that we must keep our discovery a secret. We shall I hope give
a pleasant surprise to your father."
The plan proposed by Uncle Denis was adopted. Laden with the traps and
such stores as we required for a week's residence in the wilderness, we
started, accompanied by Mr Tidey. On reaching the spot we built a
substantial hut, in which we could store our provisions, and by closing
the entrance, we expected to be able to preserve our beaver skins from
the attacks of wolverines during our absence from camp. We lost no time
in setting the traps under the water in the runs made by the beavers
when passing backwards and forwards to the woods from whence they
obtained the bark on which they fed. We observed that they had cut down
numbers of young trees, for a considerable distance along the banks of
the stream above their town. This, Uncle Denis surmised they had done
that they might, after they had divided them into proper lengths, allow
them to float down to the spot where they were required. By hiding
ourselves during a moonlight night we had an opportunity of seeing them
engaged in their labours. It was truly wonderful to observe the rapid
way in which the industrious creatures nibbled through a tree and
reduced it to the dimensions they required.
On examining our traps for the first time, we found each had caught a
beaver, some by the legs, others by their noses. The latter were
drowned, as even a beaver cannot remain beyond a certain time under
water, but I must own I felt compunction when I witnessed the struggles
of the other poor creatures to free themselves, though they were put out
of their pain as soon as possible by a blow on the head. Resetting the
traps, we returned to camp to take off the skins and dress them. We
dined on the meat, which we agreed resembled flabby pork. Mr Tidey,
however, undertook to provide better fare the next day. I accompanied
him while the rest of the party went back to look after the traps. We
had killed a deer, and had loaded ourselves with as much venison as we
could carry, intending to return for the remainder, when Mr Tidey fired
at a turkey, for the sake of having a variety for our dinner. At that
instant a huge grizzly she-bear rose up from behind a thicket, and
before he could reload, charged right at him. I was too far off to fire
with any certainty of hitting the animal. Fortunately, close to Mr
Tidey was a large clump of rose bushes, behind which he immediately
sprang, when the bear, missing him, rose up on her hind-legs, and,
looking about, came towards me. I knelt to receive her, knowing that,
were I to run, I should be overtaken and destroyed. She was within
thirty yards when Mr Tidey, having reloaded, fired and hit her on the
back. She stopped and began to turn round and round, snapping at her
side and tearing at the wound with her teeth and claws. Expecting to
gain an easy victory I advanced a few paces and fired, but so rapid were
her movements, that my bullet missed.
"Quick, quick! reload, Mike!" cried Mr Tidey, who saw what had
happened.
The warning did not come too soon, for at that instant the bear rose
again on her hind-legs, with a furious growl, preparatory to springing
on me. Mr Tidey was still too far off to fire with any certainty of
mortally wounding the bear, and, should his bullet miss her, it might
hit me. My life depended, therefore, on my next shot; should I miss,
one blow from her tremendous paw would bring me to the ground, and the
next instant I should be torn to pieces. I loaded as rapidly as I
could, while I kept my eye on my antagonist. Scarcely had I time to ram
down the ball when she was close up to me. I dared not look to
ascertain what help Mr Tidey was likely to afford me. As the bear
approached I lifted up my rifle to my shoulder and fired. The bear gave
a tremendous growl, but still advanced. With a desperate bound I sprang
on one side, when over she rolled, and lay struggling on the ground.
She might be up again, however, at any moment, so I ran off to a
distance to reload, catching sight, as I did so, of Mr Tidey, who,
coming up, fired at the bear's head, and, greatly to my relief, her
struggles ceased. Having thrown some sticks and stones at the creature
to ascertain that it was really dead, we approached, and found that she
measured no less than seven and a half feet in length, with claws four
and a half inches long. I shuddered as I thought of the dreadful wounds
she might have inflicted with them. We skinned her, and as we were
already heavily loaded, we hung up the hide and part of the flesh to the
branches of a neighbouring tree, carrying only a little of the meat for
our supper. We had got close to our camp, when Mr Tidey exclaimed--
"Holloa! our hut has been broken into; some rascally wolverine has paid
us a visit."
I ran forward, and just as I got up to the hut, out darted the thief,
almost knocking me over; before I could recover myself it had made its
way round to the back of the hut. I sprang to one side, hoping to get a
shot at him, but he had disappeared. We hurried in, when we found our
beaver-skins scattered about, most of them being so gnawed as to be
utterly valueless.
"This will be an annoyance to your uncle; but we may congratulate
ourselves on having secured a fine bear and deer-skin, which will make
some amends for our loss," he observed.
We had just made up our fire, and stuck the meat on spits to roast
before it, when Uncle Denis and his companion arrived, with a dozen more
beaver-skins.
As soon as the meat was cooked, we sat down and made a hearty meal,
during which we told Uncle Denis of our loss.
"We must take care that the cunning rogue does not play us such a trick
again," he observed; "should it find out your venison and hear's meat,
it will leave us but a small share by the morning."
"Then we shall be wise to bring both into the camp to-night," said the
Dominie; "if anyone will accompany me, I will go and get them."
Dan and I at once offered to go, and Dio begged that he might accompany
us. We were just in time to catch sight of a wolverine climbing up the
tree to which we had secured the bear-skin. Mr Tidey fired, but the
animal leaped off a bough from a considerable height, and scampered
away, as far as we could see, unwounded.
While Dio and Dan were packing up the meat Mr Tidey and I hastened on
to where we had left the venison.
On this occasion the wolverine had been too quick for us. He must have
gone direct to the spot, for we saw him busily engaged in devouring our
meat. On hearing us approach he decamped, carrying off a joint in his
jaws, so that scarcely one load remained. We secured this, and then
rejoined the black and my brother; and the former carrying the bear-skin
in addition to a huge ham, we returned to the camp. Uncle Denis had
been busily employed in forming a trap in which he hoped to catch the
depredator. He finished it off by the light of the fire. It consisted
of two heavy beams with holes in them, and so placed that the upper
would fall down on the bait being touched, and kill the animal. That
the wolverine, should he fail to be caught by the trap, might not
revenge himself by destroying our skins or carrying off our meat, we
constructed a strong framework in the top of our hut, in which we placed
everything of value, and, to make it additionally secure, we stuck in
some thick stakes round the entrance, intertwining them with branches.
"The brute will be clever enough if he breaks through that," observed
Uncle Denis, as he surveyed our work the following morning before we set
out.
We were as successful as on the previous day, and in the evening we
returned heavily laden with our spoils.
"Hurrah!" exclaimed Uncle Denis, as he ran forward on seeing the body of
an animal sticking out of his well-contrived trap; caught by the head
and claws as the robber had seized on the bait.
It was the wolverine which had at length been outwitted: though nearly
strangled, it required several heavy blows before it was killed
outright. The creature was about the size of a small wolf, of a
brownish-black colour, the paws being perfectly black, contrasting with
the extreme whiteness of the claws, which were of great size, resembling
those of a bear; indeed the animal was not unlike a young bear. We
dragged it away from our camp and flayed it, that we might preserve the
skin to carry home. Our success had been greater than we expected, and
as we could not carry all our skins, Mr Tidey and Dan set off to the
farm, to bring back a couple of horses to convey them home. Uncle Denis
considering that it would be unwise to leave so much property without
protection, asked me to remain in camp, while he and Dio continued
trapping. This of course I willingly undertook to do, keeping my gun in
readiness to shoot any animal which might approach. It was about noon,
and as I was getting hungry I had placed a piece of venison to roast
before the fire, and had sat down to watch it, when I was startled by
seeing standing at no great distance from me an Indian who had
approached so silently that I had not been aware of his presence. I
rose to my feet, holding my rifle ready, should he come as a foe. But
his bow was at his back and his arrows in the quiver. He spread out his
hands to show that he held no weapons in them, and then, coming forward,
sat down opposite to me. I imitated his example, keeping my eye fixed
on him, for at any moment he might draw his tomahawk or scalping-knife
from his belt. I pointed to the meat, and made signs that he should be
welcome to some of it as soon as it was sufficiently cooked. He nodded
in return, but still did not speak, and I concluded that his ignorance
of English prevented him from addressing me. As soon as the venison was
sufficiently cooked, I handed him the larger portion with some salt and
a piece of corn bread which I had baked in the morning. He ate the food
with evident satisfaction.
"Good, good!" he said.
They were the first words he had spoken, and he then made signs that he
should like something to drink. We had no spirits; my father had always
refused to give the Indians "fire-water," I therefore brewed some tea,
and offered him a tin mug with plenty of sugar in it. He was evidently
disappointed at the taste, but drank it off and then held out his cup
for more. When he appeared to be satisfied, I asked him if he spoke the
language of the "pale-faces."
He nodded.
"Then perhaps you will say why you come to pay me a visit?"
"I was hungry, and I knew you had meat to give," he answered. "I have
lived long with the `pale-faces' when I was a boy, and know that some
are good and kind, and others bad and cruel. I have heard of the white
chief up at the farm, and that he is just and generous to all the
red-men who go there. It is right, therefore, that he should be
preserved from harm. A short time back it came to my knowledge that the
Blackfeet, who are jealous of any of the pale-faces coming into their
country, have formed a plan to destroy the farm, and to kill all the
inhabitants. I was on my way to give them warning, when I discovered
traces of white men hunting in this neighbourhood. Following up a
recent trail, I was led to your camp. I guessed you belonged to the
farm, and would save me from the necessity of going there. I must
charge you not to tell any of the red-men you may meet with from whom
you obtained the information. I have warned you, be wise. The attack
may be immediate, or it may not be made for some moons to come, but one
thing is certain, that when the Blackfeet think you are off the watch,
they will try to surprise you, and having resolved on a deed they seldom
change their minds."
I, of course, thanked the Indian for his warning, assuring him that my
father was too wise a man not to profit by it, and that he would be glad
to reward him for the important service he had rendered us.
"Kluko requires no reward. Gratitude prompts him to try and save the
lives of his pale-faced friends," answered the Indian.
I, of course, do not give the exact expressions he used; indeed I had
some difficulty in understanding his language. I begged him to remain
until the return of my uncle and his companion. This, after some
pressing, he consented to do, and to show his confidence in me, having
rolled his blanket around him, he lay down before the fire, and was soon
fast asleep.
Knowing that he would be very glad of more food on awaking, I spitted a
double supply of venison and bear's flesh. Sooner than I had expected,
Uncle Denis and Dan made their appearance.
As they approached the camp Kluko started to his feet, even in his sleep
hearing their footsteps. They were much astonished on seeing him, but
still more so on learning the object of his visit.
My uncle tried to recollect whether he had ever seen Kluko before, but
the Indian asserted that they had never met. He remained with us until
the following morning; then, charging us earnestly not to forget his
warning, took his departure.
Early in the day the Dominie and two of the men arrived with the horses,
which we at once loaded and set off as fast as possible on our return
home.