SUFFERINGS FROM COLD--KINDNESS OF DIO--A WEARY MARCH--TRAILS OF BUFFALO
AND DEER--MORE SNOW--WE REACH A WOOD WHERE WE CAMP--INDIANS--DIO
SCOUTS--POSSIBILITY OF BEING SEPARATED--I CHARGE THE BLACK WITH MY
FATHER'S MESSAGE--WE STEAL NEAR THE INDIANS' CAMP--RECOVER OUR HORSES--
THE FLIGHT AND PURSUIT--DIO AND I PART COMPANY--JACK PUT ON HIS METTLE--
ON THE EDGE OF A PRECIPICE--MY HORSE FAILS ME--A LAST EFFORT TO ESCAPE--
RESCUED--THE MYSTERIOUS HUNTER--A BLANK IN MY EXISTENCE--I RECOGNISE MY
PRESERVER--A STRANGE DISCOVERY--LILY'S FATHER FOUND--UNCLE MICHAEL--
REGAINING HEALTH AND STRENGTH--SPRING--RETURN TO SMILING VALLEY--MEETING
OF THE BROTHERS--CONCLUSION.
Accustomed as I was to a life in the wilds, to endure the extremes of
heat and cold, and what most persons look upon as hardships; I am sure
that I should have perished with cold had it not been for my faithful
companions Dio and Boxer. The dog, I will not say from instinct,
because I believe, that he was influenced by a higher power, stretched
himself upon me, giving me the warmth, of his body, while Dio chafed my
feet, and then wrapped them up in a part of his own blanket, while he
sat up, having raked the fire as near as he could venture to bring it.
During the whole night I am convinced that he did not once drop asleep,
at all events for more than a few minutes at a time. After several
hours I awoke, feeling thoroughly warm. I was somewhat astonished at
the heavy weight above me, and it was not until I put out my hand and
felt Boxer, that I was aware how I had been cared for. By the light of
the fire, which was still burning brightly, I saw Dio seated at the
entrance of the hut. I told him how much refreshed I felt, but I had
great difficulty in persuading him to crawl in and take the rest he so
much required. Having put on my boots, I sat up and took his place, I
was thus able to judge of the suffering he had endured for my sake, for
even with my blanket round me, and a fire near my feet, I could scarcely
bear it: I was very thankful when in less than an hour I saw daylight
appear. Without delay I made up the fire and spitted some more of our
buffalo meat to roast, that we might take breakfast before starting. I
waited until the meat was cooked before arousing Dio.
"Go on, massa," he exclaimed, starting up, "I wonder whether we get to
the fort 'fore night."
"I am afraid not," I answered; "on horseback, in fine weather, we might
have reached it in five days, but we have performed scarcely half the
distance. Never mind, we have got meat for one day more, and we may
trap an opossum or beaver, or perhaps Boxer may catch us something."
As soon as we had breakfasted, and bestowed a small portion of our meat
on Boxer, Dio shouldering his spear, and I my club, we began our march.
As the sun rose, the clouds cleared away, and we knew that we were
proceeding more or less in the direction of the fort. Still I could not
tell how much out of our proper course we had gone during the last two
days, and we might possibly pass the fort, either to the north or south,
without seeing it. Had the ground been free from snow, I should have
hoped, without much difficulty, to have struck the trail running east
and west, followed by emigrants; but none were likely to have passed
since the snow had fallen, and the country was generally so level that
there were no land-marks to steer for; all we could do, therefore, was
to push on, and keep up our spirits. Had I not been anxious about my
mother, I should have cared much less for the delay; but as it was, I
determined that no difficulties or dangers should stop us. As we went
on, I looked out eagerly for marks of footsteps; of either men or
horses, but the same uniform sheet of white appeared on every side,
though our own feet left their impression more clearly than we desired
on the snow, showing that two men and a dog had passed that way. Should
any Indians come across our trail, knowing that they could obtain an
easy victory, they would too probably follow us up. At length I saw the
snow disturbed by a long line running at right angles to our course. On
reaching it, I at once saw that the trail was that of a herd of buffalo
moving southward, but none of the animals were in sight, though from the
marks I calculated that they could only just before have passed. Soon
after we met with the tracks of several deer, but they too had
disappeared. The country ahead had a more hilly aspect, and I observed
that the snow had melted from the southern sides of the slopes. It was
of the greatest importance that we should reach another wood before
nightfall, and hoping to find one on the other side of the range, we
hurried on. I became conscious of my decrease of strength by finding a
greater difficulty than usual in climbing the slopes, and on looking at
Dio, I found that he too was toiling on with less activity than was his
wont. We had only enough meat for one more meal for ourselves and dog,
and I saw that it would be necessary, for the sake of our future
progress, to bring our day's journey to an end as soon as possible.
There was another reason for this. As we looked northward, we saw the
clouds again gathering in the sky; and the wind, shifting round to that
quarter, quickly drove them towards us, blowing as keenly as before.
Once more the snow began to fall. When I turned round I observed how
quickly it obliterated over footsteps. I had carefully noted the
direction of the wood which commenced at the foot of the hill, and we
therefore reached it without difficulty. Making our way onwards, we
soon selected a spot for camping, and although it was still early in the
afternoon, I resolved to remain there, at all events, until the next
morning. While looking about for fire-wood we discovered a large hollow
tree, and as we had plenty of time, we cleaned it out, so that it would
serve as a comfortable abode for the night. We collected also a
quantity of dry leaves, with which we could cover ourselves up, should
the cold become as intense as on the previous night. We also searched
about for some slabs of bark, to line the rougher parts and to close up
the aperture. While I was arranging our intended abode for the night,
Dio, followed by Boxer, went off to catch, if he could, some small
animal or bird which he might kill for our supper; I had lost sight of
him, but felt very sure that he and his companion could find their way
back. Having made up the fire, I was on the point of lighting it, when
Dio appeared running towards me.
"Oh! Massa Mike!" he exclaimed, almost breathless, "I see de Indians on
top ob de hill!"
The snow, which blew in their faces, had, however, prevented them from
seeing him. What should we do?
"Fortunately, as the falling snow will have filled up our trail, they
will not know we are here," I observed; "the best thing we can do is to
creep into our hollow tree and remain quiet; perhaps they will choose
some other part of the forest to camp in, and if so, they will not
discover us. Were we now to try and escape through the forest, they
would nearly to a certainty fall on our trail and follow us up, whereas
we may hope that they will not enter it to camp, until they have got
further to the eastward; if, however, they do camp close to us, our only
safe course will be to walk boldly in among them, and tell them that we
wish to be friends, and that we will reward them for any assistance they
may give us."
"Den, massa, we hide in de tree," said Dio.
Had the snow not been falling, I knew that, should they pass within
fifty yards, they would discover our footsteps; but even in the thickest
part of the forest, it so quickly covered the ground, that I hoped they
might not see our trail.
Having scattered the sticks we had collected for our fire, we clambered
into the hollow tree, followed by Boxer, and drew in after us the pieces
of bark, one of which was of sufficient size to block up the whole of
the entrance. We kept two small apertures, through which Dio and I
could look on the proceedings of the red-skins. I was of course well
aware that should the eyes of any of the party fall on the tree, our
place of concealment would immediately be discovered, as they would at
once detect a difference in the bark. The opening was towards the
south, and enabled us to command a view for a considerable distance
through the trees, to the very edge of the forest. We had not long
taken our posts, when a body of Indians came in sight, some on
horseback, others on foot. There were no women among them. Even at
that distance, we could see that their faces were painted, and their
heads bedecked with feathers, showing that they were out on the
war-path. As we watched, we felt greatly relieved to find that they
kept outside the forest, apparently not intending to enter it, though
they rode as much as possible under the trees, for the sake of the
shelter they afforded. At the rear of the line came two warriors,
mounted, I knew, from the appearance of their saddles and the look of
the animals, on our horses. I thought it probable, however, that they
were not the thieves, but had stolen them from another party, because,
being on the war-path, I felt confident that they would have taken our
scalps as well as our property.
For fear that any stragglers might be following and see us, we remained
carefully shut up in the hollow tree, until we believed that they had
got to a distance. Still it would be unsafe to light a fire, in case
they should encamp even at a mile distance, for they would observe the
smoke, although they might not see the glare of the fire.
Dio at last begged that I would allow him to go and try to find out
where they were, promising to take very good care not to be caught. I
would rather have gone myself, but he entreated me to remain with Boxer.
Should we find that they had gone on, we might then safely light our
fire, and cook the remainder of our buffalo meat, which we should
otherwise be compelled to eat raw. To keep myself warm, I climbed into
the tree, and closed the entrance, with Boxer by my side. Anxious as I
felt, I before long fell asleep.