Guy knew no more for many hours. When he regained his senses, he found
himself in Mrs. Harwood's wagon lying upon one of the divans. His
mother was bending anxiously over him, and burst into a flood of joyful
tears when she saw that he recognized her. Nothing could exceed Guy's
joy at seeing her again though with traces of deep anxiety upon her
face. Indeed, so delighted was he at his escape from death, that he
was inclined to regard every one with favor! Even George Harwood, who
a few days after his return to the camp, came to him, according to his
father's instructions, to confess his unkindness and to ask pardon for
the pain he had caused him.
"I just thought I would send you off on a fool's errand," said he,
"but I never thought you would go so far, and frighten us nearly to
death, and most kill yourself. I was so scared when you didn't come
back I didn't know what to do. Father missed you, but thought you were
somewhere about the wagons, and I dared not tell him you were not;
but Gus turned coward during the afternoon, and told that I had sent
you away--and _then_ didn't I catch it?" and George grimaced most
dolefully, pointing to poor Guy's sprained ankle, and declaring that
the pain of that was nothing to what he had had in his back for days
past.
Mrs. Loring came in then, and sent him away, as Guy had been ill with
fever ever since his night's exposure, and could bear but little
excitement. It was nearly two weeks before he could rise, and they
had even then to carry him from place to place, because he could not
bear his weight upon his wounded limb. It fretted him sorely when they
camped at night, to see how hard she must have worked while he lay
ill; yet he could but perceive that she looked better and stronger
than she had done since his father's death, and joyfully felt that the
excitement and toil of a journey across the plains would restore his
mother to health, whatever might be the effect upon him.
How kind they all were to him during the time he was slowly regaining
his health and strength. Aggie sat by him constantly, in her childish
way telling him of the wonders she daily saw, or coaxing him to tell
her some pretty tale. Mrs. Harwood always smiled upon him when she
passed, and Amy and Carrie Graham often asked him to their wagon, and
lent him books, or talked to him of the home they had left, and that
which they hoped to find.
All the men missed Guy so much, he had always been so useful and
good-natured. Mr. Harwood daily said, that there should be a jubilee
in camp when Guy got well again. But he recovered so gradually that he
took his old place in the train by almost imperceptible degrees, and
was at the end of a month as active as ever.
They were then on the borders of the Rio Platte, or Nebraska River,
in the country of the Pawnee Indians. They were about to leave behind
them the vast, luxuriant prairie, and enter upon what may more properly
be called the plains. Guy was not sorry to see the thick grass become
thinner and thinner, for he remembered that amid its clustering
blades he had nearly lost his life, and therefore looked with much
complacency upon the broad, shallow river, along which their course
lay; the sandy loam beneath their feet, and the sand hills that arose
like great billows of earth, rolling in regular succession over the
level surface. George and Gus thought the country most dreary and
wretched, and would scarcely believe Guy, when he told them of a desert
called Sahara, that had not even a blade of grass upon it, save an
occasional oasis, many miles apart, and which were often sought for,
by the weary traveler, as he had himself sought the camp, during his
terrible night on the prairie.
"It can't be worse than this," they eagerly contended, "I don't believe
even Indians live here."
But they were soon convinced to the contrary, for a few days afterwards
Guy startled them by the exclamation "see the Indians! There are the
Indians coming!"
George very boldly told them to "come on," but Gus went close to Guy,
and declared that such mere specks as they saw in the distance couldn't
be Indians; yet was suddenly most anxious to know whether they were
cannibals, and if so, whether he looked a tempting morsel or not.
Guy could not help laughing at his questions, although he himself felt
quite uneasy at the approach of the wild hunters of the prairies, which
were seen rapidly drawing near to them. The men in the train formed a
closer circle about the wagons, and hastily inspected their rifles,
while Mr. Harwood gave them instructions how to proceed in case of an
attack.
That, however, he did not greatly apprehend, as they soon perceived
the Indians were but a small party of middle-aged, or old men, and
squaws, and it is seldom such a party attempts to molest any number of
travelers.
However, Mr. Harwood thought it best to keep them at a safe distance,
and when they approached within a hundred yards of the train, suddenly
commanded them to halt by raising his right hand with the palm in
front, and waving it backward and forward several times. They, upon
this, stopped their horses, and consulted together a few moments, then
fell into a posture indicative of rest. Then, Mr. Harwood raised his
hand again and moved it slowly from right to left. This they understood
to mean "who are you?" One of the oldest of them immediately replied by
placing a hand on each side of the forehead, with two fingers pointing
to the front, to represent the narrow, sharp ears of a wolf.
"They are Pawnees," said Mr. Harwood. "Ah! there is the chief making
signs that they wish to talk with us."
A long conversation by means of signs, in the use of which the prairie
Indians are very expert, was then carried on between Mr. Harwood and
the old chief. Remembering his promise to Aggie, to protect her from
the Indians, Guy went to Mrs. Harwood's wagon to assure her there was
no danger, and that he would remain near, and then took a stand behind
the wagon where he could see and hear all that passed.
He was soon joined by George and Gus, for Guy was always so calm and
collected that they felt quite safe near him, though he was no stronger
or older than themselves.
They all watched the Indians with much interest, and were surprised
to see that instead of being giants, as accounts of their cruel and
wonderful deeds had led them to expect, they were of medium height. In
place of the horrible face, and the flaming eyes they had pictured,
they saw the countenances of these Indians were intelligent, and
although of course of a bright copper hue, were in some instances quite
handsome. The hair of the men was very long, and streamed like black
pennants, upon the wind. Their arms, shoulders, and breasts were quite
naked, and their dress consisted only of deer skin, with a cloth wound
around the lower part of the body. One or two were covered with buffalo
robes, of which every warrior carries one, in which he wraps himself
when cold.
Guy thought that the men as they sat proudly upon their beautiful
horses, holding in their hands long bows made of the tough wood of the
osage orange, which is as supple as elastic, looked very noble and
fine. Their bows were about eight feet long and were wound around with
the sinews of deer, and strung with a cord of the same. The arrows were
about twenty inches long, of flexible wood, with a triangular point
of iron at one end, and two feathers intersecting each other at right
angles, at the opposite extremity.
This description Guy quoted to his companions, from a book he had once
read, and they saw at once how perfectly true it was. While they were
astonished at the appearance of the men, they were much diverted at
that of the women. They were very short and ugly; each had her hair
cut short, and they were dressed the same as the men with the addition
of a skirt of dressed deer skin. Their faces were tattooed in the most
uncouth devices, and altogether they appeared quite hideous, as they
sat upon their horses, in the same position as the men, regarding
with much interest the movements of their chief who had been made to
understand that he might come alone to the train.
At first, he seemed doubtful about the propriety of such an act, but
his wish for gain soon overcame his caution, and he rode up to Mr.
Harwood, making many signs and protestations of friendship, which were
returned most graciously. After a long series of compliments had passed
between them, the old chief gave Mr. Harwood to understand that his
people were hungry and needed sugar, corn, and many other things. Mr.
Harwood replied by saying there were many deer upon the prairie, which
they could kill, that they themselves had but little provision but
would give them some beads, and bright paints, in token of the good
feeling of the whites toward them.
At that the old man was delighted, for the Indians are very fond of
beads and all kinds of ornaments, and of paints, with which they daub
their faces and arms in the most grotesque manner, upon any grand
occasion. But the old chief disdained to exhibit any satisfaction, and
smoked the pipe, that had been offered him, in the most indifferent
manner while the presents were being procured from the wagons.
When the old man had entered the camp, George and Gus thought it
prudent to retreat to their mother's wagon, from whence, they could
look out and see all that was going on. Aggie, on the contrary was so
anxious to have a nearer view of the Indians, when she found them so
much less terrible than she had imagined, that she begged her mother to
allow her to stand with Guy outside the wagon, and after some little
hesitation, Mrs. Harwood permitted her to do so.
When Guy lifted the little girl from the wagon, the savage gave a grunt
of surprise, and gazed for a long time upon her with such evident
admiration that Guy was greatly afraid he would take a fancy to carry
her off. But Aggie, herself entertained no such fears, and after
looking at the old man curiously for some little time, approached him
slowly and examined his strange dress, the circular shield covered with
buffalo hide that was strapped on his left arm, and the formidable
war-club that lay at his side. It was made of a stone, about two pounds
in weight, round which a withe of elastic wood was bound, being held in
its place by a groove which had been formerly cut in the stone. The two
ends of the withe formed a handle about fourteen inches long, and were
bound together with strips of buffalo hide, which rendered it strong
and firm, totally preventing it from either splitting down, or breaking
when used, as no doubt it often was, with great force, upon the heads
of unfortunate enemies.
The old chief allowed Aggie to examine all those things with the
greatest good nature, and when she touched his quiver of arrows,
and asked him to give her one, he grunted assent; so she took the
prettiest one, and after admiring it for some time, nodded and smiled,
and walked toward Guy with the prize in her hand. But immediately the
Indian darted to his feet, frowning with anger, and sprang toward the
frightened child. Mr. Harwood and most of the men believed for the
moment that he was indeed about to attempt to carry her off, and with
loud voices bade him stand back, and levelled their rifles upon him,
to enforce obedience. The old man raised his hand, and immediately the
whole force on the prairie commenced galloping toward them.
"Aggie give him his arrow!" cried Guy at this juncture, "he
misunderstood you; he thinks you have stolen his arrows! Give it to
him."
She did so, the old man released her, and she fled to the wagon like a
frightened deer. With a few expressive gestures Guy explained to the
Indian the mistake that had been made, and at the same time it became
evident to Mr. Harwood and his party. The chief signaled to his party
to retire, and in less time than it has taken to describe it, peace
was restored; whereas but for Guy's presence of mind a terrible battle
might have followed Aggie's innocent freak.
But, notwithstanding that peace had been restored, they were all
glad when the chief took up his presents and went back to his motley
followers, and even more so, when they put their horses to their utmost
speed, and returned to their lodges; where no doubt they gave to their
tribe an astounding account of the adventure of their chief in the camp
of the white man.