THE TRAVELLERS MEET WITH INDIANS, AND ARE LED TO WISH THAT THEY HAD NOT
GONE SEEKING FOR GOLD.
It was the evening of a hot sultry day, when our travellers, fatigued
and foot-sore, arrived at the entrance of a small valley not far distant
from the intended scene of their future operations. Here they
determined to encamp for the night on the margin of a small stream,
where there was grass for the mule and shelter under the trees for the
men. On making their way, however, to the place, they observed an
Indian village down on a plain below, and, being uncertain as to the
numbers or the temper of the natives, they were about to cross the
stream and continue their journey a little further, when a party of six
Indians suddenly made their appearance in front, and advanced
fearlessly, making signs of friendship.
It was found that they understood and could talk a little Spanish, which
Rance spoke fluently. After a short conversation, the guide thought
that it would be quite safe to stay beside them. The encampment
therefore was made, and supper prepared.
While this was in progress Frank and Joe went to the top of a
neighbouring mound to survey the village. It was a curious residence
for human beings. Joe's remark that it resembled "a colony of big
moles" was not inappropriate, for the huts, of which there were about
forty, were not unlike huge mole-hills.
These huts, it was found, they formed by excavating circular holes in
the earth, about twelve feet in diameter and four feet deep, then
bending over these a number of stout saplings, which they bound together
with tendrils of the vine, they formed a dome-shaped roof, which was
plastered with a thick coat of clay. An opening in one side of each
formed a door, through which entrance could be made by creeping. On the
roofs of these curious dwellings many of the natives were seated,
evidently awaiting the result of the deputation's conference with the
white men.
The main object that the Indians appeared to have in view was the
obtaining of fire-arms, and it was observed that they cast longing eyes
upon the rifles which leaned on the trees beside the fire. Rance
therefore advised every man to look carefully after his weapons, while
he talked with the chief, and told him that he had no guns or ammunition
to spare. In order to please him, however, he gave him an old rusty
carbine, which was bent in the barrel, and nearly useless, in exchange
for a few fresh fish.
"My white brother is liberal," said the delighted savage in bad Spanish,
as he surveyed the weapon with admiration, "but it is necessary to have
black powder and balls."
"I have none to spare," replied Rance, "but the settlements of the white
men are not far off. Besides, the Indian chief is wise. He does not
require to be told that white men come here continually, searching for
gold, and that they bring much powder and ball with them. Let gold be
offered, and both may be obtained."
The chief took this remark for a hint, and at once offered some
gold-dust in exchange for powder and shot, but Rance shook his head,
knowing that, if obtained, the ammunition would in all probability be
used against himself. The chief was therefore obliged to rest content
in the mean time with the harmless weapon.
Meanwhile, another party of seven or eight Indians had gone towards
Frank and Joe, and by signs made them to understand that there was
something worth shooting on the other side of a cliff not fifty yards
off. Our hero and his nautical friend were both of unsuspicious
natures, and being much amused by the ludicrous gesticulations of the
savages in their efforts to enlighten them, as well as curious to
ascertain what it could be that was on the other side of the cliff, they
accompanied them in that direction.
The moment they had passed out of sight of the camp a powerful savage
leaped on Frank from behind, and, grasping him round the throat with
both arms, endeavoured to throw him, while another Indian wrenched the
rifle out of his hand. At the same moment Joe Graddy was similarly
seized. The savages had, however, underrated the strength of their
antagonists. Frank stooped violently forward, almost to the ground, and
hurled the Indian completely over his head. At the same time he drew a
revolver from his belt, fired at and wounded the other Indian, who
dropped the rifle, and doubled like a hare into the bushes. The others
fled right and left, as Frank sprang forward and recovered his weapon--
all save the one whose unhappy lot it had been to assault Joe Graddy,
and who was undergoing rapid strangulation, when Frank ran to his
rescue.
"Have mercy on him, Joe!" he cried.
"Marcy! why should I have marcy on such a dirty--lie still, then," said
Joe sternly, as he pressed his knee deeper into the pit of the Indian's
stomach, and compressed his throat with both hands until his tongue
protruded, and both eyes seemed about to start from their sockets.
"Come, come, Joe; you volunteered to be my servant, so you are bound to
obey me."
Saying this, Frank seized the angry tar by the collar, and dragged him
forcibly off his victim, who, after a gasp or two, rose and limped away.
"He has got quite enough," continued Frank, "to keep you vividly in his
remembrance for the rest of his life, so we must hasten to the camp, for
I fear that the Indians won't remain friendly after this unfortunate
affair."
Grunting out his dissatisfaction pretty freely, Joe accompanied his
friend to the camp-fire, where their comrades were found in a state of
great alarm about their safety. They had heard the shots and shouts,
and were on the point of hastening to the rescue. The chief and his
companions, meanwhile, were making earnest protestations that no evil
was intended.
When Frank and Joe appeared, Rance turned angrily on the chief, and
ordered him and his men to quit the camp instantly. This they hesitated
to do for a little, and the chief made fresh efforts to calm the
irritated guide, but Rance knew that he had to deal with treacherous
men, and repeated his order to be off at the same time throwing forward
his rifle in a threatening manner. Whereupon the chief flew into a
violent rage, and, after using a good deal of abusive language, returned
to his village, where he immediately summoned a council of war, and, by
his violent gesticulations and frequent looking and pointing towards the
camp, left no doubt on the minds of the travellers as to his intentions.
Rance therefore made the best preparations possible in the circumstances
to repel an attack.
Their position was very critical, for the Indians numbered about a
hundred men, while their own party consisted only of six. But they had
the one great advantage over their enemies--the possession of fire-arms,
and felt much confidence in consequence.
"Get out all your weapons, big and little," said Rance, as he loaded his
rifle, "and fire 'em off to begin with. It will show them that we are
well prepared."
Accordingly they commenced letting off their pieces, and what with
rifles, double shot-guns, double and single barrelled pistols, and
revolvers, they made up the formidable number of fifty-three discharges,
which had a very warlike effect when fired in quick and regular
succession.
Carrying these in their hands, and disposed round their persons,
intermixed with short swords and long bowie-knives, the whole party
mounted guard, bristling like human hedge-hogs, and, placed at equal
intervals on each side of the camp, marched about for an hour or two,
without seeing or hearing anything more of their enemies.
At last their mule became a little restive, putting them on the alert,
and shortly afterwards an arrow whizzed past Joe's ear. He instantly
presented his carbine in the direction whence it came, and fired. The
shot was answered by a perfect shower of arrows, which pierced the
clothes of some of the white men, and slightly wounded Douglas in the
left arm, but fortunately did no further damage. The discharge was
followed by a quick movement in the bushes, rendered audible by the
crushing of dried leaves and breaking of branches. This guided the
whites in their aim, and a volley was poured into the bush, followed by
several random shots from revolvers.
Soon after all noise was hushed, and a brief examination of the
surrounding bushes was made, but it could not be ascertained that any
damage had been done to the Indians, who always make it a point, when
possible, to carry off their dead to prevent their being scalped--a
dishonour they fear almost as much as death.
"Now, one half of us may sleep," said Rance, when the party was again
collected round the fire.
"Sleep!" exclaimed Frank.
"Ay, there's nothing more to fear from the rascals to-night, if we keep
a good look-out--and that may be done as effectively by three of us as
by six. If we each get a wink of an hour or two, we shall be quite fit
to travel or to fight in the morning. So let me advise you to lose no
time about it.--Not badly hurt, sir, I hope?" he added, addressing
Douglas.
"Nothing to speak of," answered the Scot, "only a graze of the skin."
"Well, get away to rest. You can take the second watch, and it is not
likely they will disturb you before morning. If they do, you won't
require to be called, so keep your weapons handy."
As Rance prophesied, so it turned out. The Indians had got an
unexpectedly severe repulse, and did not attempt to interfere with the
travellers during the night, but in the morning they were found to have
posted themselves on the opposite banks of the stream, evidently with
the intention of disputing the further progress of the party.
Nothing now but prompt determination could save them from being cut off
by overwhelming numbers, for if they were to hesitate, or waver in the
least, the Indians would be encouraged to make an attack. They
therefore calmly and deliberately blew up the fire, boiled their kettle
and had breakfast, after which the mule was loaded, and the party
prepared to cross the stream.
Before doing so, however, Rance and Jeffson, being the best marksmen,
advanced to the edge of the bank with two of the largest rifles and took
aim at the Indians, hoping by that means to frighten them away without
being obliged to shed more blood. In this they failed, for, the
distance being fully five hundred yards, the natives evidently believed
that it was impossible for a ball to tell at such a distance. On seeing
Rance point his rifle at them they set up a yell of derision. There was
nothing for it, therefore, but to fire. This Rance did, and one of the
Indians fell. Jeffson also fired and hit the chief, who reeled, but did
not fall. The savages immediately began a hurried retreat, and the
travellers refrained from firing, in order to convince them that all
they desired was to be allowed to go on their way unmolested.
The crossing of the stream was then effected. On mounting the opposite
bank it was found that the Indians had taken up their position, fully
armed, on the top of their huts, with an air of quiet resolution that
showed they apprehended an attack, and were prepared to defend their
homes to the death.
This, however, they were not called upon to do, for the travellers
turned off to the right, and pursued their way as if nothing had
happened. But two of the Indians had been badly hit, perhaps killed,
and the thought of this dwelt much on the minds of Frank and his friend
Joe all that day. Another thing that distressed them much was the
well-known custom of the natives to take their revenge at the first
favourable opportunity. It was a rule among them to take two lives of
white men for every redskin killed, and they were known not to be
particular as to who the whites might be,--sufficient for them that they
were of the offending and hated race. The fact that the innocent might
thus suffer for the guilty was to them a matter of perfect indifference.
The route over which the whites travelled that day chanced to be
unusually picturesque and beautiful. The path, or "trail,"--for there
was scarcely anything worthy the name of path,--wound through a sycamore
and white-oak grove that fringed the river, the sloping banks of which
were covered with an infinite variety of shrubs and evergreens, bearing
flowers and blossoms of most delicate beauty and exquisite fragrance,
amidst which tangled festoons of the indigenous vine drooped with
pendant bunches of purple grapes. Arbutus shrubs of immense size were
seen, and the landscape was in some places interspersed thickly with
manzanita rushes, the crimson berries of which are much in favour with
the Indians, also with the grizzly bear! Some of the plains they
crossed were studded with magnificent oaks, devoid of underwood, such as
one is accustomed to see in noblemen's parks in England.
But all this beauty and luxuriance made comparatively little impression
on Frank and Joe, for they could not forget that human life had probably
been sacrificed that day--a thought which filled them with sincere
regret that it had ever entered into their hearts to go digging for
gold.