He desired, he told me, to make some trade arrangements for disposing of
the peltries which he and his people obtained; his object, at the same
time, being to keep them away from the white men, for fear of the "fire
water." This subject was continually on his mind. He had seen it prove
the destruction of so many of his countrymen, that he dreaded its
introduction among his own tribe, who had hitherto been kept free from
it. However, as my uncles and Mr Claxton were men who never touched
liquor, he was not afraid of dealing with them.
I remarked, as we walked along, that his eyes were constantly turning in
every direction,--now on the ground, now on the trees and hushes on
either side,--as if he was on the look-out for game, or fancied that an
enemy was lurking near. I at last inquired why he did this.
"It is the habit of my people," he answered. "We never can tell whether
our foes may be before us or tracking our footsteps. I noticed that
some one besides you and your young friend and the black has passed this
way lately. He wore moccasins, and may therefore be a red man and an
enemy; but I have just discovered that he is one of your people, and has
a load on his shoulders. Observe that soft ground; his feet sank deeper
into it than would have been the case had he been unencumbered. He is
either an old man, or overcome with fatigue. He cannot be very far
before us, and is going in the direction of your hut." Kepenau pointed
as he spoke to some mossy ground, where I could just distinguish a faint
outline of the footsteps of a man; but I should have been unable to read
anything beyond that fact from the marks left behind.
Quambo, who saw them, thought that they might have been, after all, only
the footsteps of Uncle Mark or Mike, who might have come out thus far in
search of game; but Kepenau laughed when this was said.
"No, no," he answered; "these are moccasins. You will see that I am
right."
We hurried on, for the sun was getting low, and already the gloom had
settled down in the recesses of the forest.
As we emerged into more open ground near the banks of the river, the
rays of the sun glancing along it sparkled on the flakes of foam, as the
stream hurried rippling along the banks. Nearing the hut, we caught
sight of three figures standing in front of it.
"I told you so," observed Kepenau. "Yonder is the man whose trail I
discovered. A trapper, who has come east with his peltries. He is an
old man, too, as I thought, and carried a heavy load."
Before even our friends saw us, the canoe shot into view down the
stream; and after helping Ashatea and Reuben to land--or rather the
latter, for the Indian girl sprang lightly on shore without assistance--
we proceeded to the hut.
Uncle Mark advanced to meet us. "All friends are welcome," he said,
taking Kepenau's hand, and then greeting the young girl in his kind,
friendly way. "You will, however, have to submit to pretty close
stowage, if, as I hope you intend to do, you will remain the night with
us."
"We can quickly put up sufficient shelter for this time of the year for
ourselves, so that we need not crowd you, my friend," answered the
Indian. "And our aged brother there, I doubt not, is as well accustomed
to the open air as we are."
"Many days and nights have passed since I slept under a roof," observed
the old hunter, who, hearing himself mentioned, now came forward. "We
have met before, brother," he added, looking at the Indian; "ay, and
fought and hunted together! Don't you recollect me?"
"Ay, that I do. You saved my life when the Apaches were about to take
my scalp, and enabled me to reach my horse and escape," answered
Kepenau.
"Ah! I have a faint recollection of that; but I remember more clearly
how, when I was hunted by a party of Araphoes, you and your people came
sweeping down to my assistance, and put them to flight," replied the old
trapper.
"I recollect the event," observed Kepenau; "but I have long since buried
the war-hatchet, and now strive to live at peace with my neighbours, if
they will let me."
While the Indian and the old trapper had been speaking, I had been
looking at the latter. I had no doubt, from the description Reuben had
given of the visitor to his father's house, that this was the same
person; and I was therefore not surprised to see him and Reuben shaking
hands as old acquaintances.
Quambo, knowing that food would be required for our guests, lost no
time, with the assistance of Mike, in lighting a fire, and immediately
set about cooking whatever his larder supplied. Though we had killed
but little game on our excursion, Uncle Mark and Mike had been more
fortunate during our absence, and there was no lack of food.
In the meantime Kepenau had called up his people from the canoe, and
they set to work to collect materials for two small wigwams, which,
though they were more rudely constructed than usual, served the purpose
intended. One was for the accommodation of Ashatea, and the other for
the chief--his men contenting themselves with a rough lean-to.
The whole party joined us in the hut at supper, which, thanks to the
diligence of Mike and Quambo, was quickly prepared. The old trapper had
many anecdotes to tell, and many a wild adventure to recount, which, I
saw, was greatly interesting to Reuben. Ashatea spoke but little,
though I could see, by her quick glance, that she understood much, if
not all, that was said.
At night the chief and his daughter retired to their wigwams, while the
old trapper accepted a shakedown in the corner of our hut. He smiled
when Uncle Mark offered him a bed. "For many a long year I have not
slept in one," he answered; "and I possibly may never again put my head
on a pillow softer than my saddle or a pack of skins."
Without taking off his clothes, and merely unbuckling his belt, he lay
down, and was soon fast asleep. Reuben and I, after a few minutes'
talk, did the same. Before I closed my eyes, however, I saw that Uncle
Mark was sitting at the table, resting his head upon his hands,
apparently lost in thought.
At break of day the next morning our Indian friends were on foot, and we
turned out to receive them. As our hut was close, we had our breakfast
spread on a grassy spot beneath the trees, where we could enjoy fresh
air, which was certainly more suited to their taste.
Ashatea looked handsomer than ever. She was eager to set out to see
Lily. Reuben offered to accompany her, and show the way: at which
Kepenau laughed, observing that an Indian never required a guide through
his own country; but, for all that, he should be happy to have the white
stranger's society.
Kepenau had brought several packages of skins, which it was his object
to dispose of.
"My friend," said the old trapper, touching him on the shoulder, "let me
sell them for you. I know how the white men will treat you if they
think that they are yours: they will offer a third of the value, and
then insist on your taking articles you do not require."
"I wish to open a fair trade with the white men," answered Kepenau. "I
will let them understand that I have more skins to bring."
"The greater reason they will have for putting a small value on them,"
observed the old trapper.
"I would advise you to accept Samson Micklan's offer," said Uncle Mark,
turning to the Indian.
Kepenau considered the matter for some time. "I will do as you advise,"
he said at length. "I know that I can trust you. When you have fixed a
price, I will not consent to sell under it. I intend, nevertheless, to
go to the settlement."
The old trapper, whose name I now for the first time heard, appeared to
be in no hurry to continue his journey. When at length he declared that
he was ready to start, Reuben offered to carry his pack.
Old Samson smiled. "It may make your young shoulders ache more than you
suppose," he observed.
"Let me try," answered Reuben; and I helped him to place it on his
shoulders. In doing so I was able to judge of its weight.
"If my uncle can spare me, I will assist you," I said; "for I doubt very
much whether you will be able to carry it all the way."
Reuben, however, had made up his mind to fulfil his promise. I saw a
twinkle in the old man's eyes when he trudged off trying to look as if
he did not feel the weight. My uncle told me I might go too, so we set
off. Kepenau and Samson led the way, talking together. Reuben, as I
expected, dropped alongside Ashatea; and I followed. The other Indians
brought up the rear, carrying Kepenau's packs.
Before long, I saw that Reuben was walking with difficulty, and putting
his hands behind his back to try and lift the pack off his shoulders. I
ranged up to him.
"You had better let me carry that a little way for you," I said. "Or
suppose we sling it on our sticks! we shall then get along more easily,
and neither of us will feel the weight too much."
Still Reuben declared that he could carry it.
Ashatea looked at him, evidently understanding the matter as well as I
did. "You better let your friend do as he says," she observed.
At length Reuben, who was getting very hot, and had stumbled more than
once, said, "Well, I do think it will be the best way. I am much
obliged to you, Roger."
We soon had the pack slung to the sticks, and poor Reuben stepped along
much more easily than before.
We soon reached Uncle Stephen's house, when the old trapper turned round
to Reuben. "You are a brave lad," he said; "I like your pluck. In a
few years, when you get more muscle in your limbs, you will laugh at a
pack twice the weight of that."
Lily was delighted to see Ashatea, and we left them together while we
went on to Mr Claxton's, where old Samson intended to stay. He had
arranged with Kepenau to sell his peltries, and the next day they were
all disposed of at a price which greatly astonished and delighted our
Indian friend. He made an arrangement with Uncle Stephen to sell all
the produce of the chase which he might bring, and to purchase for him
such articles as he required.
Reuben brought his sister Dora over to see Ashatea, and the three girls
seemed very happy together. The Indian girl was as eager to learn
English as Lily and Dora were to instruct her; and she got on rapidly.
Old Samson had suffered more from his long tramp on foot than he was at
first willing to confess, and a fit of illness was the consequence. He
was well cared for, however, by the Claxtons, who treated him as kindly
as if he had been a relation. He was grateful in his way; but it struck
me that there was something hard and unsympathising in his character.
He spoke of his fights with the Indians, of the scalps he had taken, of
his hairbreadth escapes; but he never uttered a word which showed that
he had any religious feeling. Indeed, he seemed to me to be as much of
a heathen as the Indians among whom he had lived so long. It appeared
strange to me that an old man should be so hardened. I was not aware,
at the time, that when people once begin to give up trusting God they go
further and further from him; and thus, of course, as they advance in
years they think less and less of their souls, and, in fact, become more
dead with regard to all spiritual matters.
I had been accustomed to see Uncle Stephen read the Bible to his family,
and offer up prayers morning and night; while he never did any work,
except such as necessity demanded, on the Sabbath. Uncle Mark had been
less exact in these respects, although even he was accustomed to read
the Bible on the Sabbath, and to refrain from work; and occasionally we
went over to Uncle Stephen's on that day and joined his family at
worship. Most of the people of the settlement, however, paid but little
attention to the day, though they ceased from all rough work, and made a
sort of holiday of it. There was no church or chapel of any description
in the neighbourhood, and few paid any attention to what are called
religious duties.
The day after I went to stay with Uncle Stephen, some little time before
sunset I saw a horseman approaching the house from the eastward. He was
a middle-aged man, dressed in a suit of dark grey, with his legs encased
in strong leather gaiters, and a broad-brimmed hat on his head; a pair
of huge saddle-bags, too, were thrown across the hardy-looking mustang
he bestrode. He had neither gun over his shoulder nor sword by his
side; but he carried a thick staff of considerable length in his hand.
"Canst tell me, young friend, if yonder house is the abode of Stephen
Tregellis?" he asked as I advanced towards him.
"Yes, sir. He is my uncle," I answered, offering to hold his nag's head
while he dismounted.
He threw himself from the saddle with the activity of a young man.
"I hope, then, that I shall not intrude, for I have come far, and should
like to spend a few days with one who, if I am not wrongly informed,
will receive me as a brother Christian," he said.
"Uncle Stephen will be glad to see you, sir," I answered, feeling sure
that I was only saying what was the case.
"Well, then, young man, go in and tell him that Martin Godfrey has come
to claim his hospitality."
As my uncle had just reached home, I hurried in and gave him the
message. He immediately came out and welcomed the stranger, with whom
he had a short conversation, which I did not hear, as I was holding the
pony at a little distance. I only caught the words, uttered by my
uncle, "We will make ready a small upper room, and to that you shall be
welcome as long as you remain in these parts."
He then told me to take the mustang round to the stable, to rub him
down, and feed him well, and to bring the minister's saddle-bags into
the house. When I returned, after having obeyed these orders, I found
the stranger seated at table--on which Aunt Hannah and Lily had spread
supper--talking cheerfully; and from what he said I gathered that he had
visited a number of outlying settlements, accompanied by several young
ministers, one of whom he had left at each.
"I had no one to bring on here, and was unwilling to leave you without
the `bread of life,' so I was fain to come on myself," he observed.
I wondered what he could mean. Aunt Hannah explained, after he and
Uncle Mark had gone out, that he was one of those energetic Gospellers
who had done so much for the back settlements of America; that he was an
overseer among them--his duty being to move from place to place to form
new congregations where none existed, and to strengthen and encourage
the older ones.
He had much conversation with Kepenau and Ashatea, with whom he could
converse in their own language. They were evidently deeply interested
in what he said, and I saw him frequently produce his Bible and refer to
it to strengthen what he was saying. Kepenau had, as I have already
said, some knowledge of Christianity, and he and his daughter very
gladly received the instruction which the missionary afforded them.
Uncle Stephen went out and succeeded in bringing in three or four of our
neighbours, among whom were Mr Claxton and Reuben, and we had a regular
service in the cottage,--the first of the sort I can recollect. The
Bible was read, prayers were offered up, and the missionary gave an
address; after which some of Wesley's hymns were sung by Lily and Dora--
Ashatea occasionally joining in, with a very sweet voice, although she
had never heard them before.
Mr Claxton afterwards begged the missionary to come and visit old
Samson. He gladly complied; but I heard him next day tell Uncle Stephen
that he feared no impression had been made on the old trapper's heart.
"Still, I do not despair," he added. "It may be as hard as iron, or
stone; but iron can be melted by the fire, and stone worn away by the
constant dripping of water. One thing I know,--that nothing is too
difficult for God to accomplish; though we, his instruments, are obliged
to confess our own weakness."
I must not, however, dwell further on the various events which took
place at this time.
Martin Godfrey spent some days with Uncle Stephen, preaching every
evening in the open air, and three times on the Sabbath; and he promised
the people, if they would put up a chapel, that he would ere long find a
minister for them. Having distributed some Bibles and other books
contained in his saddle-bags, he at length mounted his mustang and went
his way.
I remember Uncle Stephen asking him if he was not afraid of travelling
without firearms.
"I trust to One well able to protect me," he answered, smiling.
"Whenever I have to employ the arm of flesh, I find my trusty stick
sufficient to defend myself against hostile Indians or savage beasts;"
and as he whisked it round his head with a rapidity which dazzled the
eyes, I could easily understand how it would prove a formidable weapon
against either bears or wolves--a tap of it on their skulls being
sufficient to stun them; while it seemed to me that he might be able to
ward off either the arrows or the tomahawks of hostile Indians.
Kepenau and Ashatea returned to their settlement; and the old trapper,
who had now recovered, began to make preparations for his departure. He
had again invited Reuben to join him, but Mr Claxton, very wisely,
would not hear of his son going away with the old man.
"It is more than likely we shall never see him again," he observed.
"Whatever his fate may be, you would probably share it; either to be
killed by Indians, or starved, or drowned, or frozen to death, or torn
to pieces by bears or wolves."
Reuben was inclined to complain. "Father thinks I cannot take care of
myself," he said to me. "As old Samson has spent so many years out
trapping by himself, why should not I have as good a chance of escaping
from danger?"
"There is an old saying, `That the water-pot which goes often to the
well, gets broken at last,'" I observed. "Such may be the case with
regard to old Samson; and you know nothing of the country, or of the
cunning of the Redskins, and would be very sure to lose your life if he
lost his."
The old man, who had set his heart on obtaining a companion of some
sort, succeeded in persuading a half-breed to accompany him. This was a
man named Sandy McColl, whose father was a Scotchman and his mother an
Indian, and who had long been accustomed to the wild life of the
prairies. He had come to the settlement intending to remain, and had
built a hut and begun to cultivate a garden, with the intention, as was
supposed, of taking unto himself a wife; but the damsel on whom he had
set his affections had refused him. Sandy after this became very
downcast; he neglected his garden, and spent most of his time wandering
about gun in hand, shooting any game he could come across. He had few
associates, and was of a morose disposition. People, indeed, whispered
that he had been guilty of some crime or other, and was forced to leave
the part of the country where he had before resided. Uncle Stephen, who
occasionally exchanged a few words with him, did not believe that this
was the case, and declared that Sandy, in spite of his taciturnity and
love of solitude, was an honest fellow. Be that as it may, Samson was
satisfied with him, and the two agreed to start together.
Soon after the old man's arrival, he had asked Reuben and me to make a
journey to the place where he had left his other packs of skins hidden
away; and he described the spot so exactly, that we believed we should
have no difficulty in finding it. My uncle said I might go with Mike
Laffan. Reuben, too, got leave from his father; and Sandy volunteered
to accompany us. Without him we should, I believe, have lost our way,
for he knew the country much better than we did.
We had to proceed cautiously during the latter part of the journey for
fear of Indians, as we were far in advance of the territory claimed by
the white men. But I do not give an account of the expedition, because,
in reality, we met with no adventure worthy of notice. Thanks to Sandy,
we discovered the packs, and succeeded in bringing them back safe to
their owner; for which Samson was very grateful, and rewarded us
handsomely. With the proceeds he purchased two mustangs, six
beaver-traps, a supply of powder and shot, and other articles. Sandy
had the means of obtaining another mustang, and such supplies as he
required.
After this old Samson quickly recovered. As soon as he was well enough
he and Sandy mounted their ponies, reserving a third animal to carry
their goods; and having bidden us all good-bye, they set off into the
wilderness--going to the westward, intending to push forward to the
spurs of the Rocky Mountains, where, they said, game in abundance was to
be found. Reuben, who was really a very good fellow, soon got
reconciled to remaining at home and attending to his duty.
Kepenau had made me promise to come and visit him, and had agreed to
send one of his people with a canoe to take me to his lodges; and at
last the Indian arrived at our hut.
Kepenau, he said, had sent but a small canoe, as we might thus more
easily make our way up the stream, and pass the several portages we
should have to go over.
I knew that Reuben would take delight in the excursion, so I hurried to
the settlement to see if he could come. His father was very willing to
give him leave, as it might turn his thoughts from the wilder and more
dangerous adventures on which he was set. He had, some time before
this, obtained a birch-bark canoe, which Kepenau, and sometimes Ashatea,
had taught him how to use; and as he was constantly practising, he was
by this time well able to employ his paddle. We obtained leave to take
Mike Laffan with us, too; and thus, with the Indian, we made a party of
four in the two canoes.
We carried our guns and axes and the usual woodmen's knives, a pot and
pan for cooking our meals, some tin cups, and a few small bales of
cloths and coloured calicoes with which to pay the Indians for any
peltries they might have to sell--for our expedition was on business as
well as pleasure. We enjoyed the thoughts of it all the more on that
account. We expected also to get some hunting, and to come back with a
supply of dried venison, as well as some skins.
The Indian told us that his name was Kakaik, or the "Small Hawk;" he let
us understand that he was a great hunter, but as he could speak no
English, and as we understood but a few words of his language, we could
not carry on much conversation with him. However, we managed to
understand each other very well by means of signs.
The first part of the voyage was along the main river, with which we
were well acquainted. We afterwards struck off up one of its
tributaries, which varied greatly in width; sometimes it expanded into a
lake-like form, and at other parts it contracted into narrow dimensions,
where the current ran with great force, and we had hard work to stem it.
At length we reached a waterfall of nearly thirty feet in height, where
the river rushed over the rocks and fell down perpendicularly in masses
of foam. Kakaik made signs to us that we must land and carry our canoes
for some distance through the wood. This is what is called making a
"portage." Accordingly we unloaded them, and piled up our goods at the
foot of the fall. We then lifted the canoes out of the water; Kakaik
taking one bottom upwards on his shoulders and walking off with it.
Mike imitated his example, as one man could get between the trees better
than two, and the canoes were so light that they could be carried with
ease. Reuben, shouldering a portion of the goods, followed the Indian;
and I, with another bale on my shoulders and the paddles and gun under
my arm, kept close after Mike--leaving the remainder of the things for a
second trip.
The ground was rough in the extreme, and it was some way up a steep bank
among rocks. My fear was lest Mike should knock the canoe against the
branches of the overhanging trees and make a hole in her bottom, so I
sang out to him to be cautious.
"Faix! Masther Roger, it's that same I intind to be," he answered. "I
have no fancy to walk all the way back again, or forward either, if this
is the sort of ground we should have to pass over."
We had to traverse a quarter of a mile or more till we saw the stream
ahead of us, running placid as before. Kakaik, going down into the
water, placed his canoe gently on the surface, and then helped to take
Mike's off his shoulders. The goods we had brought were next placed in
them, and the Indian sat down on the bank to watch them while we went
back for the remainder.
"Suppose some hostile Indians or prowling bear should have paid a visit
to the landing-place, and carried off our property," said Reuben.
"We will hope for the best," I answered, laughing; "but I will take my
gun, in case of accidents."