AN INTRUDER--WE ARRIVE AT KEPENAU'S CAMP--ASHATEA INQUIRES KINDLY AFTER
LILY AND DORA--DEER-HUNTING--THE STRANGE INDIANS--KEPENAU'S
PRECAUTIONS--MIKE AMUSES THE CAMP WITH HIS FIDDLE--OUR FAREWELL--
KAKAIK'S ADVICE WITH REGARD TO RAPID-SHOOTING--THE TREACHEROUS INDIAN ON
SHORE--MIKE AND I PADDLE DESPERATELY--THE CANOE IS UPSET--CARRIED DOWN
THE STREAM--A NATURAL PLACE OF CONCEALMENT IN A HOLLOW TRUNK--MY TERROR
ON PERCEIVING THE INDIANS--FORCED BY HUNGER TO LEAVE MY CONCEALMENT, I
AM TAKEN PRISONER BY FOUR INDIANS.
On arriving at the foot of the falls we found our goods safe; but just
as we were about to shoulder them we heard a rustling among the bushes.
Advancing cautiously towards the spot, not knowing what might be there,
I caught sight of a dark hairy form. It was a brown bear, which in
another minute would in all likelihood have been examining our property
with no delicate fingers. I hesitated to fire, for I was sure that I
should be unable to hit any vital part; and as even a brown bear, if
wounded, will turn furiously on his pursuers, before I could have
reloaded the beast might have been upon me. In another instant Bruin
had plunged in among the thick underwood, and was concealed from view;
but I heard him making his way rapidly from us, doubtless considering
that discretion was the better part of valour.
Having taken up our goods, and looked carefully round to see that
nothing was left behind, we set off towards the canoes. Kakaik by this
time had them both secured alongside the bank, so that we quickly
reloaded them and recommenced our voyage up the stream.
I asked Mike to sing one of his Irish songs: this he was never loath to
do, and he soon made the banks echo with his melody. As soon as he had
ceased, the Indian took up the strain with one of his native songs. It
was melancholy in the extreme, and contrasted greatly with Mike's joyous
notes.
"Faix! if it's tears he wants to draw from our eyes, I can bate him
there," observed Mike, when Kakaik had ceased; and he began one of those
sad ditties descriptive of the death of some Irish heroine. Though the
Indian could not understand the meaning, he appeared to be much
affected, and it was some time before he began another song. From the
few words we could make out, we supposed him to be recounting the
misfortunes of his people, and their departure from the hunting-grounds
of their fathers.
Mike had brought his fiddle, but of course he could not play it while
paddling.
"When we get to Kepenau's, I'll show the people what I can do, and set
them all jigging away, and laughing till they split their sides," he
observed.
The scenery amid which we passed was wild in the extreme. Not a sign of
a human being, or a habitation of any sort, was visible. Sometimes dark
rocks rose up in precipitous cliffs on both sides of us, and at other
times the trees of the forest overhung the water. We had several
portages to make, as it was easier to carry the canoes over the land
than to drag them up the rapids, but Kakaik signified that on our return
we might shoot them without danger.
At last, in the far-off distance, we caught sight of a wreath of smoke
ascending from near the bank, and from the gestures of the Indian we
understood that we were now approaching Kepenau's camp. In a short time
shouts were heard, and we saw several wigwams erected on the greensward
in a recess of the forest, surrounded by trees which sheltered them
completely from the wind.
A canoe immediately put off and came paddling out towards us; then
turned round and accompanied us back to the bank, on which Kepenau, with
Ashatea and other members of his family, stood ready to receive us. As
we shook hands he told us how glad he was to see us; and Ashatea had
many questions to ask about Lily and Dora.
"I have been longing to come and visit them again," she said. "Now that
the rice is ripe, I want to take them down to the lake where it grows,
that we may gather our canoe full."
Kepenau said that his people would be very glad to receive the goods we
had brought, and would be ready to purchase them with their beaver-skins
and other peltries, of which they had a considerable store.
When we talked about hunting, he assured us that we need have no fear of
obtaining plenty of sport, as, with our rifles, we should be certain to
kill the game much more easily than his people could do with their bows
and arrows. A hunting-party was accordingly arranged for the next day,
on the shores of a lake some miles off. He had already transported a
couple of canoes to it, so that, should any of the deer take to the
water, we might be able to pursue them. Ashatea was much inclined to
come with us, but her father told her that she would be acting more like
an English girl if she would stay at home and attend to household
affairs.
We started the next morning with Kepenau, Kakaik, and several other
Indians, who carried long spears as well as bows and arrows. We were
also accompanied by a pack of dogs, well-trained by the Indians for
chasing the deer, though they were noisy, ill-looking curs.
We commenced our hunt at some distance from the shores of the lake, but
for an hour or more we saw no signs of deer, and Reuben and I began to
fancy that we should have to return home without venison.
We had separated from Kepenau, but now we heard his voice, and
immediately afterwards the dogs gave tongue. We were looking about to
ascertain in what direction to bend our steps, when a fine deer started
out from among the trees on our right into the open glade. My gun being
ready, I fired, and felt sure that I had wounded the deer; but the
animal still continued its course. The next instant the dogs appeared
from the same direction, in hot chase after the deer.
We followed, joined by Kepenau and the other men. Marks of blood on the
grass showed us that the deer had been wounded. Still, it might run,
should the dogs not overtake it, for several miles, and might escape us
after all. It was too valuable a prize to be lost, so we continued the
pursuit.
The country now became much more open, and we saw that the deer had made
its way across the plain. On the further side there were some lofty
pines, towards which the animal appeared to have directed its course.
We had been running on for several minutes, when, before I could
distinguish anything, the exclamations of the Indians showed me that the
deer was in sight; and presently I saw it standing at bay under the
trees, with the dogs yelping round it and preventing it from proceeding
further.
When I got within gun-shot, I stopped for a moment to reload my rifle;
and crying out to my friends not to get in the way, I again fired, and
the noble beast rolled over. Kakaik then dashed forward with his
hunting-knife, and quickly put an end to the creature's sufferings,
while the rest beat off the dogs.
The deer was soon cut up, and each man loading himself with as much as
he could carry, the venison was conveyed to the spot selected for an
encampment; where two of them remained to take care of it while we went
in search of more game.
We had been for some time beating about, when once more we heard the
dogs giving tongue; and after making our way through the forest, and
reaching the borders of an open glade, we caught sight of a herd of
eight or ten deer scampering along at full speed, with the pack of dogs
at their heels. We all of us fired, but although two or three shots
took effect none of the deer stopped. We saw them directing their
course towards the lake; but they ran faster than we did, and did not
allow us an opportunity of firing. We managed, however, to keep them in
view, and saw that they did not turn either to the right hand or to the
left, so that we felt sure of overtaking them when they reached the
shore of the lake.
Kakaik, who was on my left hand, made signs to me to accompany him
towards the spot where we had left one of the canoes. I also understood
him to signify that the dogs would prevent the deer from turning back.
On reaching the canoe he lifted me into it, and stepping after me,
seized a paddle, and with a few strokes sent it skimming out into the
lake. Rounding a point, we soon caught sight of the deer, which stood
on the shore with the dogs barking behind them. The shouts of some of
the people who now came up increased the terror of the poor animals.
First one plunged into the water, then another, and another; till the
whole herd, with the exception of two which had fallen, were striking
out in different directions, making for the opposite bank.
Kakaik pointed out one fine deer, and paddled towards it. I might have
shot the animal, but my Indian companion made signs to me to use a spear
which lay at the bottom of the canoe; so, standing up, I grasped the
weapon with both my hands, and drove it with all my force into the
creature's skull. In an instant its head went down, and its feet
rising, it lay dead on the surface. Kakaik handed me a rope to cast
round its antlers, and we forthwith towed it in triumph to the shore.
This done, we made chase after a second deer, which was swimming across
the lake towards a spot some little way off. Greatly to my
satisfaction, I succeeded in striking this animal as I had done the
first.
In the meantime the other canoe was paddling away in chase of two more
deer, which had made towards the further end of the lake.
While we were occupied as I have described, I saw a third canoe, paddled
by two strangers, darting out from behind a point in pursuit of another
deer. Whether the people were friends or foes, I could not tell; but as
soon as Kakaik saw them he declared that they were the latter, and that
we must be prepared for an attack should they have many companions in
the neighbourhood.
"Then let us at once tow our deer up the lake towards the camp, where we
can obtain assistance," I said.
I now observed that those who had been unable to embark in the canoe
were making their way in that direction. They had probably caught sight
of the strange Indians. My fear was that Kepenau and Reuben might be
attacked on their return. I made signs to my companion that we would
land the deer and then go to the assistance of our friends. As Reuben
and I had our rifles, and the strange Indians were probably without
firearms, we might easily keep them in check or put them to flight; or
should they venture to attack us, we might sink their canoes, even if we
did not kill them with our rifle-bullets, before they got up to us.
As we reached the shore at the end of the lake, we found Mike and
several of the Indians standing ready to receive us.
Mike was fall of fight. "Arrah! be aisy, Masther Roger," he said.
"Sure, if the inimy come, I will sind them to the right-about wid me
firelock, and they'll not be afther taking our venison from us in a
hurry."
He and the Indians taking charge of the deer, which they immediately set
about cutting up, Kakaik and I paddled off again down the lake to the
assistance of our friends. The strange Indians had succeeded in
capturing one of the deer; but as we considered that it was their lawful
prize, although we had driven it into the water, we did not interfere
with them.
Seeing another deer still swimming, though at considerable distance, I
fired at it, for the purpose of showing the strange Indians, in case
they should not have heard our other shots, that we had firearms, and
thus probably prevent them attacking us. Whether or not my shot had
taken effect I could not tell, as the deer continued to swim on towards
the bank.
We now directed our course for our friends, who had killed the two deer
of which they had gone in chase. I told them of the strangers we had
seen; and Kakaik, in his own language, gave a long account to Kepenau of
the matter.
"We will let them alone, if they do not molest us," answered Kepenau,
after expressing his approval of my conduct.
Having secured the bodies of the two deer to ropes,--Kepenau and Reuben
towing one, and Kakaik and I the other,--we began to paddle back towards
the end of the lake from which we had come.
As we passed the part of the shore near which I had shot the last deer,
we observed several Indians, who had seized the animal as it landed, and
were now employed in cutting it up. They had evidently only one canoe
with them, and were therefore afraid of coming off to attack us,
whatever may have been their disposition. We might, therefore, consider
ourselves masters of the seas.
Kepenau was well pleased with the success of our expedition, and having
made up his mind to live at peace with his neighbours, he was very glad
to avoid a collision with the strangers, even though we might come off
victorious. "We must, however, be on the watch for them as we return
homewards," he observed. "They may possibly greatly outnumber our
party; and though our firearms will keep them in check, they may try to
overcome us by stratagem."
The deer we had first killed were soon cut up, and all the best parts
made ready for transportation to the camp. Those we had now towed on
shore were treated in the same manner; and each man being loaded with as
much as he could possibly carry, we set off for the camp. Here we found
a blazing fire ready for cooking the venison, of which our friends ate
an enormous quantity--with the exception of Kepenau, who was as moderate
as we were.
Knowing that we had foes in the neighbourhood sentinels were posted, two
of whom kept watch all the night round the camp; but the strangers,
seeing us prepared, did not make their appearance, and on the following
morning we started, an hour before dawn, on our return. Kepenau kept in
the rear, turning round very frequently to ascertain if we were
followed. He also gave his people directions to keep a look-out on
either hand. Once he caught sight of a warrior's plume in the distance,
but although his eyes were of the sharpest he could not discover whether
his foe approached nearer. Before evening we arrived safely at his
lodges; the ample supply of food we brought affording great
satisfaction. The chief, however, did not fail to send out scouts to
bring word whether the enemy had ventured into the neighbourhood. As no
traces of them could be seen, Kepenau came to the conclusion that the
strangers had gone off again to the westward, content with the game they
had obtained. Still, he thought it prudent, in case of treachery, to
keep on the watch; and day and night two or three of the party were
constantly scouring the country round, in search of tracks made by
strange Indians.
The time had now arrived for us to return. Mike had made himself a
universal favourite; the Indians, notwithstanding their general gravity,
delighting in the merry tunes he played on his fiddle. He frequently
set them jigging; and Reuben and I showed them how white people danced--
though neither of us had any exact notions on the subject. Ashatea
sometimes joined us, and moved about very gracefully, performing figures
of her own invention, which I have since discovered greatly resemble
those of the minuet of Europe.
She often told me how much she longed to go back and stay with Lily.
Native of the wilds as she was, she had gained a taste for civilised
life, she told Reuben and me. We assured her that Lily and Dora would
be delighted to see her, and that, if her father would allow her to
accompany us, we should be glad to take her at once. This, however,
Kepenau refused. He did not tell us why; only saying that he could not
let her go unless he went with her, and for the present he must not
leave his people, who had to hunt and fish, so as to lay in a store of
provisions for the winter.
I should have said that at the back of the lodges were several pieces of
cleared ground, on which Indian corn was growing and potatoes had been
planted. This showed that Kepenau and his people were in advance of the
hunting Indians, who trust only to the chase for subsistence, and are
thereby frequently reduced to a state of starvation.
All the inhabitants of the camp turned out to wish us farewell, and
offered up prayers for our safety as we stepped into our canoes. Kakaik
and Reuben led the way in one canoe, and Mike and I followed in the
other, flourishing our paddles over our heads as a farewell salute. We
plied them diligently, and, gliding rapidly down the stream, were soon
lost to sight. Having the current with us, we expected to reach home
before nightfall, should no accident happen.
"I'm afther hoping that none of those Indians we saw the other day are
lurking about, or maybe they will take a fancy to our packs of dried
venison and skins, and stop us," observed Mike.
"What put that idea into your head?" I asked.
"Sure, because they are cunning spalpeens; and as they know the way we
must take, they are likely enough to be on the watch for us," he
replied.
"We must be on the watch for them, then," I answered, laughing. "If any
of them appear, and look as if they intended to interfere with us, we
shall have to show them the muzzles of our rifles; although, as I never
have shot a man, I trust that I shall not be obliged to do so."
We paddled on for some time after this, and now and then we caught up
Reuben's canoe and had a talk with him. I told him what Mike had said.
"Oh! I don't think there is much chance of that," he answered, lightly.
"A few rifle-bullets will soon drive the fellows into the woods, if
they show their noses."
We were now entering a part of the stream which ran between broken
cliffs; on one side rocks rose almost perpendicularly from the water,
their summits shaped like the parapets of ruined castles, while on the
other the trees came down to the river's brink. Kakaik reminded us that
we were approaching a series of rapids; and he explained by signs that
he would lead the way, and advised Mike and me to keep exactly in his
course. He and Reuben paddled on, therefore, while we followed at a
little distance. We saw them descend one of the first rapids.
Immediately below this, in a turn of the river, was another, the fall in
which being probably about four or five feet, was not sufficient to
endanger the safety of the canoes if carefully handled.
We were approaching the highest of the rapids, which, as I have said,
the other canoe had just descended, when we saw an Indian dart out from
behind the trunk of a tree growing close to the water, and point his
arrow at the first canoe, aiming at Reuben. The arrow flew from the
bow, but whether my friend was hit or not I could not say, as the canoe,
darting down the rapid, was lost to sight.
We were too near the rapid to paddle back, for in turning round we
should have run the risk of upsetting the canoe, when it would have been
carried down sideways, and probably dashed to pieces. Our only safe
course, therefore, was to dash forward; and we hoped to pass the Indian
before he could perceive us, or have time to fix another arrow in his
bow. Had we been in still water I might have lifted my rifle and shot
the Indian, but I dared not leave my paddle for a moment. Down the
rapid we dashed, then, paddling with might and main to turn the canoe so
as to be ready for the next descent. The Indian had disappeared, but we
heard his voice, calling, as we supposed, to his companions,--and
directly afterwards we caught sight of him running along the bank among
the trees; but he could not have seen us.
A short way below this was another and still more dangerous rapid.
Kakaik signified that he had often shot it, but he at the same time
advised that we should land and make a portage. To do this was now,
however, out of the question, as we should be seized by the Indians on
shore did we land on the side on which they were; the only practicable
one along which we could make our way.
"Paddle, Mike! paddle!" I said in a low voice, fearing that I might be
heard should I shout. "Our only chance is to dash down the rapid. We
cannot stop to look out for rocks ahead, and must run all risks."
Mike saw this as well as I did. "Sure, it's the only thing to be done,
any way. May all the saints in the calendar help us!" he exclaimed.
I don't think, however, that Mike had much faith in the saints, although
he uttered the expression.
We dashed on, the water hissing and bubbling and foaming round us, and
had almost reached the bottom, when I felt the bow of the canoe strike
something. The next instant I found myself struggling in the seething
waters, and instinctively striking out for dear life. Looking down the
stream, I caught a glance of the canoe being rapidly hurried downwards,
with Mike clinging to it. The next moment, he and the canoe had
disappeared.
I had been carried down some distance, when, on more perfectly
recovering my senses, I discovered that I was happily near the side
opposite to that on which I had seen the Indians. I scrambled up on the
bank, therefore, hoping to find some place of concealment before they
could discover me. I had not gone far, however, before I recollected
that my footprints would certainly betray me. I therefore retraced my
steps and threw myself backwards into the water; and as I looked up
towards the bank, I clearly perceived the marks I had left.
The river in this place was narrow, but though the current ran strong it
was smooth, and I felt sure that I could swim across it and hide myself
among some thick bushes which I saw growing over the water. It was my
only hope of saving myself, and I determined to run the risk; but no
time was to be lost, as the Indians might look up the stream and
discover me. I struck out boldly, and found that I could stem the
current, though it certainly required all the strength I possessed. I
looked down the stream every now and then, to ascertain whether the
Indians were returning, which I thought they might do when they saw only
one person clinging to the canoe; otherwise I kept my eye as steadily as
I could on the bushes for which I was making. Of course, I might have
crossed the stream much more easily by allowing myself to be carried
down with the current, but then I should have landed much below the
place where I hoped to find concealment. I could distinguish for some
time, even amid the roar of the waters, the voices of the Indians as
they shouted to each other; but they gradually became fainter and
fainter, and this gave me encouragement, as it informed me that they
were getting further off.
Even then I thought of poor Mike. What might be his fate, should he be
captured by the Indians? His fiddle, and probably everything else in
the canoe, would be lost, and he would have no means of softening their
savage hearts. With his fiddle in his hand, I felt that he might
succeed in saving his life. It may seem strange that such thoughts
entered my mind at that time; but the truth is, I was less anxious about
myself than I was about him.
I had got more than half-way across when I began to find my strength
failing me. It seemed that I should never reach the shore; still, I
struck out, straining every nerve. I was afraid at length that I should
be obliged to allow myself to be carried down by the current, and be
glad to cling to the first rock or bough I could reach. My eyes were
growing dim, and I could scarcely see the bushes on which they had so
long been fixed. Still I struggled on, determined if possible to
succeed. Suddenly I felt myself caught by an eddy, and the next instant
I was carried close under the bank. I was about to grasp one of the
branches, when I recollected that the sharp eyes of the Indians would
discover where my hand had crushed the leaves, so I resisted the
temptation, turning myself on my back for a minute to rest; then I dived
down, and came up again in the very middle of the bush.
I now without fear drew myself out of the water, and climbing up,
discovered a thick trunk hollowed out by age, the larger portion of
which had been broken off either by a storm or lightning, the boughs
having sprung out of the remainder--forming, indeed, a natural pollard.
No concealment could have been more perfect; for even an Indian's eye
would fail to penetrate through the bark. By slipping down I was
concealed on all sides, while at the same time a slit in the trunk
afforded me a "look-out" through the boughs in the direction of the
river. Here, therefore, I considered that I was safe for the present.
The difficulty would be to get away; although I might remain concealed
as long as I should desire, hunger would at length compel me to leave my
hiding-place in search of food. I remained crouched down, listening
anxiously for any sounds which might indicate the whereabouts of the
Indians. Mike, I felt sure, had he escaped drowning, would be captured
by them; but I had hopes that Reuben and his companion, by being so much
ahead, might escape altogether.
The ground was excessively rough; numerous high rocky ridges, and
intervening spaces filled by trees and dense underwood, abounded.
The fact that the Indians had been so long shouting to each other
convinced me that they had not up to that time captured the first canoe.
As I heard no one approaching, I should not have been afraid of leaving
my hiding-place; but then I knew that my footsteps would betray me.
I must have remained an hour or more, when I heard voices in the
distance. The sounds came nearer, and I knew that the Indians were
returning. I scarcely dared to draw breath. They passed close to the
tree in which I lay concealed; but I did not venture to look out, lest
they should discover me. I was sure as they went along that they were
trying to discover my trail. I knew, too, by the voices, that there was
only a small party. What had become of the rest?
I calculated, by the direction their voices came from, that they were
making their way up the stream. Some distance off, the low cliffs
between which the river forced its way were surmounted by trees, which
formed a natural bridge. I knew, therefore, that should they wish to
get to the opposite side they might easily pass over.
Nearly another anxious hour went by, when I again heard their voices
coming across the stream; and looking through the slit, I saw three
painted savages standing together in the shallow water, narrowly
examining the bank on both sides. Presently one of them stopped and
pointed at the marks which my feet had made as I sprang up the bank. I
saw them standing consulting eagerly together, but whether their
sagacity would enable them to decide if I had gone forward across the
country, or leaped back into the water, I could not tell. I anxiously
watched, in order to ascertain to what decision they had come. At
length one of them climbed up the bank and looked about; then the others
followed, and walked for some distance, closely scrutinising the ground.
At first I hoped that they were at fault. I had noticed that the bank
was composed, a little way on, of hard stones, which could scarcely, I
thought, receive any impression from my feet.
They went on for some distance; and then I saw from their gestures that
they were fairly puzzled. At length they came back to the bank, and
gazed down at the rapidly-flowing stream. They were evidently of
opinion that I could not have swam across it. Greatly to my relief, I
saw them continuing their course down the river, examining the bank as
they went along, under the belief that I must have landed again further
down, or else have been swept away by the current. This greatly
relieved my mind. I sincerely hoped that they would give me up as lost,
and abandon the idea that they should have the pleasure of exhibiting me
to their squaws, and torturing me.
On and on they went, until they disappeared among the trees which grew
on the bank. Whether or not they would again cross the stream I could
not tell, or if indeed they had the means of doing so. They had come
from the right bank, so I concluded that they must know of some way or
other to get back to it. Still, I was anxious to be certain that they
had done this before I left my shelter. I had made up my mind to swim
back, and to descend the stream on the left bank, following it down till
I reached home. There were by this time ripe fruits of all sorts to be
found, I knew, so that I had no fear of starving.
I sat crouched dowd, feeling very much as I suppose a hare does,
listening for the hunters--eager to be off, yet not daring to leave her
cover. Hour after hour passed by, but I could hear no sounds except the
notes of the birds in the trees, the woodpeckers searching for insects
in the bark, and the cries of the squirrels as they skipped from branch
to branch. I really wished that one of them would poke his nose into my
nest, that I might have the chance of capturing him, for I was getting
very hungry, and would have eaten him raw without compunction; but none
came within my grasp.
At last I could bear it no longer. Food I must have, or strength
sufficient would not be left me to swim across the river. I fully
believed that the Indians had gone to a distance, and that I might
therefore make the attempt without being seen by them. However, I did
not intend to swim directly across, as I had done before, but to allow
myself to float down with the stream, paddling easily till I could gain
the opposite bank. I should thus be assisted rather than impeded by the
current.
I nerved myself up for the enterprise. I believed that it would be more
easy to make my way out of the hole through the branches on the
land-side, and then, going round them, take to the water where there was
no back eddy. I had observed, a little lower down, that the current set
directly across to the opposite bank, and it was this which had caused
me so much trouble to reach the spot where I now was.
Popping up my head, I was about to climb out of the hole, when what was
my horror to see four Indians sitting silently smoking their pipes,
directly in front of me! To escape was impossible, for I knew that they
had perceived me by the loud grunts they uttered, and by one of them
immediately springing to his feet and rushing forward towards the tree.
Endeavouring to conceal my fears, I leaped down and advanced towards
them, putting out my hand. Instead of taking it, the man who was
advancing grasped me by the shoulder; while the others burst into a loud
guttural laugh, as much as to say, "You thought yourself very clever,
young master, but we have outwitted you."
How they came to know that I was in the tree, I could not divine;
perhaps they only suspected that I was in the neighbourhood, from not
finding my dead body lower down, and had taken their seats on that spot
by chance.
One of the men now addressed me, but I could not understand a word he
said. I answered him, however, in English, interspersed with such
Indian expressions as I could recollect. He on this rose to his feet,
patted me on the shoulder, and pointed to the tree; intimating, as I
fancied, that I had been very clever to conceal myself as I had done,
but that he and his companions were cleverer still to discover me.
As I was famishing, for my anxiety had not taken away my appetite, I
thought it as well to let them understand that I wanted something to
eat. Espying some berries growing on bushes near at hand, I pointed to
them; and the man who held me letting me go, I sprang forward and
ravenously devoured a number. They quenched my thirst, though they did
not much tend to appease my hunger. One of the Indians, suspecting that
this was the case, produced some dried buffalo meat from his pouch, and
offered it to me.
I thanked him by signs, and showed how I appreciated his gift by
immediately eating it up. He and his companions, on observing how
hungry I was, again laughed. One of them now pointed to the sun, which
was getting low, and made me understand that I must accompany them. As
I knew that I had no chance of escaping, I nodded,--as much as to say
that I was ready to go if they wished it,--and tried to look as cheerful
as possible.
Their leader, the man who had first spoken to me, pointed to the west
and stalked off; and two of the others seizing me by the arms, one on
each side, we followed him.