MY INDIAN CAPTORS COMMENCE THEIR HOMEWARD JOURNEY--ARRIVAL AT THE CAMP--
AGUSKOGAUT THE CHIEF--HIS KINDNESS TO ME--MY ASTONISHMENT ON SEEING MIKE
A PRISONER--HIS LUDICROUS FIDDLING--HIS COMICAL ACCOUNT OF HIS CAPTURE--
RETURN OF THE WARRIORS FROM THE WAR-PATH--MIKE AND I JOIN THE
BUFFALO-HUNTERS--THE HERD--EXCITING SPORT--THE BISON--ITS IMPORTANCE TO
THE INDIANS--MY HOPE OF ESCAPE--I AM IN GREAT DANGER FROM THE HERD--MIKE
RESCUES ME--OUR RETURN TO CAMP.
My captors led me along at a rapid rate over the rough ground; nimbly
climbing the rocks, and dragging me after them without much
consideration as to whether I was hurt or not. Of course, I had made up
my mind to attempt escaping on the first opportunity. Perhaps they
suspected this, for they took good care not to afford me the chance.
On we went due west, as I knew by the position of the sun, scorning all
impediments--up hills and across valleys, through streams and marshes.
They were, I knew, in an enemy's country, and were in a hurry to get out
of it. Their leader did not fail to keep a look-out on every side--
sometimes hurrying on ahead to the top of a rock, from whence he could
take a glance over the country around to ascertain whether any one was
moving; still they did not appear to be very anxious, and they must have
been aware of the exact spot in which Kepenau and his tribe were
encamped, while they knew that they were not likely to encounter other
foes.
We must have traversed a good many miles before the sun set; and a thick
grove now appearing ahead, with a stream running by its side, they
hurried towards it. Having entered the grove, they immediately began
stripping off the bark from some of the older trees, and collecting
firewood. With the bark they formed a lean-to; and igniting the wood,
they soon had a fire blazing.
While the daylight lasted they allowed me to search for berries; one of
the party helping me, but keeping a constant watch on my movements. The
rest, in the meantime, toasted on sticks some dried buffalo meat, a
small portion of which they gave to me. Having satisfied my hunger, and
feeling very tired, I lay down before the fire, glad of the warmth; for
my clothes, though partly dry, were still damp, and I every now and then
gave a shiver, which made me fear that I was going to be seized with
illness.
From the way in which my captors had hitherto behaved towards me I hoped
that I should not be ill-treated, and believing that I should some day
or other make my escape, I determined not to be unhappy. I was soon,
therefore, fast asleep. Just before I closed my eyes I saw the Indians
sitting round the fire smoking their pipes, and eagerly discussing some
subject or other--probably, what they should do with me--but, in spite
of my precarious position, I never slept so soundly in my life as I did
for some hours. When I at length awoke, I saw that a few embers alone
of the fire remained. One of the Indians was walking up and down,
acting as sentry; while the others lay, with their feet towards the
fire, wrapped in their buffalo robes. I was nearly certain that they
were the same men who had discovered my footprints, and they probably
had then left their robes concealed somewhere while they searched for me
in the river, and had afterwards resumed them.
How I wished that that sentinel would sit down and go to sleep! If he
should do so, I had determined to get up and run away. They would be
unable to follow my tracks in the dark, so that I should have a long
start of them; and I thought that I might possibly reach the river
before they could overtake me, and either swim down it, or get floated
down on a log of timber or a raft of rushes.
I had still my axe in my belt, which the Indians had not taken from me,
as also my hunting-knife. I was nearly throwing away the first when
crossing the river, but, feeling its value, I resolved to keep it as
long as I could, and was very glad I had done so. Once the thought came
into my mind that, should the sentry at last go to sleep, I might kill
all the Indians with my axe before they could awake. I remembered a
story I had heard of a white woman who had been made prisoner thus
killing all her captors while sleeping, and ultimately escaping; but I
put the idea from me as a temptation of Satan, and felt more happy when
I had done so. They had unjustly made me captive, it is true, but they
were only following the instincts of their savage nature; and it would
be a dreadful thing to think of afterwards, should I deprive them of
life.
As the sentry kept his post, and presently brought some more wood, which
he threw on the embers, I felt sure that he was not likely to neglect
his duty; therefore, closing my eyes, I again went off to sleep. When I
next awoke the Indians were yawning and stretching themselves. One got
up, and then another, and I saw that day had broken.
I sprang to my feet, and the idea came into my head to pretend that I
was not aware I was their captive; so, putting out my hand, I signified
that I would wish them a good morning and take my way homewards. They
shook their heads--laughing, however, as if they thought the idea a good
joke; and two of them walking on either side of me, we set off in the
same order as before.
We travelled on all day, till, leaving the hilly country and crossing
several streams, we saw the wide prairie stretching out before us,
beyond some thick clumps of trees. Towards one of these clumps the
Indians advanced, when I heard the neigh of a horse. In a few minutes
we saw a couple of Indians, who had charge of several steeds tethered
among the trees. A few words were exchanged between my captors and
them, after which they immediately set to work to build a lean-to and
light a fire. From this I knew that they were going to pass the night
in the wood. Again the hope rose in my breast that I might have a
chance of escaping, but I tried to put on as unconcerned an air as
possible.
The Indians we had found in the wood exhibited the carcass of a deer,
which they had, I supposed, killed during the day. This was quickly cut
up in large pieces, and placed before, the fire to roast.
"I only hope, my friends, that you will gorge yourselves till you are
unable to move," I thought. "Then, if I can but get on the back of one
of those horses, I will gallop off to the hills, and not let you see my
face again if I can help it."
I was not sorry, however, to eat some of the venison which the Indians
gave me; and then I lay down and pretended to go to sleep. They sat up
feeding for some time after this; then, greatly to my disappointment,
one got on his feet and began to walk backwards and forwards, while the
rest stretched themselves on the ground, as they had done the night
before. I watched and watched, and at last believing that they were too
cunning to allow me to escape, I closed my eyes and went to sleep. I
awoke twice, and on each occasion observed that one of them was on the
watch.
When daylight appeared they all rose, and after shaking themselves, the
horses were caught and they got on horseback; their leader making a sign
to me to mount one of the spare animals, of which there were several.
This done, we immediately set off at full gallop across the plain,
taking a south-westerly direction. We stopped twice during the day, to
allow our animals to crop the grass; while we took some food, a stream
near at hand supplying us with water.
Towards evening I espied several wigwams partly concealed by the wood
before us. On approaching nearer, I saw that they were very different
from those to which I had been accustomed further east, where the Indian
dwellings are constructed of birch-bark. These were, however, much
larger; the framework, consisting of long poles tied together at the top
in a conical shape, was covered with the tanned skins of buffalo and
deer, and was ornamented with figures of animals and men,--apparently
hunting scenes.
There were five or six of these wigwams pitched close together. Several
women were moving about, or sitting on the ground. In front of one
stood a tall man wrapped in a buffalo robe, with a spear in his hand,
whom I at once guessed to be the chief. He contemplated us, as we drew
near, without moving, or seeming in any way interested. This manner
was, I suspected, put on to show his own importance, when he discovered
that a white person was among our party. Getting still nearer, another
Indian, who had been, I concluded, sleeping, and just awakened by the
tramp of our horses, crawled out of the tent to have a look at us. It
was a perfect scene of Indian domestic life. Near the chief, his wife
sat on the ground playing with her child, a fat little urchin; a second
woman was busy chopping wood; a third was coming in, axe in hand, with a
huge bundle of sticks on her back, and a child clinging round her neck
while a dog was too busy gnawing a bone to turn round and bark at us.
On drawing near, our leader got off his horse, and ordered us also to
dismount. We then approached the chief, to whom he described, as I
concluded, the mode in which I had been taken prisoner. The clever way
in which I had hidden myself, and the efforts I had made to escape,
elicited no small amount of admiration from the chief. I could, of
course, only guess at what he said, but I caught a word here and there;
and he looked down on me and smiled with such benignity as his stern
features were capable of assuming. At all events, I thought that these
people, whatever they might do, would not torture me or put me to death.
My captors having unsaddled their horses, turned them adrift to pick up
food on the surrounding prairie, where the grass grew with unusual
luxuriance. The men then went to their lodges, leaving me with the
chief. He seemed to have taken a fancy to me from the first, and now
invited me into his lodge, where his wife brought me a mess of broth,
which, hungry as I was, I found very palatable.
The floor of the greater part of the lodge was covered with
buffalo-skins, and a sort of divan, composed of stuffed cushions, was
arranged round the walls; while in the centre burned a large fire, from
which ascended volumes of smoke through the aperture at the top, though
no small quantity pervaded the wigwam. Though disagreeable, it had the
effect of driving away mosquitoes and other flying things.
I had not expected to be so well treated; still, I could not tell how
long the chief might remain in his present good-humour.
The chief's name was, I found, Aguskogaut. The tribe into whose hands I
had fallen were Sioux, who live entirely on the prairies, and subsist by
hunting the buffalo. They had come further east than they generally
venture, in order that their warriors might make predatory excursions
against the more pacific and civilised Indians living near the white
men. They seemed to have no fear of being attacked by the latter, as,
being well supplied with horses, they could beat a rapid retreat to the
westward; and I discovered that they had scouts out in all directions to
give notice of the approach of a foe.
Not knowing how long I might be kept a prisoner, I set to work at once
to try and learn the language of my captors. The women, especially,
were very ready to teach me; and my willingness to learn gaining me
their friendship, they supplied me plentifully with food. I was
puzzled, however, to know on what account they had carried me off, as I
certainly could in no way benefit them. I concluded that one object
might be to hold me as a hostage, in case any of their party should be
taken prisoners.
The chief took me out riding with him, in search of deer or other game.
He was armed with his bow and a long spear; and knowing that a bow would
be of little use in my hands, he gave me a spear, with which to defend
myself or attack any animals we might come across. He kept a sharp
look-out on me, however, in case I might try to escape; but I well knew
that, under present circumstances, it would be useless to make the
attempt.
We were successful the first day in running down a young deer, with
which we returned to the camp. As we approached, what was my surprise
to hear the sound of a fiddle! Surely those tones could be produced by
no one but Mike Laffan! Could he have escaped? There, sure enough, as
we rode up to the lodges, was Mike himself, standing in the midst of a
group of Indians; while he was fiddling away with might and main, they
were dancing to the best of their ability, and keeping very good time
too.
On seeing me he shouted out, "Good luck to ye, Masther Roger! Sure my
heart was nigh breaking, when I thought ye had been drownded or shot to
death by these rid gintlemen; but it would not do to show me grafe, lest
it would make them think manely of me, so thinks I to meself, I'll
fiddle away as long as me elbow can move."
All the time he was speaking, he continued to play as furiously as at
first; most of those surrounding him jumping and whirling round and
round, or keeping time with their hands. The Indians, we knew, must
have been aware that we were friends, and therefore it would be of no
use to pretend that we were strangers to each other.
Mike was at length obliged to stop playing; upon which the chief ordered
that he should be brought before him, and inquired how he had been
captured. What account those who had taken him gave, I could not make
out; but Mike told me how, after the canoe had been upset, he had
floated some way down the stream clinging tightly to it. Most of the
articles were soon thrown out. The guns, of course, had at once gone to
the bottom, but the bales floated down. At last he saw his beloved
fiddle washed out.
"Faix! it would have broken me heart to lose it," he observed; "so I
made a grab and caught it and the bow, and held them tight, although the
wetting, to be sure, was doing them no good. Down I went, fasther and
fasther. I could hear the roar of the lower cataract. Thinks I to
meself, If I go over that I shall be done for, and just then I found the
canoe carried by the current towards the shore. I struck out with me
feet to help it; and glad I was when, as I let them dhrop, I felt them
touch the ground. I sprang up the bank, but, to me sorrow, the canoe
floated off, and it was more than I could do to get a hold of it again.
I climbed to the top of a cliff, hoping to catch sight of you, or of
Reuben and the Indian; but no one could I see. And grieving from the
bottom of me heart at the thought that you were lost, I scrambled down
again, and made me way through the wood, guided by the sound of the
waterfall.
"I went on and on till I had passed it, looking out for our friends; but
not a glimpse of them could I see. At last, as I was getting pretty
tired, I thought to meself that I would climb up into a tree to get some
rest, and hide away in case the inimy should be looking for me.
Scarcely had I stowed meself away among the branches when I heard
voices. I dared not look out, but I guessed they were those of the
Indians, who had by some means or other missed me tracks, and having
gone down the bank before me, were now returning. They passed by
without seeing me, which shows that they are not always so sharp-sighted
as is supposed. I stayed up in the tree all night; but next morning,
being very hungry, I came down to make me breakfast off the berries I
had seen growing about. There was no lack of them, and I was lucky
enough to knock down two young squirrels with a stick I had picked up.
"I was not happy in me mind all the time at going away without looking
for you, so, thinks I to myself, I'll try and find him. I started up
the stream again to the place where the canoe was upset. Not a trace of
you could I discover; so with a sad heart I began to make me way back
again. It struck me that, somehow or other, I must have wandered away
from the river; and after trudging along all day I could nowhere find
it. I felt still more unhappy than I had done before, and so, thinking
to solace myself, I sat down on a rock, and putting me fiddle to me
chin, began playing away. I tried one tune and then another, and a
mighty dale of good it seemed to do me. I was playing the `Groves of
Blarney,' when half a dozen rid-skinned savages jumped out of the bushes
and looked me full in the face.
"`Whoo!' says I. `Whaugh!' says they, in chorus. `Whoo!' says I again.
On which they came nearer, flourishing their ugly-looking
scalping-knives.
"`Is that what you're going to be afther?' said I, feeling uncomfortable
on the top of me head. `Keep off, me beauties, till I give you another
tune.' And putting up me fiddle to me chin--for I had let it drop, and
small blame to me!--I began scraping away as if I would be afther
shaking me arm off.
"`Whaugh!' says they again, beginning to skip and leap about.
"On this I played faster and faster; and the faster I played, the higher
they bounded. `It's all right,' thinks I to meself; `they will not be
doing me any harm if I can keep them at that game.' So I thought I had
best give them a tune with me voice into the bargain; and I sang, and
scraped, and shook me head, till they all burst out into fits of
laughter.
"On this I got up and made them a low bow; though I clapped my hat on
again pretty quick, in case of accidents. And says I--`If you will all
sit down, and behave yourselves like dacent men, I'll tell you a tale
which will astonish you.'
"Whether or not they understood me, I could not for the life of me tell;
but, sure enough, down they all squatted. And I began to recount to
them how Daniel O'Rourke one night, returning from waking Widow Casey at
Ballybotherem, and having taken a drop more than usual of the
`crayther,' saw the fairies come dancing round him; and I went on to
describe what Daniel said, and what the fairies did. `And now,' says I,
`just sit quiet where you are till I come back and finish me story.'
And on this, giving another whoop, and a hop, skip, and a jump, I was
making me way back to the river, when up sprang the Ridskins and came
bounding afther me. `Sure, thin,' says I, stopping short, and beginning
to scrape away as before on me fiddle, `you don't understand me.' And,
by me faith, indade they did not; for without more ado they got round
me, and suspecting that I had been bamboozling them, began to prick me
with their spears behind, as a gentle hint that I was to march forward.
"Seeing that there was no use trying to make me escape--for, of course,
six men can run faster than one--I took their hints, which were not to
be mistaken, and stepped out in the direction they pointed, now and then
playing a tune to keep up me spirits and put them in good-humour.
"The long and the short of it is, that they made me prisoner, and
brought me along with them; until we found some horses, on which--
stopping a night or two on the way--we galloped along till we reached
this place.
"And here I am, Masther Roger! well pleased to find that you're alive,
and to bear you company."
And so Mike concluded his story.
The Indians allowed Mike and me to talk together without interfering
with us. I told him that I would try to escape as soon as I could.
"Sure, and that is what I'll be afther," he answered. "But it's more
easily said than done, I am afraid. However, where there is a will
there is a way; and cunning as the Ridskins think themselves, maybe
we'll be even with them."
While we were talking we had observed some commotion among the
inhabitants of the lodges; and presently we caught sight of a band of
horsemen scouring across the prairie towards us, and flourishing their
spears as they came along. At first I thought they might be enemies;
but as no preparations were made for the defence of the camp, I knew
that they must be friends. In a few minutes they galloped up; and the
leading warriors, decked in war-paint and feathers, dismounted, each of
them carrying one or more scalps hanging to the end of his spear. Our
chief, Aguskogaut, who had put on his finest robes, advanced to meet
them while they stepped forward; and their leader began a long harangue,
which sounded very fine, although I could not make out what it was all
about.
Mike and I stood on one side, thinking it as well to keep out of the
way. The new-comers, however, after a time began to point towards where
we were standing; and I guessed they were talking about us, and
inquiring how we happened to be there.
Aguskogaut then, as we supposed, gave them an account of what had
occurred; to which (as I judged from their gestures) they replied, that
we ought to have been killed, and our scalps taken to adorn their
lodges. On this Aguskogaut--who was, happily, our friend--made another
speech; and lifting up his hand to heaven, appeared to be invoking the
Great Spirit, and letting his countrymen understand that we were under
his protection, and that no harm must happen to us. So successful was
his eloquence, that the warriors appeared to be satisfied. At all
events, we were allowed to move about within sight of the camp, no one
molesting us.
The next day there was a great feast in honour of the victory which had
been gained.
Mike and I were generally kept apart; but we occasionally found
opportunities for meeting, when we did not fail to discuss plans for
escaping. We were, however, too narrowly watched to allow at present of
any of them being feasible: wherever we went, an Indian, apparently
appointed for the purpose, had his eye on us. Had we managed to mount
any of the horses tethered near the lodges or feeding around, we should
have been immediately tracked and followed. Still, it kept up our
spirits to talk of what we would do. We were not otherwise ill-treated,
and were amply supplied with dried buffalo meat. Sometimes the hunters
brought in a deer or a bear; but as there was always on such occasions a
grand feast, the fresh meat did not last long.
At last, one morning the Indians turned out at daybreak, and immediately
began taking down the tents and packing up their goods. The coverings
for the tents were divided and done up in bales, and then secured to the
backs of horses. The poor women were loaded with as much as they could
carry, in addition to the younger children. The chief's squaws were
allowed to mount; but their animals were also loaded like the rest of
the horses. The men carried only their arms, and spare buffalo robes
strapped on to their saddles. Mike and I were compelled to assist in
doing up the bales, the squaws showing us how to perform the operation;
sometimes scolding us, at other times laughing at what they considered
our clumsiness.
When all was done, we were left standing; so we concluded that it was
the intention of the Indians to compel us to march on foot.
"Begorrah," exclaimed Mike, "I don't like this fun at all, at all! See,
there are two mustangs without anything on their backs! Small blame to
us if we just get astride them." And suiting the action to the word, he
leaped on to one of the ponies, while I mounted the other. Whether they
belonged to any of the Indians, we could not tell, but there were
several spare animals besides.
Urging on our steeds, we joined the throng of warriors, who were already
forming at a little distance from our late camp. The chief laughed when
he saw us, and exchanged remarks with some of his companions. We
concluded that these were in our favour, for we were allowed to retain
our steeds.
The signal was now given to advance, and the tribe moved forward in a
south-westerly direction. Though we were glad to be on horseback, yet
our spirits sank when we found that we were getting further and further
from home, and saw our chances of escape diminishing.
"No matter," cried Mike; "the longer we stay with these Indians, the
more we shall know of their ways, and be the better able to desave them.
We must appear to be perfectly continted and happy, and try to spake
their language--though it gives me a pain in me jaws whenever I utter
one of their long words."
"You are right, Mike; I will try to practise your philosophy," I
answered.
We marched on all day, stopping only for a short time to take our scanty
meals. We could proceed but slowly, on account of the women and loaded
animals; but the warriors scoured over the plain on both sides of our
line of march, either looking out for an enemy or in search of game.
Mike and I, however, were kept with the main body. At night we encamped
either near a wood or by the side of a stream, where there were always
trees to afford us fuel for our fires. Thus we went on for several
days.
The Indians were, we guessed, making for a region frequented by buffalo,
which had not this year come so far east as usual. At last we reached
the spot at which they considered it desirable to remain; there being a
full stream from which water could be obtained, and plenty of wood to
afford fuel for our fires. In every other direction, as far as we could
see, the country was nearly level, with little or no timber of any size
growing on it. The women immediately set about their usual avocations.
But as our meals were very scanty, it was evident that there was a
scarcity of meat in the camp.
Early next morning a band of twenty men mounted their best horses to set
out, as we concluded, in search of buffalo. Without asking leave, Mike
and I got on our steeds and joined them. They did not object to this;
probably supposing that we should not attempt to make our escape so far
from home. We each of us obtained a bow and a quiver full of arrows,
besides a long spear. None of the tribe possessed firearms.
We rode on for some distance, the main body keeping together, while
scouts were sent forward to look out for buffalo. At last we reached a
broad stream, and were proceeding along the bank, when my companions
became greatly interested; and looking out to the left, I saw the whole
plain covered with a dense mass of dark objects, which I at once guessed
to be buffalo. It was evident that they were making for the river. The
Indians, urging on their horses, dashed forward to try to intercept the
herd before they could cross it. It seemed to me, however, that we
should be too late to do that.
I could see the scouts galloping along the flank of the herd nearest us,
trying to find an opening among them into which they might penetrate;
while every now and then they let fly one of their arrows into the neck
of an animal. As to turning the herd, or preventing it from crossing
the stream, they might as well have attempted to stop the falls of
Niagara in their downward course. With a tramp which shook the earth,
and terrific bellowings sounding far across the plain, onward rushed the
seemingly maddened creatures, tossing their heads, throwing high their
tails, and turning up the earth in their course.
The river was reached before we could get up to them; and their leaders
plunging in, they began to swim across, the animals in the rear driving
those in front into the water. The former would have treated the latter
in the same way had they reached the edge of a precipice, when all would
have gone over together. As it was, they proved themselves good
swimmers, quickly gaining the opposite bank, and rushing forward as at
first.
Before we got within shot of them, the greater number had crossed; but
the hunters, urging on their well-trained steeds, rode boldly up,
shooting their arrows within a few feet of the creatures. Three or four
only fell; others seemed to take no notice of their wounds; and several,
springing out of the herd, with heads lowered to the ground, plunged
forward furiously at their assailants. The nimble horses wheeled as
they approached, and escaped the attack made on them; their riders never
failing to discharge one or two arrows in return at the infuriated
buffalo. Had we possessed firearms, many more would have been killed.
The Indians had no intention of giving up the pursuit. Where the herd
had crossed the river, the water was too deep to allow us to wade over.
At a signal from their leader, however, the hunters turned their horses,
and galloped back in the direction from whence we had come; soon we
reached a ford, where we all crossed, though the water almost covered
the backs of our short-legged ponies. The herd could still be seen in
the far distance, so we immediately galloped on to overtake it.
Though called buffalo, the animal I am speaking of is really the bison.
It has a protuberant hunch on its shoulders, and the body is covered,
especially towards the head, by long, fine, woolly hair, which makes the
animal appear much more bulky than it really is. That over the head,
neck, and fore part of the body is long and shaggy, and forms a beard
beneath the lower jaw, descending to the knees in a tuft; while on the
top it rises in a dense mass nearly to the tops of the horns, and is
strongly curled and matted on the front. The tail is short, and has a
tuft at the end--the general colour of the hair being a uniform dun.
The legs are especially slender, and appear to be out of all proportion
to the body; indeed, it seems wonderful that they are able to bear it,
and that the animals can at the same time exhibit the activity they
seemed possessed of.
In summer the buffalo finds an abundance of food by cropping the sweet
grass which springs up after the fires so frequent in one part or other
of the prairies. In winter, in the northern regions, it would starve,
were it not possessed of a blunt nose, covered by tough skin, with which
it manages to dig into the snow and shovel it away, so as to get at the
herbage below. In winter, too, the hair grows to a much greater length
than in summer, when the hinder part is covered only by a very short
fine hair, smooth as velvet. Many thousands of these magnificent
animals congregate in herds, which roam from north to south over the
western prairies. At a certain time of the year the bulls fight
desperately with each other, on which occasions their roaring is truly
terrific.
The hunters select, when they can, female buffalo, as their flesh is far
superior in quality and tenderness to that of the males. The females
are, however, far more active than the males, and can run three times as
fast, so that swift horses are required to keep up with them. The
Indians complain of the destruction of the buffalo--forgetting that
their own folly in killing the females is one of the chief causes of the
diminution of their numbers.
Huge and unwieldy as is the buffalo, it dashes over the ground at a
surprising rate, bounding with large and clumsy-looking strides across
the roughest country, plunging down the broken sides of ravines, and
trying the mettle of horses and the courage of riders in pursuit of it.
To the Indians of the prairies the buffalo is of the greatest possible
value, for they depend on these animals for their food, tents, clothing,
and numerous other articles. They dress the skins with the hair on, and
these serve as cloaks or coverings at night. The horns are converted
into powder-flasks; the hides, when tanned, serve to cover their tents;
and the wool makes a coarse cloth. When the flesh is eaten fresh, it is
considered superior in tenderness and flavour to that of the domestic
ox; the hump especially being celebrated for its delicacy. It is also
cut into strips and dried in the sun; or it is pounded up with the fat
and converted into pemmican. The hides are used also for leggings,
saddles, or, when cut into strips, form halters. With the sinews,
strings are made for their bows. From the bones they manufacture a
variety of tools--of the smaller ones making needles, and using the
finer sinews as threads. From the ribs, strengthened by some of the
stronger sinews, are manufactured the bows which they use so
dexterously. The bladder of the animal is used as a bottle; and often,
when the Indian is crossing the prairie where no water is to be found,
he is saved from perishing of thirst by killing a buffalo and extracting
the water which is found in its inside.
To resume: In spite of the rate at which the buffalo were going, we soon
overtook them on our swift mustangs; and now began the most exciting
part of our day's sport. The leading portion of the herd kept close
together; but in the rear the animals were separated--some lagging
behind, others scattering on either side. The Indians, with their bows
drawn or their spears couched in their hands, dashed in among them,
shooting right and left, or plunging their weapons into the shoulders of
the brutes--so dexterously aiming the blows, that many of their victims
fell pierced to the heart.
Mike and I, though good horsemen, were but little accustomed to the
Indian weapons; and although we did our best, many of the buffalo at
which we rode either escaped being wounded, or galloped off with our
arrows sticking in their bodies. We each of us, however, managed to
kill an animal, and were galloping on, closely following one of the
principal hunters, when a huge bull, after which the Indian was riding,
turned suddenly round, and with its head to the ground rushed madly at
him. His horse for a moment stood stock-still, watching the buffalo,
while the Indian shot his arrow. It struck the animal on the neck, but
failed to kill it. I expected that the next moment I should see both
horse and rider rolling on the ground; but the well-trained steed sprang
nimbly on one side, and the now infuriated buffalo dashed towards Mike
and me. I shot my last arrow, but it glanced off the skull of the
creature, which now came towards me, looking the picture of savageness.
I endeavoured to make my steed spring on one side, but barely in time to
escape the tremendous battering-ram--for to nothing else can I liken the
buffalo's head. The creature went rushing on till it was met by two
Indians, one of whom shot his arrow, while the other struck his spear so
exactly in the buffalo's breast that the huge creature immediately fell
over dead.
Such was the beginning of our day's hunt. I was completely carried away
by the excitement of the chase, and was as eager to kill buffalo as any
Indian amongst them. As I had exhausted all my arrows, I had now only
my spear to trust to. Had I been dependent on my own skill, I should
have been quickly overthrown, and probably gored to death; but my
well-trained mustang knew far more about the matter than I did, so I let
him get out of the way of any of the animals which attacked me as he
thought best.
I had singled out a young bull which turned off from the herd, and I
followed it up, expecting to be able to get ahead of it, so that I might
point my spear full at its breast in the way I had seen several of the
Indians do, knowing that my mustang would spring on one side should it
be necessary. Suddenly the bull stopped; then turning round and seeing
me before it, came rushing towards me. I endeavoured to run my spear
into its breast, and then make my steed spring out of the way. I thrust
my spear with all my force; but before I could let go my grasp it was
whisked out of my hand, after which my horse sprang clear of the animal
with a bound which very nearly threw me from the saddle, and had
galloped some distance away before I could stop it.
What a glorious opportunity this would be for escaping! I thought to
myself. Had Mike been near me, I should have proposed doing so. I was
looking round, to try and ascertain where he was, when down came my
steed--having stepped into the hole of a prairie dog, numbers of which
honeycombed the ground around--and I was thrown right over his head. As
I lay half-stunned, I saw to my horror the whole herd of buffalo tearing
along towards me, ploughing up the turf with their hoofs, and bellowing
loudly. I fully expected to be trampled to death before many minutes
had passed, or to be tossed high in the air over their shaggy backs. My
horse, looking up, saw his danger, and seemed to understand the state of
affairs as well as I did. He made desperate struggles to rise; and I
endeavoured to get on my feet and seize the reins, hoping to mount
before the herd was upon me. I might thus gallop off, and keep ahead of
them till I could find an opportunity of turning on one side.
I rose, but fell again before I could reach the reins which hung over my
steed's neck. Already I could almost see the eyes of the infuriated
beasts; but I was not going to give up my life if I could help it. I
therefore made another desperate effort, and reaching the rein, patted
the animal's nose, turning his eyes away from the approaching foe; then
in an instant--I scarcely know how I did it--I was on his back.
I was fully aware that the same accident which had brought me to the
ground might again occur; but of that I must run the risk. Before,
however, my horse could spring forward, the herd was close upon us.
Digging my heels into his flanks, I urged him on, shrieking at the top
of my voice. The sound of the tramping hoofs behind him, the bellowing
of the bulls, and the expectation every instant of being probed by their
horns, made him strain every muscle to keep ahead of them. His speed
was far greater than theirs, and he soon distanced them; but still, the
danger of again falling was imminent, for as we flew along I could see
in every direction the burrows of those abominable little prairie dogs,
though the inhabitants had taken good care to ensconce themselves far
down out of the way of the hoofs of the buffalo. Looking over my
shoulder, I saw that by turning to the right I might soon get clear of
the herd, which did not extend far on that side. I accordingly pulled
the right rein, so as to ride almost across the course the herd was
taking; and observed, as I did so, a number of the Indians galloping
along by the side of the buffalo, and shooting their arrows.
I was congratulating myself on the prospect of escaping, when down came
my steed once more; and as I was as unprepared for the accident as
before, I was thrown over his head, and more severely injured than at
first. Still, though partly stunned, I could see what was taking place.
I fancied that I was, at all events, sufficiently to the right of the
herd to escape being trampled to death, when just then a huge bull, who
must have had his eye upon me, wheeled from his companions, and, putting
his head to the ground, made, as I thought, towards me. To escape by
mounting my horse was now out of the question, for I had been thrown too
far to seize the reins, and the poor animal still lay struggling to get
his feet out of the hole. Any other than a prairie horse would have
broken his legs, or sprained himself irretrievably. Just when I
expected to be trampled to death or gored by the bull's horns, I saw
that the savage creature was making towards my horse instead of me; but
as it reached the mustang, the latter drew his feet out of the hole, and
throwing up his heels at the bull's nose, scampered off, followed by his
enemy, while the rest of the herd swept by like a torrent, not ten yards
from where I lay. Some stragglers, however, caught sight of me; and
another big bull was rushing on to give me a taste of his horns and
hoofs, when a loud "Whallop-ahoo-aboo! Erin go bragh!" sounded in my
ears.
"Don't be afraid, Masther Roger, me darlint!" shouted Mike, for it was
he who had uttered the cry; and dashing forward with spear in rest, he
struck the bull behind the shoulder with such force that his weapon must
have pierced the animal's heart. It swerved on one side, thereby
enabling Mike to avoid trampling on me, and the next moment fell over
perfectly dead.
A number of Indians passing at the moment, applauded Mike's achievement.
I managed at the same time to get on my feet, and pointed to my horse.
"Ay, to be sure; I'll be afther him," cried Mike, "as soon as I can git
me shtick out of this baste's carcass."
He tugged and tugged till he liberated his spear, then galloped off in
the direction my horse had taken, leaving me by the dead bull.
I had no longer any fear of being knocked over by the buffalo, as all,
except a few laggards, had passed by, and were further away to the left.
I could just see Mike attacking with his spear the animal which had
pursued my horse; but a faintness again came over me, and I was obliged
to sit down on the ground. I had no fear of being deserted, as I was
sure that the Indians would come to look after the animals they had
killed; and in a few minutes Mike returned, leading my horse, who
appeared none the worse for his falls or his encounter with the buffalo.
We had by this time reached a part of the country where woods and hills
could be seen rising here and there above the plain. The rearmost of
the buffalo had become separated, and many of the Indians, having
exhausted their arrows, were now attacking them with their spears; two
hunters generally singling out one animal, and riding alongside it till
they had wounded it to death. As far as I could see, on either side,
the country exhibited an animated scene,--the buffalo scampering along
in every direction, with Indians riding after them, their robes wildly
flying in the air, while they flourished their spears above their heads.
On the ground over which we had come could be distinguished numerous
dark spots,--the bodies of the buffalo we had slain. Indeed, our
comparatively small party had, I afterwards found, killed upwards of two
hundred animals; which will give some idea of the numbers annually
slaughtered by the Indians.
At length they gave over the chase, and commenced the operation of
skinning their victims, leaving most of the carcasses a prey to the
wolves. The tongues and humps, however, were generally secured, as well
as the flesh of the cows, which is, as I have said, far superior in
tenderness to that of the bulls.
The horses loaded with skins and meat, we returned at night to the camp;
and as our captors had now an abundance of provisions, they were in an
unusually good-humour.
"Sure, thin, but this wouldn't be a bad opportunity for us to git away
from these rid gintlemen," observed Mike, as we watched them feasting on
the produce of the day's hunt--stuffing such huge quantities of flesh
into their insides, that it seemed impossible, were they long to
continue the operation, that they would be able to move.