MIKE'S PRECAUTION--WE AGAIN GO BUFFALO-HUNTING--THE PRAIRIE ON FIRE--A
RIDE FOR LIFE--OUR ESCAPE FROM THE FIRE AND THE INDIANS--HOBBLING
HORSES--THE FIRE IS STOPPED BY THE RIVER--A BRIEF SLEEP--OUR FISHING
TACKLE--MIKE CATCHES A CAT-FISH--OUR LEAN-TO--MIKE LOSES HIS BOOK--THE
VISIT OF BRUIN--A HEARTY MEAL--DEATH OF MIKE'S HORSE--I AM TAKEN SICK--
MIKE'S CAREFUL WATCH--MY HORSE IS DROWNED--OUR VISIT TO THE RICE-LAKE--
WE FIND LILY AND DORA THERE, WITH ASHATEA, IN A CANOE, GATHERING RICE--
LILY'S ACCOUNT OF MANILICK, THE YOUNG CHIEF, ASHATEA'S LOVER--KEPENAU'S
ADDRESS--AGAIN TAKEN ILL--HOW I RECOVER.
Mike and I were on the watch for an opportunity of mounting our horses
and galloping off unperceived by the Indians; but, though they feasted
for several successive days, that opportunity never came.
Unfortunately, so far as our enterprise was concerned, they had no
whisky in the camp, and were therefore able to watch our movements.
In a few days the hunters again set out, to obtain a further supply of
buffalo robes; not that these were required for their own use, but they
intended to exchange them with the traders for whisky and other
articles--especially firearms and ammunition. The chief and two or
three of the leading men had already procured weapons, although as yet
they were by no means expert in their use.
"They'll soon give us a chance, if they get howld of the whisky,"
observed Mike; "so we must have patience till that happy time comes."
As we had proved ourselves such expert hunters on the previous occasion,
the Indians decided to take us with them, and allowed us to select two
capital horses, as also some tough spears and a supply of arrows. We
likewise stowed away, at Mike's suggestion, as much dried buffalo meat
as our pouches would hold. "There is no harm in having it," he
observed; "and it may just come in convanient if we get the chance of
giving our rid-skinned frinds the slip."
I was glad to find that the Indians were directing their course to the
north-west of the camp, towards a plain on which, the scouts had brought
word, buffalo had been seen feeding the previous evening, and it was
supposed that they were not yet likely to have got far off. When we
reached the ground, however, it was found that they had gone away
further to the northward, so chase was immediately made after them. The
herd must have gone on at a somewhat rapid rate, for we forded several
streams, and entered on a part of the prairie across which, after riding
a few miles, we could see nothing but the waving grass on every side.
The chief had of late been friendly, and kept Mike and me near him. He
was evidently pleased with the good-humour we exhibited, and probably
thought that we were contented with our lot.
At last we came in sight of the rear-guard of the herd, when the Indians
at once gave chase.
We had been riding on for some time, the buffalo evidently moving at a
greater speed than they do under ordinary circumstances, when the chief,
who was on the right of the party, stopped, and looking round him,
shouted to those who were within hearing. I could not understand what
he said, and asked Mike if he could.
"Sure, it's something not altogether plisant," he answered. "Look
there, Masther Roger. What does that mane?"
He pointed, as he spoke, to a long line of what looked like grey mist,
forming wreaths, and rising above the horizon to the westward.
I saw several of the Indians standing up in their stirrups and gazing in
the same direction. They knew perfectly well what it was, but they were
trying to ascertain a point of vital importance to us all. The prairie
was on fire! Of that there was no doubt; but, in order to give
themselves the best chance of saving their lives, it was necessary to
settle, before galloping forward, what course to take.
While the Indians were discussing this point, Mike, who had been looking
about him, exclaimed to me,--"There is one way we want to go, and that
is to the north-east. Never mind if we do get singed a little, for
sure, as we came along, I remember that we passed several swamps. If we
can get into one of them we shall be safe, as the fire won't be afther
crossing the wather."
"But the Indians will probably take the same direction," I observed.
"Sure, if they intinded doing that same, they would have been off at
once," he answered. "They have some raison for what they think of
doing, and we have another for what we will do; so come along, Masther
Roger. There's only one thing I mourn for, and that is me fiddle; but
no matther; maybe I will be afther getting that another time.
Whallop-ahoo-aboo! Erin go bragh!" Then digging his heels into his
horse's flanks, he set off in the direction he proposed; and I, seeing
that the Indians were too much occupied to notice us, galloped after
him.
As I turned my head I saw them scampering along towards the north-west.
The fire having approached with far greater rapidity than I could have
supposed possible, I began to fear that they were right and we were
wrong, when I saw the flames catching the dry grass and flaring up
furiously, with dense masses of black smoke above them, and already
scarcely a mile behind us; indeed, they looked very much nearer. Onward
came the conflagration, faster than any horse could gallop. Happily we
had the start of it, but we must, we knew, keep our steeds at the utmost
stretch of their powers to maintain a safe distance.
As our course diverged more and more from that of the Indians, they soon
discovered our object, and shouted to us to accompany them.
"Bawl away, me boys!" answered Mike. "It is not convanient just now to
attind to you."
When our intention became clearly evident, the chief despatched two of
his people in pursuit of us; but we kept well ahead of our pursuers, and
they, fearing that the fire would overtake them, turned and took the
same direction as the main body. Soon after this we lost sight of our
late companions.
"I would be well contint never to set eyes on you again, me jewels,"
said Mike, shaking his spear as a sign of farewell.
Although my companion kept up his spirits, I could not avoid fearing
that, after all, the fire would overtake us. Happily our horses were
fleet and in good wind, as we had not exhausted them during the early
part of the day; and all we could do at present was to gallop on. The
wind, of which there had hitherto been very little, now got up, and blew
almost in our faces, driving the fire in the direction the Indians had
taken, and at the same time keeping it back from that in which we were
going. Still on came the fire, the whole country in our rear apparently
one mass of flame. Even now, did we stop, we should be overtaken.
Happily for us, there were no buffalo in the direction from which the
fire was coming, or we should have run the danger of being overwhelmed
by them. Smaller animals, however, came rushing by us or close at our
heels, but too much frightened even to notice us; and we were in too
great a hurry to interfere with them.
I am almost afraid to say how many miles we covered in a couple of
hours, but certainly not till that time had elapsed did we get to a safe
distance from the fire; and even then, on looking back, we could see it
raging along the whole verge of the horizon to the westward and
southward. It was clear to me that Mike was mistaken about the swamps,
and had not the wind, providentially for us, changed, we should probably
have fallen victims.
We now slackened our speed a little, hoping to meet with some broad
river which might prove a barrier to the flames, should another change
of wind drive them towards us, as there was nothing, so far as we could
see, to stop the fire from quickly overtaking us. Our horses, too, were
already suffering from want of water, and so were we. We therefore
eagerly looked out for a pool or stream at which we might slake our
thirst. At length, greatly to our joy, as evening was approaching, we
caught sight in the far distance of a silvery line of water glittering
in the rays of the western sun. It was a river running from the
north-west to the south-east, and as we approached we saw that it was of
considerable width. Should it not prove fordable, we resolved to swim
across.
With infinite satisfaction we reached the bank of the river, and
descending quickly, allowed our horses to drink; while, stooping down by
their sides, we lapped up the water eagerly with our hands. It seemed
as if we could never drink enough. When we had somewhat slaked our
thirst, we looked about for a place at which to cross. From the
appearance of the current a little lower down, we hoped that we should
there find the river fordable; we accordingly agreed to lead our horses
to it.
On climbing up the bank we observed that the fire was still raging in
the direction from whence we had come; and it was evidently very much
nearer. We had wished to allow our animals to rest and recover their
strength before attempting to cross; but on again looking back we saw
that there was no time to be lost. We accordingly at once mounted, and
urged our steeds into the water, keeping their heads up the stream.
As we advanced it grew deeper and deeper, and we expected every moment
to have our horses taken off their legs; still it would not do to turn
back. Our greatest chance of safety lay in pushing forward. The cool
water restored strength to our beasts, and, sagaciously leaning over
against the current, they soon got across the deep part. We had now no
further difficulty, and in a few minutes landed safely on the opposite
side. Fortunately there was plenty of fresh herbage, and we allowed the
animals to crop it, while we sat down and discussed some of the pemmican
with which, by Mike's forethought, we had provided ourselves. Without
it we should have starved; for we could find nothing eatable anywhere
around. As night was approaching, and our horses were too much knocked
up to go further, we resolved to remain on the bank of the river till
the morning. We accordingly hobbled the animals, and then looked about
for some place which might afford us shelter.
Our search was rewarded by the discovery of a hollow made by the stream
in the bank during the spring floods. Here we hoped that we might rest
secure from danger. Indians were not likely to be passing at that time
of the evening, and no wolves would find their way, we believed, into
our cave. Our horses were, of course, more exposed to risk than
ourselves; but we were obliged to let them take their chance, for unless
they were allowed to feed during the night they would be unable to carry
us the next day.
After leaving our horses to pick up their supper, we were about to
return to our cave, when, on looking to the eastward, we observed that
the fire was making most rapid progress in our direction. We felt
thankful indeed that we were on the right side of the river.
On came the conflagration, the heat sensibly increasing every minute,
while dark wreaths of smoke filled the air, below which the burning
grass and shrubs hissed and crackled. The darkness of night added to
the fearful character of the scene. As far as the eye could reach there
appeared a long unbroken line of fire: now, as it caught some thick bush
or clump of trees, forked flames rose high in the air; in other places
it came along maintaining the same height, but ever advancing, till it
reached the bank of the river, when every shrub and tree was enveloped
in a sheet of fire; and notwithstanding the width of the river, we
expected every instant to see some of the sparks carried across, and the
whole country on our side given over to destruction. We might save our
own lives, but our horses would inevitably be lost.
We sat anxiously watching the conflagration as it raged along the entire
bank: now the sparks, wafted by the wind, flew high into the air; now
burning branches fell hissing into the water.
"It's all very fine," observed Mike, after watching it for some time;
"but I would rather be afther going quietly to slape."
I felt quite as tired as did Mike, but I sat up till my eyes began to
close and my head to droop, and I could not for the life of me tell what
I was looking at. I had just sense enough left to lie down alongside
Mike, when I was almost directly asleep. I do not think I ever slept
more soundly in my life than I did on that occasion. So thoroughly
wearied out was I, that I forgot all about the fire raging within a few
hundred yards of us; or prowling wolves, or Indians, or rattlesnakes,
which might have made their holes in the bank.
When I awoke I found Mike sitting up, dawn having just broken. The fire
had burned itself out, a few burning embers alone appearing on the
opposite side, with here and there a blackened stem of some tree which
had resisted the flames. One side of the river presented a scene of
utter desolation, while the other was still green, and glittering with
the dew of early morn.
We knelt down and returned thanks to God for our preservation, and
offered up a petition that he would still take care of us. We then ate
a little more pemmican, and took a draught of water from the river;
though, to do so, we had to drive back the burned twigs and black scum
which came floating down the stream. We then caught our horses, which,
in consequence of being hobbled, had not strayed far; and after leading
them down to drink we mounted and rode on to the north-east. Reaching
some elevated ground whence we could obtain an extensive view, we looked
round to ascertain if any Indians were in sight. Not a human being
could we discover; and we therefore, with increased hopes that we might
escape, continued our journey.
I asked Mike how many days he thought it would take us to reach home,
that I might see if his computation agreed with mine. I calculated,
recollecting the distance we had come with our captors, that it would
occupy us a week at least, or perhaps ten days. He was of the same
opinion.
"But will our pemmican last us as long?" I asked.
"Sure, that depinds upon how much we take of it each day," he answered.
"The berries are now ripe, and by good luck I have found a couple of
fish-hooks in me pocket. Maybe, also, I can manage to manufacture some
traps in which to catch birds or small animals; and though we have no
arrows, if we are hard pressed we may make some; and we have got our
spears. If we could only meet with a young bear, we should have flesh
enough to last us for many a day. Sure, we'll not be fearing harm till
it comes upon us."
I agreed with Mike that we were not so badly off after all, and we rode
forward in good spirits. There was still, of course, the danger of
being overtaken by the Indians; but on that score Mike thought that we
need not trouble ourselves. They would probably suppose that we had
been destroyed by the fire; or they themselves might have met with the
fate from which we had so narrowly escaped.
The sun shone brightly from the unclouded sky; the atmosphere was clear,
and we could see objects at a great distance. We looked out, as we rode
along, for any of the natives who might be passing either on the
war-path or engaged in hunting, as we resolved to endeavour to avoid
them rather than risk an encounter. They might prove to be friends; but
if enemies, we knew that we should have a poor chance of coming off
victorious. Whenever the country was open, we galloped across it as
fast as we could venture to push our horses without over-fatiguing them;
but when we came to woody districts we kept as much as possible under
shelter of the trees, so as to avoid being seen. We did not forget
that, should enemies cross our trail, they would probably follow us. We
therefore very frequently looked about us, to ascertain if we were
pursued. We agreed that, in that case, we would run for it, trusting to
the mettle of our horses for escape.
It may seem strange, but I enjoyed the excitement, and should not have
been alarmed had we caught sight of a dozen Redskins, provided they were
on foot, and we had a fair start. Mike did not quite enter into my
feelings, however.
"Sure it would be betther, Masther Roger, if we could get along asily,
and just stop and enjoy our dinner and supper without the feeling that
at any moment our scalps might be taken off our heads," he observed.
"We have kept them on through much greater dangers than we are now
likely to meet with," I answered; "and while we have fleet horses under
us, we may laugh at the Indians. They won't know that we are without
firearms, and they are terribly afraid of bullets."
For all this, I should have been glad had we possessed a good rifle and
a brace of pistols apiece. Though our spears might serve us in a close
encounter with a bear, or even with wolves, we were but ill able to
protect ourselves against the arrows of a party of Redskins.
Whenever we reached a height we surveyed the country both before and
behind us, to make sure, in the first place, that no Indians were
following; and, in the second, that none were encamped ahead, or, as I
have before said, moving about. During the day we met with several
small streams at which we could water our horses and slake our own
thirst; and the first night we encamped under shelter of a wood, where
there was plenty of grass for our steeds. We contented ourselves with
forming a lean-to, but did not light a fire lest it should betray our
whereabouts. Having eaten a little more pemmican, we formed our beds of
spruce-fir tops, and lay down to rest.
"Do you slape as sound as you like, Masther Roger; I'll jist keep one
eye open, in case any unwelcome visitor should take the throuble to poke
his nose into our palace," observed Mike. "When you think you have had
rest enough, you can jist wake up and let me take a snooze till
morning."
I thanked my honest friend for his kind intentions, and in less than
half a minute my eyes were closely shut. When I awoke it was already
dawn, but Mike, instead of keeping watch, was as sound asleep as I had
been.
"Hallo, Mike!" I exclaimed; "I thought that you intended to rest with
one eye open all night."
"Sure, Masther Roger, haven't I done so, barring the last few minutes,"
he answered. "I did my best, thinking that every moment you would be
getting up; and small blame to me if at last I dramed that you did get
up, and told me that you would take a turn at watching."
"Never mind, since no harm has happened," I said. "Now let us mount our
horses and ride forward till we can get some cold water for breakfast."
Our animals, who now knew us, came at our call; and throwing ourselves
on their backs, we galloped forward as we had done the day before. Not
a human being did we meet with during the whole day, and in the evening
we encamped by the side of a broad stream overshadowed by trees. From
the appearance of several deep holes close under the bank, we hoped that
fish might be found in them. As soon, therefore, as we had secured our
horses, we set to work to manufacture lines for the two hooks which Mike
had found in his pocket.
Some people might have been puzzled how to get the lines, but we were
not to be defeated in our object. We procured them by cutting off a
small portion of the two hobbles, which consisted of long strips of
deer-hide, and plucking some hairs out of our horses' tails. The
deer-hide we cut into thinner strips, which served for the upper part of
the lines, while the lower were formed of the hair platted together. We
thus in a short time had two good lines, to which we carefully secured
the hooks. Having caught some grasshoppers, we determined to try them
for bait; while our spears served us for fishing-rods. Hunger made us
keen sportsmen, and never had I felt so anxious for success.
My line had not been long in the water when I felt a bite. I almost
trembled with eagerness as I gave a gentle jerk, sufficient to hook the
unwary fish. It tugged pretty hard, and I was sure that I had it fast;
but still I was afraid that it might break my line. Carefully I drew it
along till I got it sufficiently near the surface to ascertain its size.
To my satisfaction, I saw that it was not more than two or three
pounds' weight. After playing it for some time I drew it towards the
bank, when Mike, who had hitherto not got a bite, left his rod and
rushed into the water to secure our prize, exclaiming--
"Faix, thin, we'll have this darlint for our supper to-night; and,
bedad! there is another at my line. Hurrah! good luck to us!"
Throwing the fish to me, which proved to be a gold-eye, he sprang off,
just in time to catch his rod, the end of which was nearly off the bank.
"Och, murther," he cried out, "but it's a big one!" and he rushed along
the shore, jumping over all impediments; shrieking out in his eagerness
in a manner which would have made a sedate Indian fancy that he had gone
out of his mind.