"Come along, Masther Roger, and lend me a hand, or the baste will be
afther getting away."
Securing our first prize, I followed Mike as he rushed along down the
bank, afraid of breaking his line, which was by this time stretched to
the utmost. Now he gently pulled it in, now he allowed it to go off
again, as he felt the strain increase. By thus dexterously managing the
fish for some minutes, he at length brought it close to the shore, and I
caught sight of an ugly-looking dark monster.
"Sure, it's a cat-fish, and mighty good ateing too, though it's no
beauty," exclaimed Mike. "Get howld of him, Masther Roger; get howld of
him, or he will be off."
Following Mike's example, I dashed into the water and grasped the huge
creature, although, covered as it was with slime, it was no easy matter
to do so. Giving it a sudden jerk, I threw it on shore, rushing after
it to prevent its floundering back again into its native element. It
proved to be a prize worth having, being at least seven or eight pounds
in weight. It was a wonder how, with such slight tackle, Mike had
contrived to hold it.
We agreed that, as we had now an ample supply of fish for one day at
least, we would not run the risk of losing our hooks; and accordingly,
carrying our two prizes, we made our way back to the part of the bank we
had selected for our camp. It was under a widespreading tree, which
extended over the water, and would materially serve to hide a fire,
which we agreed to light on a piece of flat ground, almost level with
the water. We soon collected a sufficient supply of sticks, and had our
fire blazing and our fish cooking. The cat-fish, in spite of its ugly
name and uglier looks, proved excellent, though somewhat rich--tasting
very like an eel.
Having eaten a hearty meal, and cooked the remainder of our fish for the
next day, we put out our fire, and then arranged our dwelling for the
night. It consisted simply of branches stuck in the ground, and
extending about six feet from the trunk of the tree. We closed the
entrance, so that no wolves or bears could pay us a visit without some
warning; and kept our spears by our sides, to poke at their noses should
they make their appearance.
The night passed quietly away, and the next morning at daylight, having
caught our horses, we swam them across the stream. The sun soon dried
our clothes, and as we had no fear of starving for that day, we rode
merrily onward.
Next day we were as successful in fishing at a stream we reached a short
time before sundown; but we were not so prudent, for after each of us
had caught a couple of fish we continued our sport, when Mike's hook was
carried off. He looked as if he was going to burst into tears, while he
surveyed the end of his line with an utterly comical expression of
countenance.
"No, bedad! it's not there," he exclaimed; "the baste of a fish has got
it--ill luck to him! But we shall have the consolation of ateing his
brothers; and maybe some day we will come back and hook him."
We had now but one hook left, and this it was necessary to secure with
the greatest care. What a value we set upon that little crooked bit of
steel! Our lives might depend on it, for though Mike had set several
traps of various descriptions, no animals would consent to be caught by
them.
Two days more we travelled on, catching sight of what we believed to be
Indian encampments in the distance, but, according to our resolution,
carefully avoiding them. Our fish had come to an end, our last handful
of pemmican was exhausted, and for a whole day we had no food except a
few berries. Towards evening we reached a wood. As there was a stream
not far from it, while Mike was engaged in forming our camp I
endeavoured to hook a fish.
My efforts were vain; for some time none would bite. At last I felt a
tug, and I was sure that I had hooked a fish. Eagerly I drew it towards
the bank. It seemed to come willingly enough at first, but there was
another tug, and my line almost flew out of the water. I cast a blank
look at the end. The hook was gone!
Feeling very disconsolate, I returned to the camp. Mike endeavoured to
comfort me for our loss, but he could not supply us with food. We
therefore lay down to rest, keeping our spears as usual by our sides,
and Mike offering to watch while I slept.
Whether or not he had done so I could not tell, but suddenly I was
awakened by feeling the branches at my side roughly shaken; and looking
up, what was my dismay to see, by the moonlight streaming through the
wood, a big brown bear poking his nose through the bushes, and not live
feet from us! Giving Mike a nudge with my elbow, I grasped my spear,
and rising on my knee, without a moment's consideration as to what might
be the result, I thrust the spear with all my might into the bear's
chest. With a fierce growl and open jaws it rushed at me,--as it did
so, driving the spear still further into its body; whilst I, expecting
the movement, sprang to the inner end of our arbour.
Mike in a moment was on his knees,--he had not time to rise to his
feet,--and seizing his weapon, drove it into the bear's neck. Still the
creature, though thus desperately wounded, broke through the branches we
had put up; but the thick leaves prevented it from seeing us as clearly
as it would otherwise have done. The life-blood was flowing from its
wounds. Mike managed, as I had done, to get out of Bruin's way; and
before the creature could turn to pursue either of us, over it fell, on
the very ground on which we had been sleeping. It struggled for a few
seconds, gnashing its teeth, and I had to retreat through the branches
to avoid it. Mike, who had managed to escape at the other end, now
joined me, and getting hold of the handle of his spear, endeavoured to
pull it out of the bear's body. After a few tugs he succeeded in
regaining possession of his weapon; and the first thing he did with it
was to plunge it again into the animal's breast.
"I did it just to make sure," he remarked. "These bastes have as many
lives as a cat; and maybe he would have come to again, and taken to
ateing us instead of our ateing him, as I hope we will be afther doing
before long."
Whether or not the last thrust was necessary I do not know, but the bear
ceased struggling; and Mike, springing on the body, exclaimed--
"He's dead enough now, anyhow! And we'll take the liberty of cutting
him up, and getting our teeth into his flesh; for, sure, he has spoilt
our rest for the night."
The centre of the hut was by this time a pool of blood; we therefore
dragged out the bear, and while Mike began scientifically to flay the
carcass, I collected sticks for a fire. We soon had a good one blazing
up, and some of the slices of the bear toasting before it. We were too
hungry to wait until the morning.
"Sure, the bear was sent to us to be aten," observed Mike; "and suppose
we get nothing else till we reach home, it will serve to keep us alive
till then."
Having satisfied the cravings of hunger, we cooked some more slices of
the best portions of the meat, to serve for our breakfast before
starting; and the remainder we cut into thin strips to smoke over the
fire, and afterwards to dry in the sun. As both we and our steeds were
tired, we agreed not to start till a later hour than usual. There was a
risk in remaining, but still it was better to run it, rather than knock
up our horses or ourselves.
Mike faithfully kept watch, and the sun was already high in the sky when
I awoke. We hung up the strips of bear's flesh, to give them a drying
before we packed them to carry with us. We also did up a portion of the
fresh meat, which would, we calculated, last us for some time. Then,
having taken a late breakfast, we mounted our horses and continued our
journey.
It would take too much time, were I to describe the events of the next
few days. After continuing on for the time we supposed it would occupy
us in reaching home, we were still unable to recognise any of the
features of the country. Mike, however, remarked that as forests and
hills and rivers were all much alike, it was no wonder that we could not
make out where we were. I proposed directing our course eastward, as we
should thus certainly come to some of the settlements. Mike thought
that we had not got sufficiently far to the north, and advised that we
should continue on in that direction. I gave in to him.
Our horses had hitherto held out well, but suddenly Mike's began to
stagger, and, almost before he could throw himself from its back, down
the poor animal fell. What had been the cause of the horse's death we
had not knowledge sufficient to ascertain; only one thing was certain,--
that it was dead, and that we must take it by turns to ride, and thus
get on at a much slower pace. There was no use stopping to mourn our
loss, so, having taken off the saddle and bridle, we did them up in a
package, and placed them on the back of my steed. We did this lest the
dead horse should be recognised as having belonged to the Indians, and
some of their friends might discover it and pursue us.
We had, shortly afterwards, a river to cross. True, we might have made
a raft, but as we were both good swimmers we determined to trust to our
own arms and legs for getting to the other side. After some persuasion
we induced the horse to go in; and then, Mike taking the rein, we each
of us put a hand on the saddle and swam over, I on one side and Mike on
the other. Though swept down for some distance, we got safe on shore at
last, but we had to trudge on in our wet clothes. Not only were we wet,
but so was our imperfectly dried meat; the consequence was, that when we
came to cook it in the evening it was scarcely eatable. Our clothes,
too, were damp when we lay down at night.
I awoke shivering the next morning, though the fire was still blazing
near me; and when I tried to get up I was unable to stand. Mike was in
a state of great distress. The remainder of our provisions had become
worse; but even had the food been of the most delicate description, I
could not have touched it.
Mike, faithful fellow that he was, immediately set to work to build a
hut, so that I might be sheltered from the heat of the sun as well as
from the wind. As soon as it was completed he carried me into it, and
closing the entrance, said he would set out in search of food. In a
short time he returned with some delicious strawberries, which greatly
refreshed me.
For several days he tended me with the greatest care, and was fortunate
in trapping several young birds, which, though not very fat, served to
restore my strength. I asked him how he had managed to eat the dried
bear's meat, being very sure that he had not touched any of the birds he
had caught.
"Bedad, Masther Roger, it's not the mate at all I've been ateing," he
answered. "I found no lack of big fellows with four legs hopping about
in the marsh down there, and, for want of better food, I took the
liberty of cooking them. They are not so bad, afther all; only the idea
of the thing was not plisant at first."
Mike had been living on frogs, I found out, during all my illness; and
as for a whole day he was unable to catch any birds, I begged that he
would let me taste the frogs. I confess that I had no reason to
complain of the food, for he gave me the hinder legs alone, which I
should have supposed to have been those of small birds, had he not told
me what they were.
I was at last strong enough to move about, and I proposed that we should
at once continue our journey. Mike agreed, therefore, that we should
start the next morning.
When daylight arrived, he left the hut to look for the horse while I
prepared breakfast. He was a long time absent, and I began to grow
anxious, wondering what could have become of him. I waited and waited
till I could bear the suspense no longer, so, going to a height at a
little distance from the wood in which we had formed our encampment, I
gazed around on every side. Should any accident have befallen him, how
fearful would be my fate! I was also deeply grieved at the thought of
losing him; but I confess that selfish feelings for the time
predominated. There was a river, I should have said, in the distance,
and on looking in that direction I at length saw a figure moving towards
me. It might be Mike, or it might be an Indian, and perhaps an enemy.
Still, I did not think of concealing myself.
Great was my joy when, as the person drew nearer, I recognised Mike. I
rushed down to meet him; but I saw that there was something wrong, by
the expression of his countenance.
"What is the matter, Mike?" I asked. "I was terribly afraid that you
were lost."
"Sure, a great deal is the matther," he answered. "That baste of a
horse has been afther drowning himself; and you will have to walk the
rest of the journey on foot, except when I carry you on me shoulders--
and that I will do, as long as I have the strength, with the greatest
pleasure in the world."
I assured Mike that I was so glad to see him, that I cared little in
comparison for the loss of the horse, for I felt perfectly able to walk
any distance.
"Well, that is one comfort; and seeing that we have nothing to carry
except our spears, which will help us along, matthers might have been
worse," he answered.
Both of us were determined to make the best of what had happened; so,
having eaten our breakfast, and packed up the remainder of our
provisions, we recommenced our march forward. Mike insisted on our
encamping early in the day, so that he might search for food; and before
dark he had procured a supply of the same description as that on which
we had been living for several days.
The next morning we went on as before, and I felt my strength
considerably restored. Soon after noon, having reached the summit of a
height, we saw before us a wide river, connected with a series of small
lakes, their borders apparently deeply fringed with tall grass. This,
Mike said, he believed must be rice, and it would afford us a change of
diet if we could procure some; we accordingly made our way down towards
the nearest. We thought, also, that we might catch some unwary ducks,
if they were not accustomed to the sight of human beings.
On getting close to the borders, we fancied we heard some sounds from a
brood of ducklings. We therefore crept cautiously along the shore,
when, to our infinite satisfaction, we caught sight of a couple of
ducks, and not one, but two broods. We had got almost near enough to
catch hold of the hindermost, when the cries of the mother-ducks warned
their young ones to make the best of their way from us. Eager to seize
our prey, we dashed into the water after them; when, to escape us, they
endeavoured to make their way through the high grass.
We had each of us caught a couple, when what was our astonishment, on
pressing aside the grass, to see directly before us a canoe with three
girls in it! Two of them were busily employed in beating out the rice
into their canoe, while the one who sat in the bow, on hearing the noise
we made, turned her head with an inquiring but somewhat alarmed glance
towards us. Yes! I could not be mistaken; it was Lily! Just before
her sat Dora, while Ashatea occupied the stern.
"Lily, Lily!" I exclaimed. "Don't you know me?"
"Yes, yes! I do. O Dora, Dora! there is Roger and Mike Laffan. They
were not drowned, or killed by the Indians! I always said so," she
cried.
In a moment their paddles were out, and, guided by Ashatea, they were
making their way towards us.
"Come into the canoe!" they exclaimed in chorus. "There is room for
you; and we will take you to our friends. They will be so glad to know
that you are alive, though you both look sadly tired and thin."
"No wonder, Misthress Lily," observed Mike; and he gave an account of my
illness.
They were all eager to hear how we had escaped; and as the canoe skimmed
lightly over the smooth surface of the lake, urged by their paddles, I
told them all that had happened to us, from the time we left the camp of
our Indian friends. I then asked if Reuben and his companion had ever
been heard of.
"Yes; it was they who told us that you had either been drowned or made
prisoners by the Indians," said Lily. "They escaped by running through
the rapids at a place where no canoe had ever before ventured. And
Reuben has undertaken to come up here and escort us back to the
settlement. We have been paying our long-promised visit to Ashatea; and
I can assure you she received us in the most hospitable manner. You
will like to see the beautiful dome-shaped wigwam her people built for
us, with a divan all round, and the floor covered thickly with matting.
We felt quite like Indian princesses, when she escorted us into it. It
is divided by a curtain into two portions. The inner serves as our
bedroom, and the outer as our drawing-room. As there is space for a
fireplace in the centre, we agreed that we should not object to spend
the winter in it; while at the present season it is delightfully cool
and pleasant."
"Ah, but it is not equal to one of your comfortable houses," observed
Ashatea, who understood all that Lily said, and had, I found, improved
greatly in her knowledge of English, having spent a considerable time at
the settlement with Lily and Dora.
We had some distance to go, I found, before we could reach the spot
where Kepenau and his people were now encamped. The chief had, Lily
told me, spent several months there; and had, besides, made a tour with
our missionary friend, Martin Godfrey, for the purpose of being
instructed in gospel truth, which he was most anxious to impart to his
countrymen. The chief had, some time before, learned to read, and had
devoted all his attention to the study of the Scriptures, so that he was
well able to carry the gospel to others.
My uncles and aunt had been greatly grieved at my supposed loss, and it
had made them less contented with the settlement than they had before
been; Uncle Mark especially missed the assistance of Mike, though honest
Quambo had done his best to supply his place.
Various schemes were afloat for occupying fresh territory, far to the
westward. Some speculators had visited our settlement, and my uncles
had listened to their descriptions of the advantages to be gained with
far more interest than they might otherwise have done.
"I had hoped that we should remain where we are," said Lily. "I am
attached to the place, and should be content to spend the remainder of
my days here."
"You have not got over many of them as yet, Lily," I said, looking up in
her face.
"They may be many, in comparison with those which are to come," she
answered gravely, and I thought mournfully.
"I hope to see you grow into a dear old woman, like Aunt Hannah. I like
to think of the future, and I want my future to be happy. However, it
will be a long, long time before you grow old, Lily."
"I already feel old," she said; "or I did, at least, when they told me
that you were lost, Roger, though I did not believe it; but perhaps I
shall now feel young again. I have been very sorry, too, about poor
Ashatea," she continued in a whisper; "she has her troubles, though she
does not show what she feels by her countenance as much as we white
people do. A young Indian, who is said to be superior to most of his
people, has long wished to marry her; but as she is a Christian and he
is still a heathen, though I believe she likes him very much, neither
she nor her father will consent. This has produced a feud between them;
and the conduct of Manilick--for that is his name, which, I believe,
means a `pine-tree'--has caused them a great deal of anxiety. Kepenau
fears that Manilick will try to carry off his daughter by force, and he
is therefore obliged to keep scouts constantly watching the movements of
the young chief. Indeed, when you appeared through the rice grass I
fancied that you were Manilick, and that you might have come to carry us
all off together; not that I believe he would venture to injure any
white people, since he professes to be our friend."
I was much interested in what Lily told me, for I fancied that Reuben
had lost his heart to the Indian girl. Still, superior as she was in
many respects to those of her race, she would scarcely have made a
fitting wife for a well-educated young man; though the rough traders and
hunters of the Far West frequently marry Indian wives, who make them as
happy as they wish to be, but are seldom able to bring up their children
properly, the chief objection to such alliances.
While Lily was talking to me, Mike was recounting to Dora and Ashatea,
in his rich Irish brogue, our various adventures with the Indians. Thus
the time was passed while the girls paddled across the lake and up the
river till we reached Kepenau's lodges.
As we neared the shore, we observed a large concourse of people
assembled near the wigwams. Many by their costume appeared to be
strangers, while others were Kepenau's own people. I saw that Ashatea
was regarding them with great interest. In front, on a rock, sat
Kepenau; and I judged by his attitude and the tone of his voice that he
was addressing them on a matter of importance, while they listened with
rapt attention. His right hand pointed to the sky, while his left was
directed towards the earth; and by the words which reached me I knew
that he was preaching the gospel--setting before the people the way of
eternal life.
We all stopped at some distance to listen, and so intent were he and his
auditors that none perceived us. Ashatea, who stood next to Lily, was
regarding the scene with even greater interest than we were. I saw her
eye directed towards a young Indian, who by the ornaments on his dress I
guessed was a chief. I pointed him out to Lily.
"Yes," she said, "that is Manilick. I am very glad to see him here, as
I hope he is receiving the truths which Kepenau is endeavouring to
impart."
Ashatea was, I had no doubt, hoping the same.
Kepenau had nearly brought his address to a conclusion when we arrived.
Now, rising from his seat, he took Manilick's hand, and spoke to him
affectionately, as it seemed to me. The young chief hung down his head,
and answered only in monosyllables.
Kepenau, after speaking in the same way to others, offered up a prayer,
in which several of his own people joined. Not till then did he
discover us. With a look of surprise he at once advanced to greet Mike
and me, his countenance as well as his words exhibiting his
satisfaction. He afterwards turned again to the young chief, and
addressed him. He had, until now, I found, suspected that Manilick had
instigated the attack on us, if he had not taken part in it, and he
wished openly to exonerate him. Kepenau questioned me as to the dress
and appearance of the Indians who had made us prisoners. From my
description he was satisfied that they were really Sioux, and that
Manilick had nothing to do with them.
We were anxious to return as soon as possible to the settlement, to
relieve the minds of our relatives but that evening, in consequence of
the fatigue and hardships I had endured, I was again taken ill. Kepenau
had a wigwam carefully built for me, in which Lily and Dora assisted
Mike in watching over me. Good food, however, was all I needed; and as
our Indian friends had abundance of fish and game, I was soon well
again.
Just as I had recovered, we one evening saw a large canoe approaching
the camp. Who should step out of it but Uncle Mark, accompanied by
Reuben, Quambo, and several men! They had brought a quantity of goods
to supply their Indian friends.
As may be supposed, Uncle Mark was delighted to find that I was alive;
and Quambo, in the exuberance of his joy, embraced Mike.
"But where de fiddle?" he exclaimed, after their salutations had ceased.
"Just play one tune. It do my heart good, and we set all de camp
jigging."
"Och, botheration! but the Ridskins have got it--bad luck to the
spalpeens! and sorra a one of thim can play a tune, or I would not mind
it so much," answered Mike.
"But you must try to get him back," observed Quambo; "if dey not play on
him, dey not want him."
"I'm mighty afraid it's burned, though," said Mike, with a sorrowful
countenance.
When Uncle Mark heard of Mike's loss, he told Kepenau and Manilick. The
latter had that day paid a visit to the chief. They were both of
opinion that should the fiddle be in existence, it might, by proper
diplomatic proceedings, be recovered; and, greatly to Mike's joy,
Manilick undertook to ascertain what had become of it, and, if possible,
to restore it to its owner.