"I shall be very thankful to find myself safe in some settlement where
the war-whoops of the Indians are not likely to be heard," he answered.
"I used to like to hear about such adventures as we are going through,
but I confess that I consider them very unpleasant realities."
I was very much inclined to agree with Reuben. One thing, however, was
certain--for the present we must make up our minds to go through
whatever came in our way.
Day after day we travelled on, encamping as I have previously described
at night, or sometimes pushing forward during the hours of darkness and
halting in the day-time. By doing this we saved ourselves the labour of
forming defences, as we could in a moment mount and be in readiness to
encounter a foe. We had, however, greatly exhausted our stock of
provisions, and it became necessary to look after game with which to
replenish our store. This we had hitherto avoided doing, as when
hunting we should of necessity be separated, and if discovered by
enemies we might be cut off in detail. We agreed, at last, that hunt we
must; for we had all been on a very slender allowance of food, and were
beginning to feel the pangs of hunger. Our horses, too, from being
constantly on the move, now showed signs of fatigue. We accordingly
halted earlier than usual one day, on the side of a tree-covered knoll,
from which we could obtain a good look-out over the surrounding country.
Here we resolved to remain for a couple of days, for, having seen no
signs of Indians, we hoped to be unmolested. After putting up the
framework of a lean-to, to afford us shelter at night, we ate the
remainder of our provisions; and while Sandy took the horses down to a
stream which flowed below us, we lay down to rest, keeping our rifles by
our sides.
I had been dreaming of venison, and buffalo humps, and other prairie
luxuries, when I heard Reuben whisper--
"See! Roger, see! There's a magnificent deer within easy shot."
I instinctively rose to my knees, with my rifle in my hand, and levelled
it at the animal. It was a fine elk, as I knew by the thick branchy
horns. At the same moment old Samson sat up. Reuben, knowing that he
was not so good a shot as I was, did not attempt to fire. I felt
somewhat nervous lest I might miss, though old Samson was not likely to
let the deer escape even if I did so. I pulled the trigger, however,
and the deer, giving one bound from the earth, fell over, shot through
the heart. The sound awoke Mike, and we all rushed down to take
possession of our prize. We very quickly cut it up, and shouldering the
better portions, carried them to our encampment. Here we soon had a
fire blazing, and some rich steaks before it.
Though we had now obtained sufficient food to last us for some days, yet
we remained for the time we had determined on, in order to dry the
venison, so that we might cure it, and prevent its becoming unfit for
use. We were fortunate in killing another deer almost in sight of our
camp; so, with renewed strength after our long rest, we again set out,
hoping before long to gain tidings of our friends, whom Samson still
persisted in believing were ahead of us. I had my doubts on the
subject, but felt that I ought to yield to his better judgment.