THE LAND OF THE ASSINIBOINES.
As Deerfoot listened to the story of the Nez Perce leader his gorge
steadily rose, for the account was worse, if possible, than he had
expected to hear. Not only did he resent the cool appropriation of his
steed by Amokeat, but he read the proof of the cowardice of the chief,
who had deserted his companions when in peril and then, instead of
making a brave defence when cornered by the Assiniboines, had eagerly
passed over to them the property of another in order to secure his own
safety.
The Shawanoe could not trust himself any further in the presence of
Amokeat, who sat on the back of his pony and looked serenely down in
his face, exulting over his own escape from the revenge of an enemy.
"Amokeat is a dog!" exclaimed Deerfoot, compressing his lips, turning
around and walking from the presence of the chief and his party. He was
on the alert, for he half expected an attack from more than one of
them. If they had such action in mind, it was changed by the command of
the leader, who called to them to follow him as he resumed the journey
toward his own village.
The Shawanoe had learned several important facts. Whirlwind had passed
from the hands of the Nez Perces to those of a wandering band of
Assiniboines, whose villages and hunting grounds lay well to the
northeast, some below and some above the boundary line in the country
of the Saskatchewan. Thither the Shawanoe would go, though knowing
absolutely nothing of the region or the people. In his contemptuous
scorn of Amokeat, Deerfoot did not so much as look behind him until the
afternoon was nearly gone and night was closing in. Then, when he
turned his gaze to the rear, he saw nothing of men or horses.
He was thinking hard. It was evident that the only course which
promised hope was for him to keep to the trail left by the Nez Perces
until he reached the scene of the fight. From that point he would be
guided by the footprints of the Assiniboine animals. Of course there
was no distinguishable difference between those of Whirlwind and the
impressions made by any other of his species, but there ought to be
little difficulty in keeping to the main trail until he ran the party
down.
You will understand that a number of puzzling complications threatened.
It might be that the Assiniboines would continue their hunting or
raiding excursions for days, turning off and pushing to the south or
east or west, with a view of attacking some of the tribes within United
States territory. The Shawanoe hoped that such would be the course of
the raiders, for it would simplify the situation. He would have a small
party to operate against, instead of a whole village or tribe.
A singular difficulty presented itself. Deerfoot relied upon entering
the Assiniboine settlements or joining the raiders without rousing any
suspicion of his real errand. Then he would content himself in patience
and await a chance of slipping off with Whirlwind. The likelihood of
gaining such opportunity would be almost destroyed if his errand became
known. Now, the danger of betrayal was in the stallion himself. He
could not be made to understand the need of cunning and silence, but
was sure to show his joy at sight of his owner. When this was observed
by his captors, they would be certain to connect it with the long
journey of the stranger, who would then have all he could do to guard
his own life.
Reflecting over this probable phase of the situation, Deerfoot decided
what his own conduct should be. He resolved that if Whirlwind made a
rush for him, thereby revealing the truth, he would leap upon his back,
throw himself forward, and send the steed flying off at the highest
speed. There would be imminent risk of both being shot before they
could pass beyond range, but the danger would be no greater than the
Shawanoe had faced many times, and still he did not bear a scar upon
his body.
His plan, however, was to rely upon subtlety. If he could succeed in
locating his pet, he would keep out of the animal's sight until the
crisis came. He knew Whirlwind was alive, and was not very far off.
Less than two days previous he had passed over the same spot, and the
trail left by him and his companions could be readily followed.
So it was that the young Shawanoe pressed forward with long, swift
strides until the gloom shut out all sight of the footprints. He could
calculate quite closely from the different landmarks the course
followed by the Nez Perces, but he determined to run no chances. Time
was too precious, and he was resolved not to go astray.
He was in a wild, mountainous country, interspersed with ridges,
isolated peaks and lofty ranges. There were numerous valleys, canons,
gorges and ravines, with stretches of wood and stunted undergrowth. The
sound of falling waters, cascades and rapids was hardly ever absent.
Naturally the horsemen had sought the most favorable route, keeping
mainly to the valleys, but occasionally riding over elevated portions.
Thus the course was easier for Deerfoot than it would have been had the
party been on foot like himself. The Assiniboines were not likely to
make haste, for they had no reason for doing so. With his long strides,
his lope and occasional running, as the ground offered the chance, the
pursuer knew he was gaining upon those whom he was so anxious to
overtake.
When night had fairly come, Deerfoot sought out a place among the rocks
in which to sleep. He did not look for food, nor did he so much as
drink from the mountain stream that he heard rippling near at hand. It
took some time to find a suitable spot for a bed. He fixed upon a
cavity large enough for him to stretch out with his blanket wrapped
about him. He could have readily kindled a fire, but preferred not to
do so, since it was liable to draw the attention of wild animals, or
possibly of those of his own race who might be in the vicinity. As it
was, a prowling wolf or bear might threaten, but the youth felt no
misgiving when, after spending a brief time in prayer, he lay down and
speedily sank into slumber.
At the first streakings of light he was on his feet. Praying again, he
fastened his blanket about his shoulders, knelt at the mountain stream,
drank deeply, bathed face and hands and was off once more. No move was
made toward procuring the morning meal, which most folks in his
situation would have found indispensable.
The trail was clearly marked, but before resuming his pursuit Deerfoot
climbed to the highest elevation near at hand and spent a few minutes
in studying the surrounding country. The main features were similar to
those already described, except perhaps in the increase of the
ruggedness of the scenery. He was within the Rocky Mountain district,
but kept mainly to the foothills, where journeying was easier than
among the mountains themselves.
Noting that the general course of the trail he was following up was
from the northeast, he scanned with special interest the country in
that direction. He picked out a point some twenty miles distant as the
place where the Nez Perces were most likely to have made one of their
camps. While he might have shortened the time by keeping a direct line
to it, he stuck to his resolution not to turn aside from the trail.
Though he did not catch sight of any horseman, he saw that which roused
his curiosity. Hardly a mile away he observed a single Indian coming
toward him on foot. It may be said the stranger leaped into view, for
Deerfoot was looking over a certain spot at the country beyond when a
peculiar, flitting movement caused him to depress his glass to learn
the cause.
The Indian seemed to have been following a roughly marked path, when he
came to a huge boulder, which, instead of passing around, he climbed,
walked across the top, and then dropped to the ground again. It was
this action which caused Deerfoot to turn his gaze upon him.
Under the glass the stranger was seen with as much distinctness as if
he were only a few rods distant. When looking at him the Shawanoe, for
the first time in his life, saw a dwarf belonging to his own race. The
man had broad shoulders and body and sturdy legs, but his height could
not have been more than four and a half feet. Moreover he was very
bow-legged, was a hunchback, had a broad mouth, a flat nose and small
twinkling eyes. His long black hair dangled loosely about his
shoulders, he was clad in a hunting dress similar to that worn by the
Shawanoe, except that he was without a blanket, and his clothing was
much shabbier. He carried a bow fully double his own length, and
advanced with a curious sidelong, wabbling gait, which accented more
strikingly his difference from those of his own people.
When the astonished Deerfoot had noted these peculiarities, he scanned
the vicinity of the dwarf for his companions. None was seen, and our
friend decided that the fellow was entirely alone. It was impossible to
make a guess as to the tribe to which he belonged, though Deerfoot
suspected, without any particular reason, that he was an Assiniboine.
As to how he came to be by himself, and traveling southward, no theory
could be formed by the astute Shawanoe.
The latter lowered his glass, and, standing in full view, watched the
hunchback as he drew near with his crab-like, wabbling gait. Although
the Shawanoe was a much more conspicuous object on the landscape, it
was evident the other did not discover him until he was almost within a
hundred yards. No better proof could have been asked that the stranger
was afflicted with poor eyesight.
Suddenly he descried the form on the rocks and stopped short. He was
startled. Then he began hurriedly drawing an arrow from the bundle hung
behind his shoulder. It was a curious coincidence, which caught
Deerfoot's notice, that the dwarf was left-handed like himself. The
latter laid his gun at his feet and raised both hands above his head, a
sign of friendship. The stranger paused in his warlike preparations,
but seemed in doubt whether to launch a missile or to accept the sign
of comity. Deerfoot picked up his weapon, held his other hand over his
head, and began carefully descending the elevation. He kept a close
watch on the other, for he half expected he would let fly with his
arrow, and it would have been unpleasant, to say the least, to act as a
target, even at a considerable distance. The dwarf stood motionless,
closely watching the Shawanoe as he came toward him, evidently doubting
and hesitating, but Deerfoot kept up his signs of goodwill, which the
other could not fail to understand.
It is not unreasonable to believe that the personality of Deerfoot had
much to do with removing the misgivings of the stranger, for the
smiling face of the Shawanoe as he drew near would have impressed
anyone, though Deerfoot himself would never have admitted anything of
the kind. Be that as it may, the meeting was friendly, though Deerfoot
did not offer his hand in greeting, for he thought it unlikely that the
other would have understood the meaning of the salutation.
He addressed the stranger in the Blackfoot tongue, only to receive a
shake of the head in reply. The dwarf did not understand a syllable. In
response, he used a language that was "all Greek" to the Shawanoe.
There was no common ground, except that of signs, upon which the two
could meet, and that was of slight service.
"Assiniboine? Assiniboine?" asked Deerfoot, with a marked rising
inflection. Another shake of the head might indicate a denial of such
tribal relation, or what was more likely, a failure to comprehend the
question. Deerfoot repeated the word "Nez Perce," and was replied to as
before.
The first bit of information that the Shawanoe could gather for a time
was that the Indian of abbreviated stature came from the north. That
was clearly established, as was the direction which he was following,
but nothing was brought to light as to the nature of his errand in the
south.
The thought had been in the mind of our friend from the first that this
misshapen red man had seen the party of Assiniboines who held
Whirlwind. How was the question to be asked?
Deerfoot stepped to a tree resembling the water maple that grew a few
feet to the right of them. Its diameter was a foot or more. With his
hunting knife he cut out a square some six inches in diameter and
carefully peeled it off, the other attentively watching him all the
time.
Deerfoot now proceeded to trace on the filmy inner side of the bark
with the point of his knife the outlines of a horse with unusually long
tail and mane. This done, he depicted a warrior sitting on him with no
saddle except a blanket and without bridle. When the crude but
symmetrical picture was finished, he handed the piece of bark to the
other. The dwarf studied it a minute or two with close interest,
Deerfoot meanwhile watching his countenance.
Suddenly the homely visage lit up. The stranger recognized the figure
of the beautiful stallion. He had seen him!
With a thrill of hope the Shawanoe pointed north, his gesture clearly
meaning that he wished to know whether it was there the animal had been
met. The stranger shook his head. Deerfoot was disappointed, fearing
his meaning had not been understood. It seemed to him that the
Assiniboine horsemen must be journeying in that direction, and the
negative motion of the other's head might indicate that he did not
catch the drift of the question.
Deerfoot now pointed toward the rising sun, only to be answered by
another shake of his head. He next indicated the northeast. The dwarf
nodded vigorously several times. Then he gazed steadily into the
handsome face and began circling one of his hands rapidly around his
head, pointing to his moccasins and then to the sky. These peculiar
gestures were repeated a number of times, when they ceased as abruptly
as they began.
The Shawanoe could not form the first idea of what the man was trying
to say, nor did he ever learn.
The dwarf perceived that he could not make himself understood, gave up
the effort, and with an awkward good-bye resumed his tramp southward.
Uncertain of what whim might suddenly take possession of him, Deerfoot,
while also moving in the opposite direction, kept a furtive watch to
the rear. He did not see the dwarf look behind him and it is not
probable that he meditated any wrong.
The Shawanoe was not satisfied with what had occurred. Glancing down at
the trail and as far ahead as it could be traced, he saw that its
course was due north. He believed that it led for a long way toward
that point of the compass. If such proved the fact the hunchback had
tried to deceive the inquirer by making him believe that Whirlwind was
to be sought to the northeast. The Shawanoe could no longer doubt that
the nature of his inquiry had been understood, and the reply of the
dwarf was clear. Deerfoot was inclined to believe the strange creature
really belonged to the Assiniboine tribe and was trying to shield his
countrymen.
Moreover, the Shawanoe knew little of this people. He understood in a
vague way that their homes were well to the northward, and partly in
another country than the United States. The true direction, however,
was to the northeast. Thus the Indian of abbreviated stature had
indicated the right course after all.
Adhering to his policy, Deerfoot wasted no time. While these thoughts
were passing through his mind, he was loping forward with the trail
still as his guide, and had not gone two miles when he came upon the
scene of the fight between the Assiniboines and the Nez Perces.