A WELCOME SIGHT.
The first sign that caught the eye of the Shawanoe was the mute forms
of the five Nez Perces, stretched here and there over a space of an
eighth of a mile. All had been scalped and mutilated. But he had seen
such shocking sights before, and he did not go near the bodies nor give
them further attention. It was no great task for him to transfer his
interest from the trail of one party to that of another, and he was
speedily loping forward as rapidly as before.
To his astonishment he had gone only a little way when he discovered a
marked change of course. The Assiniboine footprints pointed to the
northeast. The information gained from the dwarf was reliable; the
horsemen were heading for their own villages.
The Shawanoe called all his consummate woodcraft into play to determine
how much time had passed since the party rode over this ground. He
figured that it must have been on the previous day, though such
conclusion did not fully accord with what was told him by the chieftain
Amokeat. His opinion of that leader, however, made him ready to believe
anything ill of him.
If the horsemen had twenty-four hours the start of their pursuer, and
kept up their rapid flight, he could hardly expect to come up with them
for several days. Deerfoot believed he could steadily gain, but he was
on foot and they were mounted. Such gain, in the most favorable
circumstances, must be gradual. Had they halted for any length of time,
or diverged from the regular course, the prospect would be all the more
favorable for him.
With this theory, Deerfoot now made a change of policy. Instead of
keeping to the trail with all its windings (made in order to
accommodate the horses), he adopted his other recourse--that of
reasoning out the route most likely to be followed by the warriors,
and, fixing upon a camp far in advance, making his way thither by the
most direct course. Provided he fell into no error, he would thus save
miles of distance and hours of time.
It was still early in the day when he forded a narrow, rapid stream, in
which the water rose to his waist, and climbing the nearest elevation,
which was a ridge crowned with rocks and a few stunted cedars, he
paused to make a study of the country spread before him.
Naturally his first scrutiny was directed to the northeast. In that
direction the surface was rolling, with numerous valleys and mountain
spurs, but none of the latter was of great height. The towering peaks
rose more to the north and west. There was variety and yet sameness in
the vast undulating expanse, with its wealth of wood, of rocks, some
bleak and dark of color, and others fringed with vegetation, of
swelling hills, many of which elsewhere would have been called
mountains, and beautiful valleys, with numerous streams hidden through
most of their flow, all seeking an outlet in the Atlantic or Pacific,
hundreds of miles away.
The bed of one mountain torrent could be traced for a long distance by
the mist that hovered over it, though the spectator could not catch the
first sight of the water itself. At another point to the right the
Shawanoe saw what appeared to be a curved streak of silver, fifty feet
in height and but two or three feet wide. It looked to be absolutely
motionless, and yet it was a waterfall, from whose foamy base little
clouds of steam floated upward or were wafted aside by the wisps of
wind.
Deerfoot refrained from using the instrument until he had done all he
could with his unaided vision. His reason for this was his wish to
place himself in the same situation as the Assiniboine party. None of
them knew what a spyglass is, and he tried to reason from what he saw
upon what point they would be likely to fix as their halting place.
Had he known the precise minute or hour when the horsemen had ridden
past the spot near where he was standing, the problem would have been
easy of solution, but no Indian or white hunter ever lived who could
settle such a question without more definite data. We hear stories of
achievements of that nature, but most of them are mythical, though the
woodcraft of many a trailer has enabled him to do things which to
others were impossible.
The Shawanoe believed the Assiniboines had ridden past at a moderate
pace about the middle of the preceding day. Acting on that supposition,
he selected a point somewhat more than a dozen miles to the northeast
as the one where they would have been likely to encamp for the night.
The trouble was that there was little in the wooded place, near a small
body of water, bearing a striking resemblance to the lake of the
previous day, to favor it above others in the neighborhood. They might
have halted several miles beyond or that much nearer the standpoint of
the Shawanoe.
At the best it was guesswork; but having made his conjecture, Deerfoot
now raised the glass to his eyes and centered his attention upon the
spot. As he did so he was thrilled by a discovery which set his nerves
at once on edge.
On the edge of the trees, near the lake itself, he saw two Indians,
standing as if in conversation. When he lowered the glass it was
impossible to make them out at so great distance, but the instrument
revealed them clearly. Suddenly one of the couple came forward to the
body of water, lay down on his face and drank. The other walked part of
the way and then stopped, and was rejoined by the former. It looked as
if they resumed their converse over some subject in which they were
unusually interested.
Deerfoot was almost certain that the two were members of the party for
whom he was hunting. If such were the fact, something must have
occurred to cause them to linger on their return to their villages.
While he was speculating as to whether this was probable, smoke began
filtrating through the tops of the pines, behind the couple. A fire had
been started, though the hour of day was one when the party naturally
would have been in motion.
The question remained as to whether the horsemen intended to stay where
they were until the morrow or would soon resume their journey. The last
supposition seemed the most likely.
The decision of the Shawanoe was to lessen the distance between him and
the horsemen while such a fine opportunity offered. Flinging the glass
over his shoulder he set out to overtake the party in advance, doing
his best to decide upon the right policy, now that the important
information had come to him.
The most puzzling phase of the situation has been explained. But for
the certain recognition that Whirlwind would make of his master, the
latter would have gone direct to the Assiniboine camp and watched for
his opportunity; but as nearly as he could determine there must be
fully a score if not more of the warriors. To "cut out" the stallion
from among them when the sun was shining was clearly an impossibility,
though, as has been intimated, Deerfoot was ready to make the attempt
if no other chance offered.
Discretion warned him to keep out of sight of the party until
nightfall. He could then reconnoiter the camp with good prospect of
getting Whirlwind away. If the Assiniboines placed a sentinel on duty,
Deerfoot was confident he could get the better of him in the darkness.
The raiders would not be looking for any attack, though when on the war
trail they were sure to adopt the usual precautions.
The Shawanoe, therefore, had not gone far when he decided upon his plan
of action. He would stay out of sight of men and animals until the
gloom gave him his opportunity. Meanwhile it was well to decrease the
intervening distance so far as was prudent.
It was yet early in the afternoon when the interval was cut in half.
While doing this he stopped and made frequent surveys of the lake and
wood. It would have made no great difference had he been observed by
the horsemen, for it was impossible for them to suspect his identity or
his business. Still, it was just as well to have his presence in the
neighborhood unknown and unsuspected.
All this time the vapor was climbing through the tree tops. Those who
had kindled the fire were still there, for they could not leave by the
"back door" without being seen by the vigilant Shawanoe. He was
surprised that none showed himself during these hours. The couple who
had first caught his eye had disappeared long before in the wood and
remained out of sight.
His interest led Deerfoot to continue edging forward until, by the
close of the afternoon, he was within a mile of the camp. He had
accomplished this by taking advantage of all the protection possible.
Since plenty offered, and the Assiniboines were not apprehending
anything of that nature, the task was not so hard as it might seem.
The weather remained clear, though still keen and cold. The Shawanoe
had not eaten food for a long time, but he gave no thought to that. He
was ready to wait until the morrow before satisfying his hunger. His
one resolution was to regain Whirlwind, if such a feat was within the
range of human possibility.
The young Shawanoe did not forget that he was acting upon a theory that
might prove a rope of sand. The camp which he was reconnoitering with
such care might be that of another party, even though they were
Assiniboines. The probabilities, however, justified him in believing he
was on the right track.
A curious feature of the situation was that he had not as yet seen a
single horse. When a company of Indians stopped to rest, even for a
short time, they were accustomed to allow their animals to graze.
Between the margin of wood and the lake the dull green of grass was
plainly perceptible. Perhaps there was some open spot among the trees
which offered better pasturage for the horses. Deerfoot could not feel
clear in his own mind as to the explanation of the absence of all sight
of the animals.
He was speculating as to the cause of this singular fact when six
horses issued from among the timber and came frolicking and cavorting
down to the water's margin, where they thrust their noses into the lake
to drink. No Indians showed themselves, the training of the animals
making it unnecessary to guard them.
One of the steeds emerged from a point several yards to the right of
the others and kept apart from them, as if he felt too proud to
associate with those of common blood. When he lowered his head he was
fully a couple of rods from his companions. This horse was the stallion
Whirlwind.
[Illustration: "This Horse was Whirlwind."]
The sight of his peerless creature threw the Shawanoe into a flutter,
and it required all his self-control to restrain himself from running
forward and calling to Whirlwind to meet him, but he resolutely held
his ground, sheltered behind the projection of the boulder he had used
as a screen in keeping the camp under surveillance. The situation was
so critical that Deerfoot perhaps was over-cautious.
He reasoned keenly. A mile separated steed and master. The latter could
have no thought that the youth from whom he had been separated for
weeks was near. If Deerfoot emitted his piercing whistle the call would
not be recognized on the instant, and the animal would be confused. The
dress of Deerfoot and his appearance were so similar to those of other
Indians that Whirlwind would not be likely to identify him until they
came considerably nearer each other. The Assiniboines were in camp.
They, too, would hear the signal and be quick to discover what it
meant. Rather than have the black stallion escape from their possession
they would shoot him as he ran. A red man always prefers to slay a
captive rather than surrender him. With the horse shot Deerfoot would
be forced to have it out with the warriors at such disadvantage that
only one result could follow, for the Assiniboines were not only armed
with guns--at least several were thus equipped--but they were daring
and resolute.
It was these fears which caused the young Shawanoe to decide to remain
in hiding until nightfall, which was now at hand. It is quite probable
that the plan of calling Whirlwind to him would have succeeded, as the
youth afterward admitted; but it certainly would have been attended
with risk of failure, and he never regretted the decision he made
within the same minute that he caught sight of his equine friend.
Like the king that he was, the stallion, having drank his fill, wheeled
and with dignified step passed back among the trees, keeping apart from
the others, who would have felt (as had Zigzag felt) the impact of the
fiercely driven heels had they ventured upon any familiarity.
So it came about that Deerfoot the Shawanoe stayed in concealment until
the gathering gloom shut out the grove and its occupants. There was no
moon, but the star-gleam was strong and gave him all the light he
wished. He preferred that to stronger illumination.
During the slow passing minutes that the youth waited he reached the
conclusion that the Assiniboines in the timber were only a part of the
horsemen that had overthrown the Nez Perces. Some cause had led them to
divide, and a half dozen or so were waiting for the others to rejoin
them. Why this separation had taken place Deerfoot could not
understand, nor did he allow himself to be interested in the question.
The reason for his belief lay in the number of horses that had issued
from among the trees. In the circumstances, all the animals would have
gone for water at the same time.
Deerfoot was cool, calm and perfectly poised when he stepped from
behind the boulder and began his stealthy approach to the Assiniboine
camp. He loosed his blanket from the fastening which held the fold
together in front and laid it over his right arm. He confidently
expected a fight and did not mean to have his limbs hampered.
Instinctively he slipped his hand down to his girdle. The knife was
there. He had examined his rifle long before. The charge and priming
were as they should be, and he grasped the weapon with his left hand.
He gave no thought to the fact that more than twenty-four hours had
passed since he had eaten food. He was accustomed to such abstinence
and the situation drove away all appetite. He would not have taken a
dozen paces to the right or left to pick up nourishment.
A complication was threatened by the return of the other Assiniboines,
but aside from that Deerfoot did not mean to wait a half hour longer
than was necessary. His stealthy approach was continued until in the
gloom he made out the dim outlines of the timber. The western terminus
of the lake lay just to the left, so that in order to reach the camp he
had to diverge for some rods in that direction. But the way was clear
and the brief circuit brought him to the edge of the wood, with the
calm sheet of water stretching for a half mile to the east, which was
on his right hand.
The first step was to locate the Indians and their horses, for the wise
general acquaints himself with the battle ground upon which the
momentous issue is to be decided. The twinkle of light that glimmered
among the trees guided the Shawanoe, and with little trouble he gained
a position from which, unsuspected by the Assiniboines, he had a
perfect view of them.