"I say, didn't you hear a cry?" exclaimed Charley Fielding, starting up
from the camp fire at which we were seated discussing our evening meal
of venison, the result of our day's hunting. He leaned forward in the
attitude of listening. "I'm sure I heard it! There it is again, but
whether uttered by Redskin or four-footed beast is more than I can say."
We all listened, but our ears were not as sharp as Charley's, for we
could hear nothing.
"Sit down, Charley, my boy, and finish your supper. It was probably
fancy, or maybe the hoot of an owl to its mate," said our jovial
companion, Dick Buntin, who never allowed any matter to disturb him, if
he could help it, while engaged in stowing away his food.
Dick had been a lieutenant in the navy, and had knocked about the world
in all climes, and seen no small amount of service. He had lately
joined our party with Charley Fielding, a fatherless lad whom he had
taken under his wing.
We, that is Jack Story and myself, Tom Rushforth, had come out from
England together to the far west, to enjoy a few months' buffalo
hunting, deer stalking, grizzly and panther shooting, and beaver
trapping, not to speak of the chances of an occasional brush with the
Redskins, parties of whom were said to be on the war-path across the
regions it was our intention to traverse, though none of us were
inclined to be turned aside by the warnings we had received to that
effect from our friends down east.
We had been pushing on further and further west, gaining experience, and
becoming inured to the fatigues and dangers of a hunter's life. Having
traversed Missouri and Kansas, though we had hitherto met with no
adventures worthy of note, we had that evening pitched our camp in the
neighbourhood of Smoky-hill fork, the waters of which, falling into the
Arkansas, were destined ultimately to reach the far-off Mississippi.
We had furnished ourselves with a stout horse apiece, and four mules to
carry our stores, consisting of salt pork, beans, biscuit, coffee, and a
few other necessaries, besides our spare guns, ammunition, and the meat
and skins of the animals we might kill.
Having, a little before sunset, fixed on a spot for our camp, with a
stream on one side, and on the other a wood, which would afford us fuel
and shelter from the keen night air which blew off the distant
mountains, we had unsaddled and unpacked our horses and mules, the packs
being placed so as to form a circular enclosure about eight paces in
diameter.
Our first care had been to water and hobble our animals, and then to
turn them loose to graze, when we considered ourselves at liberty to
attend to our own wants. Having collected a quantity of dry sticks, we
had lighted our fire in the centre of the circle, filled our
water-kettle, and put on our meat to cook. Our next care had been to
arrange our sleeping places. For this purpose we cut a quantity of
willows which grew on the banks of the stream hard by, and we each
formed a semi-circular hut, by sticking the extremities of the osier
twigs into the ground, and bending them over so as to form a succession
of arches. These were further secured by weaving a few flexible twigs
along the top and sides of the framework, thus giving it sufficient
stability to support the saddle-cloths and skins with which we covered
them. By placing our buffalo-robes within, we had thus a comfortable
and warm bed-place apiece, and were better protected from the fiercest
storm raging without than we should have been inside a tent or ordinary
hut.
Though this was our usual custom when materials were to be found, when
not, we were content to wrap ourselves in our buffalo-robes, with our
saddles for pillows.
All arrangements having been made, we sat down with keen appetites, our
backs to our respective huts, to discuss the viands which had been
cooking during the operations I have described. Dick Buntin, who
generally performed the office of cook, had concocted a pot of coffee,
having first roasted the berries in the lid of our saucepan, and then,
wrapping them in a piece of deer-skin, had pounded them on a log with
the head of a hatchet. Dick was about to serve out the smoking-hot
coffee when Charley's exclamation made him stop to reply while he held
the pot in his hand.
"I am sure I did hear a strange sound, and it was no owl's hoot, of that
I am convinced," said Charley, still standing up, and peering out over
the dark prairie. "Just keep silence for a few minutes, and you'll hear
it too before long."
I listened, and almost directly afterwards a low mournful wail, wafted
on the breeze, struck my ear. Dick and Story also acknowledged that
they heard the sound.
"I knew I was not mistaken," said Charley; "what can it be?"
"An owl, or some other night-bird, as I at first thought," said Buntin.
"Come, hand me your mugs, or I shall have to boil up the coffee again."
Charley resumed his seat, and we continued the pleasant occupation in
which we were engaged. Supper over, we crept into our sleeping-places,
leaving our fire blazing, not having considered it necessary as yet to
keep watch at night.
We were generally, directly after we had stretched ourselves on the
ground, fast asleep, for we rose at break of day, and sometimes even
before it; but ere I had closed my eyes, I again heard, apparently
coming from far off, the same sound which had attracted Charley's
notice. It appeared to me more like the howl of a wolf than the cry of
a night-bird, but I was too sleepy to pay any attention to it.
How long I had been in a state of unconsciousness I could not tell, when
I was aroused by a chorus of howls and yelps, and, starting up, I saw a
number of animals with glaring eyes almost in our very midst.
"Wolves, wolves!" I cried, calling to my companions at the top of my
voice.
Before I could draw my rifle out of the hut, where I had placed it by my
side, one of the brutes had seized on a large piece of venison,
suspended at the end of a stick to keep it off the ground, and had
darted off with it, while the depredators were searching round for other
articles into which they could fix their fangs.
Our appearance greatly disconcerted them, as we shouted in chorus, and
turning tail they began to decamp as fast as their legs would carry
them.
"Bring down that fellow with the venison," I cried out.
Charley, who had been most on the alert, had his rifle ready, and,
firing, brought down the thief. Another of the pack instantly seized
the meat and made off with it in spite of the shouts we sent after him.
The wolves lost three of their number, but the rest got off with the
venison in triumph. It was a lesson to us to keep a watch at night, and
more carefully to secure our venison. We had, however, a portion
remaining to serve us for breakfast next morning.
We took good care not to let the wolves get into our camp again, but we
heard the brutes howling around and quarrelling over the carcase of one
of their companions, who had been shot but had not immediately dropped.
Having driven off our unwelcome visitors, Charley and I went in search
of our horses, as we were afraid they might have been attacked. They
were, however, well able to take care of themselves and had made their
way to the border of the stream, where we found them safe.
In the meantime Buntin and Story dragged the carcases of the wolves we
had killed to a distance from the camp, as their skins were not worth
preserving. We all then met round the camp fire, but we soon found that
to sleep was impossible, for the wolves, having despatched their wounded
companions, came back to feast on the others we had shot. We might have
killed numbers while so employed, but that would have only detained them
longer in our neighbourhood, and we hoped when they had picked the bones
of their friends that they would go away and leave us in peace.
We all wished to be off as soon as possible, so while it was still dark
we caught and watered our horses; and, having cast off their hobbles and
loaded the pack animals, we were in the saddle by sunrise. We rode on
for several hours, and then encamped for breakfast, allowing our horses
to graze while we went on foot in search of game. We succeeded in
killing a couple of deer and a turkey, so that we were again amply
supplied with food. Our baggage-mules being slow but sure-going animals
we were unable to make more than twenty miles a day, though at a pinch
we could accomplish thirty. We had again mounted and were moving
forward. The country was covered with tall grass, five and sometimes
eight feet in height, over which we could scarcely look even when on
horseback. We had ridden about a couple of miles from our last
camping-place, when Story, the tallest of our party, exclaimed--
"I see some objects moving to the northward. They look to me like
mounted men, and are apparently coming in this direction."
He unslung his glass, while we all pulled up and took a look in the
direction he pointed.
"Yes, I thought so," he exclaimed; "they are Indians, though, as there
are not many of them, they are not likely to attack us; but we must be
on our guard, notwithstanding."
We consulted what was best to be done.
"Ride steadily in the direction we are going," said Dick; "and, by
showing that we are not afraid of them, when they see our rifles they
will probably sheer off, whatever may be their present intentions. But
keep together, my lads, and let nothing tempt us to separate."
We followed Dick's advice; indeed, although we had no ostensible leader,
he always took the post on an emergency.
The strangers approached, moving considerably faster than we were doing.
As they drew nearer, Story, who took another view of them through his
glass, announced that there were two white men of the party, thus
dispelling all fears we might have entertained of an encounter. We
therefore pulled up to wait their arrival. As they got still nearer to
us, one of the white men rode forward. He was followed by several dogs.
Suddenly Dick, who had been regarding him attentively, exclaimed--
"What, Harry Armitage, my dear fellow! What has brought you here?"
"A question much easier asked than answered, and I'll put the same to
you," said the stranger, shaking hands.
"I came out for a change of scene, and to get further from the ocean
than I have ever before been in my life; and now let me introduce you to
my friends," said Dick. The usual forms were gone through. Mr
Armitage then introduced his companion as Pierre Buffet, one of the best
hunters and trappers throughout the continent. The Indians, he said,
had been engaged by Pierre and himself to act as guides and scouts, and
to take care of the horses and baggage-mules. As our objects were the
same, before we had ridden very far we agreed to continue together, as
we should thus, in passing through territories infested by hostile
Indians, be the better able to defend ourselves.
We had reason, before long, to be thankful that our party had thus been
strengthened. We encamped as usual; and, not forgetting the lesson we
had lately received, we set a watch so that we should not be surprised,
either by wolves or Redskins. Though the former were heard howling in
the distance, we were not otherwise disturbed by them, and at dawn we
were once more in our saddles traversing the wide extending prairie, our
new associates and we exchanging accounts of the various adventures we
had met with. Armitage was not very talkative, but Dick managed to draw
him out more than could any of the rest of the party. Buffet, in his
broken English, talked away sufficiently to make ample amends for his
employer's taciturnity. Our midday halt was over, and we did not again
intend to encamp until nightfall, at a spot described by Buffet on the
banks of a stream which ran round a rocky height on the borders of the
prairie. It was, however, some distance off, and we did not expect to
reach it until later in the day than usual.
We were riding on, when I saw one of the Indians standing up in his
stirrups and looking to the northeast. Presently he called to Buntin
and pointed in the same direction. The words uttered were such as to
cause us no little anxiety. The prairie was on fire. The sharp eyes of
the Indian had distinguished the wreaths of smoke which rose above the
tall grass, and which I should have taken for a thick mist or cloud
gathering in the horizon. The wind blew from the same quarter.
"Messieurs, we must put our horses to their best speed," exclaimed
Pierre. "If the wind gets up, that fire will come on faster than we can
go, and we shall all be burnt into cinders if once overtaken."
"How far off is it?" asked Dick. "Maybe eight or ten miles, but that is
as nothing. It will travel five or six miles in the hour, even with
this wind blowing--and twice as fast before a gale. On, on, messieurs,
there is no time to talk about the matter, for between us and where the
flames now rage, there is nothing to stop their progress."
We needed no further urging, but driving on the mules with shouts and
blows--as we had no wish to abandon them if it could be avoided--we
dashed on. Every now and then I looked back to observe the progress of
the conflagration. Dark wreaths were rising higher and higher in the
sky, and below them forked flames ever and anon darted up as the fire
caught the more combustible vegetation. Borne by the wind, light
powdery ashes fell around us, while we were sensible of a strong odour
of burning, which made it appear as if the enemy was already close at
our heels. The grass on every side was too tall and dry to enable us--
as is frequently done under such circumstances, by setting fire to the
herbage--to clear a space in which we could remain while the
conflagration passed by.
Our only chance of escaping was by pushing forward. On neither side did
Pierre or the Indians know of any spot where we could take refuge nearer
than the one ahead. Every instant the smoke grew thicker, and we could
hear the roaring, crackling, rushing sound of the flames, though still,
happily for us, far away. Prairie-hens, owls, and other birds would
flit by, presently followed by numerous deer and buffalo; while whole
packs of wolves rushed on regardless of each other and of us, prompted
by instinct to make their escape from the apprehended danger. Now a
bear who had been foraging on the plain ran by, eager to seek his
mountain home; and I caught sight of two or more panthers springing over
the ground at a speed which would secure their safety. Here and there
small game scampered along, frequently meeting the death they were
trying to avoid, from the feet of the larger animals; snakes went
wriggling among the grass, owls hooted, wolves yelped, and other animals
added their cries to the terror-prompted chorus. Our chance of escaping
with our baggage-mules seemed small indeed. The hot air struck our
cheeks, as we turned round every now and then to see how near the fire
had approached. The dogs kept up bravely at the feet of their masters'
horse.
"If we are to save our own skins, we must abandon our mules," cried out
Dick Buntin in a voice such as that with which he was wont to hail the
main-top.
"No help for it, I fear," answered Armitage; "what do you say, Pierre?"
"Let the beasts go. _Sauve qui peut_!" answered the Canadian.
There was no time to stop and unload the poor brutes. To have done so
would have afforded them a better chance of preserving their lives,
though we must still lose our luggage.
The word was given, the halters by which we had been dragging the
animals on were cast off; and, putting spurs into the flanks of our
steeds, we galloped forward. Our horses seemed to know their danger as
well as we did. I was just thinking of the serious consequences of a
fall, when down came Dick, who was leading just ahead of me with Charley
by his side. His horse had put its foot into a prairie-dog's hole.
"Are you hurt?" I cried out.
"No, no; go on; don't wait for me," he answered. But neither Charley
nor I was inclined to do that.
Dick was soon on his feet again, while we assisted him, in spite of what
he had said, to get up his horse. The animal's leg did not appear to be
strained, and Dick quickly again climbed into the saddle.
"Thank you, my dear boys," he exclaimed, "it must not happen again; I am
a heavy weight for my brute, and, if he comes down, you must go on and
let me shift for myself."
We made no reply, for neither Charley nor I was inclined to desert our
brave friend. The rest of the party had dashed by, scarcely observing
what had taken place, the Indians taking the lead. It was impossible to
calculate how many miles we had gone. Night was coming on, making the
glare to the eastward appear brighter and more terrific. The mules were
still instinctively following us, but we were distancing them fast,
though we could distinguish their shrieks of terror amid the general
uproar.
The hill for which we were making rose up before us, covered, as it
appeared, by shrubs and grasses. It seemed doubtful whether it would
afford us the safety we sought. We could scarcely hope that our horses
would carry us beyond it, for already they were giving signs of becoming
exhausted. We might be preserved by taking up a position in the centre
of the stream, should it be sufficiently shallow to enable us to stand
in it; but that was on the other side of the hill, and the fire might
surround us before we could gain its banks. We could barely see the
dark outline of the hill ahead, the darkness being increased by the
contrast of the lurid flames raging behind us. We dashed across the
more open space, where the grass was for some reason of less height than
in her parts. Here many of the animals which had passed us, paralysed
by fear, had halted as if expecting that they would be safe from the
flames. Deer and wolves, bison, and even a huge bear--not a grizzly,
however--and many smaller creatures were lying down or running round and
round.
I thought Pierre would advise our stopping here, but he shouted, "On,
on! This is no place for us; de beasts soon get up and run away too!"
We accordingly dashed forward, but every moment the heat and smell of
the fire was increasing. The smoke, which blew around us in thick
wreaths driven by the wind, was almost overpowering. This made the
conflagration appear even nearer than it really was. At length, Pierre
shouted out:
"Dis way, messieurs, dis way!" and I found that we had reached the foot
of a rocky hill which rose abruptly out of the plain. He led us round
its base until we arrived at a part up which we could manage to drag our
horses. Still it seemed very doubtful if we should be safe, for grass
covered the lower parts, and, as far as I could judge, shrubs and trees
the upper: still there was nothing else to be done. Throwing ourselves
from our horses, we continued to drag them up the height, Pierre's
shouts guiding us. I was the last but one, Dick insisting on taking the
post of danger in the rear and sending Charley and me before him. The
horses were as eager to get up as we were, their instinct showing them
that safety was to be found near human beings. Our only fear was that
the other animals would follow, and that we should have more companions
than we desired. The top was soon gained, when we lost no time in
setting to work to clear a space in which we could remain, by cutting
down the grass immediately surrounding us, and then firing the rest on
the side of the hill towards which the conflagration was approaching.
We next beat down the flames we had kindled, with our blankets--a hot
occupation during which we were nearly smothered by the smoke rushing in
our faces. The fire burnt but slowly against the wind, which was so far
an advantage.
"We are safe now, messieurs!" exclaimed Pierre at last; and we all, in
one sense, began to breathe more freely, although the feeling of
suffocation from the smoke was trying in the extreme.
We could now watch, more calmly than before, the progress of the fire as
it rushed across the country, stretching far on either side of us, and
lighting up the hills to the north and south, and the groves which grew
near them. We often speak of the scarlet line of the British troops
advancing on the foe, and such in appearance was the fire; for we could
see it from the heights where we stood, forming a line of a width which
it seemed possible to leap over, or at all events to dash through
without injury. Now it divided, as it passed some rocky spot or marshy
ground. Now it again united, and the flames were seen licking up the
grass which they had previously spared.
Our poor baggage-animals caused us much anxiety. Had they escaped or
fallen victims to the flames with our property, and the most valuable
portion of it--the ammunition? Charley declared that he heard some
ominous reports, and the Indians nodded as they listened to what he
said, and made signs to signify that the baggage had been blown up. For
some minutes we were surrounded by a sea of flame, and had to employ
ourselves actively in rushing here and there and extinguishing the
portions which advanced close upon us, our horses in the meantime
standing perfectly still and trembling in every limb, fully alive to
their dangerous position. At length, after a few anxious hours, the
fire began to die out; but here we were on the top of a rock, without
food or water, and with only so much powder and shot as each man carried
in his pouch. Still, we had saved our lives and our horses, and had
reason to be thankful. The spot was a bleak one to camp in, but we had
no choice. To protect ourselves from the wind, we built up a hedge of
brushwood, and lighted a fire. Food we could not hope to obtain until
the morning, but Pierre and one of the Indians volunteered to go down to
the river, and to bring some water in a leathern bottle which the
Canadian carried at his saddle-bow. He had also saved a tin cup, but
the whole of our camp equipage had shared the fate of the mules,
whatever that might be. The sky was overcast, and, as we looked out
from our height over the prairie, one vast mass of blackness alone could
be seen.
After quenching the thirst produced by the smoke and heat with the water
brought by Pierre and his companion, we lay down to sleep.
At daylight we were on foot. The first thing to be done was to
ascertain the fate of the mules, and the next to obtain some game to
satisfy the cravings of hunger. Pierre and the Indians descended into
the plain for both purposes. Charley and I started off in one
direction, and Armitage and Story in another, with our guns, along the
rocky heights which extended away to the northward, while Dick
volunteered to look after the horses and keep our fire burning.
We went on for some distance without falling in with any large game, and
we were unwilling to expend our powder on small birds. Charley at last
proposed that we should descend into the plain in the hopes of finding
some animals killed by the fire.
"Very little chance of that," I remarked, "for by this time the wolves
have eaten them up. We are more likely, if we keep on, to fall in with
deer on the opposite side, where the fire has not reached."
We accordingly crossed the ridge, and were making our way to the
westward, when we heard Armitage's dog giving tongue in the distance.
"They have found deer, at all events, and perhaps we may be in time to
pick off one or two of the herd," I exclaimed.
We scrambled along over the rocks, until we reached the brink of a low
precipice, looking over which we caught sight of a magnificent buck with
a single dog at his heels. Just then the stag stopped, and, wheeling
suddenly round, faced its pursuer. Near was a small pool which served
to protect the stag from the attack of the hound in the rear. It
appeared to us that it would have gone hard with the dog, for at any
moment the antlers of the stag might have pinned it to the ground. We
concluded, from not hearing the other dogs, that they had gone off in a
different direction, leaving this bold fellow--Lion, by name--to follow
his chase alone.
We crept along the rocks, keeping ourselves concealed until we had got
near enough to take a steady aim at the stag. I agreed to fire first,
and, should I miss, Charley was to try his skill. In the meantime the
dog kept advancing and retreating, seeking for an opportunity to fly at
the stag's throat; but even then, should he succeed in fixing his fangs
in the animal, he would run great risk of being knelt upon. The deer
was as watchful as the dog, and the moment the latter approached, down
again went its formidable antlers. Fearing that the deer might by some
chance escape, taking a steady aim I fired. To my delight, over it
rolled, when we both sprang down the rocks and ran towards it.
While I reloaded, Charley, having beaten off the dog, examined the deer
to ascertain that it was really dead. We then set to work to cut up our
prize, intending to carry back the best portions to the camp.
While thus employed, we heard a shout and saw our companions approaching
with their dogs. They had missed the remainder of the herd, and were
too happy in any way to obtain the deer to be jealous of our success.
Laden with the meat, the whole of which we carried with us, we returned
to the camp, where we found Dick ready with spits for roasting it. In a
short time Pierre and the Indians returned with the report that they had
found the mules dead, and already almost devoured by the coyotes, while
their cargoes had been blown up, as we feared would be the case, with
the powder they contained. They brought the spare, guns--the stocks of
which, however, were sadly damaged by the fire. Our camp equipage,
which was very welcome, was uninjured, together with a few knives and
other articles of iron.
So serious was our loss, that it became absolutely necessary to return
to the nearest settlement to obtain fresh pack-animals and a supply of
powder.