A DREARY REGION--HUNTING--THE VALLEY OF MUSHROOMS--AN EXPLOSION AND
CANNONADE--GOBBLERS--THE CABBAGE-PALM--A PALMETTO-LEAF HUT--THE
MOCKING-BIRD--THE RED ORPHEUS--AN EVENING'S AMUSEMENT--ATTACKED BY
SPIDERS--SOUNDS OF THE FOREST--"JUP" AND THE EAGLE--INDIAN TRAILS--ON
THE BORDERS OF LAKE KISSIMMEE--CANOE OR RAFT--SHOOTING AN ALLIGATOR--THE
CAT-BIRD--FUTURE MOVEMENTS--IN CAMP--OUR COURSE SELECTED--MAKING A
RAFT--"ATTACUS LUNA"--WHAT TIM SAW IN THE MORNING WATCH--ABOUT TO
START--AN ALARM--INDIANS--THE RAFT LAUNCHED--UNDER WEIGH--OUT OF RANGE--
AFLOAT ON THE LAKE.
We five travellers had been for some time making our way eastward in as
direct a course as we could steer by compass across a pine-barren. The
ground was as level as a floor. Now and then a rivulet appeared, from
which we quenched our thirst; while the magnolias and other flowering
plants on its banks relieved the dull uniformity of the woods. The sun,
however, beat down on our heads with intense force, and our legs were
torn by the sharp teeth of the saw-palmetto which covered the ground.
Here and there rose distant islands of pine, which give the name to the
region. Not a human being could we see, the only animal life visible
being some lean wild cattle, which found a scanty subsistence in the
natural grasses which had sprung up where the palmetto-scrub had been
burned. Frequently we had to turn aside to avoid the swampy ponds
fringed with saw-grass. The surface of these ponds was covered with
water-lilies of various hues, amid which alligators large and small
popped up their heads, warning us not to approach too near. Tall
sand-hill cranes stalked about uttering loud whoops, until, disturbed by
a shot from one of our rifles, they flew off to a distance. Turkey
buzzards, useful but disgusting-looking birds, were feeding on the
carcasses of some of the cattle which had died from disease, or been
bitten by rattlesnakes. Near the edges of the ponds we observed the
tracks of numbers of these snakes. Probably the cattle, going down to
drink, had trodden on some of the creatures, and been bitten in return.
We killed several which lay in our path.
We had been unable to get near any of the wild cattle, nor had we come
across any deer, so that, with the exception of a duck, two snipes, and
a plover, we had shot nothing that would serve for our supper. At last
a hummock appeared in the distance ahead, and towards it we directed our
course, intending to camp near its borders at an early hour, so that we
might have time to obtain a supply of large game. As we approached the
hummock, we found it to be of considerable size, and apparently denser
than usual; still we hoped to be able to make our way into it in search
of deer.
I have already described the various trees which grow on these
hummocks,--enormous cabbage-palms and cotton-trees, scarlet maples and
cedars, black and white gum-trees, magnolias, and many others, the whole
festooned with creepers and hung with air-plants of gorgeous hues. The
spot we chose for our camp was a high sandy ridge, on which grew a group
of pines, affording shelter and firewood, while a stream flowed near,
into the bottom, where it was lost to view.
Carlos, who was tired and somewhat out of sorts, remained with Tim and
Jup to form the camp, while Lejoillie and I set out with our guns in
search of game. We had not gone far when my companion fired at a duck
of peculiar and beautiful plumage, with a black body and white tuft on
its head. We hurried forward in pursuit between the thick trees, eager
to secure the prize. The duck, however, again rose just as we had got
up to it, but fell once more in a still thicker part of the hummock,
where we could see through the trees the glitter of water. In spite of
the numerous impediments in our way, we pushed forward until we found
ourselves well-nigh in darkness, though the sun was still high above the
horizon, the tree-tops which joined overhead being interlaced by
numberless creepers of various descriptions, forming a roof impenetrable
by the light of day. An almost insupportable mouldy odour, like the
effluvium arising from a dead body, pervaded the atmosphere; but eager
to obtain the bird, Lejoillie pushed on, and I followed. The pool into
which the duck had fallen was covered with a green scum; and on throwing
a piece of wood into it, the green changed into violet, as if some
chemical product had been mixed with it. The ground itself was covered
with a white efflorescence, which stuck to our feet, and made us slip at
every step.
As our eyes became accustomed to the light, we discovered that we were
in the midst of fungi or mushrooms of every shape and colour. Some were
almost microscopic, collected on the bark of the decaying wood; others
were of gigantic proportions, equal in circumference to the trunks of
the enormous trees amid which they grew. No vegetables except moss and
toadstool-like productions could exist in that airless and pestiferous
region. In every direction lay the trunks of enormous trees blown down
by some hurricane, so completely rotted by damp that a stick run into
them went right through. They lay like vast skeletons, serving to
nourish the mushrooms which grew vigorously in the rank vegetation.
Here also were vast gelatinous and transparent masses, from which oozed
out a yellow-tinted liquid, of so venomous a character that a drop
falling on the skin raised a blister. Other fungi were of dazzling
whiteness, which Lejoillie likened to a casket of pearls, supported by
an azure stalk. Many were in the shape of a Chinese hat, and of an
orange-red colour, striped with silver bands; indeed, the whole tribe of
fungi appeared here to have their representatives. Many were as tall as
children, with heads upwards of two yards in diameter. Some were of
rose colour, and resembled vast umbrellas. Still more numerous were
those of a cup shape, and of a bluish tint, the interior resembling a
huge pot.
We advanced in single file amidst the rows of giant mushrooms, not
without considerable fear that in this gloomy valley some strange
monster would suddenly appear before us, to resent our intrusion into
his domains. Suddenly Lejoillie, who was a short distance in front,
slipped on the slimy ground over which we were walking, as if on ice,
and in falling struck one of the largest mushrooms, which, to my
astonishment and dismay, immediately exploded with a report like that of
a piece of artillery, throwing into the air a vast cloud of dust.
Losing my balance almost immediately afterwards, I followed his example,
when directly the whole valley resounded with reports, the mushrooms
bursting on every side, as if defending their colony against the visit
of strangers. Confused by the sound and blinded by the red dust which,
filling our ears and irritating our eyes, made us sneeze and cough
continuously, we beat a hasty retreat, entirely forgetting the duck we
had come to seek. Not until we had got clear of the fusillade directed
against us by the fungi, did we stop in our flight, when, clearing the
dust from our eyes, and shaking it off from our heads and clothes,
Lejoillie burst into a fit of laughter.
"You will like to understand how this happened, my young friend," he
observed. "Possibly others will be incredulous when they hear of our
adventure. These mushrooms, like other vegetables, have the power of
suddenly bursting without being touched, Nature having provided them
with this means of spreading their seed over a wide extent of ground.
The red dust which so disagreeably filled our eyes is composed of
imperceptible spores, each atom containing a germ. The shock produced
when we fell caused the explosion of some of the largest of these, and
they set all the others agoing, though who would have believed that two
brave hunters could be put to flight by mushrooms!"
Comical as was the adventure, the result to us was far from pleasant,
for we both had our faces and hands covered with pimples, while it was
some time before we ceased coughing and spluttering from the quantity
which had got down our throats; indeed, the mushroom germs had
completely poisoned us. We were still more vexed at the thought of
losing the bird after encountering so much annoyance, when Caesar, who
had followed us, appeared, bringing it in his mouth. Although we did
not venture back again into the bottom of the hummock, we succeeded in
killing a couple of fat gobblers, which amply supplied us all with
supper and breakfast the next morning.
Just outside the hummock was a cabbage-palm, which, as I have said,
abounds in Florida. It rose in straight and graceful grandeur to the
height of a hundred feet without a branch, then burst into a mass of
dark-green, fan-shaped leaves. In the centre of this mass grows the
far-famed cabbage, which is a tender white shoot, protected by numerous
fibrous folds. We were wishing for some vegetable, when Jup undertook
to obtain a cabbage. Fastening a belt round his waist and the trunk of
the tree, he worked himself up to the summit, when, drawing his knife
from his belt, he cut out the vegetable. He then chopped off a number
of the large leaves from the summit for the purpose of forming a
palmetto hut, which might afford us shelter. We cooked the cabbage,
though it is often eaten raw, and agreed that it resembled a Spanish
chestnut in taste. Carlos told us that the tree would die in
consequence of having the cabbage cut out, and Jup confirmed the
statement.
Our huts were of the very simplest description. Fixing in two uprights,
we secured a horizontal pole between them at their tops; and from this
pole we suspended the enormous cabbage-palm leaves, stretching them out
at the bottom, thus forming a thatched roof impervious to rain or sun.
Where cabbage-palms grow, the hunter, as I have shown, can in a few
minutes form a very efficient hut, capable of holding two or three
people.
Numerous birds, inhabitants of the trees near our camp, amused us during
the evening by their varied notes. One which we watched was of a
graceful form, with a long fine beak, its plumage being grey-brown above
and white beneath. Though larger than the nightingale, to which it has
often been compared, it has a superior and more varied voice, but lacks
that sweetness of expression and melancholy charm which have made the
reputation of the plaintive Philomel. It has, however, a song of its
own, composed of a dozen syllables, clear, sonorous, and harmonious,
which runs over an extensive scale. At first, it entertained us with
its own song, but in a short time began imitating those of other birds,
which it did to perfection; indeed, Jup told us, and Carlos corroborated
the statement, that it can imitate the human voice, as well as the
hissing of serpents, the roar of alligators, the gobbling of turkeys,
and the cry of all other birds. Lejoillie tried it by whistling a tune,
when the bird imitated him, introducing a number of variations. The
mocking-bird, for such it was, afforded us infinite amusement during the
evening.
Another bird also made its appearance, called the red orpheus. It had a
reddish-brown plumage, with a fawn-coloured breast spotted with black.
It was about the same size as the mocking-bird, its note being very
similar to that of the European blackbird, but more sonorous and
melodious, and superior in some respects to that of the mocking-bird.
It is of an equally graceful form, and has the same long fine beak. We
found numbers of them in the forest among the cedars and myrtles, whose
fruit they eat, and where also they chase various winged insects. Both
these birds build their nests six or seven feet above the ground, on
thorny bushes, or in wild orange trees. The nests are composed of the
downy mosses of plants fastened together with the fibres of flax. The
eggs of the mocking-bird are blue with brown spots; those of the orpheus
are of a beautiful azure tint.
Scarcely had we turned in to our leaf-covered huts when I felt some
creatures crawling over me. I jumped up, and running to the fire, shook
off two or three horrid-looking spiders. My exclamations aroused my
companions, and they likewise found several of the same spiders crawling
over them. Tim cried out that he had been bitten, and that he felt an
extraordinary numbness in the limb. Lejoillie said immediately
afterwards that he also had suffered; and Jup, on seeing the creatures,
declared that they were the most venomous of spiders, and warned us that
if we went to sleep they might actually bite us to death. Lejoillie
recollected having heard of the species, which is called the
sleeping-spider. We accordingly, making up our fire, gathered closely
round it, hoping that the creatures would not approach its flames. On
examining the ground in the neighbourhood, we found a number of small
holes, out of which the spiders were creeping in search of prey; but, as
we had hoped, they did not venture close enough to the fire to reach us.
We spent an uncomfortable night, and I was glad when it came to my turn
to walk sentry. As I moved about I kept a watch on my feet, lest any of
the venomous insects should climb up my legs. The ground appeared
literally swarming with them. In the morning, when we came to examine
it, we found that the whole bank was mined below with the galleries of
thousands of these sleeping-spiders. So poisonous is their bite that it
sometimes causes a lethargy, during which the person bitten passes from
sleep to death. During the day these insects stop up their holes with
sand, and only come out in the night. A dark-red line runs down their
back, and they have flat heads. To struggle against these venomous
creatures was impossible; it would have been more easy to contend with a
pack of wolves, or any other wild beasts. The instinct of my dog
induced him to crawl close up to the fire, where he remained all night
so near to it that he nearly burned off his coat.
At daybreak I proposed to start off, to be at once free from the dangers
of the neighbourhood. But Jup observed, "No fear now, massa; de spiders
all gone to bed."
Such was found to be the case, as they are strictly nocturnal hunters,
and keep their holes closely shut during the day-time. We had therefore
no longer any fear of being bitten, and were able to take our breakfast
at our leisure. As soon as possible, however, after breakfast, we were
again on the move.
We had much the same description of country to pass through as on the
previous day--mostly open prairie, with pine-barrens and occasional
hummocks. I cannot describe each day of our journey. In the early
morning we were aroused half an hour before sunrise by a wonderful
chorus of birds and insects, the mocking-bird and cat-bird making the
greatest noise. At that time the inhabitants of the woods seemed to
awaken to active life as suddenly as day succeeds the night, and night
the day, in those Southern latitudes. The deep-sounding whoops of the
sand-hill cranes--the cries of herons, bitterns, and ibis--the gobbles
of turkeys--the confused quacking of flocks of ducks--the chattering of
pelicans--the melodious voices of thousands of song-birds--the hum of
millions of insects,--all combined to create a volume of sound which
effectually banished sleep. As the sun rose above the summits of the
trees, the various sounds gradually decreased, and during the heat of
mid-day all seemed hushed in the stillness of death. As evening
approached, once more the feathered songsters suddenly burst forth; then
for a short time there would be silence; when again, towards midnight,
the hootings and shrieks of numerous night-birds, and the more savage
cries and hideous voices of alligators, wolves, and ocelots, would break
our slumbers.
One evening we were nearly losing our black attendant, who not only had
proved himself an intelligent guide, but was ready to serve us in every
way he could. We had just encamped, when a short distance off an
enormous eagle rose from a stunted tree on the borders of a neighbouring
hummock. Lejoillie was anxious to obtain its eggs, or one of the young
birds should they be hatched; and Jup immediately volunteered to climb
up and procure one or the other. Supposing that the eagle had flown to
a distance, Jup advanced to the tree, leaving his axe and knife, which
he had been using, behind him on the ground. Some thick bark, and a few
branches and twigs projecting from the trunk, enabled him to make his
way up the tree in a manner none of us could imitate.
Lejoillie was engaged at the time in skinning a bird he had just before
shot, and we were all busy in preparing the camp, when we heard Jup
shriek out. He had ample reason for doing so. He had gained the branch
of the tree on a level with the nest--filled with skeletons and bones of
other birds and animals which the eagle had brought to feed its young.
The parent bird, with its sharp eyes, though far beyond our sight, must
have observed the intruder approaching its home. In an instant, down it
swooped with discordant shrieks, and Jup with great difficulty managed
to spring behind a branch to avoid its onslaught. Every instant it
threatened to drive its sharp claws into his woolly head, or to peck out
his eyes.
I was the first to see his danger, and rushing forward with my rifle,
attempted to obtain a shot. I was afraid, however, that while trying to
shoot the bird, I might wound the black. Jup shouted at the top of his
voice, hoping to keep the eagle at bay.
"Come down, Jup! come down!" I cried.
"Bery well to say dat, massa, but not so easy to do dat," answered Jup,
who preserved his presence of mind.
I united my voice to his, and we were soon joined by Tim, who shouted as
lustily as the black. This prevented the eagle from striking down at
Jup, who now began to descend; and as there was sufficient distance
between his head and the eagle's beak, I fired. At the same moment I
heard a crash, and thought the eagle had fallen; but when the smoke
cleared away, what was my horror to discover Jup lying on the ground,
while the eagle was clinging on to a branch just above its nest.
Regardless of the bird, Tim and I ran to pick up the fallen black.
Great was our satisfaction to find, on seeing him quickly get up, that
no bones had been broken.
"Me go 'gain an' get de eggs," he said; "nebber fear."
"We must dispose of the eagle first," I answered; and Tim and I both
firing, the huge bird, fluttering wildly, fell to the ground.
As we approached, it endeavoured fiercely to defend itself with its
talons and beak; but Tim, clubbing his rifle, dealt it a blow on the
head which put an end to its struggles. Its mate not making its
appearance, Jup again ascended, and returned with a couple of eggs,
greatly to Lejoillie's satisfaction.
Eager as we were to get on, we had to lie by during the heat of the day,
selecting the thickest shade we could find. After the sun had begun to
sink in the west, we marched forward until nearly dark. We found it,
however, generally necessary to allow ourselves time for an hour's
hunting, to secure a sufficient amount of game for our support.
We had, as may be supposed, kept a sharp look-out for Indians; but we
had seen none, nor had we discovered any recent trails, though we
occasionally came upon their abandoned camps, as well as the paths they
had formed through the forest or across the prairie. We were somewhat
surprised at this; but Carlos said he suspected that those who had
inhabited that part of the country had moved northward, or had retreated
to the Everglades in the south, where the Palefaces could not follow
them. Circumstances afterwards occurred to show that he was right in
both surmises--that the old men, women, and children had been sent into
the impenetrable fastnesses in the south, while the warriors had gone
north to join the forces at that time assembled under Powell, or Oceola,
as the Indians called him.
We were now approaching Lake Kissimmee, which we intended crossing on
our way to the Saint John. Reaching a pine-island--as those sandy
elevations are called, rising out of the plain--where we intended to
camp, we saw the lake before us. It was a question now whether we
should march round its northern shore, or save ourselves a journey of
twenty or thirty miles by crossing in a canoe, or on a raft which we
proposed to construct. We held a consultation on the subject. Should a
storm arise, we should be exposed to no small danger; while alligators,
from the experience we had had before, might, we thought it possible,
strike the bottom of the canoe or raft and upset it.
For the sake of obtaining a variety of food, Tim and I set off with our
fishing-tackle--of course, carrying our guns--towards a large stream,
which we discovered running into the lake. We saw plenty of birds on
our way; among them the white ibis, the white heron, the snake-bird, and
vulture. We found a bluff, with deep water below it, into which we had
scarcely thrown our lines when we each hooked a large black bass; after
which we caught several bream, cat-fish, and perch, until we had as much
as we could carry.
I had gone down to the water to clean our fish; and I was so employed
when, stooping down, I saw the snout of an alligator raised above the
surface. Without moving, I imitated the grunt of a pig. The monster
saurian, expecting to have a porker for supper, swam on, with jaws open,
its wicked eye turned towards me. I had taken up my rifle, and when it
was about eight paces off, suddenly rising, I fired directly down its
throat. What was my horror to see it rushing forward at an accelerated
speed. As may be supposed, I sprang up the bluff, not stopping to
collect my fish; when the monster ran its nose right against the bank,
and, in a vain attempt to land, rolled back again, fiercely lashing the
water with its tail. Having made its way to the opposite side, after
several convulsive struggles, it turned over and died. Had my foot
slipped on the grassy bank, my adventures would probably have been
ended. I was quickly joined by Tim; and while finishing the cleaning of
our fish, we kept a sharp look-out.
Near the spot where we were encamped was a hummock, on which grew
mulberry-trees, boxwood, and gigantic cypresses, six feet in diameter,
their trunks and branches being completely enclosed in the india-rubber
vine, which in this part of the country grows in great profusion.
On our return to camp, Tim and I were passing near a thicket when we
were saluted with strange cries, resembling the mewings of a number of
deserted kittens. As we approached to ascertain what creatures were
uttering these strange sounds, they grew louder and louder. We caught
sight, however, only of several birds, about the size of a thrush,
flitting in and out among the branches, and stopping every now and then
to look at us. As we passed on they followed, until we got close to the
camp. We then called Lejoillie to come and see them.
He at once pronounced them to be cat-birds. Their plumage was brown,
with black caps on their heads, their rumps being of a red orange tint.
They seemed to have no fear of us; for, gathering on the boughs of the
trees near the camp, evidently seeking our society, they began a most
extraordinary concert, if such it could be called, for certainly it was
not singing. Sometimes one of them would speak in a hollow voice, then
another would bark, imitating Caesar; now one fellow would yelp like a
fox, and make a rattling sound like that of a rattlesnake. Others
croaked like frogs, and imitated the sneeze of a human being. Had we
heard them without seeing the birds, we should have thought some strange
creatures inhabited the wood; but, in reality, the birds were only
trying, by producing sounds familiar to our ears, to tell us that we
were welcome to their native forest.
It is very difficult to keep a cat-bird in captivity, as it soon pines
and dies; or it would certainly be preferred to a parrot, on account of
its far superior talent of imitation. Lejoillie refrained from killing
any of our amusing friends, who remained watching us all the time we
were in camp.
We required a day's rest before proceeding farther on our journey; for
we could not tell what difficulties we might have to encounter, and it
would be necessary to be in full strength to overcome them. Having
examined the ground thoroughly, to ascertain that it was not inhabited
by spiders, like our last camping-place, we built three cabbage-palm
huts, and collected fuel sufficient to keep up the fire during the
night. Before turning in, we had another talk about our future
proceedings. I undertook, the first thing in the morning, to climb to
the top of the highest tree, from which I could get a look-out over the
country to the eastward and north-east, round the northern end of the
lake. Should it appear practicable, we resolved to proceed by land; but
if not, we determined to spend the next day in building a raft to cross
the lake. We expected to find it sufficiently shallow to enable us to
pole most of the way over. We agreed to make some paddles, and, in case
the wind should be favourable, to use our blankets as sails. Jup was
the most experienced sailor among us, though we all knew enough about
boating to undertake such a voyage without fear. We kept a watch during
the night, so that, should any hostile Indians approach, we might fight
for our lives, and not be murdered in our sleep, as might be the case
should we be caught napping. For the sake of health, and to avoid
mosquitoes, it was always necessary to camp on the highest ground we
could find. We were more exposed to view from a distance than we should
have been had we been able to light our fires in the hollows, where,
during the night, we should have had the advantage of concealment. At
the same time, from the high ground we could the better see an enemy
approaching. Still, we had gone thus far and had not met any Indians,
so that we might hope to perform the rest of the journey without
encountering them.
The night passed away without our being disturbed. Occasionally a few
creatures would pass by, their shadowy forms scarcely distinguishable
through the gloom. We knew that they were either deer or wild cattle.
Now and then a wolf would approach, or a puma, or ocelot; but a shout
would send them to the rightabout.
As soon as daylight appeared, with the aid of Jup, who accompanied me, I
succeeded in getting to the top of a tall pine. On looking out I was
convinced, from the clear green to the north of the lake, and from its
flat appearance, that it was swampy. As far as I could judge, the
swamps extended to the shore of another small lake, still farther to the
north, Jup agreed with me that it would save a troublesome journey
through marshes if we were to cross the lake, as had at first been
proposed.
Directly breakfast was over, therefore, we set off for the shore of the
lake, where we were fortunate in finding a hard piece of ground by the
side of a stream which ran into it, a point extending out into the
water; and we could only hope that we should find a similar
landing-place on the opposite side. On the hard ground, a couple of
feet above the water, grew a number of pines. Several of the smaller as
well as larger trees had been blown down by a hurricane, and were
sufficiently dry, and yet not rotten, for our purpose. Lopping off the
roots and branches, we collected six trees, each about thirty feet long,
which one by one we managed to roll into the water. The cross-pieces
were more easily obtained. The whole were fastened together with what
the Spaniards call sipos, or creepers, which make a very tolerable rope
for such a purpose. On the top of this framework we placed a sort of
platform of reeds, which would, we hoped, keep us free from the water.
We had still to cut some long poles; a couple of spars for masts, and
two more for yards; a paddle to steer by, and one for each of us. Night
was approaching by the time we had quite finished. Altogether we were
well content with our performance, though perhaps a more experienced
sailor would have hesitated to trust himself on such a structure. As
the mosquitoes would have allowed us but little sleep had we attempted
to remain near the lake at night, we returned to our camping-ground on
the ridge, having previously dragged the raft up on shore. On our way I
saw Lejoillie eagerly eyeing the branches of a tree producing a sweet
gum.
"Stop, stop!" he exclaimed, "in case you may alarm it." And he began
opening his butterfly-net, which lay in a case he always carried in his
pocket.
I looked in the direction towards which his eyes were turned, and saw a
magnificent moth sucking gum exuding from a branch. It was more
beautiful than any I had seen. The body was of a flesh colour; the
wings broad and of a tender green, with blue, crimson, and orange spots.
I stopped while he advanced, trembling lest the specimen might escape
him. With what eagerness he closed the net over it! and I felt almost
as rejoiced as he seemed to be that he had captured the treasure. He
told us that it was called the "Attacus luna," and that it was the most
beautiful moth in Florida. The caterpillar produces silk, though it is
not equal to that of the better known silkworm.
The naturalist appeared as delighted to have secured the moth uninjured
as most people would have been to pick up a nugget of gold. By degrees
we had expended a portion of our ammunition and provisions; but as
Lejoillie added to his collection, our loads were not much lightened,
though his bird-skins, moths, and insects were not very weighty
articles.
Tim, who had the morning watch, averred that he had seen a human being
approach the camp, and apparently having examined it, steal off again.
He had advanced and challenged, but no reply was made. His first
impulse, he acknowledged, had been to fire; but he recollected in time
that the intruder might have had no hostile intentions, and, at all
events, as we were not in an enemy's country, he had no business to
shoot the man, whoever he was. Tim was so positive on the subject that
we could not doubt him.
We breakfasted at daybreak, and strapping on our packs, marched down to
the lake, prepared to commence our voyage. Before starting, Jup and I
again ascended a tree overlooking the lake, that I might ascertain
whether there were any islands in our course, or whether, as is often
the case, the surface was covered with water-plants, which might impede
our progress.
All appeared clear, however, as far as my eye could reach. I was about
to descend, when, looking to the south-west, I caught sight of a number
of objects moving across the prairie. I pointed them out to Jup.
"Injins!" he exclaimed. "Dey comin' dis way; better git off, or maybe
dey take our scalps."
As I agreed with him, we hurriedly descended, and rejoined our
companions, who were already beginning to launch the raft. It was no
easy matter to do so, and we had to cut some stout sticks for handspikes
before we could manage to get it into the water. While thus engaged,
several alligators poked their noses above the surface to look at us,
but the shouts we raised quickly made them disappear. Scarcely was the
raft in the water, when, happening to look round, I caught sight of
thirty or forty Indians, bedecked in war-paint and feathers, fully
armed, emerging from the brushwood, and not a hundred yards away.
"Shove off! shove off!" I cried. "Their bows carry far, and we must
put a wide distance between them and us."
Springing on board, we each seized a pole and began impelling the raft
from the shore. The Indians, seeing that we were about to escape, ran
forward, uttering loud shouts and calling on us to come back.
"Very likely we'll be afther doin' that," observed Tim.
No one else spoke; we were labouring for our lives, for it was evident,
from the savage shrieks of the Indians, that they intended mischief.
"Let us fire and bring down some of those fellows," cried Carlos.
"Very little satisfaction in doing that," observed Lejoillie. "Shove
away, my friends, shove away; the farther we can get from them the
better, for, packed together as we are, they may shoot us down at once.
Shove away, shove away, I say."
We followed Lejoillie's advice. We had got to a considerable distance
from the bank before the Indians reached it. The moment they did so,
they drew their bows and let fly a flight of arrows, which plunged into
the water close behind our raft; but happily we were just beyond their
range, or not one of us would have escaped. The water by this time was
deepening, and we had to take to our paddles, and endeavour still
farther to increase our distance; for the savages, intent on capturing
us, had begun to wade off, with fresh arrows in their bows, ready to
send another flight, at the same time uttering loud cries and shouting
out to us to return. They were possibly not aware that we had provided
ourselves with paddles and had already got into deep water.
Rushing forward until the water was up to their waists, they again sent
their arrows whistling towards us, several actually striking the raft,
though not with sufficient force to stick into it. When they saw that
we were really beyond their reach, they vented their disappointment in
fearful yells.
"Shriek away, ye redskin savages," cried Tim; "your noise doesn't hurt
us. If you don't look out for yourselves, you'll have some of the
'gators snapping off your legs presently."
The cries of the Indians, however, had the effect of keeping the
creatures at a distance, and several swam past us, evidently alarmed at
the unusual sounds.
We were now all paddling away with might and main, two on each side, the
black steering and sculling with his paddle at the same time.
Fortunately, the weather remained fine, and the wind, which was light,
was in our favour. What we had to dread most was a strong wind
springing up from the eastward, which might have driven us back and
placed us at the mercy of the savages. We were still uncertain whether
we should altogether escape them. They might build a raft and pursue
us; or might be acquainted with some path leading along the northern end
of the lake, by which, light-footed as they were, they might get round
to meet us when we landed, or to follow up our trail.
We found paddling a raft harder work than we had expected, and our arms
soon began to ache. Stopping for an instant, I tried the depth of
water. It was still too great to enable us to use our poles with
advantage. At length, however, the breeze increased, and I proposed
that the masts should be stepped, as they were all ready, and that we
should hoist our blankets for sails.
This we at once did; but they did not hold enough wind to help us as
much as we expected, and we still had to keep the paddles going.
Looking back, we could see the Indians on the shore; which was
satisfactory, as it made us hope that they did not intend to follow us
by land.
"It will take them some time to build a raft," observed Carlos. "If
they do, we shall then encounter them on equal terms, for we could pick
them off with our rifles before they could get near enough to shoot
their arrows at us."
We continued our course to the opposite shore, which appeared as far off
as ever. We had, however, reason to be satisfied that we had decided on
crossing the lake on a raft; for had we attempted to go round by land,
we should inevitably have been overtaken by the Indians.